Albanian nobility

The Albanian nobility was an elite hereditary ruling class in Albania, parts of the western Balkans and later in parts of the Ottoman world. The Albanian nobility was composed of landowners of vast areas, often in allegiance to states like the Byzantine Empire, various Serbian states, the Republic of Venice, the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Naples in addition to the Albanian principalities. They often used Byzantine, Latin or Slavic titles,^[1] such as sebastokrator, despot, dux, conte and zupan.

Byzantine Empire

Further information: Albania under the Byzantine Empire

The Muzaka family was loyal to the Byzantine Empire. For their loyalty to Byzantium, the head of the family Andrea II Muzaka gained the title of Despot in 1335, while other family members of the Muzaka continued to pursue careers in Byzantine administration in Constantinople.^[2] They received impressive titles in the Byzantine empire such as Sebastokrator, Protosebastos. Other families such as the Mataranga family also gained similar titles and were vassals to the Byzantine empire.

Principality of Arbanon

Main article: Principality of Arbanon

Map of Arbanon at it’s largest extent.

The first Albanian state in the Middle Ages, it was ruled by the noble Albanian Progoni family and extended from the Drin river to the southern boundary of the Ohrid lake. Its rulers were known in Catholic sources with the titles of judices, while in Byzantine ones the titles mentioned are those of the grand archon and the panhypersebastos. In 1204, Arbanon attained full, though temporary, political independence, taking advantage of the weakening of Constantinople following its pillage during the Fourth Crusade.^[3] However, Arbanon lost its large autonomy ca. 1216, when the ruler of Epirus, Michael I Komnenos Doukas, started an invasion northward into Albania and Macedonia, taking Kruja and ending the independence of the principality.^[4] During this period, the area was ruled by the Greco-Albanian lord Gregorios Kamonas, the new spouse of Demetrius' Serbian former wife Komnena Nemanjić, and by Golem (Gulam), a local magnate who had married Kamonas' and Komnena's daughter. Arbanon was eventually annexed in the winter of 1256–57 by the Byzantine statesman George Akropolites. Golem subsequently disappeared from historical records.^[5] Akropolites' historical writings are the main primary source for late Arbanon and its history. Many scholars note that the Principality of Arbanon was the first Albanian state to emerge during the Middle Ages.^[6][7] 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.^[3]

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.^[3][9]

Kingdom of Serbia

When Durrës was captured by the Kingdom of Serbia, Milutin was titled the King of Albania while his rule was occasionally recognized by Albanian noblemen around Durrës.^[10] Many Albanian noblemen were included in the feudal hierarchy of the Kingdom of Serbia and had titles and privileges of župans, voivodas or kaznacs.^[11]

Serbian Empire

Further information: Albania under Serbia in the Middle Ages

Albanian nobility was included into hierarchy of the feudal system of Serbian Empire without any discrimination and participated in the work of the highest government institutions, where Albanian archons had the same rights as the Serbian nobility had.^[12][13] Serbian emperor wanted to gain the support of the Albanian nobility so he confirmed the privileges Kruje had been granted by the Byzantine Empire.^[14]

Ottoman Empire

Further information: Ottoman Albania

A decisive point of the relation of Albanian nobility with Ottoman Empire was the Battle of Savra in 1385.^[15] After the Battle of Savra Albanian nobility became vassals of the Ottoman Empire.^[15]

Albanian nobility did not fight against Ottomans with united and compact forces like Serbian and Bulgarian aristocracy, but with small independent local rulers.^[16] Therefore, the Ottomans, who have been since claimed to be "brutal and cruel" to the Serbian and Bulgarian nobility, might have been conciliatory with the Albanian nobility.^[17]

When Albania became part of the Ottoman Empire, it was divided into sanjaks with numerous timars. Many members of the Albanian nobility held high rank positions within Ottoman the hierarchy, like Skanderbeg and Ballaban Badera who were Ottoman sanjakbeys.^[18][19][20] Some members of the Albanian nobility were Ottoman timariots.^[21] Through the implementation of the timar system the Albanian nobility was absorbed into the Ottoman military class within not more than two generations.^[22] They adopted the Ottoman titles like agha, bey or pasha. However, there was also a significant amount of resistance to Ottoman rule from Albanian nobility, as evidenced by the Albanian revolt of 1432–1436 and Skanderbeg's rebellion.

Venetian Republic

Further information: Venetian Albania

During the period of crisis for the Ottoman Empire after the Battle of Ankara in 1402 several Ottoman vassals from Albania including Gjon Kastrioti, Niketas Thopia and Nicola Zaccaria, recognized Venetian suzerainty.^[23] Numerous members of Albanian noble families were Venetian pronoiers.^{[24][25][26][27][28][29]} Many Albanian noblemen fought against Skanderbeg within Venetian forces during Albanian–Venetian War.^[30][31]

Kingdom of Naples

In 1451, many Albanian noblemen became vassals of the Kingdom of Naples. The first was Skanderbeg who signed the Treaty of Gaeta on March 26, 1451 and after him many other Albanian noblemen like George Arianiti, Ghin Musachi, George Strez Balšić, Peter Spani, Pal Dukagjini, Thopia Musachi, Peter of Himara, Simon Zenebishi and Carlo II Tocco signed similar treaties.^[32][33] Skanderbeg had to fulfill his vassal obligations to send his forces to Italy to support Ferdinand I of Naples in his struggle against the Angevin Dynasty.^[34] In return, the Kingdom of Naples provided financial and military support to its vassals in Albania and maintained a permanent garrison in Kruje.^[35][36]

Religion and language

The religion of the Albanian nobility depended on the religion of their lords, or the power that could threaten their political existence.^[37] Until the end of 14th century the Albanian nobility were Christians (Orthodox or Catholic). After the Battle of Savra in 1385 most of the local Albanian nobility became vassals of the Ottoman Empire^[38] and began converting to Islam. In the end of 17th century the Albanian nobility was majority islamized.^[39]

The official language of correspondence in the Medieval principalities in Albania controlled by local nobility were Greek, Latin or Slavic.^[40]

Restoration

An attempt to restore the monarchy in 1997 was rejected by about two-thirds of those voting in a referendum.^[41] Former noble families and their descendants are still a part of society in Albania, but they no longer retain any specific privileges.

Noble families

This is a list of Albanian noble families, which also includes families that are of Albanian descent.

1. Albani
2. Alltuni
3. Angelo Flavio Comneno
4. Arianiti
5. Arvanitaki
6. Balshaj
7. Blinishti
8. Bua
9. Bushati
10. Bruni
11. Bruti
12. Crutta
13. Dukagjini
14. Dushmani
15. Durazzo
16. Frashëri
17. Gropa
18. Gjini
19. Ghika
20. Gleđević
21. Humoj
22. Jonima
23. Kastrioti
24. Köprülü
25. Kyrias
26. Losha
27. Lukari
28. Meksi
29. Mjeda
30. Matranga
31. Moneta
32. Muhammad Ali dynasty
33. Muzaka
34. Niutta
35. Pamalioti
36. Progoni
37. Spani
38. Spata
39. Scura
40. Sorgo
41. Soutzos
42. Taushani
43. Thopia
44. Toptani
45. Vrioni
46. Zaharia
47. Zenevisi
48. Zogu
49. Zaguri

References

1. Bulgarian historical review. Pub. House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 2003. p. 164. Albanian nobility used intensively a titulature* of Byzantine, Latin or Slavic origins
2. Anamali, Skënder (2002), Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime (in Albanian), vol. I, Botimet Toena, p. 252, OCLC 52411919
3. Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3.
4. Fine, John V. A. Jr. (1994) [1987]. The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-08260-4.
5. 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."
6. 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."
7. 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."
8. 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."
9. Ellis, Steven G.; Klusáková, Lud'a (2007). Imagining Frontiers, Contesting Identities. Edizioni Plus. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-88-8492-466-7.
10. "Rad Jugoslavenske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti". Rad Jugoslavenske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti (in Serbian) (257). Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts: 259. 1937. Kasnije, kad je Drač pao u srpske ruke, nosiće kralj Milutin naslov kralja Arbanije.^{[title missing][author missing]}
11. Bogdanović, Dimitrije (November 2000) [1984]. "Albanski pokreti 1908–1912.". In Antonije Isaković (ed.). Knjiga o Kosovu (in Serbian). Vol. 2. Belgrade: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Retrieved January 9, 2011. srpskog kralja Milutina [1282–1321]... vlast srpskog kralja priznavali su povremeno i albanski velikaši u zaleđu Drača...Još u doba kralja Milutina albanski feudalci ce uključuju u feudalni poredak srpske države sa zvanjima i beneficijama župana, vojvode ili kaznaca.
12. Bogdanović, Dimitrije (November 2000) [1984]. "Albanski pokreti 1908–1912.". In Antonije Isaković (ed.). Knjiga o Kosovu (in Serbian). Vol. 2. Belgrade: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Retrieved January 9, 2011. U Dušanovom carstvu albanske zemlje i velikaši Albanije obuhvaćeni su bez ikakvog izdvajanja i diskriminacije hijerarhijskim feudalnim sistemom....Politička integracija Albanaca u srednjovekovnoj srpskoj državi izvršena je u okviru feudalnog sistema bez diskriminacije prema albanskoj vlasteli. Sa svojim starim ili novim zvanjima, stečenim ili tek dobijenim povlasticama, sa baštinama, pronijama i drugim feudalnim pravima albanski feudalci, u meri u kojoj su ulazili u srpsku državu, bili su aktivan činilac te države. U titulama srpskih kraljeva odnosno careva, kao što smo videli, albanski narod je došao i do svojevrsnog državnopravnog legitimiteta. Ovaj ce legitimitet izražavao i u pravima albanske vlastele da učestvuje u radu najviših organa vlasti srpske države, srpskih sabora. Već sa širenjem granica srpske države preko grčkih i albanskih oblasti, kako je primetio Nikola Radojčić, javilo ce pitanje o učestvovanju Grka i Albanaca na srpskim saborima; grčki i albanski arhonti su i učestvovali u radu sabora sa svim pravima srpske vlastele.
13. У време јаког продора српске државе у средњовековну Ал- банију и потпуне превласти цара Стефана Душана арбанашка властела постала је активан и врло значајан политички чинилац у земљи., p.42 – Glas, Том 338, Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti, 1983
14. Christos Soulis, George (1984). The Serbs and Byzantium during the reign of Tsar Stephen Dušan (1331–1355) and his successors. Dumbarton Oaks Library and Collection. p. 136. ISBN 9780884021377. The chrysobull that Dusan issued in June 13h3, by which he confirmed the privileges of Kroja that had been granted by the Byzantine emperors, clearly indicates that the Serbian ruler sought to win the support of the Albanian nobility. From the evidence of this document we may assume that Dušan entrusted to the local nobility the administration of various Albanian cities
15. "Studia Albanica". Studia Albanica. Vol. 38, no. 1. Académie des sciences de la République Populaire d'Albanie. 2005. p. 85. Retrieved 26 March 2012. A turning point in the first contacts between the Albanian nobility and the Ottomans was the Battle of Savra (ca. 1385).
16. Skendi, Stavro (1980). Balkan cultural studies. East European Monographs. p. 172. ISBN 9780914710660. Retrieved 26 March 2012. ...the Bulgarian and Serbian aristocracies...In the first place, the Albanian feudal lords did not fight against the Ottomans, as the Bulgarians and Serbs in an orderly battle, with united and compact forces.
17. Skendi, Stavro (1980). Balkan cultural studies. East European Monographs. p. 172. ISBN 9780914710660. Retrieved 26 March 2012. One might wonder why the Ottomans, who were so harsh on the Bulgarian and Serbian aristocracies, were so conciliatory with the Albanian nobility.
18. Zhelyazkova, Antonina. "Albanian identities". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011. In 1440, he was promoted to sancakbey of Debar
19. İnalcık, Halil (1995), From empire to republic: essays on Ottoman and Turkish social history, Istanbul: Isis Press, p. 88, ISBN 9789754280807, OCLC 34985150, Balaban Aga, qui a accordé des timar à ses propres soldats dans la Basse- Dibra et dans la Çermeniça, ainsi qu'à son neveu à Mati, doit être ce même Balaban Aga, sancakbeyi d'Ohrid, connu pour ses batailles sanglantes contre Skanderbeg.
20. Hösch, Peter (1972). The Balkans: a short history from Greek times to the present day, Volume 1972, Part 2. Crane, Russak. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-8448-0072-1. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
21. AARP, art and archaeology research papers. 1975. p. 61. Some timars were acquired by members of the Albanian nobility,
22. Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2010), Religion und Kultur im albanischsprachigen Südosteuropa, vol. 4, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Wien: Lang, p. 22, ISBN 978-3-631-60295-9, After the adoption of timar system, the absorption of Albanian nobility into Ottoman military class did not take more than two generations
23. Central Institute of Islamic Research (1997). Islamic studies. Pakistan: Islamic Research Institute. p. 194. Retrieved 22 March 2012. Among those disloyal vassals was Ivan Kastrioti, Niketas Thopia and Nicola Zaccaria.
24. Serbian Academy of Science 1980, p. 43

    Радич Хумој био је врло истакнути пронијар у Скадарском крају

25. Serbian Academy of Science 1980, p. 49

    Радич Хумој је умро пре но што је пописан скадарски крај. Балеч је, после њега, припао његовом брату Андрији, који је био војвода предела изнад Скадра, и сину Којчину.

26. Rivista di studi bizantini e neoellenici. Vol. 7. Rome: Istituto per l'Europa orientale (Rome, Italy), Associazione nazionale per gli studi bizantini. 1953. p. 506. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
27. Antonović, Miloš (2003), Town and district in littoral of Zeta and northern Albania in 14th and 15th century (in Serbian), Belgrade: Istorijski institut, p. 216, ISBN 9788677430313, OCLC 55953999, Наиме, женећи се 1433 године ћерком Петра Спана, Радич II Хумој је добио село Серељи у барском дистрикту
28. Schmitt 2001, p. 491

    Radic und Maran Humoj verwalteten seit 1441 Gleros bei Skutari, das einst den Bonzi gehört hatte.

29. The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest Author John Van Antwerp Fine Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher University of Michigan Press, 1994 ISBN 0472082604, 9780472082605 p. 510 "Koja [Zaharia] submitted to Venice"
30. Schmitt 2001, p. 490

    In einer getreidearmen Gegend war dies ein Anschlag auf die Lebensgrundlagen der Gemeinde. Venedig ging in dieser Frage äusserst behutsam vor, denn Koja und Andreas Humoj hatten der Signoria bedeutende Dienste geleistet. Zusammen mit Simeon Vulkata waren sie an der Spitze der venezianischen Verbände gegen Skanderbeg ins Feld gezogen (1447). In ihren Machtgebieten um Balezo und Drivasto wurde besonders heftig gekämpft.

31. Univerzitet u Beogradu. Filozofski fakultet (1964). Zbornik Filozofskog fakulteta (in Serbian). Vol. 8. Belgrade: Naučno delo. p. 419. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Многи домаћи људи учествовали су у борбама на Млетачкој страни. Која Хумој... Василије Угрин,...Јован Запа и његов брат...седморице браће Педантари...више њихових рођака...три сина Рајка Монете...Петар Малонши са два сина...и Буша Сорња из Дања...Другима и нема трага...
32. Noli, Fan Stilian (1947), George Castrioti Scanderbeg (1405–1468), International Universities Press, p. 49, OCLC 732882, Later on Alphonse concluded similar treaties with George Araniti, Ghin Musachi, George Stresi Balsha, Peter Spani, Paul Ducaghini,...
33. Setton, Kenneth (1976–1984), The Papacy and the Levant, 1204–1571, vol. 4, American Philosophical Society, pp. 102, 103, ISBN 978-0-87169-114-9, Scanderbeg now entered into special close relations with King Alphoso of Naples....on 26 March 1451. They got along very well together, as lord and vassal...Besides Alphonso's assertion of suzerainty over Skanderbeg and the latters father in law George Arianiti Topia Golem Cominović,... Alphonso gave recognition as vassals to Ducagjini family, to Simon Zenevisi, ...
34. Elsie, Robert (2010), "Independent Albania (1912—1944)", Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham: Scarecrow Press, p. 367, ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3, OCLC 454375231, In 1458, Scanderbeg was summoned to Italy to fulfil his obligations as vassal under the treaty of Gaeta.
35. The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. 1987. p. 213. ISBN 9780852294437. Retrieved 26 March 2012. Skanderbeg in 1451 made an alliance with King Alfonso I of Naples (Alfonso V of Aragon), whose vassal he became, and a permanent Neapolitan garrison was installed in his fortress
36. Spomenik, Volumes 95-97 (in Serbian). Serbian Academy of Science and Arts. 1942. p. xvi. Кастел Нови код Напуља, 21. октобар 1454: Краљ Алфонс V јавља Скендербегу да му је Павле Дукађини преко свог посланика изјавио оданост и покорност и да му је као свом вазалу, одредио годишњу провизију од 300 дуката ...
37. Bulgarian historical review. Pub. House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 2003. p. 177. The Albanian nobility embraced the religion of their lord or of that power which could threaten its political existence.
38. Sedlar, Jean W. East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000–1500, University of Washington Press, p. 385
39. Central Institute of Islamic Research (1997). Islamic studies. Pakistan: Islamic Research Institute. p. 196. Retrieved 16 March 2012. The Albanian nobility and townfolk from Kosovo were totally Islamized in the end of the 17th century.
40. Bulgarian historical review. Pub. House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 2003. p. 164. Local principalities... using Greek, Ladin or Slavic as the official languages of correspondence in their courts.
41. Ex-king's son returns to Albania, BBC News Online, 28 June 2002.

• Serbian Academy of Science (1980), Glas, Volumes 319–323 (in Serbian), Belgrade: Serbian Academy of Science and Arts
• Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2001), Das venezianische Albanien (1392–1479), München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag GmbH München, ISBN 3-486-56569-9