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Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412)

The Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412) was a military campaign led by Albanian chieftains Gjon Zenebishi, Lord of Gjirokastër, and Muriq Bua Shpata, Despot of Arta, against the Despotate of Epirus.

Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412)
Date1411 – 1412
Location
Despotate of Epirus, (Modern-day Epirus and Western Greece)
Result Albanian victory
Belligerents
Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta Despotate of Arta
Zenevisi_CoA Principality of Gjirokastër
Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta Despotate of Epirus
Commanders and leaders
Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta Muriq Bua Shpata
Zenevisi_CoA Gjon Zenebishi		 Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta Carlo I Tocco
Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta Leonardo II Tocco
Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta Symeon Strategopoulos (WIA)
Strength
Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta Zenevisi_CoA unknown Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta unknown

Background

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In April 1399, Esau de' Buondelmonti, the Despot of Epirus, launched an invasion of the Principality of Gjirokastër. His forces were defeated in battle by Albanian troops led by Gjon Zenebishi, leading to his capture.[1][2] De' Buondelmonti was held for ransom and remained in captivity until his release in June 1400,[3][4][5] for 10,000 ducats.[6][7]

On 6 February 1411, following the death of Esau de' Buondelmonti, his widow attempted to assume control of the Despotate of Epirus. Upon learning of her intentions to marry a Serbian noble, the people rejected her claim. On 26 February, the citizens of Ioannina revolted, exiled her, and invited Carlo I Tocco to become their new ruler. Tocco arrived in Ioannina on 1 April 1411, and assumed control of the city.[3][8][7]

Invasion

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Upon hearing of Carlo I Tocco's rise to power, Muriq Bua Shpata and Gjon Zenebishi, feeling threatened, formed an alliance despite their rivalry;[9] this pact was solidified by the marriage of Muriq's daughter to Gjon's son. From his camp at Pratokai, north of Ioannina, Carlo launched raids against Gjon Zenebishi’s territories, including Lachanokastron, and also invaded the Despotate of Arta.[10]

In response, the two Albanian rulers united their armies and engaged Carlo's forces in battle during the spring or summer of 1412. Carlo dispatched his brother, Leonardo II, to estimate the size of the Albanian army, discovering that they were outnumbered nearly four to one. The Epirote army, led by Carlo I Tocco, Leonardo II, and Symeon Strategopoulos, advanced to the plain of Kranea, south of Mesopotamon, where they were surrounded and nearly annihilated.[6][7][11] Symeon was wounded but escaped, while Carlo and Leonardo retreated to Ioannina. After this decisive victory, the Albanian forces marched to Ioannina and laid siege to the city but ultimately failed to capture it.[10][1]

Aftermath

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After the war, a scandal involving Gjon Zenebishi’s son and Muriq Bua Shpata’s son-in-law led to a feud that collapsed their alliance. Carlo I Tocco capitalized on this rift, securing peace with Zenebishi, the region’s most powerful ruler.[12]

In 1414, Muriq died, and soon after, the Ottoman Empire invaded Zenebishi’s lands, forcing him into exile on Corfu, where he remained until his death in 1418.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Albania in Middle Ages - The Albanian Principalities". Scribd. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  2. ^ Soustal, Peter; Koder, Johannes (1981). Nikopolis und Kephallēnia (in German). Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-0399-8.
  3. ^ a b Fine (Jr.), John V. A.; Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 355. ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5.
  4. ^ Studia Albanica (in French). L'Institut. 2004. p. 32.
  5. ^ Dahri, Fahri. "Çamëria(¹) Në Shekujt XIV, XV Dhe XVI". Bashkimi i Shqiperise (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  6. ^ a b Nika, Spiro (2020-07-20). "Gjirokastra Despotate and Gjin Zenebish". doi:10.5281/zenodo.3952987. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Principata e Zenebishëve". Trashegimia (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  8. ^ Petanović, Luka (2006). Elena: l'ultima imperatrice bizantina (in Italian). Editoriale Jaca Book. ISBN 978-88-16-43518-6.
  9. ^ Imber, Colin (1990). The Ottoman Empire 1300-1481. Isis Press. ISBN 978-975-428-015-9.
  10. ^ a b Nicol, Donald M. (1984). The Despotate of Epiros 1267-1479: A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-26190-6.
  11. ^ Schirò, Giuseppe (1975). Cronaca dei Tocco di Cefalonia (in Italian). Accademia nazionale dei Lincei.
  12. ^ "Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, I, 1-12, Add. 1-2". austriaca.at. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
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