Baton Dezitijatski, dezitijatska politija i vizija ustanka / Bato the Daesitiate, the Daesitiate Polity and Vision of the Uprising

Abstract

This paper deals with Bato the Daesitiate, a high-ranking military and political official of the peregrine civitas of Illyrian nation Daesitiates, the political organization of the Daesitiates, and the idea of creating a common Illyrian political and military organization during the Great Illyrian Uprising. On the basis of ancient sources which are related to the subject matter, it can be concluded that Bato the Daesitiate was a well-known and experienced politician and military leader in the Illyrian world, well acquainted with the Roman political and military organization. For the first time in the well-known history of the Iliro-Slavic countries, he attempted to establish an independent political organization that would unites the Illyrian countries. Unfortunately, his undertaking has faced serious resistance from the strong particular tendencies of individual leaders, communities and nations. And this division is one of the causes that led to the suppression of the uprising and the ultimate introduction of the Illyrian world into the Roman Empire.