Morgetes

The Morgetes (Μόργητες, Morgetes) were an ancient Lucanian tribe, of Pelasgian descent, who occupied the region of southern Italy from Calabria to Sicily.

History
The Morgetes were part of the Italic peoples, which occupied both the Ionian and Tyrrhenian shores of Calabria. According to some ancient historians, they were one of the branches of the Oenotrians, along with the Chones, the Itali and the Sicels. Others hold that they inhabited Italy before the Oenotrians and were driven out by them, fleeing to Sicily. Yet others identify them with the group of the Italoi who accepted the rule of the mythical king Morges (mythology) after the death of his father Italus. A final definition claimed that they were the Sicels who moved into Sicily under the leadership of King Morges. In this version, Morges was the brother of Italus and son of Siculus, who was also the founder of Rome.

In Calabria, they were said to inhabit the inland regions according to the works of Proclus, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, which describe the Morgetes and King Morges. Morges was reputed to have founded the site of San Giorgio Morgeto, which was fortified as a castle in the 9th and 10th century AD.

In Sicily, the Morgetes were also meant to have settled in the interior, driving away the Sicans and establishing the city of Morgantina and other communities in the 10th century BC.