Principality of Arbanon
Principality of Arbanon Principata e Arbërit ( Grigor Kamona | |||||||||
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• 1252–1256 | Golem (last) | ||||||||
Historical era | Medieval | ||||||||
• Established | 1190 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1215/16[1][2][3] (annexed ca. 1256/57)[4] | ||||||||
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Today part of | Albania |
Arbanon (
During this period, the area was ruled by the Greco-Albanian lord
Etymology
The principality was known as Árvanon (Ἄρβανον) in Greek, as Arbanum in Latin, and as Raban in the early 13th-century Serbian document Life of Stefan Nemanja.[15][16]
The term represents the name of a south Illyrian tribe attested in Ancient Greek as Ἀλβανοί (Albanoi), later on denoting a proper name for an ethnic Albanian until it was replaced with Shqiptar in the 18th century. It is attributed directly to a Latin rendering of the tribal name Albanoi by Orel.[17]
Versions of "Arbën" have been observed since the 2nd century BC, the History of the World written by Polybius, mentions a location named Arbona (ancient greek Ἄρβωνα, latin Arbo)[18][19] in which some Illyrian troops, under Queen Teuta, scattered and fled to in order to escape the Romans. Arbona was perhaps an island in Liburnia or another location within Illyria.[20]
In the 6th century AD, Stephanus of Byzantium, in his important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica (Ἐθνικά),[21] mentions a city in Illyria called Arbon (Ἀρβών), and gives an ethnic name for its inhabitants, in two singular number forms, i.e. Arbonios (Ἀρβώνιος) and Arbonites (Ἀρβωνίτης), pl. Ἀρβωνῖται. He cites Polybius[21] (as he does many other times [22] Polybius' own attitude to Rome has been variously interpreted, pro-Roman, … frequently cited in reference works such as Stephanus' Ethnica and the Suda.[23] in Ethnica).
Status
Many scholars note that the Principality of Arbanon was the first Albanian state to emerge during the Middle Ages.[24][25][2] Arbanon is generally considered to have retained large autonomy until Demetrius death in 1216, when the principality fell under the vassalage of Epirus or the Laskarids of Nicaea.[9][26]
Between 1190 and 1204, Arbanon was a principality of the Byzantine Empire and possessed a considerable degree of autonomy, although the titles 'archon' (held by Progon) and 'panhypersebastos' (held by Dhimitër) are evident signs of Byzantine dependence.[8] In the context of a weakening of Byzantine power in the region following the sack of Constantinople in 1204, Arbanon attained full autonomy for 12 years until the death of Demetrios in 1215 or 1216.[9][26]
The Gëziq inscription mentions the Progoni family as judices, and notes their dependence on Vladin and Đorđe Nemanjić (r. 1208–1216), the princes of Zeta.[16] In its last phase, Arbanon was mainly connected to the Despotate of Epirus and also maintained allied relation with the Kingdom of Serbia.[27][28] In 1252, Golem submitted to the Empire of Nicaea.[26]
Geography
In the 11th century AD, the name
History
Early development
History of Albania |
---|
Timeline |
There are scarce sources about Arbanon, with the exception of the chronicles of Byzantine historian
Little is known about archon Progon who was, between 1190 and 1198,
Reign of Demetrius Progoni
Nemanjić had previously promised military support to Venice if Progoni attacked Venetian territory, in a treaty signed on 3 July 1208.
In 1209, in search for allies, he also signed a treaty with the
Reign of Gregory Kamonas and Golem
After the death of Demetrius in 1215 or 1216,
Demetrius had no son to succeed him. Komnena had a daughter with Kamonas, who married a local
Possessions
Arbanon extended over the modern districts of central Albania, with the capital at
It was a small territory in the 11th and 12th centuries, stretching from rivers Devoll to Shkumbin.[56] According to Alain Ducellier, Arbanon did not have direct access to the sea.[16] Robert Elsie notes that the coastal cities of modern Albania did not have noticeable Albanian communities throughout the Middle Ages,[57] whereas the coasts of Epiros further south, despite their control by Serbs and Greeks, were primarily inhabited by Albanians according to Ducellier.[16]
The fortresses of Kruja was the seat of the state. Progon gained possession of the surroundings of the fortress which became hereditary.
Economy
Arbanon was a beneficiary of the Via Egnatia trade road, which brought wealth and benefits from the more economically developed Byzantine civilization.[26]
Monarchs
Picture | TitleName | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Lord of Krujë Progoni |
1190–1198 | Progon was the first known Albanian ruler of the first ever known Albanian State. | |
Lord of Krujë Gjin Progoni |
1198–1208 | Eldest son of Progoni. | |
Princeps Albaniae Dhimitër Progoni |
1208–1216 | Youngest son of Progoni. He secured further independence for Arbanon and extended the Principality to its maximum height. | |
Lord of Krujë Gregorios Kamonas |
1216–12?? | A Greek-Albanian Lord, he first married the daughter of Gjin Progoni, then married Komnena Nemanjić who was the Widow of Dhimitër Progoni allowing him to inherit the rule of the Principality Arbanon. | |
Lord of Krujë Golem of Kruja |
12??–1257 | The last ruler of the principality of Arbanon. He rose to power through his marriage to the daughter of Gregorios Kamonas. The ascension of Golem was regarded as a reversion to the native rule of Albania. |
See also
References
- ^ Winnifrith 1992, p. 54: "From about 1190 to 1216 there was the principality of Arbanon, which initially included most of the mountainous zones of Albania. After 1216 Arbanon was controlled successively by the Despotate of Epirus, by the Bulgarians, and from 1235 by the Byzantines in Nicaea."
- ^ a b c Elsie 2010, p. iv: "To the east and northeast of Venetian territory in Albania arose the first Albanian state recorded in historical documents under Prince Progon, Arbanon, which lasted from 1190 to 1216."
- ^ a b c d e Ducellier 1999, p. 786
- ^ Macrides 2007, p. 305
- ^ Clements 1992, p. 31: "By 1190, Byzantium's power had so receded that the archon Progon succeeded in establishing the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, a principality".
- ^ The history of Albania: a brief survey Author Kristo Frashëri Publisher s.n., 1964 p.42"The territories of this principality extended over the present- day districts of central Albania. Its capital was at Kruja. The first ruler of the Principality of Arberia was Archon Progon (1190-1198) about whose life and doings we know.."
- ^ a b c d Anamali & Prifti 2002, p. 215.
- ^ a b c Ducellier 1999, p. 780: "As for Albania, its separate identity was real enough, even though it had not truly broken with Constantinople; all the same, the rulers of Arbanon around ἄρχον, Progon and his sons Dhimitër and Gjin, based at Kruja, retained a considerable degree of autonomy, even though Progon bore no title grander than ἄρχων (archon); and the title of πανὑπερσεβαστός (panhypersebastos), borne by Dhimitër at the start of the thirteenth century, can only be seen as a sign of his dependence on the Byzantines."
- ^ a b c Elsie 2010, pp. iv, xxviii.
- ^ Elsie 2010, p. xxviii.
- ^ Varzos 1984, pp. 555–556.
- ^ Fine 1994, p. 68.
- ISBN 978-2-85944-830-1.
- ^ a b Ducellier 1999, p. 791: "In the winter of 1256–1257, George Akropolites, exercising authority over the newly acquired provinces, felt free to travel around the region, after bringing together at Durazzo the ‘notables’ of Arbanon, among them, no doubt, Prince Gulam (of whom subsequently no more would be heard); he thus annexed without a murmur the statelet in which he was able to install a civil, military and fiscal administration which was thoroughly Byzantine."
- ISBN 978-3-531-33219-2.
- ^ a b c d e Ducellier 1999, p. 780.
- ^ Orel, Vladimir (2000). Concise Albanian Grammar. Page 55.
- ^ Polybius. "2.11.15". Histories. Of the Illyrian troops engaged in blockading Issa, those that belonged to Pharos were left unharmed, as a favour to Demetrius; while all the rest scattered and fled to Arbona.
- ^ Polybius. "2.11.5". Histories (in Greek). εἰς τὸν Ἄρβωνα σκεδασθέντες.
- ^ Strabo (1903). "2.5 Note 97". In H. C. Hamilton; W. Falconer (eds.). Geography. London: George Bell & Sons. The Libyrnides are the islands of Arbo, Pago, Isola Longa, Coronata, &c., which border the coasts of ancient Liburnia, now Murlaka
- ^ a b Stephanus of Byzantium (1849). "Ἀρβών". Ethnika kat' epitomen (in Greek). Berolini : G. Reimeri. πόλις Ἰλλυρίας. Πολύβιος δευτέρᾳ. τὸ ἐθνικὸν Ἀρβώνιος καὶ Ἀρβωνίτης, ὡς Ἀντρώνιος καὶ Ἀσκαλωνίτης.
- ISBN 9781136787997.
- ISBN 9780521521345. In four places, the lexicographer Stephanus of Byzantium refers to towns and ... Artemidorus as source, and in three of the four examples cites Polybius.
- ^ Clements 1992, p. 31: "By 1190, Byzantium's power had so receded that the archon Progon succeeded in establishing the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, a principality."
- ^ Pickard-Çeliku 2008, p. 16
- ^ a b c d e Ellis & Klusáková 2007, p. 134.
- ^ Nicol 1986, p. 161.
- ^ Ducellier 1999, p. 786: "However, owing to the proximity of a Serbia in full expansion and of the Epirote princes, little Arbanon, shut away in the hinterland, with its main political center in Kruja, opted for a continuing attachment to the Orthodox tradition and for subjection to Epiros, as well as alliance to Serbia."
- ^ a b Nicol 1986, p. 160.
- ^ a b Haluščynskyj 1954, p. 338
- ^ a b Anamali & Prifti 2002, p. 198
- ^ a b Frashëri 2008, p. 73.
- ^ Macrides 2007, p. 223.
- ^ Thalóczy-Jireček-Sufflay 1913, p. 31
- ^ Anamali & Prifti 2002, p. 197.
- ^ Frashëri 1964, p. 42 "The territories of this principality extended over the present- day districts of central Albania. Its capital was at Kruja. The first ruler of the Principality of Arberia was Archon Progon (1190-1198) about whose life and doings we know."
- ^ Fine 1994, p. 51.
- ^ a b Ducellier 1999, p. 786: "...when Dhimitër died, probably in 1215..."
- ^ a b Elsie 2010, p. 371: "Progon’s son, Demetrios (r. 1208–1216), married the daughter of the King of Serbia and maintained relations with Dubrovnik and the pope."
- ^ Anamali & Prifti 2002, p. 198.
- ^ a b c d Lala 2008, p. 17
- ISBN 978-2-35412-288-1.
- ^ Lala 2008, p. 16
- ^ a b Zamputi 1984, p. 210.
- ^ Zamputi 1984, p. 216
- ^ Zamputi 1984, p. 213.
- ^ Nicol 1957, p. 48.
- ^ Nicol 1986, p. 14.
- ^ Macrides 2007, p. 280.
- ^ Osswald 2017, p. 134
- ^ Ducellier 1999, p. 791.
- ^ George Akropolites: the history, page 73: " Goulamos defected to the Emperor"
- ^ Macrides 2007, pp. 323–24.
- ^ Frashëri 1964, p. 43.
- ^ Winnifrith 1992, p. 54
- ^ Ellis & Klusáková 2007, p. 133.
- ^ Elsie 2010, p. iv.
Bibliography
- Anamali, Skënder; Prifti, Kristaq (2002). Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime (in Albanian). Botimet Toena. ISBN 978-99927-1-622-9.
- Clements, John (1992). Clements' Encyclopedia of World Governments. Vol. 10. Dallas, TX: Political Research, Incorporated.
- Ducellier, Alain (1981). La façade maritime de l'Albanie au Moyen âge. École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales.
- ISBN 978-1-13905573-4.
- Ellis, Steven G.; Klusáková, Lud'a (2007). Imagining Frontiers, Contesting Identities. Edizioni Plus. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-88-8492-466-7.
- OCLC 52911172.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3.
- ISBN 0-472-08260-4.
- Frashëri, Kristo (1964). The history of Albania: a brief survey. Tirana. )
- Frashëri, Kristo (2008). Historia e qytetërimit shqiptar: nga kohet e lashta deri ne fund të Luftës së Dytë Botërore. Academy of Sciences of Albania. ISBN 978-9995610135.
- Haluščynskyj, Theodosius (1954). Acta Innocentii PP. 3: 1198-1216. Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis.
- Koçi, Dorian; Bushi, Skënder; Llukani, Andrea (2018). "Thesare nga pavijoni i mesjetës dhe këndi i pashallëqeve të mëdha shqiptare" [Treasuries from the medieval pavilion and the great Albanian pashaliks' corner]. In Shehu, Hajri (ed.). Thesare të Muzeut Historik Kombëtar [Treasuries of National Historical Museum] (in English and Albanian). Translated by Elda Bylyku. Tiranë: Muzeu Historik Kombëtar [National Historical Museum]. pp. 42–80.
- Lala, Etleva (2008), Regnum Albaniae, the Papal Curia, and the Western Visions of a Borderline Nobility (PDF), Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies, p. 1
- Macrides, Ruth (2007). George Akropolites: The History: Introduction, Translation and Commentary. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199210671.
- Nicol, Donald McGillivray (1957). The Despotate of Epiros. Oxford: Blackwell & Mott, Limited.
- ISBN 978-0-86078-190-5.
- Trapp, Erich; Beyer, Hans-Veit; Walther, Rainer; Sturm-Schnabl, Katja; Kislinger, Ewald; Leontiadis, Ioannis; Kaplaneres, Sokrates (1976–1996). ISBN 3-7001-3003-1.
- Varzos, Konstantinos (1984). Η Γενεαλογία των Κομνηνών [The Genealogy of the Komnenoi]. Centre for Byzantine Studies, University of Thessaloniki.
- Winnifrith, Tom (1992). Perspectives On Albania. Springer. ISBN 978-1-349-22050-2.
- Zamputi, Injac (1984). "Rindërtimi i mbishkrimit të Arbërit dhe mundësitë e reja për leximin e tij / La reconstruction de l'inscription de l'Arbër et les nouvelles possibilités qui s'offrent pour sa lecture". Ilira. 14 (2).
Further reading
- Association for the Promotion of Scholarship in Genealogy (1980). The Genealogist. Vol. 1–2. Association for the Promotion of Scholarship in Genealogy.
- Demiraj, Shaban (2006). The origin of the Albanians: linguistically investigated. Tirana: Academy of Sciences of Albania. ISBN 978-99943-817-1-5.
- Nixon, N. (March 2010). Always already European: The figure of Skënderbeg in contemporary Albanian nationalism. National Identities. Vol. 12. Routledge. pp. 1–20. S2CID 144772370.
- Norris, H. T. (1993). Islam in the Balkans: religion and society between Europe and the Arab world. University of South Carolina Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-87249-977-5. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- Schwandner-Sievers, Stephanie; Fischer, Bernd Jürgen, eds. (2002). Albanian identities: myth and history. US: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34189-1.
- Solovjev, A. V. (1934). "Eine Urkunde des Panhypersebastos Démétrios, megas archon von Albanien". B.Z. (in German). No. XXXIV. pp. 304–310.