EPIRUS or EPEIRUS, an ancient district of northern Greece extending along the Ionian Sea from the Acroceraunian promontory on the north to the Ambracian gulf on the south, and conterminous on the landward side with Illyria, Macedonia and Thessaly. It thus corresponds to the southern portion of Albania, (q.v.). The name Epirus (''Hirapos) signified "main land," and was originally applied to the whole west coast north of the Corinthian gulf, in contradistinction to the neighbouring islands. The country is mountainous, especially where the rivers Achelous, Arachthus and Aous rise in Mt. Lacmon, the backbone of Pindus. In ancient times Epirus did not produce corn sufficient for its inhabitants ; but it has always been celebrated for its cattle and horses. According to Theopompus (4th cent. B.e.), the Epirots were divided into fourteen independent tribes, of which the prin cipal were the Chaones (perhaps akin to the Chones in the heel of Italy) along the Acroceraunian shore, the Molossians inland round Lake Pambotis (mod. Jannina), and the Thesprotians north of the Ambracian gulf. In spite of distance and barbarian repute, Epirus exerted early no small influence on Greece, through the oracle of Dodona (q.v.). Aristotle even placed here the original home of the Hellenes. But in historic times its part is passive. Numerous Greek colonies on its coast formed stepping-stones towards the Adriatic and the West. One of the earliest and most flourishing was the Corinthian colony of Ambracia, which gives its name to the gulf. Elatria, Bucheta and Pandosia, in Thesprotia, originated from Elis. Other towns of some importance were In Chaonia: Palaeste and Chimaera, fortified posts to which country folk could retire in war; Onchesmus or Anchiasmus, op posite Corcyra; Phoenice, wealthiest of all, and after the fall of the Molossian kingdom the centre of an Epirote League; Buthro tum, Phanote, important in the Roman campaigns in Epirus; and Adrianopolis, named from its founder. In Thesprotia: Cassope, chief town of the most powerful Thesprotian clan; and Ephyra, afterwards Cichyrus. In Molossia: Passaron, where the kings were wont to receive their people's allegiance; and Tecmon, Phylace and Horreum. The Byzantine town of Rogus is probably the modern Luro, the Greek Oropus.
Aeacides, the son of Arymbas II., succeeded Alexander. He sup ported Olympias against Cassander, but was dethroned by his own soldiers, and fell in battle (313 B•c.) against Philip, brother of Cassander. He had, by his wife Phthia, a son, the celebrated Pyrrhus, and two daughters, Deidamia and Troas ; the former married Demetrius Poliorcetes. His brother and successor, Al cetas, fought against Cassander; was put to death by his own subjects in 295 B.C., and was succeeded by Pyrrhus (q.v.), who for six years fought against the Romans in south Italy and Sicily, and gave to Epirus its sole moment of importance.
Alexander, his son, who succeeded in 272 B.C., defeated Anti gonus Gonatas of Macedon but was himself driven from his kingdom by Demetrius. He recovered it, however, and spent the rest of his days in peace. Two other insignificant reigns brought the family of Pyrrhus to its close, and Epirus was thenceforward governed by a magistrate, elected annually in a general assembly at Passaron. Having imprudently supported Perseus (q.v.) in 168 B.e., it was devastated by the Romans, and never recovered. At the dissolution of the Achaean League (q.v.), 146 B.C., it be came part of the Roman province of Macedonia, receiving the name Epirus Vetus, to distinguish it from Epirus Nova.
On the division of the empire it fell to the East, and so re mained until the taking of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204, when Michel Angelus Comnenus seized Aetolia and Epirus. On the death of Michel in 1216, these countries fell into the hands of his brother Theodore. Thomas, the last of the direct line, was murdered in 1318 by his nephew Thomas, lord of Zante and Cephalonia, and his dominions were dismembered. Not long after, Epirus was overrun by Serbs and Albanians. Charles II. Tocco, lord of Cephalonia and Zante, was recognized as Despot of Epirus by the emperor Manuel Comnenus in the beginning of the 15th century; but his family was deprived in 1431 by Murad (Amurath) II. In 1443, Scanderbeg, king of Albania, made himself master of a considerable part of Epirus; but on his death it fell to the Venetians, and from these passed to the Turks. For modern history see ALBANIA.