Maezaeis

Homeland of the Maezaeis (below Catari, yellow mark)

Maezaeis or Maizaioi or Mazaioi (Old-Greek: Μαζαῖοις) were a sub-tribe of the Illyrians who settled in what later became Pannonia.^[1] They were autochthonous, and inhabited the interior of today's Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly in the Sana basin and the middle Vrbas river, and around the Vrbanja and Ugar Rivers (550., BC – 300). AC.y^[2]

This area was on the maps of the time referred to as Donji Kraji (Lower end-lands). Some areas of their territory were shared with the Dassaretaes and Autariatess. They were bordered on the east by the Dardans, on the west by Iapodes, the Una river, Krka waterfalls, and Iasis, on the north by Sava - Drava - Danube, and on the south by Liburni, Delmatae, and Breuci.

Like other Illyrians, Mezei lived in fortified or semi-fortified settlements, subsisting on agriculture, hunting and fishing. Ancient writers like Herodian, Livy, Pliny, Strabo, Theophrastus and others described the Illyrians as tall, strong warriors, and heavy drinkers. They did not maintain personal hygiene, and lived in patriarchal communities. Every eight years they divided their lands according to each other's struggles and resistance to the enemy. Maizaioi had 269 judges.

In 10AD Roman administrators dissolved the province of Illyricum and divided its lands between the new provinces of Pannonia in the north and Dalmatia in the south. The term Illyria remained in use in Late Latin and throughout the medieval period

See also

• List of ancient tribes in Illyria

References

1. Wilkes, J. J. (1992): The Illyrians, ISBN 0-631-19807-5.
2. Šašel Kos M., Kos P., Talbert R., Gillies S., Elliott T., Becker J.. Places: 197364: Maezaei. Pleiades.