Maniots

Maniots

Μανιάτες
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis, Greek revolutionary of Maniot origin.
Total population
Unknown
Regions with significant populations
Greece, Australia, Canada, United States
Languages
Modern Greek (Standard and Maniot Greek)
Religion
Until c. 10th century: Ancient Greek religion; from c. 10th century to present: Greek Orthodox Christianity

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The Maniots or Maniates (Greek: Μανιάτες) are an ethnic Greek subgroup that traditionally inhabit the Mani Peninsula; located in western Laconia and eastern Messenia, in the southern Peloponnese, Greece. They were also formerly known as Mainotes, and the peninsula as Maina.

The Maniots claim to be the descendants of the ancient Spartans and they have often been described as such.^[1][2] The terrain is mountainous and inaccessible (until recently^[when?] many Mani villages could be accessed only by sea), and the regional name "Mani" is thought to have meant originally "dry" or "barren". The name "Maniot" is a derivative meaning "of Mani". In the early modern period, Maniots had a reputation as fierce and proudly independent warriors, who practiced piracy and fierce blood feuds. For the most part, the Maniots lived in fortified villages (and "house-towers") where they defended their lands against the armies of William II Villehardouin and later against those of the Ottoman Empire.