Melingoi
Encyclopedia
The Melingoi or Milingoi were a Slavic tribe that settled in the Peloponnese
in southern Greece
during the Middle Ages
. Proto-Slavic tribes (Sclaveni) settled throughout the Balkans
following the collapse of the Byzantine Empire
's defense of the Danube
frontier in the early decades of the 7th century, with some groups reaching as far south as the Peloponnese. Of these, two groups are known by name from later sources, the Melingoi and the Ezeritai
, both settled on the western slopes of Mount Taygetos. The origin and etymology of the Melingoi name is unknown.
Like the Ezeritai, the Melingoi are first mentioned in the De administrando imperio
, a manual on statecraft written by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 945–959). The emperor records that in his time they paid a tribute
of 60 gold nomisma
ta, but that after they had revolted and been defeated, in the reign of Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–945), they had to pay 600 nomismata. Under Byzantine rule, the Melingoi retained an autonomous existence, but adopted Christianity
and became hellenized in language and culture.
During the period of Frankish rule
in the 13th–14th centuries, they were employed by both the Frankish lords of the Principality of Achaea
and by the Byzantine Greeks
of the Despotate of the Morea as soldiers. For instance, according to the Chronicle of the Morea, Prince William II of Villehardouin
(r. 1246–1278) awarded to the "great droungos
of the Melingoi" exemption from all duties except military service. The Melingoi are still attested during the 1330s in a number of founder's inscriptions attached to churches in Laconia
. One of them, Constantine Spanes, from the notable Spanes family, is called "tzaousios
of the droungos of the Melingoi", implying its continued existence as a separate community. N. Nicoloudis identifies the late medieval thema of Kinsterna or Giserna (from Latin
cisterna, "cistern") with the area of the Melingoi in the northwestern Mani peninsula
.
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
in southern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Proto-Slavic tribes (Sclaveni) settled throughout the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
following the collapse of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
's defense of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
frontier in the early decades of the 7th century, with some groups reaching as far south as the Peloponnese. Of these, two groups are known by name from later sources, the Melingoi and the Ezeritai
Ezeritai
The Ezeritai were a Slavic tribe settled in the Peloponnese in southern Greece during the Middle Ages.Southern Slavs settled throughout the Balkans following the collapse of the East Roman defenses of the Danube frontier in the early 7th century, with some groups reaching as far south as the...
, both settled on the western slopes of Mount Taygetos. The origin and etymology of the Melingoi name is unknown.
Like the Ezeritai, the Melingoi are first mentioned in the De administrando imperio
De Administrando Imperio
De Administrando Imperio is the Latin title of a Greek work written by the 10th-century Eastern Roman Emperor Constantine VII. The Greek title of the work is...
, a manual on statecraft written by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 945–959). The emperor records that in his time they paid a tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
of 60 gold nomisma
Nomisma
Nomisma was the ancient Greek word for "money" and is derived from nomos "anything assigned, a usage, custom, law, ordinance"....
ta, but that after they had revolted and been defeated, in the reign of Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–945), they had to pay 600 nomismata. Under Byzantine rule, the Melingoi retained an autonomous existence, but adopted Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and became hellenized in language and culture.
During the period of Frankish rule
Frangokratia
The Frankokratia or Frangokratia , also known as Latinokratia is the period in Greek history after the Fourth Crusade , when a number of Western European Crusader states were established in Greece, on the territory of the dissolved Byzantine Empire .The term derives from the fact that Orthodox...
in the 13th–14th centuries, they were employed by both the Frankish lords of the Principality of Achaea
Principality of Achaea
The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica...
and by the Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
of the Despotate of the Morea as soldiers. For instance, according to the Chronicle of the Morea, Prince William II of Villehardouin
William II of Villehardouin
William II of Villehardouin, was the last Villehardouin prince of Achaea and ruled the principality at the height of its power and influence.William was the son of Geoffrey I Villehardouin...
(r. 1246–1278) awarded to the "great droungos
Droungos
Droungos or drungus is a late Roman and Byzantine term for a battalion-sized military unit, and later for a local command guarding mountain districts. Its commander was a droungarios or drungarius.-History and functions:...
of the Melingoi" exemption from all duties except military service. The Melingoi are still attested during the 1330s in a number of founder's inscriptions attached to churches in Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
. One of them, Constantine Spanes, from the notable Spanes family, is called "tzaousios
Tzaousios
The tzaousios was a late Byzantine military office, whose exact functions and role are somewhat unclear.The term is derived from the Turkish çavuş, meaning "courier" or "messenger", and was in use by the Byzantines perhaps as early as the late 11th century. In the 13th–15th centuries, it became...
of the droungos of the Melingoi", implying its continued existence as a separate community. N. Nicoloudis identifies the late medieval thema of Kinsterna or Giserna (from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
cisterna, "cistern") with the area of the Melingoi in the northwestern Mani peninsula
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
.