Muzaka-Serbian Conflict

Muzaka-Serbian Conflict
Part of the aftermath of the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
Pelister mountain where forces of Andrea Muzaka defeated the Serbian army in 1369-1370 and 1370-1372.
Date 1350–1370 Location Albania Result Albanian victory Territorial changes Muzaka forces capture Myzeqe, Berat, Tomorricë, Skrapar, Këlcyrë, Përmet, Opar, Devoll, Kolonjë and Kastoria. [1]
Belligerents
Principality of Muzaka Support: Byzantine Empire Gropa family Angevins Balšić family	Serbian Empire Principality of Valona
Commanders and leaders
Andrea II Muzaka Balša II Andrea Gropa	Stefan Dušan   # King Vukašin  (POW) Prince Marko John Komnenos Asen Simeon Uroš Thomas Preljubović Alexander Komnenos Asen
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Muzaka-Serbian Conflict was a series of armed engagements and battles throughout the Middle Ages fought by the Albanian Principality of Muzaka against the Serbian Empire, during a span of around 20 years.

Background

Conflicts between the Albanian principalities and medieval Serbia started some time after the weakening of the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian Empire in the middle and late 13th century. ^[2] In the late 13th century, the forces of the Serbian Kingdom led by Stefan Milutin would invade Northern Albania with the goal of taking the Mat-Dibër line. In 1296 Milutins forced would capture Durrës, however they would fail to capture Dibër after being defeated in battle by Albanian noble Progonos Sgouros somewhere between modern-day Ohrid and Tetovo. In the peace treaty in 1299 all of Northern Albania would he succeeded to the Kingdom of Serbia. ^{[3] [4]}

It is reported that a revolt was held in 1318 by Albanian nobles, led by the Muzaka family which was incited by Philip I of Taranto and Pope John XXII, however the revolt would easily be suppressed. ^[5]

Serbian campaigns in Albania would continue during the rule of Stefan Dušan who would invade Southern Albania, capturing Vlorë and Kanina aswell as taking Berat from the Muzaka principality. The dominions of the Serbian Empire would stretch south to include Epirus and Thessaly. It is not clear if the Serbian Empire had achieved total control over the southern Albanian noble families or just small submissions. ^[2]

Events

During the Serbian occupation of Albania under Stefan Dušan, one of the most notable resistances was that of the Muzaka Principality led by Andrea II Muzaka. The Muzaka forces besieged and eventually captured the city of Berat in 1350, forcing the Serbian governor of the lands between Berat and Vlora, John Komnenos Asen, to retreat to Kanina. ^[1] Around the same time Andrea II Muzaka was able to capture the plains of Myzeqe from the Serbian forces. The name of the land derives from the battle, with "Myzeqe" meaning "Vendi i Muzakajve" (Land of the Muzaka). During the conflict the Muzaka forces also had support from the Anjou, with whom they allied in 1336, with a compromise of the Anjou capturing Durrës. ^[6]

After the death of Stefan Dušan and the fall of the Serbian Empire in 1355, Serbian rule in Albania weakened, leading to Andrea II defeating the Serbian forces and capturing Korça and Devoll. ^[6]

Sometime after 1363, after the death of John Komnenos Asen, Andrea Muzaka defeated the Serbian forces led by John's son, Despot Alexander Komnenos Asen, capturing Vlorë and Kaninë. ^[6]

With help from the Balšić family, in 1369 or 1370 the Principality of Muzaka defeated the Serbian army under King Vukašin in Pelister, capturing the Serbian noble as a Prisoner of War. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]} In this time period the Muzaka would also capture Kanina from Thomas Preljubović who had received the city after the death of Simeon Uroš in 1370. ^[11]

Between 1370 and 1372, with help from Albanian nobility, the Muzaka forces once again defeated the Serbian army led by Vukašin's son Prince Marko in Pelister, capturing the city. ^{[6] [12] [13] [14]}

Aftermath

After the conflict between the Muzaka and the Serbian Empire ended, the Muzaka's had captured most of southern Albania, including much of Myzeqe, Berat, Tomorricë, Skrapar, Këlcyrë, Përmet, Opar, Devoll, Kolonjë and Kastoria. ^[1] For his contribution and victories against the Serbian Empire, he would be named as Despot of Epirus by Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos ^[15]

Battle of Maritsa

Main article: Battle of Maritsa

In the summer of 1371, Vukašin marched to Zeta, to support his relative Đurađ Balšić in his war against Nikola Altomanović. His army was in Skadar, waiting for naval support from the Republic of Ragusa. Uglješa Mrnjavčević received information that the majority of Ottoman forces left Europe and marched to Anatolia. He decided it was a good time to execute his offensive plans and asked Vukašin for help. Vukašin left Skadar with his army and joined Uglješa. They marched against Adrianople. ^[16]

The Serbian army numbered between 50,000 and 70,000 men. Despot Uglješa wanted to make a surprise attack on the Ottomans in their capital city, Edirne, while Murad I was in Asia Minor. The Ottoman army was much smaller, Byzantine Greek scholar Laonikos Chalkokondyles and different sources give the number of 800 up to 4,000 men, but due to most of the Serbian soldiers becoming intoxicated, Şâhin Şahin Paşa conducted a night raid on the Serbian camp, slaughtering a large part of the Serbian Army, killing King Vukašin and despot Uglješa. Thousands of Serbs were killed, and thousands drowned in the Maritsa river when they tried to flee. After the battle, it was said, the Maritsa ran scarlet with blood.

See also

• Albanian-Anjou Conflict
• Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
• Battle of Achelous (1359)

References

1. Anamali, Skënder (2002). Historia e popullit Shqiptar: gjatë shek. XVI -vitet 20 të shek. XIX. Tiranë: Botimet Toena. p. 294. ISBN   9992716223.
2. 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. pp. 290–291. ISBN   978-0-472-08260-5.
3. 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. p. 219. ISBN   978-0-472-08260-5.
4. Historia e popullit shqiptar I, Mesjeta. Toena. 2002.
5. 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. p. 262. ISBN   978-0-472-08260-5.
6. "Kush ishte Andrea II Muzaka". klikoje.al. 5 February 2021.
7. John V. A. Fine (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. pp. 290–291. ISBN   978-0-472-08260-5.
8. 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. p. 142.
9. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania: a reader of historical texts ; 11th - 17th centuries. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. p. 41. ISBN   9783447047838.
10. Muhadri, Bedri (2023). "Kosova në kuadrin e Principatës së Balshajve". Studime Historike. 74 (1–2): 43–45.
11. Gregory, Timothy E.; Wharton, Annabel Jane (1991). "Kastoria". In Kazhdan, Alexander P. (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. pp. 1110–1111.
12. Dorian, Koçi (27 May 2020). "Shëmbëlltyra e Andrea Muzakës". batosot.info.
13. Gillian Gloyer (1 June 2010). Albania (in Spanish). Alhena Media. p. 103. ISBN   978-84-92963-50-8. Tras la muerte de Stefan Dušan en 1355, el área que se corresponde con el sureste de la actual Albania y hasta Kastoria (que hoy en día pertenece a Grecia) cayó en manos de la familia Muzaka de Berati, uno de los poderosos clanes
14. John V. A. Fine; John Van Antwerp Fine (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 380. ISBN   978-0-472-08260-5.
15. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN   978-3-4470-4783-8. ...Lord Andrew Molosachi, Despot of Epirus...
16. Fine, J. V. A. The Late Mediaeval Balkan's, p. 379