Euphemia Mataranga (), also known as Euthymia, Eythvmia, Etimia or Onorata was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

noblewoman and member of the

Mataranga family The Mataranga, Matranga, Matarango or Matrangolo (''Matrënga'' in Albanian) were an Albanian noble family during the 13th and 15th centuries. Members of this family included local rulers, Byzantine officials and writers. After the occupation of ...

Life

Euphemia, whose name means "honored" was the daughter of Paul I Mataranga, an

feudal lord who held the title of Sevastocrator and ruled the province of Ghora (Gora), situated near

Lake Ohrid Lake Ohrid is a lake which straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, with more th ...

. The identity of her mother remains unknown, and not much is known about her early life. She was married to

Andrea II Muzaka Andrea II Muzaka ( 1318–1372) was an Albanian nobleman of the Muzaka family and the ruler of the Principality of Muzaka in the 14th century. He inherited the principality from his father, Teodor I Muzaka, who died around 1331. Andrea II is kn ...

most likely around 1328, in the Church of Saint Anthony in

Durrës Durrës ( , ; sq-definite, Durrësi) is the List of cities and towns in Albania#List, second most populous city of the Albania, Republic of Albania and county seat, seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is one of Albania's oldest ...

. Andrea came from the noble

Muzaka family The Muzaka family was an noble Albanian family that ruled over the region of Myzeqe ( southern Albania) in the Late Middle Ages. The Muzaka are also referred to by some authors as a tribe or a clan. The earliest historical document that mentions ...

, and held the titles such as the Despot of Albania, Despot of Epirus and Sebastokrator similar to her father. The narrative highlights that through his marriage to Euphemia, Andrea II Muzaka established a significant familial connection with her father, Paul Mataranga, thereby linking the Muzaka and Mataranga families. St Anthony Church at Rodon 2016-07-15 01

St Anthony Church at Rodon 2016-07-15 01

Euphemia and her husband, Andrea II Muzaka, were both buried in

, in the Church of Saint Anthony where they had previously been married. Their tomb was positioned to the right of the altar. The beautifully crafted marble grave bore an epitaph that read: "Here lies Lord Andrew Molosachi, Despot of Epirus".

Family

Euphemia Mataranga married

. The couple had five children: #

Gjin I Muzaka Gjin I Muzaka (), was an Albanian Prince from the House of Muzaka. He held the majority of his father's holdings after his father's death and was the Lord of Tomorniza. As well as the Lord of Kastoria after his younger brother Stoya Muzaka die ...

(* around 1337; † 1389), who inherited most of his fathers lands, with the exception of Berat, Myzeqe and Kastoria. He married Lady Suina Arianiti-Comneniates, a daughter of the Albanian Lord Materango Arianiti, with whom he had 5 sons: ''Andrea III Muzaka'', ''Materango Muzaka'', ''Vlash Muzaka'', ''Bogdan Muzaka'' and ''Laldi Muzaka'' #

Teodor II Muzaka Teodor II Muzaka (), was an Albanian Prince from the House of Muzaka, he was the Lord of Berat and Lord of Myzeqe. Life Teodor II Muzaka was born into the House of Muzaka as the second son of Andrea II Muzaka and Euphemia Mataranga, who wa ...

(* 1337; † after 1389), who inherited

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...

and

Myzeqe The Myzeqe (; sq-definite, Myzeqeja; ) is a plain in the Western Lowlands of Albania. The Myzeqe is the largest and widest plain, measured by area, in the Lowlands. Location The Myzeqe plain is a large alluvial plain traversed by three main riv ...

. #

Stoya Muzaka Stoya Muzaka (), also known as Stoja, was an Albanian nobleman, the Lord of Kastoria, and a member of the influential Albanian Muzaka family, which played a significant role in ruling parts of Southern Albania and Epirus. Life Stoya Muzaka was ...

(† after 1384), who inherited

Kastoria Kastoria (, ''Kastoriá'' ) is a city in northern Greece in the modern regions of Greece, region of Western Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria (regional unit), Kastoria regional unit, in the Geographic regions of Greece, geographic region ...

as well as its villages and estates. Unfortunately, he died early with no heirs, therefore his lands were passed down to his elder brother Gjin. # Lady Comita (or Komnene) Muzaka († 1392), who married Balsha II and secured an alliance between the Muzaka family and the Balsha family # Lady Chiranna Muzaka (also: Kyranna), who married

Andrea Gropa Andrea Gropa also known as Andrija was a 14th-century Albanian nobleman who ruled the region and the city of Ohrid, first as a minor vassal for a very short time (župan) to Serbian King Vukašin Mrnjavčević (r. 1365–1371), then as independen ...

of Ohër and Dibra. The couple had no living issue, thus their property was inherited by the Muzakas.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * Albanian princesses Mataranga family Place of birth missing Year of birth missing Year of death missing 14th-century Albanian people {{DEFAULTSORT:Mataranga, Euphemia

Life

Family

See also

References

Bibliography