Dominic Thopia

Dominic Thopia, O.P. (; 1382), also known as Domenico or Domenic was an Albanian nobleman and member of the Thopia family. He served as the court Chaplain and advisor of the King of Naples (1336) and became a Roman Catholic prelate, serving as the Bishop of Korčula and Bishop of Ston (1350–1368) and Archbishop of Zadar (1368–1376). He was then Bishop of Bosnia, an Albanian noble family, in the early 1300s in the Kingdom of Albania, in Durrës. His parents are unknown; he was the uncle of Karl Thopia through his brother.

Dominic was educated in Italy where he dedicated himself to religious life, joining the Dominican Order, which had been active in Durrës since 1278. Enrolled from a young age, he distinguished himself for his doctrine and for many virtuous deeds. His commitment to the order led him to become court chaplain and advisor to King Robert of Naples on June 12, 1336, where he played a key role in religious and political matters.

Ecclesiastical Career

From 1345 to 1351, Dominic served as the general vicar of the Dominican Order for Dalmatia and Durrës. During this time, he resided in Dubrovnik and focused on founding monasteries in Shkodër, Kotor, and Šibenik. The Order of Preachers (Dominican Order) established a significant presence in Shkodër, with a house founded by Dominic in 1345.

Dominic’s rise in the church was strongly supported by King Louis the Great of Hungary, who aimed to strengthen his influence in the Balkans and uphold Catholic authority. As a member of the powerful Thopia family, Dominic played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the Hungarian crown and local Albanian rulers. With the king’s backing, he was appointed bishop of Ston and Korčula in 1350, a position he held for 17 years, during which he navigated both ecclesiastical and political affairs.

In 1359, Dominic was present in Albania, where he had spent considerable time. A Greek-language legal document pertaining to a vineyard lease by the Dominican monastery in Durrës names him as the responsible party. This period overlapped with the rise of Karl Thopia, following the death of Dominic's brother. It is likely that, during this time, Dominic worked closely with his nephew to establish a strong base of power in Dubrovnik.

In northern Albania at the same time, cities such as Drisht, Shas, Balec, and possibly Sapë were under the control of a bishop who held both religious and secular power. This example likely influenced Dominic’s ambition to secure the vacant archbishopric in Dubrovnik in 1360. His primary ally in this effort was a man named Theodore from Drisht. However, the council of Dubrovnik was alert to this threat. They had been forewarned by the late Archbishop Elijah Saraka, who, on his deathbed, had cautioned them about potential dangers to the city's autonomy. Saraka mentioned that it would have been easy for him to seize power or hand it over to others. The Dubrovnik leaders, acting on this warning, intercepted letters written by Theodore, which referred to simony, causing a scandal. On May 4, 1360, the city sent a chancellor to the Pope to request a new archbishop, specifically opposing any attempt by a Dalmatian, Albanian, or Venetian—or even someone from Dubrovnik—to claim the position. By May 6, the council had decided to expel Bishop Dominic from the city, and Theodore was expelled on May 8.

After his expulsion from Dubrovnik, Dominic sought the support of King Louis I. He convinced the king to take action against the citizens of Dubrovnik, leading to a special deputation being sent to the king on December 16. The deputation included "false, forged, and fraudulent letters" that had been sent by the Bishop of Korčula in an attempt to secure the archbishopric of Dubrovnik.

In 1362, Dubrovnik appointed a new archbishop, the Genoese Hugo Cigala. As a result, Dominic's efforts to gain the archbishopric were completely undone.

Later Life and Death

Dominic Thopia was appointed as the Archbishop of Zadar by Pope Urban V, who issued a papal bull from Avignon to facilitate the transfer. Dominic's ambitions were ultimately fulfilled when he became the Archbishop of Zadar in 1367, a position he held until 1376. One source, however, suggests he may have assumed the position in 1368. During this time, Zadar was one of the most significant Adriatic cities within the Hungarian Kingdom. Dominic Thopia governed the church with great dedication, demonstrating notable charity towards the poor. He distributed all of his possessions to those in need, earning him the title (Father of the Poor).

It is likely that Dominic played a role in supporting his nephew, Karl Thopia, during his takeover of Durrës in 1368.

Dominic Thopia obtained royal confirmation from King Louis, which allowed the church’s chapter to use the royal seal for validating public acts. This confirmation not only legitimized the chapter’s official documents but also provided a source of income for the chapter through associated privileges and fees.

In 1371, Dominic Thopia warmly received King Louis and his wife, Elizabeth of Hungary, in Zadar. During this visit, both Thopia and the church were granted numerous privileges by the royal couple. Elizabeth, deeply moved by her devotion to the miraculous relic of Saint Simeon and grateful for the blessings she believed she had received through the saint, pledged to donate a silver ark. She honored this vow shortly thereafter. Dominic maintained strong relations with King Louis the Great and his wife.

Dominic Thopia did not stay in Zadar for the remainder of his life. Instead, on January 23, 1376, Pope Gregory XI, acting on the recommendation of King Louis, transferred him to the bishopric of Bosnia with a papal bull issued on the same day. He held the position of Bishop of Bosnia for six years.

Dominic Thopia died in 1382 in Đakovo.

Legacy

A collection of embroidered silk fragments from the time of Archbishop Dominic Thopia is displayed in the Permanent Exhibition of Sacred Art in Zadar. These eight fragments, once believed to be part of an altar frontal, feature depictions of saints. A new theory suggests that they may have originally been part of dalmatics, a type of liturgical garment, potentially adding significant typological value.

The eight fragments are likely designed to adorn two dalmatics, with four on each garment. The saints depicted in the Zadar fragments share stylistic similarities with pieces in the treasury of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Korčula, dating to the late 14th century. These saints were later sewn onto red velvet dalmatics in the 16th century, though their original function is believed to have remained unchanged.

The Zadar fragments also resemble an altar frontal from Budapest, which is believed to have been created in Zadar between 1358 and 1377. This suggests that the Zadar pieces were made in the second half of the 14th century, possibly during Archbishop Dominic Thopia’s tenure as archbishop of Zadar (1368–1376).

See also

* Thopia family
* Principality of Albania (medieval)

Notes

References

Bibliography

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thopia, Dominic
Dominic
Medieval Albanian nobility
People from Durrës
14th-century Albanian Roman Catholic bishops
14th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Croatia
14th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Hungary
14th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Bosnia
Bishops of Bosnia
Archbishops of Zadar
Dominican bishops
1300 births
1382 deaths