Thopia family
| Thopia Topia, Theopias, Thopias, Topias | |
|---|---|
| Noble house | |
 The stone tablet containing the coat of arms of Karl Thopia found in Saint Gjon Vladimir's Church (1381). | |
| Founded | 1329 |
| Founder | Tanusio Thopia |
| Final ruler | Niketa Thopia |
| Titles | conte (count), lord |
| Estate(s) | Between rivers Mat and Shkumbin |
| Dissolution | after 1479 |
| Cadet branches | Toptani family |
The Thopia were one of the most powerful Albanian feudal families in the Late Middle Ages, part of the nobility of the Angevin Kingdom of Albania.
Early history
The first attestation of the Thopia can be found in an Angevin document from 1274 proclaiming an agreement reached between a number of Albanian nobles and
Robert of Anjou.[4][verification needed
]
According to
bailli, had stopped at Durazzo where they met. Andrea abducted and married her, and they had two sons, Karl and George. King Robert, enraged, under the pretext of reconciliation had the couple invited to Naples where he had them executed.[5]
The family converted from
Catholicism.[6]
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.[7]
Karl Thopia
Under Karl Thopia the family reached its zenith. After the death of Emperor
Louis of Évreux, Duke of Durazzo who had gained the rights on the Albanian Kingdom from his second wife, attacked and conquered the city. However, in 1383, Karl Thopia took control of the city again.[9]
Muzaka family allied with
Gjergj, Lord of Durrës. In 1392 Gjergj surrendered the city of Durrës and his domains to the Venice.[10]
After Karl
Ragusan Republic he was released, but only after giving some territories around Shkumbin river to Muzaka family. Upon his death in 1415, the castle of Krujë fell to the Ottomans.[11]
Later representatives
Later well known representatives include
Second Siege of Krujë
.
Members
- Tanusio, Count of Matia (1328–38), one son
- Andrea I Thopia, married Hélène of Anjou the illegitimate daughter of Robert, King of Naples, both were murdered by Robert, two sons
- Karl (or Carlo), married Voisava Balsha, in c. 1370., three children. Karl had seven children in total
- Branković, no issue
- Helena (fl. 1388–1403), married Venetian count Marco Barbadigo (first marriage) and lord Konstantin Balsha (second marriage), one son with Konstantin Balsha
- Vlajka Kastrioti
- Vojsava, married N Cursachio (first marriage) and in 1394, Progon Dukagjini, Lord of Lezhë and uncle of Pal Dukagjini[12] (second marriage)
- Maria, unknown mother, married Filippo di Maramonte
- Niketa Thopia, unknown mother, married a daughter of Komnen Arianiti, one daughter
- Mara Thopia, married Balsha III in 1407 (divorced by 1412), one daughter
- Domenicus Thopia
- Unknown (possibly George/Giorgio), no issue
- Andrea Thopia
- Unknown, one son
- Tanush Thopia, nephew of Andrea
- Karl (or Carlo), married Voisava Balsha, in c. 1370., three children. Karl had seven children in total
- Andrea I Thopia, married Hélène of Anjou the illegitimate daughter of Robert, King of Naples, both were murdered by Robert, two sons
See also
References
- ^ Malaj, Edmond (2020). "Lezha in the Middle Ages". Studica Albanica. 1: 11. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Émile G. Léonard (1932). Histoire de Jeanne 1re, reine de Naples, comtesse de Provence (1343-1382): La jeunesse de la reine Jeanne. Imprimerie de Monaco. p. 107.
- ^ Bollettino della Badia Greca di Grottaferrata. Scuola Tipografica Italo-Orientale "S.Nilo". 1978.
- ^ ISBN 99927-1-622-3p. 249
- ^ Carl Hermann Friedrich Johann Hopf (1960). Geschichte Griechenlands vom Beginn des Mittelalters bis auf unsere Zeit. B. Franklin.
darauf in der Hand jenes Tanussio Thopia (1328 — 1338) waren, dem König Robert von Neapel 1338 den Besitz der Grafschaft Mal bestätigte. Des letztem Sohn oder Bruder Andreas war es, der sich mit dem Haufe Eapet verschwägerte. König Robert, so erzählt Musachi, hatte seine natürliche Tochter dem Bailli von Morea — vielleicht dem Bertrand de Baux — zur' Gattin bestimmt und sie nach Durazzo gesandt, wo damals Thopia weilte. Er verliebte sich in sie, entführte und heirathete sie. Zwei Söhne, Karl und Gjergj, ent« sprossen dieser Ehe. Aber schwer traf die Gatten bald die Rache des erzürnten Vaters; unter dem Scheine der Versöhnung lud er beide zu sich nach Neapel ein und ließ sie dort hinrichten; die Kinder aber, in denen somit wirtlich das Blut der Angiovlnen stoß, wurden gerettet; in der festen Burg Kroja , die er später ausbaute, nicht, wie die Sage meldet , erst gründete "), wuchs Karl auf, entschlossen, den Mord des vaters zu rächen
- ^ Kristaq Prifti (1993). The Truth on Kosova. Encyclopaedia Publishing House. p. 52. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
... Tanush Thopia from a family which passed easily from Orthodoxy to Catholicism ...
- ISBN 0472082604.
- ISBN 99927-1-622-3p. 250
- ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5p. 384
- ISBN 978-0-8018-9145-8p.23
- ISBN 99927-1-622-3p.251-252
- ISBN 99927-1-622-3. Retrieved 2012-04-23.