| Mamica Kastrioti | |
|---|---|
| Princess of Mat | |
 | |
| Born | 15th Century Principality of Kastrioti |
| Spouse | Karl Muzakë Thopia |
| Issue | Yela Thopia Unknown Daughter Gjon Thopia Gjergj Thopia Ali Bej Toptani Unknown Son |
| Dynasty | Kastrioti |
| Father | Gjon Kastrioti |
| Mother | Voisava Kastrioti |
Mamica Kastrioti was a 15th century Albanian princess from the House of Kastrioti. She is best known as the younger sister of the Albanian hero Skanderbeg.
Mamica was the daughter of the Albanian Feudal Lord Gjon Kastrioti and his wife Voisava Kastrioti. [1] [2] Not much is known about her early life. She was described as an astute and able leader who excelled many male chieftains in battle. [3]
On January 26th, 1445 in Musachiana which was between Krujë and Durrës she married Karl Muzakë Thopia who hailed from the powerful Thopia family. [4] [5] [6] This was controversial because Karl Muzakë Thopia was already married to Suina Muzaka before marrying Mamica, with whom he had two children. Mamica's brother, Skanderbeg, broke up Karl's marriage to Suina Muzaka against everyone's wishes, including those of the children, and forced him to marry his sister. [7] This however wasn't the only notable event that took place on the wedding day. A dispute had occurred between the two princes Lekë Dukagjini and Lekë Zaharia, at the center of the dispute was Irene Dushmani Princess of Zadrima and Pult and the only child of Lekë Dushmani. Both the princes had fallen in love with the princess and when Irene arrived at the wedding the hostilities erupted. They lost their heads and rushed at each other's throats. [8] [9] [10] [11] Vrana Konti and Vladan Jurica tried separating the two princes but this resulted in them getting severely wounded, Vrana in his arm and Vladan on his head. This assault between the two princes led to a real battle between the two prince's men. [12] [13] [14] The battle initially appeared to favor the forces of Lekë Dukagjini, until Lekë Zaharia charged at his rival and, with a powerful blow, felled him to the ground. [15] [16] At a critical moment, Vrana Konti and Vladan Jurica intervened decisively, bringing the battle to a close. The aftermath saw 105 dead and approximately 200 wounded strewn across the battlefield. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]
During her brother Skanderbeg's rebellion against the Ottomans, Petrelë Castle was under the command of Mamica. [22] [23] [24] [25] The Castle was an integral part of the signaling and defense network of Krujë Castle, with the fortresses communicating through signal fires. [26] [27] [28]
In 1455 her husband, Karl Muzakë Thopia, died in the Siege of Berat. [29] [30]
Mamica married Karl Muzakë Thopia, on January 26th, 1445. The pair had six children, four sons and two daughters: [31] [32] [33]
Lekë III Dukagjini (1410–1481), mostly known as Lekë Dukagjini, was a 15th-century member of the Albanian nobility, from the Dukagjini family. A contemporary of Skanderbeg, Dukagjini is known for the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, a code of law instituted among the tribes of northern Albania. Dukagjini is believed to have been born in Lipjan, Kosovo.
The League of Lezhë, also commonly referred to as the Albanian League, was a military and diplomatic alliance of the Albanian aristocracy, created in the city of Lezhë on 2 March 1444. The League of Lezhë is considered the first unified independent Albanian country in the Medieval age, with Skanderbeg as leader of the regional Albanian chieftains and nobles united against the Ottoman Empire. Skanderbeg was proclaimed "Chief of the League of the Albanian People," while Skanderbeg always signed himself as "DominusAlbaniae".
The Kastrioti were an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the Mat and Dibra regions. The most notable member was Gjergj Kastrioti, better known as Skanderbeg, regarded today as an Albanian hero for leading the resistance against Mehmed the Conqueror's efforts to expand the Ottoman Empire into Albania. After Skanderbeg's death and the fall of the Principality in 1468, the Kastrioti family gave their allegiance to the Kingdom of Naples and were given control over the Duchy of San Pietro in Galatina and the County of Soleto, now in the Province of Lecce, Italy. Ferrante, son of Gjon Kastrioti II, Duke of Galatina and Count of Soleto, is the direct ancestor of all male members of the Kastrioti family today. Today, the family consists of two Italian branches, one in Lecce and the other in Naples. The descendants of the House of Kastrioti in Italy use the family name "Castriota Scanderbeg".
The Battle of Torvioll, also known as the Battle of Lower Dibra, was fought on 29 June 1444 on the Plain of Torvioll, in what is now Albania. Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg was an Ottoman Albanian general who decided to return to his homeland and take the reins of a new Albanian league against the Ottoman Empire. He and 300 other Albanians who fought in the Battle of Niš deserted the Ottoman Army and made their way to Krujë, which quickly fell due to subversion. He then formed the League of Lezhë, a confederation of Albanian princes united in war against the Ottoman Empire. Realising the threat, Murad II sent one of his most experienced generals, Ali Pasha, to crush the new state with a force of 25,000 men.
The Principality of Kastrioti was one of the Albanian principalities during the Late Middle Ages. It was formed by Pal Kastrioti who ruled it until 1407, after which his son, Gjon Kastrioti ruled until his death in 1437 and then ruled by the national hero of Albania, Skanderbeg.
The Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–48 was waged between Venetian and Ottoman forces against the Albanians under George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. The war was the result of a dispute between the Republic and the Dukagjini family over the possession of the Dagnum fortress. Skanderbeg, then ally of the Dukagjini family, moved against several Venetian held towns along the Albanian coastline, in order to pressure the Venetians into restoring Dagnum. In response, the Republic sent a local force to relieve the besieged fortress of Dagnum, and urged the Ottoman Empire to send an expeditionary force into Albania. At that time the Ottomans were already besieging the fortress of Svetigrad, stretching Skanderbeg's efforts thin.
Voisava was a noblewoman and wife of Gjon Kastrioti, an Albanian feudal lord from the House of Kastrioti. They had nine children together, one of whom was the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti, better known as Skanderbeg.
The Zaharia family was an Albanian noble family, most prominent during the 14th and 15th century.
Vladan Gjurica was an Albanian nobleman and Skanderbeg's main advisor during Skanderbeg's rebellion. He is thought to be from Gjoricë, in modern-day Dibër County from which he got the surname Gjurica/Jurica. He was most likely a member of the Arianiti family. During the Battle of Vajkal he was captured and sent to Constantinople where he was skinned alive.
Lekë Zaharia Altisferi was an Albanian nobleman from the Zaharia family. He was the only son of his father Koja Zaharia and mother Bosa Dukagjini, who also had one daughter, Bolia, who named her son Koja after her father.
Lekë Dushmani was an Albanian nobleman and one of the founding members of League of Lezhë, formed on 2 March 1444.
Pal Dukagjini was an Albanian nobleman, a member of the Dukagjini family. He and his kinsman Nicholas Dukagjini were initially subjects of Lekë Zaharia, a Venetian vassal who had possessions around Shkoder. Nicholas murdered Lekë, and the Dukagjini continued to rule over their villages under Venetian vassalage. Pal and Nicholas were part of the League of Lezhë, a military alliance that sought liberation of Albania from the Ottoman Empire, founded by the powerful Skanderbeg. In 1454, the Dukagjini accepted vassalage of Alfonso V of Aragon, as other chieftains had done three years earlier. Pal later abandoned Skanderbeg's army and deserted to the Ottomans.
Nicholas Dukagjini was a 15th-century member of the Dukagjini family.
Peter Spani was an Albanian nobleman and Venetian pronoetes in the first half of the 15th century. His family's domains included territories around Shkodër (Scutari), Drisht (Drivasto) and western Kosovo. He ruled over Shala, Shosh, Nikaj-Mërtur (Lekbibaj) and Pult; the whole region under the Ottomans took his name, Petrişpan-ili. Between 1444 and 1455, Peter was a member of the League of Lezhë and after his death, the League took his territories.
Gojko Balšić or Gojko Balsha and his brothers George Strez and John were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adriatic. The brothers were members of the house of Balšić, which earlier held the Lordship of Zeta. They participated in founding the League of Lezhë, an alliance led by their maternal uncle Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Gojko supported Skanderbeg until the latter's death in 1468, and then continued to fight against the Ottomans within Venetian forces.
George Strez Balšić or Gjergj Strez Balsha and his brothers Gojko and Ivan were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adriatic. The brothers were members of the Balšić noble family, which had earlier held Zeta. They participated in founding of the League of Lezhë, an alliance led by their maternal uncle Skanderbeg. George later betrayed Skanderbeg, by selling a domain to the Ottomans, while his two brothers continued to support Skanderbeg until his death and then continued to fight for the Venetian forces.
Ivan Strez Balšić or John Balsha fl. 1444–1469) and his brothers George Strez and Gojko Balšić were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adriatic. The brothers were members of the Balšić family, which earlier held Zeta, but had now placed itself among the nobility in Albania. They participated in founding of the League of Lezhë, an alliance led by their maternal uncle Skanderbeg. Ivan and Gojko supported Skanderbeg until he died in 1468 and then continued to fight against Ottomans together with Venetian forces. After Skanderbeg's death Venice installed Ivan Strez Balšić as Skanderbeg's successor.
Andrea II Thopia was a 15th century Albanian nobleman whose domains included the territory of Scuria. He was a member of the Thopia family and one of the founders of the League of Lezhë.
Skanderbeg's rebellion was an almost 25-year long anti-Ottoman rebellion led by the Albanian military commander Skanderbeg in what is today Albania and its neighboring countries. It was a rare successful instance of resistance by Christians during the 15th century and through his leadership led Albanians in guerrilla warfare against the Ottomans.
Irene (Jerina) Dushmani was a 15th century Albanian Princess of the Dushmani family that ruled over the north-western part of the country. Her father was Prince Lekë Dushmani, the Lord of Zadrima and a participant of the League of Lezhë. The Albanian princes Lekë Dukagjini and Lekë Zaharia would enter a feud with one another over her hand in marriage among other quarrels.
...He was the penultimate child of Gjon and Vojsava. The children were four sons (Stanisha, Reposh, Konstantin, and Gjergj) and four girls (Mara, Jella, Angelina, Vlajka and Mamica)...
...while her warrior daughter, Mamica is described by Marin Barleti, Skenderbeu's most noted biographer, as "an astute and able leader" who excelled many male chieftains in battle...
...This year of 1445 began with a wedding. Mamitza Castrioti, Scanderbeg's youngest sister, was married to Musachi Thopia. The wedding took place in Musachiana, between Croya and Durazzo, on January 26. All the chieftains of Albania were invited to attend...
...Mamica Kastrioti was Skanderbeg's youngest sister. She was married to Muzak Topia, one of the princes of Albania in 1445...
...Viti 1445 filloi me një dasmë. Mamica Kastrioti, motra e vogël e Skënderbeut, u martua...
...You should know that Lord Musachi Thopia, otherwise known as Charles Musachi, was married to Lady Zanfina, otherwise known as Suina, with whom he had two children, a boy called Andrew and a girl called Yela. The said Lady Yela was married to Lord George Cernojevic, and I have told you that Lord Scanderbeg broke up the marriage of the said Lord Musachi and Lady Zanfina Musachi, against the wishes of God and everyone and against the wishes of the children they had had, and forced him to marry his sister Lady Mamica...
...During the carousal that followed the ceremony, Lek Ducaghini and Lek Zacaria of Dagno started a quarrel, which developed into a real battle between their followers. It was a case of "Cherchez la femme!" And the lady in question was Irere Dushmani of Zadrim with whom both had fallen in love. She happened to be there, the two lovers lost their heads and rushed at each other's throats...
...Il 26 gennaio 1445 furono celebrate le nozze tra Mamica Kastriota e Muzak Thopia. Questo negligibile evento fini tra le scritture degli storici poiché durante i festeggiamenti accadde un incidente i cui effetti la Storia, appunto, non può negligere. Due principi albanesi, Lek Dukagjini e Lek Zakaria Altisferi, amavano la stessa donna, Irene di Lek Dushmani, principe di Zadrima...
...The wedding of Muzake and Mamica took place in Musachiana, between Kruje and Durrës, on January 26, 1445. All the chieftains of Albania were invited to attend. However, the peaceful and joyful ceremony took an unexpectedly bizarre and bloody twist at the end when Leke Dukagjini and Leke Zakaria of Danya, both intoxicated, began to quarrel about Irena Dushmani of Zadrima, a beautiful lady with whom both had fallen desperately in love. Just as she passed by them, the chieftains rushed at each other's throats to impress and win the heart of their Helen of Troy...
...Count Vrana and Vladan Yuritza, who tried to separate them, were severely wounded, the former in his arm and the latter on his head. Then it was decided to let the two lovers fight it out....
...I due, assentatosi il Kastriota, passarono dalle occhiatacce agli insulti, dagli insulti al duello, e il duello divenne un vero e proprio scontro tra i loro uomini...
...Count Vrana and Vladan Yuritza, who happened to be nearby, tried to mollify the two screaming contenders, but to no effect. Instead, both of them received light wounds, one in his arm and the other on his head. A suggestion by another drunk guest to fight it out with their bare fists appealed to both Dukagjini and Zakaria. As armed men from each clan watched from the side, the two men began by eyeballing one another, and with careful steps they circled one another. The wind was tossing both their white shirts and black hair. Since they were of equal height and both quite muscular, nobody could tell which way the match would go. After the preliminary moments of posturing and circling observation, the men decided to move in closer to the other and they started exchanging some punches...
...The battle seemed to go in favor of the Ducaghind group, when Lek Zacaria rushed against his rival and, with a mighty stroke, stretched him flat on the ground...
...Bolstered on by more supporters in the crowd, the fight initially went in the favor of Leke Dukagjini. Although it appeared that Zakaria was in a bad spot, he was defending quite well and, suddenly, surprising everybody, he threw a nasty jab to the chin of Dukagjini and knocked him out cold. Dukagjini stood on the ground, nonplussed and bleeding from his mouth. As he started to move and get up, Zakaria jumped over him and got him in a full nelson. With raucous cheers, Zakarias men commenced rejoicing and celebrating their leader's victory. This was not welcomed by Dukagjini's men. Infuriated by the sight of their downed chieftain, and prompted by their canon of vendetta, they unsheathed their swords, and immediately challenged Zakaria's men, who were not at all intimidated and drew their swords as well in self-defense. A needless and absurd battle followed...
...At this critical moment, Count Vrana and Vladan Yuritza intervened and put an end to the battle. One hundred and five dead and about two hundred wounded covered the battlefield...
...Dukagjini rimase ferito da un colpo di lancia, e sul suolo rimasero ben centocinque morti. La pace cui Skanderbeg li costrinse sarà, da parte del Dukagjini, una vera e propria Copyrighted material finzione, se è vero, e lo è, che quest'ultimo farà trucidare a tradimento lo Zakaria e a lungo porterà rancore al Kastriota. Il principato dello Zakaria (le terre di Danja, sostanzialmente) toccava a Skanderbeg...
...Although both Dukagjini and Zakaria miraculously came out of the battle alive, the bloodbath left 105 dead and 200 wounded Loudly proclaiming that winning Irena's heart was worth all the trouble in the world, Zakaria had no regrets. His proclamation succeeded in achieving its goal. Irena was his. Leke Dukagjini responded by declaring a blood feud against Zakaria. The entire ordeal left Scanderbeg humbled and grieved...
...and is said to have been where his sister Mamica lived...
... It is said to have been the residence of the hero's sister Mamica...
...Petrela was a strategic link in the defensive system used by Skanderbeg...
...Petrela played an important part during Skander- beg's resistance to the Ottoman invasion...
...her husband was killed in the Battle of Berat...
...and I have told you that Lord Scanderbeg broke up the marriage of the said Lord Musachi and Lady Zanfina Musachi, against the wishes of God and everyone and against the wishes of the children they had had, and forced him to marry his sister Lady Mamica. This lord had four sons and two daughters by his second wife. The sons turned Turk and the one daughter, Lady Yela, married Lord Andrew Musachi...
...Mamica Kastrioti was Skanderbeg's youngest sister. She was married to Muzak Topia, one of the princes of Albania in 1445...
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