HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Niketa Thopia (, ; 1388 – d. 1415), also known as Nikola was the Lord of
Krujë Krujë ( sq-definite, Kruja; see also the etymology section) is a town and a municipality in north-central Albania. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is 20 km north of the capital of Albania, Tirana. Krujë was ...
between 1392—1394 and 1403–1415. He was a member of the
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 ...
Thopia family and an illegitimate son of
Karl Thopia Karl Thopia (; – January 1388) sometimes written as Charles Thopia, was an Albanian feudal prince and warlord who ruled Albanian domains from 1358 until the first Ottoman conquest of Albania in 1388. Thopia usually maintained good relatio ...
, the Prince of Albania (r. 1368–1388).


Life

Niketa Thopia was an illegitimate son of
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 ...
prince
Karl Thopia Karl Thopia (; – January 1388) sometimes written as Charles Thopia, was an Albanian feudal prince and warlord who ruled Albanian domains from 1358 until the first Ottoman conquest of Albania in 1388. Thopia usually maintained good relatio ...
born to an unknown mother. Together with his sister
Maria Thopia Maria Thopia () was a 14th-15th century Albanians, Albanian noblewoman and a recognised illegitimate daughter of Karl Thopia, Karl Thopia, Prince of Albania, by an unknown mistress. She married Filippo Maramonte, 1st Botrugno, Baron of Botrugno, ...
, they are Karl's only recognized illegitimate children. After his father’s death in 1388,
Helena Thopia Helena Thopia (; 1388–1403) was an Albanians, Albanian princess of the Thopia family who held the Krujë region as sovereign lady for two terms; 1388–1392 and 1394–1403. Life Princess Helena, was the eldest daughter of Karl Thopia and Voisa ...
his older sister inherited control of
Krujë Krujë ( sq-definite, Kruja; see also the etymology section) is a town and a municipality in north-central Albania. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is 20 km north of the capital of Albania, Tirana. Krujë was ...
. After her marriage to Marco Barbarigo a
Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetians might refer to: * Masters of Venetian painting in 15th-16th centuries * ...
nobleman, he became the actual ruler of her lands. Moreover, his older brother
Gjergj Thopia Gjergj Thopia (; October 1392), also known as Giorgio, Georg or George was an Albanian Prince and member of the Thopia family. He was the Prince of Albania and the Lord of Durrës from 1388 to 1392. His reign was marked by efforts to maintain co ...
succeeded their father as
Prince of Albania This is an archontological list of Albanian monarchs, containing monarchs of the medieval Albanian principalities, Albanian kingdoms and to heads of state of modern Albania. Starting from the first established monarch Progon of Kruja from th ...
. Niketa, on the other hand inherited a territory south of Durazzo. Mark Barbarigo briefly held his and Helen’s possessions under Venetian suzerainty. However, facing new threats from the
Ottomans Ottoman may refer to: * Osman I, historically known in English as "Ottoman I", founder of the Ottoman Empire * Osman II, historically known in English as "Ottoman II" * Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empir ...
, he eventually accepted Ottoman suzerainty. This decision allowed him to maintain control over Krujë and his other lands extending to Durrës. No longer viewing himself as a Venetian deputy, he began raiding Venetian lands near Durrës. In 1392, amid the ongoing hostilities between her husband and the Venetians, Helen's half-brother, Niketa Thopia, a loyal Venetian supporter, attacked the city of Krujë, forcing Mark Barbarigo to seek refuge with the Balsha family. After the death of Sultan Bayezid in 1402, many Albanian lords, including Niketa Thopia,
Gjon Kastrioti Gjon Kastrioti was an Albanians, Albanian feudal lord from the House of Kastrioti and the father of Albanian leader Gjergj Kastrioti (better known as Skanderbeg). He governed the territory between the Cape of Rodon and Debar, Dibër and had a ...
and
Koja Zaharija Koja Zaharia or Koja Zakaria () (? – before 1442) was an Albanian nobleman and a member of the Zaharia family. Name In Ragusan documents he is referred to as Kojčin or Gojčin. Because of that, many scholars like Nicolae Iorga, Ludwig Th ...
recognized Venetian suzerainty. The Venetians were interested in having some buffer zone between them and the advancing Ottoman army. After the death of
Kostandin Balsha Kostandin is an Albanian masculine given name. It is also an Armenian masculine given name (), pronounced Kostandin in Eastern Armenian and Gosdantin in Western Armenian. Both are equivalent to the English name Constantine. Albanians bearing the n ...
in 1402, Niketa Thopia swiftly seized control of the city of Krujë from his sister Helena Thopia in 1403, acting independently. Given his previous loyalty to the Venetians, they soon accepted his action, and by 1404, officially recognized him as the governor of Krujë. However, despite his formal vassal status, Niketa Thopia began to assert greater autonomy in the region. By 1410, he had extended his influence over much of the territory between
Krujë Krujë ( sq-definite, Kruja; see also the etymology section) is a town and a municipality in north-central Albania. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is 20 km north of the capital of Albania, Tirana. Krujë was ...
and the lower Shkumbi River, effectively positioning himself not just as a Venetian vassal, but as an independent ruler whose interests aligned with Venice more as an ally than a direct deputy. From his marriage, Thopia had one daughter,
Mara Thopia Mara Thopia (), was a member of the Albanian Thopia family and the daughter of Niketa Thopia, the Lord of Krujë. Life Mara was the daughter of Niketa Thopia. The identity of Mara's mother is disputed. According to Shuteriqi, she was the daught ...
. She married Balsha III in 1407 and had a daughter
Jelena Balsha Jelena, also written Yelena and Elena, is a Slavic given name. The name is a Slavicized form of the Greek name Helena, and it signifies the word ‘Greek’ (Ελληνικά) meaning bright, light. Helena comes from Helios meaning shining and su ...
, named after her grandmother
Jelena Lazarević Jelena Lazarević ( sr-cyr, Јелена Лазаревић; 1365/1366 – 1443), also known, by marriages, as Jelena Balšić or Jelena Hranić or Jelena Kosača, was a medieval Serbian princess, daughter of Prince Lazar of Serbia and Pr ...
. Balsha III and Niketa entered an alliance in order to drive out the Venetians. Niketa then started to be a mediator between Balsha and Venetians during the
First Scutari War The First Scutari War (; ) was an armed conflict in 1405–1412 between Zeta and the Venetian Republic over Shkodër and other former possessions of Zeta captured by Venice. Background Before this war, Zeta was governed by Gjergj II Balsha. Hi ...
. Balsha III divorced his wife, Mara Thopia as relations with Niketa Thopia had soured due to an incident where
Theodor Corona Musachi Theodor Corona Musachi () or Teodor III Korona Muzaka, was an Albanian nobleman who led the 1437–38 revolt against the Ottomans and was one of the founders of the League of Lezhë in 1444. Life Theodor Corona Musachi was а prominent member ...
captured Niketa in a skirmish, likely around late 1411, and held him as a prisoner. After being released from jail in July 1413, Niketa Thopia returned to Krujë, where he resumed his role as the administrator for the Venetians. However, shortly thereafter, certainly by early 1415, he died. After his death, the region experienced a period of instability.
Mehmed I Mehmed I (; – 26 May 1421), also known as Mehmed Çelebi (, "the noble-born") or ''Kirişçi'' (, "lord's son"), was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1413 to 1421. Son of Sultan Bayezid I and his concubine Devlet Hatun, he fought with hi ...
while upholding his treaties with Byzantium and Serbia and refraining from resuming attacks on them, Mehmed I saw the Albanian-Zetan region as an opportunity. Aiming to restore the Ottomans to their former stronghold in the area, he launched a major offensive there in 1415. His forces captured Krujë and several smaller forts throughout the region.Anamali, Skënder and Prifti, Kristaq. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. Botimet Toena, 2002, p.251-252


Family

Niketa Thopia married either a daughter of
Komnen Arianiti Komnen Arianiti ( 1392–1407) was an Albanian nobleman of the Arianiti family, who held an area in central Albania around Durrës. His son Gjergj became a prominent leader of the Albanian-Ottoman wars. Life The Albanian Academy treats him ...
or a daughter of Maurizio Bua Sgouros. The couple had one child: #
Mara Thopia Mara Thopia (), was a member of the Albanian Thopia family and the daughter of Niketa Thopia, the Lord of Krujë. Life Mara was the daughter of Niketa Thopia. The identity of Mara's mother is disputed. According to Shuteriqi, she was the daught ...
, Princess of Zeta, married Balsha III in 1407, and they had one daughter,
Jelena Balsha Jelena, also written Yelena and Elena, is a Slavic given name. The name is a Slavicized form of the Greek name Helena, and it signifies the word ‘Greek’ (Ελληνικά) meaning bright, light. Helena comes from Helios meaning shining and su ...
. Her father and husband allied to drive out the Venetians, and Balsha III divorced Mara by late 1412 or the beginning of 1413 to marry
Boglia Zaharia Boglia Zaharia (), also known as Bolja Zakaria or Boya Zaharia was an Albanian Princess and member of the Zaharia family. Life Boglia Zaharia was the daughter of Koja Zaharia, an Albanian nobleman, and Bosa Dukagjini, a member of the prominen ...
. Mara is also the grandmother of
Catherine of Bosnia Catherine of Bosnia ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=/, Katarina Kosača, Катарина Косача; 1424/1425 – 25 October 1478) was Queen of Bosnia as the wife of King Thomas, the penultimate Bosnian sovereign. She was born into the powerful ...
, Queen of the
Kingdom of Bosnia The Kingdom of Bosnia ( / Краљевина Босна), or Bosnian Kingdom (''Bosansko kraljevstvo'' / Босанско краљевство), was a medieval kingdom that lasted for nearly a century, from 1377 to 1463, and evolved out of the ...
.


Family tree


See also

* Thopia family *
Principality of Albania (medieval) The Principality of Albania ( Albanian: ''Principata e Arbërisë'') was an Albanian principality ruled by the Albanian dynasty of Thopia. The first notable ruler was Tanusio Thopia, who became Count of Mat in 1328. The principality would re ...
*
Saint Gjon Vladimir's Church Saint Jovan Vladimir's Church () is an Albanian Orthodox church in Shijon, Elbasan County, Albania. It is dedicated to the Dukljan prince and saint Jovan Vladimir, the son-in-law of the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil. It became a Cultural Monument of Alban ...


Notes


Sources

* * {{s-end 14th-century lords in Europe Principality of Albania (medieval) Niketa Year of birth unknown 1415 deaths 14th-century Albanian people 15th-century Albanian people Albanian monarchs