Gjon Muzaka | |
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Prince of Musacchia | |
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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Family tree of the Balšić noble family
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John Musachi (Ital. Giovanni Musachi)
Ivan Musachi
Jovan Musaki