Mes·se·ni·a 
(mĭ-sēnē-ə, -sēnyə)
(mĭ-sēnē-ə, -sēnyə) An ancient region of southwest Greece in the Peloponnesus on the Ionian Sea. It fought a series of wars against Sparta c. 736 to 371 BC. The Romans conquered the area in 146 BC.
Mes·seni·an adj. & n.