[i-leer-ee-uh] 
| an ancient country along the E coast of the Adriatic. |
| Il·lyr·i·a (ĭ-lîr'ē-ə) An ancient region of the Balkan Peninsula on the Adriatic coast. Occupied in prehistoric times by an Indo-European-speaking people, the area became the Roman province of Illyricum after the final conquest of the Illyrians in 35-33 B.C. The name was revived by Napoleon for the provinces of Illyria (1809-1815) and retained for the kingdom of Illyria, a division of Austria from 1816 to 1849. |
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