Principality of Muzaka

The Principality of Muzaka (Albanian: Principata e Muzakajve)^[1] (also known as the Lordship of Berat) was an independent realm ruled by the Albanian Muzaka family with its capital at Berat, covering territories in Central and Southern Albania, Western Macedonia and Northern Greece. One of the first rulers was Andrea I Muzaka whose reign was recognized by the Byzantine Emperor. During the Battle of Savra, the Ottomans captured Berat from Balša II, together with Kruja and Ulcinj. They soon retreated from all of those towns keeping only Castoria under their permanent control.^[2] Some sources explain that Ottomans probably remained in Berat with intention to use it as foothold to capture Valona.^[3] By 1396 Muzaka family took over control of Berat.^[4] In 1417 the territories of the Principality, including Vlorë and Berat, became a part of the Ottoman Empire.^[5]

Lordship of Berat Principata e Muzakajve (Albanian)
1279–1343, 1355-1417, 1444–1450
Coat of arms of the Muzaka Family
Lands of the Muzaka and Arianiti families in the 14th century
Status	Principality, Despotate
Capital	Berat
Common languages	Albanian
Religion	Eastern Orthodoxy
Prince/Despot
• 1279-1319	Andrea I
• 1319–1331	Teodor I
• 1331–1372	Andrea II
• 1372–1389	Teodor II
• 1389-1450	Teodor III
Historical era	Medieval
• Establishment	1279
• First Ottoman capture	1417
• Revolt	1432–1436
• League of Lezhë	1444
• Second Ottoman capture	1450
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Albania Sanjak of Albania

History

It's uncertain when the Muzaka family started to rule over Berat, however one of the first notable rulers known so far is Andrea I Muzaka who ruled over the region of Myzeqe. Principality of Berat separates into two periods of time, between the period of 1279 to 1343, and 1355 to 1417. Andrea I Muzaka established a de facto independent rule over Berat, he was also formally recognized by the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos as he held the high Byzantine court title of sebastokrator. Some notable regions that were part of the Principality of Berat during this period are: Devoll, Berat, Skrapar, Tomorica, Selanica, Myzeqe, Korçe etc.^{[6][verification needed]}.

The Principality of Berat reached the peak of its power during the rule of Andrea II Muzaka who, according to the chronicle of Gjon Muzaka, defeated King Vukasin and was awarded with the title of Despot by the Emperor of Constantinople, the second highest title just below to that of Emperor. Andrea II expanded his territory to the maximum extent it would reach: from the Adriatic Sea between the Vjosa river and Devoll to the east, including Korça. In 1343 the Principality of Berat was conquered by the new Serbian Empire, but was recreated after that empire's fall in 1355. In an alliance with the Đurađ I Balšić, and the great lord of Ohrid Andrea Gropa, in 1372 Andrea Muzaka managed to also conquer Kostur from Prince Marko^[7] After the death of Andrea, the rule was passed to his son Teodor II Muzaka who in 1389 is said to have taken place in the Battle of Kosovo which had a great impact to the principality like to all other Albanian principalities of that time. Berat was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1417, but the Muzaka family would briefly regain their control in central Albania in 1444 after their alliance with Skanderbeg in the League of Lezhë, however after 6 years their territory would eventually be incorporated into the Ottoman Empire which would end the centuries-reign of the Muzaka noble family in Berat.

Monarchs

Picture	TitleName	Reign	Notes
	Sebastokrator and Marshal of Albania Andrea I Muzaka	1279–1319	Received the title Sebastokrator by the Byzantine Emperor and his reign was de facto independent until 1319.
	Protosebastus Teodor I Muzaka	1319–1331	Son of Andrea I Muzaka
	Despot of Albania Andrea II Muzaka	1331–1372	Andrea II, much like his father, fulfilled the role of the Angevins' titular marshal in Albania. Apart from being acknowledged as despotus Regni Albaniae (the despot of the Kingdom of Albania) and Marshal of Albania by the Angevins, he also held several other titles, including sebastokrator.
	Prince of Berat Teodor II Muzaka	1372–1389	Son of Andrea II. Participated in the Battle of Kosovo. Teodor II was in territorial dispute over Kostur with Prince Marko and because this dispute he was commemorated in Serbian epic poetry as Musa Kesedžija.
	Lord of Berat Andrea III Muzaka	1389–1396
	Lord of Berat Teodor III Muzaka	1396–1450	He 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.

See also

• Muzaka family
• Church of St Athanasius of Mouzaki
• Albanian principalities
• History of Albania

References

1. Historia e popullit shqiptar. 2002. ISBN 9789992716229.
2. Pitcher, Donald Edgar (1968). An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire: From Earliest Times to the End of the Sixteenth Century. Brill Archive. p. 45. GGKEY:4CFA3RCNXRP.
3. Gibbons, Herbert Adam (2013). The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire: A History of the Osmanlis Up To the Death of Bayezid I 1300-1403. Routledge. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-135-02982-1.
4. Fine, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 391. ISBN 0-472-08260-4. ...in 1396. By this time the family of Musachi had gained control of Berat.
5. Kiel, Machiel (1990). Ottoman architecture in Albania, 1385-1912. Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture. p. 48. ISBN 978-92-9063-330-3. In 1417, Berat became part of the Ottoman Empire when this strong city succumbed to a surprise attack.
6. "1515 | John Musachi: Brief Chronicle on the Descendants of our Musachi Dynasty". Albanianhistory.net. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
7. Braudel, Fernand (1995). The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean world in the age of Philip II, Volume 2. p. 664. ISBN 0-520-20330-5.