TheEzeritai (Greek:Ἐζερῖται) were aSlavic tribe that settled in thePeloponnese in southernGreece during theMiddle Ages. In the early decades of the 7th century, Slavic tribes (Sclaveni) settled throughout theBalkans following the collapse of theByzantine Empire's defense of theDanube frontier with some groups reaching as far south as the Peloponnese.[1] The Sclaveni often settled in small groups (i.e., families and clans) and their demographic impact in mainland Greece was both weak and diffuse.[2] Of these, two groups are known by name from later sources, the Ezeritai and theMelingoi, both having settled on the slopes ofMount Taygetos.
The Ezeritai apparently settled in the area known asHelos (Greek for "swamp"), from which their name derives (South Slavicezero meaning "lake").[3]
The Ezeritai are mentioned in theDe administrando imperio ofByzantine emperorConstantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 945–959), who records that they paid atribute of 300 goldnomismata. The emperor further records that they had rebelled, along with the Melingoi, during the reign ofRomanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–945), but were defeated by thestrategosKrinites Arotras and forced to pay double tribute as a consequence. They are not mentioned thereafter, except for a reference to a bishopric of Ezera in the area, dating to 1340.[4]