Albania under Serbia in the Middle Ages

Last updated March 01, 2024

After the weakening of the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian Empire in the middle and late 13th century, the northern territory of modern-day Albania became part of Serbia. Firstly, as part of Serbian Grand Principality and later as part of Serbian Empire. Serb control in southern Albania is unclear. Some suggest they acquired towns, but others believe they only obtained submission, possibly nominal, from Albanian tribes. Central and southern Albanian towns were not conquered until 1343–45.^[1] Between 1272 and 1368, some areas of the modern-day state were also ruled by the Angevins as the Kingdom of Albania. In the late 14th century, Albanian Principalities were created throughout Albania.

Background

Expansion of the Serbian state

In the 11th century, the Serbian states were concentrated around two principalities Zeta and Raška.^[3] In 1172, Stefan Nemanja managed to unite these two principalities into the first medieval Serbian state. Stefan Dečanski made a breakthrough by defeating Bulgaria at Kyustendil in 1330. This battle made Serbia the leading Balkan power. From the late 13th century increasing wealth from mining enabled Serbia's rulers to recruit mercenaries, while they also managed to significantly advance their military equitment. However, it was Stefan Dušan who became the greatest conqueror in Serbian history. Trade and mining had now made Serbia rich and Dušan used this wealth to recruit large, mostly German, mercenary force. His army consisted mostly of Serbian feudal forces, but included also Albanians, Greeks and other European ethnic groups.^[4] By the period of 1343–1345, all Albanian lands was fully under Serbian rule.^[5] And in 1345, Stefan Dušan were to be crowned 'Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks' - to which it was later added 'Bulgarians and Albanians'.

Albania under Serbian rule

The founder of the Serbian monarchy, Stefan Nemanja managed to control a part of northern Albania, which included cities of Shkodër, Dajç and Drivast. He was a native of what is now Podgorica, whence he built up a compact Serbian state, comprising the Zeta (modern Montenegro), and the Land of Hum (the "Hill" country, now the Herzegovina), northern Albania and the modern kingdom of Serbia, with a sea-frontage on the Bocche di Cattaro, whose municipality in 1186 passed a resolution describing him as "Our Lord Nemanja, Great jupan of Rascia."

In 1219 the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church was set in Peja, Dukagjin in modern-day Kosovo after the church obtained autocephalous or independent status.

In 1282 the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin gained control of the Albanian cities of Lezhë and Debar and, at some time in 1284, the city of Dyrrachion (modern Durrës).

During the reign of Stefan Dushan, 1331–55, taking advantage of the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, the area of Elbasan, Krujë, Berat and Vlora (Principality of Valona) were added to the nascent Serbian Empire. In 1346 the patriarchal throne was permanently established at the Pec Monastery. In 1346, after Epirus and Thessaly were added to the Serbian Empire, Dusan was crowned the emperor of the Serbs and Greeks in the city of Skopje. A legal code was promulgated and the bishopric of Pec was proclaimed a patriarchate which established the Serbian Orthodox Church as independent from Constantinople. Prizren became the political capital of the Serbian Empire and was the chief Serbian city of trade and commerce. After the death of Dushan in 1355, Kosovo was ruled by King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic, who was a co-ruler with Tsar Uros, the last of the Nemanjic rulers.^[6]

Philip V of France and Pope John XXII, sought to turn the Albanian nobles in northern Albania against Stefan Milutin. In June 1319, the Pope sent several letters to the local feudal lords, urging them to overthrow the rule of the Serbian king.^[7] Stefan Milutin has suppressed rebels without much difficulty.^[8]

After the fall of the Serbian Empire, several Albanian Principalities were created in its territories.

Rule and rivalry in the Despotate of Epirus

After Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan conquered Epirus and Acarnania in 1348, he appointed as governor of these regions Simeon Uroš, whom he had granted the title of despotes traditionally reserved for emperors' brothers and younger sons. Simeon Uroš consolidated his position in relation to the local aristocracy by marrying Thomais, the daughter of the former ruler of Epirus, John Orsini.

Simeon Uroš's relatively uneventful governorship was interrupted when, shortly after Dušan's death in 1355, his brother-in-law Nikephoros II Orsini, the deposed ruler of Epirus, reappeared in Greece and gained the support of the nobility in Thessaly and Epirus. In 1356 Nikephoros entered Epirus and forced Simeon Uroš to flee to Kastoria.

In the summer of 1358, Nikephoros II Orsini, the last despot of Epirus of the Orsini dynasty, fought with the Albanian chieftains in Acheloos, Acarnania. The Albanian chieftains won the war and they managed to create two new states in the southern territories of the Despotate of Epirus. Because a number of Albanian lords actively supported the successful Serbian campaign in Thessaly and Epirus, the Serbian Tsar granted them specific regions and offered them the Byzantine title of despotes in order to secure their loyalty.

The two Albanian lead states were: the first with its capital in Arta was under the Albanian nobleman Peter Losha, and the second, centered in Angelokastron, was ruled by Gjin Bua Shpata. After the death of Peter Losha in 1374, the Albanian despotates of Arta and Angelocastron were united under the rule of Despot Gjin Bua Shpata. The territory of this despotate was from the Corinth Gulf to Acheron River in the North, neighboring with the Principality of John Zenevisi, another state created in the area of the Despotate of Epirus. The Despotate of Epirus managed to control in this period only the eastern part of Epirus, with its capital in Ioannina. During this period the Despotate of Epirus was ruled by Thomas II Preljubović, who was in an open conflict with Gjin Bue Shpata. In 1375, Gjin Bue Shpata started an offensive in Ioannina, but he couldn't invade the city, as Preljubović received help from the Ottomans to aid him in the cities defense. Although Shpata married with the sister of Thomas II Preljubović, Helena their war did not stop.

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References

↑ Fine, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. pp. 290–291. ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5.
↑ David Nicolle; (1988) Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000–1568 (Men-at-Arms) pp. 35, 37; Osprey Publishing, ISBN 0850458331
↑ Cirkovic
↑ David Nicolle; (1988) Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000–1568 (Men-at-Arms) pp. 35, 37; Osprey Publishing, ISBN 0850458331
↑ Braudel, Fernand (1995). The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean world in the age of Philip II, Volume 2. University of California Press. p. 664. ISBN 0-520-20330-5.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2008-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
↑ Миљан, М. Гогић (2018). УНИВЕРЗИТЕТ У БЕОГРАДУ ФИЛОЗОФСКИ ФАКУЛТЕТ Миљан М. Гогић ПОЛИТИЧКО И ДРУШТВЕНО УРЕЂЕЊЕ КОТОРА У ДРУГОЈ ПОЛОВИНИ XII И XIII ВИЈЕКУ (докторска дисертација) Београд, 2018 (PDF) (Милутинови противници, Филип Тарентски и папа Јован XXII, настојали су да против њега окрену албанске великаше у сјеверној Албанији. У том правцу наведени папа је јуна 1319. године упутио неколико писама локалним феудалцима, позивајући их да збаце власт српског краља. Судећи по поменима Милутиновог наследника Стефана у тим крајевима, на почетку његове владавине, изгледа да ти планови нијесу дали резултата." (Stefan Milutin's opponents, Philip Tarentsky and Pope John XXII, sought to turn against him Albanian nobles in northern Albania. To this end, the Pope in June 1319 sent several letters to the local feudal lords, urging them to overthrow the rule of the Serbian king. Judging by the mention of Stefan Milutin's successor Stefan in those parts, at the beginning of his reign, these plans did not seem to have worked.) ed.). Belgrad. Retrieved 17 April 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
↑ Fine, John V. A.; Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5 . Retrieved 9 April 2020.

Library of Congress Country Study of Albania

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[Fine1994-290--1] Fine, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. pp. 290–291. ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5.

[2] David Nicolle; (1988) Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000–1568 (Men-at-Arms) pp. 35, 37; Osprey Publishing, ISBN 0850458331

[3] Cirkovic

[4] David Nicolle; (1988) Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000–1568 (Men-at-Arms) pp. 35, 37; Osprey Publishing, ISBN 0850458331

[5] Braudel, Fernand (1995). The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean world in the age of Philip II, Volume 2. University of California Press. p. 664. ISBN 0-520-20330-5.

[6] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2008-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[7] Миљан, М. Гогић (2018). УНИВЕРЗИТЕТ У БЕОГРАДУ ФИЛОЗОФСКИ ФАКУЛТЕТ Миљан М. Гогић ПОЛИТИЧКО И ДРУШТВЕНО УРЕЂЕЊЕ КОТОРА У ДРУГОЈ ПОЛОВИНИ XII И XIII ВИЈЕКУ (докторска дисертација) Београд, 2018 (PDF) (Милутинови противници, Филип Тарентски и папа Јован XXII, настојали су да против њега окрену албанске великаше у сјеверној Албанији. У том правцу наведени папа је јуна 1319. године упутио неколико писама локалним феудалцима, позивајући их да збаце власт српског краља. Судећи по поменима Милутиновог наследника Стефана у тим крајевима, на почетку његове владавине, изгледа да ти планови нијесу дали резултата." (Stefan Milutin's opponents, Philip Tarentsky and Pope John XXII, sought to turn against him Albanian nobles in northern Albania. To this end, the Pope in June 1319 sent several letters to the local feudal lords, urging them to overthrow the rule of the Serbian king. Judging by the mention of Stefan Milutin's successor Stefan in those parts, at the beginning of his reign, these plans did not seem to have worked.) ed.). Belgrad. Retrieved 17 April 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[8] Fine, John V. A.; Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5 . Retrieved 9 April 2020.

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