Messenian Wars contests between Sparta and Messenia in ancient Greece. The First messenian War began in 743 BC and ended in 724 BC. Hostilities between the states at Laconia ( Sparta ) and Messenia were constant, even when the war was over. The Spartans won the war and made the Messenians Helots ( peasents forced to stay on the land ). The Second Messenian War started with an uprise of the Messenian Helots and lasted from 685 to 668 BC. Spartans feared Messenians for their wealth and their influence in other Greek cities. Messenia was a rich trading country, while dealing in trade was forbidden by the fool blood Spartans.