The Principality of Albania (Albanian: Principata e Arbërisë) was an Albanian principality ruled by the Albanian dynasty of Thopia.[1] The first notable ruler was Tanusio Thopia, who was Count of Mat since 1328. The principality changed hands between the Thopia dynasty and the Balsha dynasty, twice before 1392, when Durrës was annexed by the Republic of Venice. The principality would last up until 1415, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
History
Reign of Tanusio Thopia
The principality emerged with Tanusio Thopia, mentioned first in 1329 as the count of Albania.[2][3] In an act of Robert, King of Naples,[4] dated 15 April 1338,[5] Tanusio was mentioned as Count of Matia (conte di Matia).[6] This reconfirmed Thopia's relations to the Angevins from the time of Philip I.[5] By 1340 the Thopia controlled much of the territory between the rivers Mati and Shkumbin rivers. Together with the Muzaka family, they agreed to recognize Angevin suzerainty after rebelling against the Serbs. However except for Andrea Muzaka who defeated the Serbs in a battle in the Peristeri mountains, no action was taken to realize the treaty with the Angevins.
By 1345, Serbian King Stefan Dušan had conquered almost all of Albania, except for Durazzo which remained under Angevin-Albanian rule. After Stefan Dusan's death in 1355 Thopia family regained its domains and ruled most of central Albania.
Reign of Karl Thopia
In 1359, Tanusio died and Karl Thopia succeeded him. The Thopias became prominent in the 1350s and 60s, expanding their holdings and subjugating local nobles and tribes. In 1363, Karl captured Kruja and shortly also territories around Durazzo, however the city itself would remain under Angevin rule. Since 1362, he sought to capture Durrës, which was in the possession of the Duchess Johanna of Anjou. The first, certainly still unsuccessful siege lasted from April 1362 until May 1363. Then, Thopia had to withdraw his troops, who were weakened by an epidemic disease. Karl was ultimately able to conquer Durrës in March of 1368. This was the last hold of the Angevins in Albania, thus putting an end to the medieval Kingdom of Albania. Karl forged close ties with Venice and gained their support, who recognized him as Prince of Albania.[1][10]
Later decades
Balša II made a fourth attempt to conquer Durrës, which had become an important commercial and strategic center. In 1382, Balša II began a war and seized Durrës. In 1385, the defeated Karl Thopia, appealed to Murad I for support against his rivals, the House of Balšić of the Principality of Zeta. This was the equivalent of inviting the Ottoman Empire into Albania in order to help him defeat his rivals of the Balšić family.
This attempt caused an Ottoman force, led by Hayreddin Pasha, to quickly march into Albania along the Via Egnatia. The Ottoman force routed the Balšas by inflicting heavy defeats on Balša II's forces. Balša II himself was killed in a big battle on Saurian Field (Serbian: Saurijsko Polje) near Lushnje (Battle of Savra) in 1385, ending the Balša family's rule over Durrës. In 1392 the Durazzo fell under the Republic of Venice.
After Gjergj's death, Niketa Thopia was the next ruler and also the final. After the Battle of Ankara and subsequently the death of Bayezid I, many Albanian lords recognized Venetian suzerainty, such as Niketa, Koja Zaharia, Dhimitër Jonima and various members of the Dukagjin family.[11] Following the death of Konstantin Balšić, Niketa retook Krujë. By 1410, Niketa ruled the territory between Krujë and the Shkumbin river under Venetian vassalage. He would continue to rule until 1415, when Albania fell under the Ottoman Empire and was incorporated into the Sanjak of Albania.
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