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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
475:
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
320:
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
325:) finally fell after a siege of eleven years. As the object of the Spartans was to increase the number of lots of land for their citizens, many of the conquered Messenians (those who did not manage to leave the area) were reduced to the condition of
370:, 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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212:
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
65:
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During the
Archaic period the relative wealth of Messenia in fertile soil and favourable climate attracted the neighbouring
237:', 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
36:
30:
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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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549:. 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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362:The Messenians revolted again in 464 BC, after a
343:Of all the fruits the well-tilled land affords,
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352:Bury and Meiggs, "A History of Greece," 4th Ed
173:) was an ancient district of the southwestern
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341:So Them did stress of cruel force compel,
66:Learn how and when to remove this message
347:The moiety to bear to their proud lords.
29:This article includes a list of general
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455:, though much weakened by the loss of
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386:Pre-Hellenistic to Hellenistic period
273:, Messenia was supposedly invaded by
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382:in the territory of Ozalian Locris.
185:. To the north it had a border with
337:As asses worn by loads intolerable,
193:river. From there the border with
35:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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257:at Pylos. The Messenians spoke
269:of the Peloponnese during the
241:Greeks. The Mycenaean city of
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504:in favour of the Messenians.
615:Historical regions in Greece
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201:. The eastern border with
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374:and were settled by the
318:kept the Spartans at bay
78:Region of Ancient Greece
605:Ancient Greek geography
546:Encyclopædia Britannica
265:. During the legendary
125:Map of ancient Messenia
50:more precise citations.
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590:Description of Greece
478:Philip II of Macedon
417:Philip II of Macedon
533:Tod, M. N. (1911).
514:Messene (mythology)
437:Demetrius of Pharos
390:After the decisive
329:. The Spartan poet
299:first Messenian War
429:Battle of Sellasia
309:and his successor
392:Battle of Leuctra
364:severe earthquake
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490:Mark Antony
445:Philopoemen
431:in 222 BC.
408:Megalopolis
400:Epaminondas
372:Peloponnese
315:Aristomenes
311:Aristodemus
283:Stenyclarus
279:Cresphontes
175:Peloponnese
135:Peloponesse
48:introducing
599:Categories
520:References
263:Sphagianes
235:Pelasgians
225:Bronze age
189:along the
181:region of
95:Region of
56:March 2010
31:references
586:Pausanias
575:Herodotus
569:The Iliad
380:Naupactus
376:Athenians
214:same name
508:See also
500:and the
498:Tiberius
449:Lycortas
433:Philip V
350:—
331:Tyrtaeus
303:Teleclus
295:Spartans
251:Nichoria
199:Taygetus
179:Messenia
171:Μεσσηνία
163:Messenia
151:Dialects
131:Location
88:Μεσσηνία
85:Messenia
543:(ed.).
427:at the
404:Messene
307:Euphaes
275:Dorians
239:Aeolian
220:History
203:Laconia
195:Arcadia
145:Messene
44:improve
502:Senate
465:Pharae
461:Thuria
396:Thebes
368:Ithome
327:Helots
297:. The
277:under
183:Greece
33:, but
564:Homer
539:. In
441:Nabis
435:sent
255:wanax
247:Pylos
243:Pylos
155:Doric
112:Pylos
463:and
457:Abia
323:Eira
249:and
207:Abia
191:Neda
187:Elis
378:at
601::
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321:(
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