Emergence . Recent archaeological evidence dating to the period between 1700 BCE and 1400 BCE in the post-
Cetina horizon confirms trans-
Adriatic migrations from the Western Balkans to southeastern Italy, which brought a
Western Paleo-Balkan language to Apulia. However, the way in which Proto-
Messapic speakers spread in Apulia and which
pre-Indo-European languages that had existed in the region were thereby assimilated or displaced is still unknown. Developing their own identity, the Messapians emerged as a sub-tribe distinct from the rest of the
Iapygians (
Messapic-speakers) in the
Iron Age. The pre-Italic settlement of
Gnatia was founded in the fifteenth century BC during the Bronze Age. It was captured and settled by the Iapyges, as they occupied large tracts of territory in Apulia.
Rudiae was first settled from the late ninth or early eighth centuries BC. In the late sixth century BC, it developed into a much more important settlement. It flourished under the Messapii, but after their defeat by Rome it dwindled and became a small village. The nearby
Lupiae (Lecce) flourished at its expense. The Messapi did not have a centralised form of government. Their towns were independent
city-states. They had trade relationships with the Greek cities of
Magna Graecia.
Conflict with Taras In 473 BC, the Greek city of
Tarentum (which was on the border with Messapia) and its ally,
Rhegion, tried to seize some of the towns of the Messapii and Peucetii. However, the Iapyge tribes defeated them thanks to the superiority of their cavalry. The war against Tarentum continued until 467 BC. During the Second
Peloponnesian War between
Athens and
Sparta, the Mesapii were allies of Athens. They provided archers for
Athens' massive expeditionary force sent to attack
Syracuse in
Sicily (415–13 BC). The expedition was a disaster and the entire force was destroyed. In 356 BC, an alliance between Messapii and
Lucani led to the conquest of
Heraclea and
Matapontus. In 342 BC, Tarentum called for the aid of
Archidamus III of Sparta. Archidamus died in battle under the walls of the Messapian city of Manduria in 338 BC. In 333 BC, Tarentum called
Alexander I of Epirus to help them in their war with their
Lucani. Alexander defeated the Messapii. He died in a battle against the Lucani in 330 BC. After the campaign of Alexander I, the Messapii switched allegiance. They allied with Tarentum and
Cleonymus of Sparta, who campaigned in the region in 303–02 BC to help Tarentum against, again, the Lucani.
Conquest by the Roman Republic During the
Second Samnite War (327–304 BC) between
Rome and the
Samnites, the Messapii, Iapyges and Peucetii sided with the Samnites. Some of the cities of the Dauni sided with Rome and some of them sided with the Samnites. The city of
Canusium went over to the Romans in 318 BC. Silvium, a Peucetii frontier town, was under Samnite control, but it was captured by Rome in 306 BC. During the Pyrrhic Wars (280–275 BC), the Messapii sided with Tarentum and
Pyrrhus the king of
Epirus, in Greece, who landed at Tarentum, ostensibly to help this city in her conflict with the Romans. According to ancient historians, his aim was to conquer Italy. Pyrrhus fought battles against the Romans and a campaign in Sicily. He had to give up the latter and was defeated by the Romans and left Italy. The Messapii were mentioned by
Dionysius of Halicarnassus as fighting for Pyrrhus in the
Battle of Asculum. In 272 BC, the Romans captured Tarentum. In 267 BC, Rome conquered the Messapii and
Brundisium. This city became Rome's port for sailing to the eastern Mediterranean. Subsequently, the Messapii were rarely mentioned in the historical record. They became Romanised. During
Hannibal's invasion of Italy in the
Second Punic War (218–201 BC), the Messapii remained loyal to the Romans. The
Battle of Cannae, where Hannibal routed the forces of the Romans and their
Italic allies, was fought in the heart of the neighbouring Peucetii territory. The Roman survivors were welcomed into nearby Canusium. Part of the final stages of the war were fought out at
Monte Gargano, in the northernmost part of Apulia, in the territory of the Dauni. ==Language and writing==