Paul Mataranga

Paul Mataranga (Albanian: Pal Matrënga), also known as Paul Matarango or Paolo Matarango was an Albanian Lord and member of the Mataranga family.

Paul Mataranga Pal Matrënga
Sevastocrator Lord of Ghora
Coat of Arms of the Mataranga family
Lord of Ghora
Reign	Unknown
Successor	Euphemia Mataranga
Died	13??
Spouse	Unknown
Issue	Euphemia Mataranga
House	Mataranga
Father	Unknown
Mother	Unknown
Religion	Eastern Orthodoxy

Life

Paul Mataranga was a feudal lord who held the prestigious title of Sevastocrator.^[1][2] He governed the province of Ghora (also spelled Gora), a region near Lake Ohrid.^[3][4] Although details about his parents, spouse, and early life remain obscure, his position as a ruler highlights his prominence in the region's medieval history. This is further evidenced by his mention in a papal letter dated 17 June 1319, emphasizing his significance during the period.^[5]

In 1319, Paul Matarango was part of a coalition with other Albanian nobles against King Milutin of Serbia, which is sometimes credited to have been incited by Philip II, Latin Emperor and Pope John XXII in order to weaken Milutin's rule. At the time, Milutin's expansion in Albania had been hindered by a 1299 treaty with the Byzantines, which saw Durrës transferred to Byzantine control. The Angevins, including Philip, likely had interests in the region, particularly regarding territories Milutin held or claimed, including the area around Durrës. However, while external actors may have played a role, it seems probable that the Albanian lords, including Paul Matarango, acted largely in their interests, challenging Milutin's authority in the Albanian territories. Pope John XXII referred to Paul as one of his 'dilecti filii' of Albania, a title indicating a close relationship with the Papacy. This suggests that, despite the division within the Mataranga family, with some members possibly distancing themselves from the Orthodox faith, Paul remained loyal to the Byzantium. This religious split within the family could have further influenced their political actions, potentially affecting territorial control in the Byzantine province.^[6][7]

Family

Paul Mataranga's spouse is unknown. The couple had one known child.^[8][9][10]

1. Euphemia Mataranga married Andrea II Muzaka, a member of the noble Muzaka family, around 1328.^[11][12] Through this marriage, she helped solidify a strong familial alliance between the Mataranga and Muzaka families.^[13] They had five children,^[14] and both Euphemia and Andrea were buried in the Church of Saint Anthony in Durrës, where their tomb is located beside the altar.^[15][16]

See also

• Mataranga family

References

1. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...Lord Paul Sevastocrator...
2. Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140. ...the sebastos Paul Matarango...
3. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...This Lord Paul ruled over a province called Ghora (Gora) which is near Lake Ohrid...
4. Hopf, Karl (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romaines inédites ou peu connues. Weidmann. p. 532. ...Paolo Matarango de Gora...
5. Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140. ...Documentary evidence on the prominence of Paul Matarango in a papal letter, AA 1: 648 (17 June 1319)...
6. Ducellier, Alain (1981). La façade maritime de l'Albanie au Moyen Age Durazzo et Valona du XIe au XVe siècle. the University of Michigan. p. 347. ...Paul Matarango est membre, en 1319, de la coalition montée contre Milutin et le pape le compte parmi ses « dilecti filii » d'Albanie. Il est donc probable qu'à cette époque, une partie de la famille avait abandonné l'orthodoxie : l'autre , représentée par le « juge général des Romains >> Matarangos, était sans doute restée fidèle à Byzance. La conversion d'une partie des Maratango s'était - elle traduite par des pertes territoriales pour la province byzantine?...
7. Fine, Jr, 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. 262. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...During his war with Milutin over Dragutin's northern lands, Charles Robert also tried to weaken Milutin by stirring up trouble elsewhere in his realm. It seems that he, his Angevin relative Philip of Taranto, and Pope John XXII all tried to incite various northern Albanian nobles to revolt against Milutin. Serbia's expansion in the Albanian region seems to have been halted after the 1299 treaty with the Byzantines. At the time of the treaty, Milutin had probably yielded Durazzo to Byzantium, which soon lost it to the Angevins. However, though it is not clear how much of the northern Albanian lands Milutin had been able to retain by the 1299 agreement, it seems reasonable to suppose he held the territory at least as far south as the Mati River. Thus he probably held lands the Angevins felt belonged to Durazzo, which would have been reason for Philip to seek an Albanian revolt against Milutin in 1318-19. And in 1318 or 1319 various nobles in Milutin's northern Albanian lands did revolt. However, there is no evidence that this unrest was the result of Charles Robert's agitation. The Albanians probably acted in their interests. Moreover in that same year, 1319, the citizens of Durazzo staged a revolt against the Angevins. Ducellier even argues that the rebels, who seem to have been Orthodox, submitted to Milutin. The Angevins eventually, probably in 1322, suppressed the revolt and regained control of the city. Since Decanski is to be found holding for Serbia territory in Albania at least to the mouth of the Mati River in 1323, we may assume Milutin put down his Albanian rebels as well. If Milutin did acquire control of — or suzerainty over—Durazzo in 1319, as Ducellier believes, we may conclude Milutin had suppressed his Albanian rebels rapidly and without much difficulty....
8. Hopf, Karl (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romaines inédites ou peu connues. Weidmann. p. 532. ...Etimia (Euthymia), fille de Paolo Matarango de Gora..
9. Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140. ...Euthimia (Honorata) resulted in a significant connection to her father, the sebastos Paul Matarango...
10. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...This second Lord Andrew, who captured the said King Vukashin, King of Serbia and Bulgaria, was married to the daughter of Lord Paul Sevastocrator. His wife was called Euthymia, meaning 'honoured'...
11. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...This second Lord Andrew, who captured the said King Vukashin, King of Serbia and Bulgaria, was married to the daughter of Lord Paul Sevastocrator. His wife was called Euthymia...
12. Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 134. ...This wedding took place probably sometime around 1328, judging from the reference about the age of their children in AA: 808 (30 December 1336)...
13. Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140. ...As from the narrative, the marriage of Andreas II Musachi to Euthimia resulted in a significant connection to her father, the sebastos Paul Matarango...
14. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...From the said Lord Andrew Molosachi the Despot were born three sons and two daughters. The firstborn was called Lord Gjin, the second Lord Theodore, and the third Lord Stoya. Of the daughters, the first one was called Lady Comita Musachi and the second Lady Chiranna...
15. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...Lord Andrew Musachi, the said second despot, and his wife, Euthymia, as she was called, were buried in the town of Durrës, within the church of Saint Anthony, to the right side of the main altar, in a beautiful grave made of marble and containing the following epitaph: 'Here lies Lord Andrew Molosachi, Despot of Epirus'...
16. Hopf, Karl (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romaines inédites ou peu connues. Weidmann. p. 532. ...Etimia (Euthymia) , fille de Paolo Matarango de Gora, † ensevelie à Duras..