Gjon Muzaka | |
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Prince of Musacchia | |
![]() The Muzaka's coat of arms in Francavilla Fontana | |
Full name | Gjon Muzaka |
Born | c. 15th century Principality of Muzaka |
Died | 1515 or later |
Noble family | Muzaka family |
Spouse(s) | Maria Dukagjini |
Issue | Theodor Muzaka Helena Muzaka Andriano Muzaka Costantino Muzaka Porfida Muzaka |
Father | Gjin II Muzaka |
Mother | Chiranna Mataranga [1] |
Gjon Muzaka (fl. 1510; Italian : Giovanni Musachi di Berat) was an Albanian nobleman from the Muzaka family, that has historically ruled in the Myzeqe region, Albania. [2] In 1510 he wrote a Breve memoria de li discendenti de nostra casa Musachi (Short memoir on the descendants of our Myzeqe lineage). The work was published in Karl Hopf's Chroniques gréco-romaines, Paris 1873, pp. 270–340. [3]
According to his memoirs, Gjon's father died before Ottomans captured Berat in 1417.
His memoir is considered to be the oldest substantial text written by an Albanian. It was originally written in Latin and his name was listed as Giovanni Musachi. [4] In it he mentions several interesting things that were confirmed to have been accurate by Noel Malcolm. [5] Among other things he claims that, according to family history, the name "Musachi" is derived from a corrupted form of the name "Molossachi", ancient tribesmen of Epirus known as the Molossians. [4]
His name is mentioned in sources in several different versions, like John, Giovanni [6] Ivan, [7] and Jovan. [8]
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Gjergj Arianiti (1383–1462) was an Albanian feudal lord who led several successful campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. He was the father of Donika, Skanderbeg's wife, as well as the grand-uncle of Moisi Arianit Golemi. Gjergj Arianiti was Skanderbeg's ally within League of Lezhë before abandoneding the alliance after the defeat in Berat in 1450. He later returned. Robert Elsie emphasizes that Arianiti was often Skanderbeg's rival. He allied with the Kingdom of Naples in 1446, left his alliance with Skanderbeg by 1449 and allied with Venice in 1456. However his daughter married Skanderbeg and he remained officially part of the League of Lezhe, continuing to fight Ottomans successfully up to his death in 1462.
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The Principality of Muzaka was an independent realm ruled by the Albanian Muzaka family with its capital at Berat, covering territories in Central and Southern Albania, Western Macedonia and Northern Greece. One of the first rulers was Andrea I Muzaka whose reign was recognized by the Byzantine Emperor. During the Battle of Savra, the Ottomans captured Berat from Balša II, together with Kruja and Ulcinj. They soon retreated from all of those towns keeping only Castoria under their permanent control. Some sources explain that Ottomans probably remained in Berat with intention to use it as foothold to capture Valona. By 1396 Muzaka family took over control of Berat. In 1417 the territories of the Principality, including Vlorë and Berat, became a part of the Ottoman Empire.
Donika Arianiti, was an Albanian noblewoman and the spouse of Albanian leader and national hero Skanderbeg. She was the daughter of Gjergj Arianiti, an earlier leader in the ongoing revolt against the Ottomans.
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Family tree of the Balšić noble family
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John Musachi (Ital. Giovanni Musachi)
Ivan Musachi
Jovan Musaki