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in
Arcadia, became a powerful check on Sparta. Other towns, as well, were founded or rebuilt at this time, though a great part of the land still remained very sparsely populated. Although quite independent, Messenia never became really powerful or able to stand without external support. After the
486:
In 146 BC, the
Messenians, together with the other states of Greece, were brought directly under Roman sway. For centuries there had been a dispute between Messenia and Sparta about the possession of the Ager Dentheliales on the western slope of Taygetus: after various decisions by
331:
for some seventeen years (685 BC—668 BC). Descriptions of this revolt indicate that
Messenia was allowed to retain a certain degree of autonomy after the first war, since they describe battles between organized armies on both sides. However, the stronghold of Ira
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381:, as they had done in the first Messenian War. The Spartans were unable to expel them from their stronghold on Mt. Ithome and so agreed to an Athenian mediated truce whereby the leading Messenians left the
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invaded
Messenia, and liberated it from Spartan rule. Epaminondas invited the exiled Messenians scattered in Italy, Sicily, Africa and elsewhere to return to their country. The city of
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and the
Megalopolitans. A war afterwards broke out with the Achaean League, during which Philopoemen was captured and put to death by the Messenians (183 BC), but
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Ancient
Messenia descended continuously without change of name and with little change of territory to the modern Regional Unit of Greece of the
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ended in the subjugation of
Messenia by Sparta (ca. 720 BC). Two generations later the Messenians revolted and under the leadership of
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During the
Archaic period the relative wealth of Messenia in fertile soil and favourable climate attracted the neighbouring
248:', as in other regions of Greece. Supposedly, the Hellenic tribes had then arrived in Greece, and Messenia was settled by
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destroyed Sparta and caused great loss of life. The insurgents defended themselves for some years on the rock-citadel of
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have revealed for
Messenia's late Bronze Age (14th century BC) a bureaucratic, agricultural kingdom ruled by the
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went along the
Taygetus ridge up to the Koskaraka river, and then along that river to the sea, near the city of
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in the northern plain, and then extended, first their suzerainty, and then their rule over the whole district.
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to seize Messene, but the attempt failed and cost the life of Demetrius. Soon afterwards the Spartan tyrant
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and avoided further conflict in the 4th century BC. Subsequently, the Messenians joined with the
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has been identified with the modern site of Ano Englianos, in western Messenia. Excavations at
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ran along the tops of Mount Elaeum and Mount Nomia and then through foothills of
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succeeded in taking the city, but was forced to retire by the timely arrival of
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560:. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 190–191.
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by the Messenians, it was claimed, which, in spite of the heroism of King
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The earliest inhabitants of Messenia were thought by the Greeks of the
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in 371 BC, when the Spartans suffered a severe defeat at the hands of
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describes how the Messenians endured the insolence of the masters:
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was founded in 369 BC to be the capital of the country and, like
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broke out—as a result of the murder of the Spartan king
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took the city in the following year, and it again joined the
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426:, to which it had owed its foundation, it became an ally of
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507:and others, the question was settled in 25 AD by
373:The Messenians revolted again in 464 BC, after a
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354:Of all the fruits the well-tilled land affords,
363:Bury and Meiggs, "A History of Greece," 4th Ed
184:) was an ancient district of the southwestern
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352:So Them did stress of cruel force compel,
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
358:The moiety to bear to their proud lords.
40:This article includes a list of general
14:
608:
466:, though much weakened by the loss of
188:, more or less overlapping the modern
397:Pre-Hellenistic to Hellenistic period
284:, Messenia was supposedly invaded by
393:in the territory of Ozalian Locris.
196:. To the north it had a border with
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348:As asses worn by loads intolerable,
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204:river. From there the border with
46:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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268:at Pylos. The Messenians spoke
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280:of the Peloponnese during the
252:Greeks. The Mycenaean city of
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515:in favour of the Messenians.
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626:Historical regions in Greece
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212:. The eastern border with
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385:and were settled by the
329:kept the Spartans at bay
89:Region of Ancient Greece
616:Ancient Greek geography
557:Encyclopædia Britannica
276:. During the legendary
136:Map of ancient Messenia
61:more precise citations.
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601:Description of Greece
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489:Philip II of Macedon
428:Philip II of Macedon
544:Tod, M. N. (1911).
525:Messene (mythology)
448:Demetrius of Pharos
401:After the decisive
340:. The Spartan poet
310:first Messenian War
440:Battle of Sellasia
320:and his successor
403:Battle of Leuctra
375:severe earthquake
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501:Mark Antony
456:Philopoemen
442:in 222 BC.
419:Megalopolis
411:Epaminondas
383:Peloponnese
326:Aristomenes
322:Aristodemus
294:Stenyclarus
290:Cresphontes
186:Peloponnese
146:Peloponesse
59:introducing
610:Categories
531:References
274:Sphagianes
246:Pelasgians
236:Bronze age
200:along the
192:region of
106:Region of
67:March 2010
42:references
597:Pausanias
586:Herodotus
580:The Iliad
391:Naupactus
387:Athenians
225:same name
519:See also
511:and the
509:Tiberius
460:Lycortas
444:Philip V
361:—
342:Tyrtaeus
314:Teleclus
306:Spartans
262:Nichoria
210:Taygetus
190:Messenia
182:Μεσσηνία
174:Messenia
162:Dialects
142:Location
99:Μεσσηνία
96:Messenia
554:(ed.).
438:at the
415:Messene
318:Euphaes
286:Dorians
250:Aeolian
231:History
214:Laconia
206:Arcadia
156:Messene
55:improve
513:Senate
476:Pharae
472:Thuria
407:Thebes
379:Ithome
338:Helots
308:. The
288:under
194:Greece
44:, but
575:Homer
550:. In
452:Nabis
446:sent
266:wanax
258:Pylos
254:Pylos
166:Doric
123:Pylos
474:and
468:Abia
334:Eira
260:and
218:Abia
202:Neda
198:Elis
389:at
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