Comita Muzaka Komita Muzaka | |
---|---|
Princess of Zeta Lady of Berat, Vlorë and Kaninë | |
Princess Consort of Zeta | |
Reign | 1378-1385 |
Successor | Jelena Lazarević |
Lady of Berat, Vlorë and Kaninë | |
Reign | 1385-1396 |
Successor | Mrkša Žarković |
Born | 14th century |
Died | 1396 |
Spouse | Balsha II |
Issue | Rugjina Balsha |
House | Muzaka |
Father | Andrea II Muzaka |
Mother | Euphemia Mataranga |
Religion | Eastern Orthodox |
Comita Muzaka (Albanian : Komita Muzaka), also known as Komnena or Komnene was an Albanian princess and member of the Muzaka family.
Comita was the daughter of Andrea II Muzaka, who held the titles of Despot of Albania and Epirus, as well as Sebastokrator, from the noble Muzaka family. Her mother was Euphemia Mataranga, from the noble Mataranga family. She was the fourth youngest of five siblings, yet the eldest of the two daughters. However, little is known about her early life. [1] [2] [3]
She was married to Balsha II of the noble Balsha family. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Andrea II Muzaka granted Balsha II control of Vlorë and Kaninë as part of a dowry following Balsha's marriage to Muzaka's daughter, Komita. This arrangement, made after the death of Alexander Komnenos Asen in 1371, also ensured Balsha's support against mutual enemies like Marko. It's unclear whether Muzaka had already conquered the cities or if Balsha was planning to take them, but the agreement solidified Balsha's claim to the territories through marriage. [9] [10]
Her husband Balsha II was killed at the Battle of Savra in 1385 where he was beheaded. [11] She subsequently assumed control of the Principality of Vlorë, becoming its primary ruler following the death of her husband, and ruled until her death in 1396. [12] [13]
Her daughter Rugjina Balsha married Mrkša Žarković in 1391 and he reigned the Principality of Vlorë in the right of his wife until his death in 1414. [14] Rugjina then ruled from 1414 to 1417 until the Ottomans took control of the territory, where she then fled and took refuge in Corfu. [15] [16]
Comita Muzaka married Balsha II. The couple had one child: [17] [18]
Balša Balšić died September 18, 1385) or Balša II was the Lord of Lower Zeta from 1378 to 1385. He was a member of the Balšić noble family, which ruled Zeta from ca. 1362 to 1421.
Karl Thopia was an Albanian feudal prince and warlord who ruled Albanian domains from 1358 until the first Ottoman conquest of Albania in 1388. Thopia usually maintained good relations with the Roman Curia.
Gjergj Thopia ; fl. 1388 – d. 1392) was Prince of Albania and the Lord of Durrës from 1388 to 1392. He was the son of Karl Topia and Voisava Balsha. Gjergj married Teodora, the daughter of sevastokrator Branko Mladenović. During their reign, they were documented as possessing a crown decorated with pearls and precious stones and a golden crown, and four pairs of pearl earrings.
Hélène of Anjou, was a member of the House of Anjou. She was an illegitimate daughter of Robert, King of Naples.
Gjon Muzaka was an Albanian nobleman from the Muzaka family, that has historically ruled in the Myzeqe region, Albania. In 1510 he wrote a Breve memoria de li discendenti de nostra casa Musachi. The work was published in Karl Hopf's Chroniques gréco-romaines, Paris 1873, pp. 270–340.
The Principality of Valona and Kanina, also known as the Despotate of Valona and Kanina or simply the Principality of Valona (1346–1417) was a medieval principality in Albania, roughly encompassing the territories of the modern counties of Vlorë (Valona), Fier, and Berat. Initially a vassal of the Serbian Empire, it became an independent lordship after 1355, although de facto under Venetian influence, and remained as such until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1417.
The Muzaka family was an noble Albanian family that ruled over the region of Myzeqe in the Late Middle Ages. The Muzaka are also referred to by some authors as a tribe or a clan. The earliest historical document that mentions the Muzaka family is written by the Byzantine historian Anna Komnene. At the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century members of the Muzaka family controlled a region between the rivers of Devoll and Vjosë. Some of them were loyal to the Byzantine Empire while some of them allied with Charles of Anjou who gave them impressive Byzantine-like titles in order to subdue them more easily. In the 1340s, Stefan Dušan pressed further south into Albania, and by 1343-45 had taken central towns and territories in southern Albania, including domains of the Muzaka family. However, they would fall back under local control after his death in 1355. After the Battle of Savra in 1385 the territory of Albania came under the Ottoman Empire; they served the Ottomans until 1444 when Theodor Corona Musachi joined Skanderbeg's rebellion. When the Ottomans suppressed Skanderbeg's rebellion and captured the territory of Venetian Albania in the 15th century many members of the Muzaka family retreated to Italy. Those who stayed in Ottoman Albania lost their feudal rights, some converted to Islam and achieved high ranks in the Ottoman military and administrative hierarchy.
Teodor II Muzaka, was an Albanian Prince from the House of Muzaka, he was the Lord of Berat and Lord of Myzeqe.
The ruins of St. Anthony Church is located at Rodon Cape in Durrës County, is a Cultural Monument of Albania. It became a Cultural Monument in 1963. It is also the location where Andrea II Muzaka and his wife Euphemia Mataranga got married most likely around 1328, then buried later on.
John Komnenos Asen was the ruler of the Principality of Vlorë from c. 1345 to 1363, initially as a vassal of the Serbian Empire, and after 1355 as a largely independent lord. Descended from high-ranking Bulgarian nobility, John was a brother of both Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and Helena of Bulgaria, the wife of Tsar Stephen Dušan of Serbia. Perhaps in search of better opportunities, he emigrated to Serbia, where his sister was married. There, he was granted the title of despot by Stephen Dušan, who placed him in charge of his territories in modern south Albania.
Helena Thopia was an Albanian princess of the Thopia family who held the Krujë region as sovereign lady for two terms; 1388-1392 and 1394–1403.
Ruđina Balšić was a Zetan noblewoman and ruled upon today Montenegro and Albanian territory from the Balšić family. She married Mrkša Žarković and inherited his realm, the Principality of Vlorë, when he died in 1414. After unsuccessful negotiations to sell her duchy to the Venetians, the Ottomans captured it in 1417. She fled to Corfu, then to Zeta where she was governess of Budva from 1418. In 1420, during the Second Scutari War, she surrendered Budva to the Venetians without any resistance and moved to Dubrovnik with the town's treasury.
Andrea II Muzaka (1318-1372) was an Albanian nobleman of the Muzaka family and the ruler of the Principality of Muzaka in the 14th century. He inherited the principality from his father, Teodor I Muzaka, who died around 1331. Andrea II is known for having expanded the Principality of Muzaka to its greatest extent, from the southern Adriatic coastline of Albania in the west to Kastoria in the east by the time of his death in 1372.
Andrea I Thopia died in 1342 in Naples was an Albanian nobleman. In 1338 he inherited the county of Mat from his predecessor Tanusio Thopia.
Stoya Muzaka, also known as Stoja Muzaka, was an Albanian nobleman, the Lord of Kastoria, and a member of the influential Albanian Muzaka family, which played a significant role in ruling parts of Southern Albania and Epirus.
Gjin I Muzaka, was an Albanian Prince from the House of Muzaka. He held the majority of his father's holdings after his father's death and was the Lord of Tomorniza. As well as the Lord of Kastoria after his younger brother Stoya Muzaka died after 1384 leaving no heirs.
Maria Balsha, , was an Albanian noblewoman from the houses of Balsha and Arianiti. She was Countess of Acerenza and Muro from her marriage to Giacomo Alfonso Ferrillo.
Euphemia Mataranga, also known as Euthymia, Eythvmia, Etinia or Onorata was an Albanian princess and member of the Mataranga family.
Chiranna Muzaka, also known as Kyranna or Anne was an Albanian princess and member of the Muzaka family.
Voisava Balšić, also known as Vojislava, Vojsava or Voislava was an Albanian princess and member of the Balsha family.
...From the said Lord Andrew Molosachi the Despot were born three sons and two daughters. The first born was called Lord Gjin, the second Lord Theodore and the third Lord Stoya. Of the daughters, the first one was called Lady Comita Musachi and the second Lady Chiranna....
...Lady Comita Musachi, the daughter of Lord Andrew Musachi the Despot...
...This second Lord Andrew, who captured the said King Vukashin, King of Serbia and Bulgaria, was married to the daughter of Lord Paul Sevastocrator. His wife was called Euthymia...
...His first daughter, the above mentioned Lady Comita, was married to the said King Balsha who held sway in Shkodra, Bar, Kotor, Šibenik, Trogir and much other land...
...With one daughter, Komita married to Balsha II of Shkodra...
...In this undertaking, he had called upon the assistance of his son in law, King Balsha, who was married to Lady Comita Musachi, his first-born daughter...
...Vlora dhe Kanina ishin ne duar te princerve bullgare nga dera mbreterore e Asenit qe me 1350 gjer me 1372. Me 72 ua rrembyen Balshet dhe i mbjatin gjer me 1385. Si u-vra Balsha II ne betejen e Savres, e shoqja e tij Princesha Komita Muzaka, nje Amazone e fjeshte, mbreteroj mi Vloren, Sazanin, Kaninen, Himaren dhe Pargen; pastaj u-zgjat gjer ne Krahinen e Devollit, qe ia rrembeu te kusheririt Nikoll Muzake, te cilin e mundi dhe e zuri rop...
...Under Balsha II Valona formed part of a considerable principality, for on the death of his last surviving brother, in 1372, the "Lord of Valona and Budua" had become sole ruler of the Zeta- the modern Montenegro- and then, by the capture of Durazzo from Carlo Topia, "Prince of Albania", assumed the title of "Duke" from that former Venetian duchy. By his marriage with Comita Musachi, he became connected with a powerful Albanian clan...
...At that time, Andrea Muzaka II Vlora and Kanine from Sebastian Alexander, who ruled there after the death of the despot Gjon Komen. However, the despot Muzaka soon gave these two cities to the younger brother of the Balshas, Balsh II, after his marriage to his daughter Komita...
...In the plain of Savre between Elbasan and Lushnja Balsha fought the Turks and was defeated and killed, his head being taken to the Turkish capital as a trophy...
...Balsha widow Komita Muzaka ruled from Berat until her death in 1396...
...The principality now split into two parts, Balsha's widow, Komita Muzaka, returned to her family seat at Berat to rule over the southern part of the principality...
...Then her daughter Rugina Balsha of Vlora held the territory until 1417, when it all fell to the Turks and she took refuge in Corfu...
...that King Balsha was married to Lady Comita Musachi, the daughter of Lord Andrew Musachi the Despot. To him she bore a daughter called Regina...
...Then her daughter Rugina Balsha...