Messenia
(
Μεσσηνία). A country in Peloponnesus, bounded on the east
by Laconia, from which it was separated by Mount Taygetus, on the north by Elis and Arcadia,
and on the south and west by the sea. In the Homeric times the western part of the country
belonged to the Neleid princes of Pylos, of whom Nestor was the most celebrated; and the
eastern to the Lacedaemonian monarchy. On the conquest of Peloponnesus by the Dorians,
Messenia fell to the share of Cresphontes, who became king of the whole country. Messenia was
more fertile than Laconia; and the Spartans soon coveted the territory of their
brother-Dorians; and thus war broke out between the two people. The First Messenian War lasted
twenty years, B.C. 743-723; and notwithstanding the gallant resistance of the Messenian king,
Aristodemus, the Messenians were obliged to submit to the Spartans after the capture of their
fortress Ithomé. (See
Aristodemus.)
After bearing the yoke thirtyeight years, the Messenians again took up arms under their heroic
leader,
Aristomenes (q.v.). The Second Messenian
War lasted seventeen years, B.C. 685-668, and terminated with the conquest of Ira and the
complete subjugation of the country. Most of the Messenians emigrated to foreign countries,
and those who remained behind were reduced to the condition of Helots or serfs. In this state
they remained till 464, when the Messenians and other Helots took advantage of the devastation
occasioned by the great earthquake at Sparta to rise against their oppressors. This Third
Messenian War lasted ten years (464- 455), and ended by the Messenians surrendering Ithome to
the Spartans on condition of being allowed a free departure from Peloponnesus. When the
supremacy of Sparta was overthrown by the battle of Leuctra, Epaminondas collected the
Messenian exiles, and founded the town of Messené (B.C. 369), at the foot of Mount
Ithomé, which formed the acropolis of the city. Messené was made
the capital of the country. Messenia was never again subdued by the Spartans, and it
maintained its independence till the conquest of the Achaeans and the rest of Greece by the
Romans (B.C. 146). See
Niese, Die älteste Geschichte Messeniens
(1891).