MESSENIAN WARS

The two first 'Messenian Wars' were wars between Messenia and Sparta in the 8th century BC and 7th century BC. The Third Messenian War was a massive helot revolt in the 460s BC.

Contents

First Messenian War

Second Messenian War

Third Messenian War

Notes

First Messenian War

The First Messenian War began around 750 BC and lasted for fifteen years.^[1] Sources give different reasons for the cause of the war, but Sparta and Messenia had skirmished for years before the war began. The Story of the Greeks H. A. Guerber Description of Greece Pausanias, translated by W. H. S. Jones The Spartans, under Theopompus, finally conquered Messenia and subjugated the Messenian population.^[2]
There is a tale that the Messenian Aristodemus offered to sacrifice his daughter in order to appease the gods and spare his country from being overrun by the Spartans. Aristodemus' daughter had a lover who, in a vain attempt at sparing her life, spread lies that she was about to become a mother. When Aristodemus learned of this fallacy he slew her with his own hands.^[3]

Second Messenian War

Around 640 BC the Messenians, led by Aristomenes, revolted against the Spartans.^[4]
According to some sources, an Athenian poet by the name of Tyrtaeus was sent to aid Sparta in subduing the Messenians. The Messenians were defeated in 631 BC in the Battle of the Great Foss.^[5]

Third Messenian War

The third Messenian War was from 468 BC until 458 BC. The helot revolution began after the massive earthquake of 464 BC, which caused great losses among the Spartans. The helots fortified themselves at Ithome. The Spartans asked for assistance from Athens, which sent 4,000 hoplites under Cimon. While these hoplites were away from Athens, Ephialtes of Athens introduced radical democratic reforms in the Athenian constitution. The Spartans, alarmed by the reforms, declined Athenian assistance. The Spartans eventually negotiated a settlement with the helots in 458 BC. Based on the terms of the settlement, those in Ithome were allowed to leave so long that they never return to the Peloponnese under penalty of slavery.

Notes

1. From Solon to Socrates: Greek History and Civilization During the Sixth and Fifth Centuries B.C., , Victor L., Ehrenberg, Routledge, 1973,
2. A Short History of Western Civilization, Volume One: to 1776, , Richard E., Dennis,John B., Sullivan,Sherman,Harrison, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994,
3. The First Messenian War 743 - 724 B.C.
4. A Smaller History of Ancient Greece William Smith
5. Battle of the Great Foss - 631 B.C.