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 |
Buried | Church of Francavilla, Otranto |
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 the Muzaka chronicles (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. [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]
Attached to the chronicle is a document from John’s son, Constantine Muzaka, dated 1535. In this document, he mentions that his father “was interred in the large church of Francavilla in the region of Otranto, in a marble grave where masses are held three times a week. The grave bears an inscription that reads: Almighty Jesus, this is the grave of John Musachi, son of Gjin the Despot, Lord of Epirus and Myzeqe, who hailed from the city of Byzantium and carried the double-headed eagle as his symbol. A wreath was dedicated to him in the year of our Lord 1510.” This inscription is the reason the chronicle is conventionally dated to 1510. However, a reference to the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514 indicates that John Musachi must have died after 1515. [6]
His name is mentioned in sources in several different versions, like John, Giovanni [7] Ivan, [8] and Jovan. [9]
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The Principality of Muzaka, also known as the Lordship of Berat, 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.
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...Appendixed to the chronicle, though not included here, is a text by John's son, Constantine Musachi, dated 1535, in which the latter states that his father "was buried in the large church of Francavilla in the country of Otranto in a marble grave where mass is conducted three times a week. On it is an inscription reading: Almighty Jesus, this is the grave of John Musachi, the son of Gjin the Despot, Lord of Epirus and of Myzeqe, who stemmed from the city of Byzantium and bore the double headed eagle as his emblem. To him was dedicated this wreath in the year of our lord 1510." For this reason, the following chronicle is traditionally dated 1510. A reference in the text to the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514 proves, however, that John Musachi cannot have died before 1515...
John Musachi (Ital. Giovanni Musachi)
Ivan Musachi
Jovan Musaki