Background
The Albanians, who were already present in the strategically important triangle between Durrës, Ohrid and Corfu during the power struggles of the 13th century, were in great demand as allies and mercenaries; they increasingly expanded outside of their mountainous homes and began imposing themselves in the surrounding lowlands. [1] The expansions of the growing Serbian Empire into northern Epirus and Macedonia also encouraged the Albanians to move further south. [2] At the beginning of the 14th century, Albanian tribes began migrating to Thessaly, where they lived primarily as autonomous nomads who controlled the mountainous parts of the region. The main tribes in this region were the Mazaraki, the Bua and the Malakasioi [3] - all three would later be present in Epirus. [4] After 1318, the Albanian tribes began to invade and ravage the countryside of Thessaly instead of continuing their peaceful migrations, forcing the Greek and Catalan authorities to withdraw to their strongholds. [5]
It is possible that the Albanians of Thessaly were recruited to fight in the wars involving the Catalan Company; a contemporary source of 1325 distinguished three groups of local Albanians - those who served themselves, those who sided with the Greeks, and those who sided with the Catalans. From this point onwards, every ruler of Thessaly employed Albanians into their service, and by the 1330s, Albanians were given military holdings in Phanari. [1] The Albanians of Epirus Nova seized the fortresses of Skrapar, Timoro and Këlcyrë, but they were soon defeated by Turkish mercenaries in the Byzantine army. During this same campaign, the Despotate of Epirus was subdued and once again made part of the Byzantine Empire for a brief period of time. In 1341, with the onset of the Byzantine Civil War, the Albanians yet again launched a successful invasion of Pogoniani and Livisda. [4] Prior to the outbreak of the civil war, Byzantine general Cantacuzene had planned to lead an army westwards to subdue the Albanians of Pogoniani and Livisda, who were regularly raiding and plundering towns as far south as Akarnania and Balagrita. The Byzantine enclave in Berat, Vlorë and Spinaritsa was lost to the Albanians by 1341. [2] In Thessaly, however, the Albanians desisted from raiding local towns, and according to Cantacuzene himself, it was due to him giving the tribes a mere warning. [1]
Serbian Empire
Many Albanians served in Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan's armies as mercenaries, which facilitated further migration of Albanians towards the south as Dušan began conquering parts of Greece in the 1340s. [5]
In 1342, the Byzantine governor of Thessaly invaded southern Epirus to end the revolt of Arta, and probably employed the Albanians of Thessaly who were stationed in the Phanari region. [4] Later that year, Thessaly submitted to Stefan Dušan, and Dušan's conquest of Epirus and Thessaly was complete by the end of 1348. Dušan appointed one of his relatives and generals - Preljub - to govern Thessaly, and he appointed Symeon Uroš to govern Epirus. Preljub had conquered Thessaly for Dušan and was given the honorary title of Caesar. [2] Preljub struggled to subdue the Albanian and Vlach tribes of Thessaly and was forced to turn his attention towards the now Byzantine emperor Cantacuzene, who had invaded Macedonia in 1350 in an attempt to recapture the Byzantine provinces lost to the Serbian Empire and was now at Thessaly's border. Cantacuzene was repulsed by Preljub after unsuccessfully besieging Servia, and his territorial gains in Thessaly were soon recovered by the Serbs. [3]
Stefan Dušan died in December 1355, [4] and the Serbian Empire began to fragment apart as a number of different successor states rose in its place. The peace between Preljub and the Albanians did not last for very long, and Preljub was killed by the Albanians during a clash near Trikkala shortly after Dušan's death. [3] [2] The Byzantine Empire was too preoccupied to intervene after Preljub's death in an attempt to retake Epirus and Thessaly, but Nikephoros II, son of the last Despot of Epirus John II Orsini, saw the fractioning of the Serbian Empire as an opportunity to recover his father's lost territorial and titular possessions. [3]
Arrival of Nikephoros II
Nikephoros felt no personal loyalty to the new Byzantine emperor, John V Palaiologos, and sailed to Thessaly in 1356 from his governorship of Aenos. Due to the support he received from his brother-in-law and governor of Epirus Symeon Uroš as well as locals who were both happy to rid themselves of Serbian rule and eager for help against the Albanians, Nikephoros conquered Thessaly without much difficulty. After becoming ruler of Thessaly and Akarnania, he ousted family rivals and targeted Venetian-held Leukas, capturing its ruler. [3] [2] Nikephoros then set his sights on Epirus, and after Symeon was expelled from the capital city of Arta, the town submitted to Nikephoros' rule. However, although Nikephoros controlled the towns of Epirus and Aetolia, the countryside was firmly under the control of the Albanians. [6]
Nikephoros was driven to launch a campaign against the Albanians by the local Greeks who had been dispossessed of much of their territory by the Albanian tribesmen. Despite his limited success, he stirred the animosity of the Albanians against him, and any alliance between the Albanians and Symeon (the former governor of Epirus) would have been problematic. [6] However, Nikephoros' campaign was marred by his admiral Limpidarios' betrayal, who seized Aenos for himself in Nikephoros' absence. Nikephoros' wife, Maria Cantacuzene (the daughter of former Byzantine emperor John Cantacuzene), initially fled to Constantinople, then joined her husband in Thessaly. Despite their reunion, Nikephoros, who was advised to seek a political marriage, left Maria under guard in Arta and proposed to a Serbian princess who was the sister of Stefan Dušan's widow, Helena of Bulgaria. After escaping to the Morea with her brother Manuel Cantacuzene's help, Maria's plight and Nikephoros' pursuit of a Serbian alliance angered the Albanians, leading to threats of war against him. [3] [2] [6]
According to John Cantacuzene himself in his contemporary work, Nikephoros' poor treatment of his wife Maria - a Cantacuzene - angered the Albanians, who considered themselves allies of the Cantacuzenati. While Cantacuzene's work might have exaggerated the affection his family commanded from the Albanians, they reflect the profound influence of honour, family ties, and patronage in late medieval Epirus and Thessaly. [1] The Albanians used the scandal as a pretext for rebellion, and either out of fear or a realisation of his mistake amid Albanian unrest, Nikephoros annulled the Serbian marriage plans and recalled Maria. However, Not wanting people to think that their loyalty to him depended on Maria, Nikephoros had organised an expedition to subdue the rebellious Albanians before she returned. [2] Nikephoros wanted to crush the Albanians for daring to threaten him in the hopes of changing his policies. [6]
Battle
Nikephoros hoped to expel the Albanians from Epirus, [4] and he hired a group of Turkish corsairs who were plundering Thessaly as mercenaries to help him against the Albanians. [2] [7] Nikephoros marched into the region where the Albanians had settled, and in turn, the Albanians mobilised a large force of their own. [6]
Nikephoros attacked the Albanians, who were led by Karl Thopia, near Acheloos in Aetolia. [8] [3] [9] In the ensuing battle, Nikephoros' army was destroyed by the Albanians and Nikephoros himself was killed during the fighting, resulting in an Albanian victory. [4] [2] [10] [1] [6]
The exact date of the Battle of Achelous has been debated, with primary sources suggesting it occurred three years, two months, and a few days after Nikephoros' arrival in Thessaly in 1356, placing his death in 1359. However, discrepancies in historical accounts and theories by scholars like J. Voyatzidis and C. Hopf suggest alternative dates ranging from 1358 to 1359, based on interpretations of conquest timelines and the involvement of key figures. Ultimately, Hopf's interpretation, aligning with most of the evidence available, suggests the battle occurred in late spring or early summer of 1358, despite debates over the exact year. Attributions to a later year and even a different leader for the Albanians (claimed by some to be Gjin Bua Shpata and Peter Losha rather than Karl Thopia) are probably based on misunderstandings of primary sources that were referring to different events. [3]
Aftermath
Nikephoros' death left Epirus and Thessaly without a ruler, [6] and Karl Thopia left the victory spoils to Gjin Bua Shpata and Pjetër Losha. [11] Symeon quickly marched to Thessaly to fill the power vacuum left behind by Nikephoros' death and was welcomed and crowned by the local Greeks in Trikkala, with most of Thessaly following suit. Symeon then focused on reclaiming his former holdings in Epirus, and since most of the major towns in the region were threatened by the Albanian tribesmen, they quickly submitted to his rule. Meanwhile, Hlapen marched onto Symeon's Thessalian holdings and took Damasis, but his campaign was halted when he and Symeon organised an alliance through marriage as well as a settlement that resulted in the transfer of certain territories over to Hlapen. [6]
The governors Symeon appointed prior to his departure from Epirus failed to control the region, and the migration of the Albanians continued in ever greater numbers. Soon, they had settled throughout Epirus and took control of most of the towns, including Arta, prompting Symeon - who was not strong enough to expel the Albanians - to try and maintain indirect control of the region by recognising important local figures as his deputies. The most powerful leaders in Epirus and Aetolia were the Albanian chieftains Gjin Bua Shpata and Pjetër Losha, who acquired most of these two regions in the mid-to-late 1350s. Both chieftains were recognised as Despots by Symeon, and Aetolia and southern Epirus were divided between them; Pjetër Losha established the Despotate of Arta around the city of Arta itself, whilst Gjin Bua Shpata established the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto around Angelokastron. As such, Epirus came under Albanian rule. [6]
Despite their firm rule over Epirus, the Albanians were not able to create a centralised state to replace the Greek or Serbian states that preceded them as a result of their tribal divisions and the regular feuds between them. There was no central authority to govern over the Albanian tribesmen, whose tribal territories were constantly changing as a result of their quarrels with other tribes. By late 1366 or 1367, only one city in the region - Ioannina - was not controlled by the Albanians, and its inhabitants requested the appointment of a governor by Symeon. Symeon appointed Thomas Preljubović, initiating a series of new conflicts between Thomas and the Albanians. [6] The city remained under Greek governance, and as a traditional centre of Byzantine imperial ideology, Ioannina made every effort to resist the threat of the Albanians. Three foreign despots were successively appointed to govern Ioannina, all of which utilised their alliances with the Ottomans to defend the city from the Albanian tribes. [4] The third of these despots - Carlo I Tocco - finally managed to subdue the Albanian clans and seized Arta in 1416, but he had no reason to expel them; Carlo's army consisted mostly of Albanians from the beginning of his conquests. In fact, the army of Ioannina consisted primarily of Albanians both before and during Carlo's reign. [4] Nevertheless, Albanians were never welcomed in Ioannina during this time. [12]
When the Roman Empire divided into east and west in 395, the territories of modern Albania became a part of the Byzantine Empire. At the end of the 12th century, the Principality of Arbanon was formed which lasted until mid 13th century, after its dissolution it was followed with the creation of the Albanian Kingdom after an alliance between the Albanian noblemen and Angevin dynasty. After a war against the Byzantine empire led the kingdom occasionally decrease in size until the Angevins eventually lost their rule in Albania and led the territory ruled by several different Albanian chieftains until the mid 14th century which for a short period of time were conquered by the short-lived empire of Serbia. After its fall in 1355 several chieftains regained their rule and significantly expanded until the arrival of the Ottomans after the Battle of Savra.
The Despotate of Epirus was one of the Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire established in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 by a branch of the Angelos dynasty. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire during the subsequent struggle for Constantinople, along with the Empire of Nicaea and the Empire of Trebizond; its rulers briefly proclaiming themselves as Emperors in 1227–1242. The term "Despotate of Epirus" is, like "Byzantine Empire" itself, a modern historiographic convention and not a name in use at the time.
Arta is a city in northwestern Greece and capital of the regional unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia. Arta is known for the medieval bridge over the Arachthos River, as well as for its ancient sites from the era of Pyrrhus of Epirus and its well-preserved 13th-century castle. Arta's Byzantine history is reflected in its many Byzantine churches; perhaps the best known is the Panagia Paregoretissa, built about 1290 by Despot Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas.
Nikephoros II Orsini Doukas, was the ruler of Epirus from 1335 to 1338 and from 1356 until his death in 1359.
Simeon Uroš, nicknamed Siniša (Синиша), was a self-proclaimed Emperor of Serbs and Greeks, from 1356 to 1370. He was son of Serbian King Stephen Uroš III and Byzantine Princess Maria Palaiologina. Initially, he was awarded the title of despot in 1346, and appointed governor of southern Epirus and Acarnania in 1347 by his half-brother, Serbian Emperor Stephen Dušan. After Dušan's death in 1355, the Serbian throne passed to Dušan's son Stephen Uroš V, but despot Simeon decided to seize the opportunity in order to impose himself as co-ruler and lord of all southern provinces of the Serbian Empire. That led him to conflict with his nephew in 1356, when Simeon started to expand his control in southern regions of the Empire, trying to take Thessaly and Macedonia. He proclaimed himself Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, creating a separate state, centered in regions of Thessaly and Epirus, where he ruled until his death in 1370. He was succeeded by his son Jovan Uroš.
Thomas Preljubović was ruler of the Despotate of Epirus in Ioannina from 1367 to his death in 1384. Thomas was an unpopular ruler and is appraised very negatively by his contemporaries. On December 23, 1384 he was stabbed to death by his guards at dawn. The conspiracy of the faction which overthrew him involved his wife Maria Angelina who succeeded him.
Esau de' Buondelmonti was the ruler of Ioannina and its surrounding area from 1385 until his death in 1411, with the Byzantine title of Despot.
Carlo I Tocco was the hereditary Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos from 1376, and ruled as the Despot of Epirus from 1411 until his death on July 4, 1429.
Gjin Bua Shpata was an Albanian ruler in Western Greece with the title of Despot. Together with Pjetër Losha, he led raids into Epirus, Acarnania and Aetolia in 1358. He was recognized as Despot by the titular Eastern Roman Emperor in the early 1360s and ruled Aetolia (1360s–?), Angelokastron (?–1399), Naupactus (1378–1399), and Arta (1370s–1399). He was born sometime in the first half of the 14th century in Epirus, as his father was a ruler in the region.
The Despotate of Arta was a despotate established by Albanian rulers during the 14th century, after the defeat of the local Despot of Epirus, Nikephoros II Orsini, by Albanian tribesmen in the Battle of Achelous in 1359. The Despotate ceased to exist in 1416, when it passed to Carlo I Tocco.
Muriki or Maurice Shpata was the ruler of Arta from late 1399/early 1400 until his death in 1414 or 1415. Muriq’s reign was dominated by his wars with Carlo I Tocco. Muriq was able to defend his capital of Arta, but despite some victories failed to prevent the fall of Ioannina to Tocco. As a result, his brother Yaqub Shpata who succeeded him was defeated in October 1416, ending the Despotate of Arta.
Pjetër Losha was an Albanian clan leader in medieval Epirus. He belonged to the Losha fis and was the leader of a combined force of his own clan and the fis of Mazaraki and Malakasi. In 1360, he became Despot of Arta, Rogoi and the area of Amphilochia. He died in 1374 and was succeeded by his close ally, Gjin Bua Shpata. The Chronicle of the Tocco is an important primary source for his life and the Albanians in medieval Epirus in general.
The term Albanian Principalities refers to a number of principalities created in the Middle Ages in Albania and the surrounding regions in the western Balkans that were ruled by Albanian nobility. The 12th century marked the first Albanian principality, the Principality of Arbanon. It was later, however, in the 2nd half of the 14th century that these principalities became stronger, especially with the fall of the Serbian Empire after 1355. Some of these principalities were notably united in 1444 under the military alliance called League of Lezhë up to 1480 which defeated the Ottoman Empire in more than 28 battles. They covered modern day Albania,western and central Kosovo, Epirus, areas up to Corinth, western North Macedonia, southern Montenegro. The leaders of these principalities were some of the most noted Balkan figures in the 14th and 15th centuries such as Gjin Bua Shpata, Andrea II Muzaka, Gjon Zenebishi, Karl Topia, Andrea Gropa, Balsha family, Gjergj Arianiti, Gjon Kastrioti, Skanderbeg, Dukagjini family and Lek Dukagjini.
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. 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.
Preljub was a Serbian magnate who served Emperor Stefan Dušan as vojvoda (general). He participated in the southern conquests and held Thessaly with the rank of caesar (kesar) in 1348–56. His son Thomas Preljubović was Despot of Epirus in 1366–84.
Sgouros Shpata was the Lord of Arta briefly in 1400, and the Lord of Angelokastron from 1401 until his death in 1403, during warfare in a civil war.
The Malakasi were a historical Albanian tribe in medieval Epirus, Thessaly and later southern Greece. Their name is a reference to their area of origin, Dangëllia in southern Albania, centered around the village of Malakas, on the Western slope of mount Radomir. They appear in historical records as one of the Albanian tribes which raided and invaded Thessaly after 1318 and throughout the 14th century were active in the struggles of the Albanian Despotate of Arta against the Despotate of Epirus.
The Spata family was an Albanian noble family which rose to prominence in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, initially as Venetian vassals and later as Ottoman vassals. The family's progenitors were the brothers Gjin Bua Shpata and Skurra Bua Shpata. Shpata means "sword" in Albanian.
The Albanian-Epirote War of 1374–75 was waged between the Despotate of Arta, led by Gjin Bua Shpata and the Despotate of Epirus, led by Thomas II Preljubović.
The Mazreku, or alternatively, the Mazaraki, Mazarech and Masarachi, were a historical Albanian tribe in medieval Epirus and Thessaly. They appear in historical records as one of the Albanian tribes which raided and invaded Thessaly after 1318 and throughout the 14th century were active in the struggles of the Albanian Despotate of Arta against the Despotate of Epirus.