Comita Muzaka

Comita Muzaka Komita Muzaka
Princess of Zeta Lady of Vlorë, Berat, Kaninë and Himarë
Coat of Arms of the Muzaka family
Princess Consort of Zeta
Reign	1378-1385
Lady of Vlorë, Berat, Kaninë and Himarë
Reign	1385-1396
Predecessor	Balsha II
Successor	Mrkša Žarković
Born	14th century
Died	1396
Spouse	Balsha II ​ ​ (m. 1372;died 1385)​
Issue	Rugjina Balsha
House	Muzaka
Father	Andrea II Muzaka
Mother	Euphemia Mataranga
Religion	Eastern Orthodox

Comita Muzaka (Albanian : Komita Muzaka), also known as Komnina, Komnena, Comnina or Komnene was an Albanian princess and member of the Muzaka family.

Life

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. ^[1] Her mother was Euphemia Mataranga, from the noble Mataranga family. ^[1] She was the fourth youngest of five siblings, yet the eldest of the two daughters. ^{[1] [2]} However, little is known about her early life.

She was married to Balsha II of the noble Balsha family in 1372. ^{[3] [4] [1] [5] [6] [7]} 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. ^{[8] [9]}

Her husband Balsha II was killed at the Battle of Savra in 1385 where he was beheaded. ^[10] 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. ^{[11] [10]}

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. ^[12] Rugjina then ruled from 1414 to 1417 until the Ottomans took control of the territory, where she then fled and took refuge in Corfu. ^{[11] [13]}

Conflict over the Devoll tower

In 1389, a tower known as Devoll Tower (or Pirgo, turris de Dievali) is mentioned in historical records, situated at the mouth of the Devoll River, with a customs office. ^{[14] [15]} The tower was initially tied to the conflict between Comita Muzaka of Vlorë and her nephew Nicola Muzaka. At the time, following the death of Teodor II Muzaka in 1389, the rule of his domain passed to his nephew, Teodor III Muzaka, instead of his son Nicola, likely because Nicola had either died or was held captive by his aunt, Comita. When Nicola was captured during the war with Comita, his men refused to surrender the tower until his release, leading both parties to temporarily hand it over to the Venetian Bailo of Corfu. ^{[15] [16]} After Nicola’s release in 1390, the Venetians returned the tower to Comita, but as a Venetian fief, requiring her to send three sailors annually to the Venetian fleet in Corfu. ^[16] The tower was later captured by the Ottomans in 1417.

Family

Comita Muzaka married Balsha II. The couple had one child: ^{[2] [11]}

• Rugjina Balsha married Mrkša Žarković in 1391. She ruled the Principality of Vlorë from 1414 to 1417.

See also

• Muzaka family
• Balsha family
• Principality of Vlorë

References

1. Elsie 2003, p. 42.
2. Elsie 2003, p. 47.
3. Djukanovic 2023, p. 29.
4. Soulis 1984, p. 139.
5. Jacques 2009, p. 167.
6. Noli 1921, p. 82.
7. Miller 1921, p. 435.
8. Qeriqi 2023.
9. Duka 2004, p. 10.
10. Jacques 2009, p. 169.
11. Jacques 2009, p. 174.
12. Veselinović & Ljušić 2002, p. 94.
13. Fine 1994, p. 391.
14. Initial. A Review of Medieval studies (Volume 10 ed.). Belgrade, Serbia. 2022.
15. Illyrisch-albanische Forschungen (in German) (Volumes 1-2 ed.). 1916. p. 170.
16. Hopf, Karl. Chroniques Greco-Romanes inedites ou peu connues (in French).

Bibliography

• Duka, Ferit (2004). Muzakajt - Lidhëz e Fuqishme Midis Kohëve Paraosmane dhe Osmane [The Muzakas – A Powerful Link Between the Pre-Ottoman and the Ottoman Time] (in Albanian). Qendra e Studimeve Albanologjike.
• Djukanovic, Bojka (2023). Historical Dictionary of Montenegro. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN   978-1-5381-3915-8.
• Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. ISBN   978-3-4470-4783-8.
• 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. ISBN   978-0-4720-8260-5.
• Jacques, Edwin E. (2009). The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1. McFarland & Company. ISBN   978-0-8995-0932-7.
• Miller, William (1921). Essays on the Latin Orient. Cambridge, University Press. ISBN   978-1-1074-5553-5.
• Noli, Fan Stylian (1921). Historia e Skënderbeut Gjerg Kastriotit, Mbretit te Shqiperise, 1412-1468 [The story of Skanderbeg Gjerg Kastriot, King of Albania,1412-1468] (in Albanian). Shtypeshkrinja e "Diellit,".
• Qeriqi, Ahmet (2023). The Stone of the Oath. novum pro Verlag. ISBN   978-1-6426-8417-9.
• Soulis, George Christos (1984). The Serbs and Byzantium During the Reign of Tsar Stephen Dušan (1331-1355) and His Successors. Dumbarton Oaks Library and Collection. ISBN   978-0-8840-2137-7.
• Veselinović, Andrija; Ljušić, Radoš (2002). Rodoslovi srpskih dinastija [Genealogies of Serbian dynasties] (in Serbian). Platoneum. ISBN   978-8-6836-3902-1.