Georgius Pelino or Gjergj Pelini ( 1438–1463) was an
Albanian Catholic priest, the abbot of
Ratac Abbey
Ratac or Ratac Abbey ( it, Santa Maria de Rotezo, sr, Манастир Богородице Ратачке) was a fortified monastic complex on the coast of the peninsula between Bar and Sutomore in modern-day Montenegro. Ratac Abbey was under ...
and diplomat of
Skanderbeg
, reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468
, predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti
, successor = Gjon Kastrioti II
, spouse = Donika Arianiti
, issue = Gjon Kastrioti II
, royal house = Kastrioti
, father ...
and
Venetian Republic
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia ...
.
Life
Pelino's birthdate is unknown, but his birthplace
Novo Brdo
Novo Brdo ( sr-Cyrl, Ново Брдо), or Novobërda and Artana ( sq-definite, Novobërdë or ''Artanë''), is a municipality located in the Pristina district of Kosovo. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 6,729 inhabitants. T ...
is stated in a 1441 document. From 1438 (or 1436) to 1463, he was the abbot of
Ratac Abbey
Ratac or Ratac Abbey ( it, Santa Maria de Rotezo, sr, Манастир Богородице Ратачке) was a fortified monastic complex on the coast of the peninsula between Bar and Sutomore in modern-day Montenegro. Ratac Abbey was under ...
in nowadays
Sutomore. His abbey was under the jurisdiction of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar ( cnr, Барска надбискупија, Barska nadbiskupija; sq, Kryepeshkopata Katolike Romake e Tivarit; la, Archidioecesis Antibarensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Montenegro. , but he was not in good relations with its titulars, due to his ambitions to become himself head of Archdiocese. Many sources mention pharmacist Antonije Beli as Pelino's assistant.
Citizen of the Serbian Despotate
In 1421 Pelino borrowed 1,505
perpers to
Balša III
Balša III ( sr-cyr, Балша III) or Balsha III ( sq, Balsha III) (1387 – 28 April 1421, in Belgrade) was the fifth and last ruler of Zeta from the Balšić noble family, from April 1403 to April 1421. He was the son of Đurađ II and Jelena ...
when the latter decided to travel to visit
Stefan Lazarević. Later, on 15 March 1445, Pelino requested from the
Venetian Senate
The Senate ( vec, Senato), formally the ''Consiglio dei Pregadi'' or ''Rogati'' (, la, Consilium Rogatorum), was the main deliberative and legislative body of the Republic of Venice.
Establishment
The Venetian Senate was founded in 1229, or le ...
to authorize him to claim this amount from the heritage property of
Jelena Balšić Jelena, also written Yelena and Elena, is a Slavic given name. It is a Slavicized form of the Greek name Helen, which is of uncertain origin. Diminutives of the name include Jelica, Jelka, Jele, Jela, Lena, Lenotschka, Jeca, Lenka, and Alena.
Not ...
. Jelena Balšić also borrowed 205
ducats
The ducat () coin was used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages from the 13th to 19th centuries. Its most familiar version, the gold ducat or sequin containing around of 98.6% fine gold, originated in Venice in 1284 and gained ...
from Ratac Abbey and in 1446 Pelino added this amount to his claim, promising to forgive a half of it.
The Treaty of Vučitrn, signed in
Vučitrn
Vushtrri ( sq-definite, Vushtrria) or Vučitrn ( sr-Cyrl, Вучитрн), is a city and municipality located in the Mitrovica District in northern Kosovo. According to the 2011 census, the town of Vushtrri has 26,964 inhabitants, while the m ...
on 22 April 1426 between
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
and
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate ( sr, / ) was a medieval Serbian state in the first half of the 15th century. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of medieval Serbia, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and ...
, formally ended the
Second Scutari War
The Second Scutari War ( sr-cyr, Други скадарски рат) was an armed conflict in 1419–1426 between Zeta (1419–1421) and then the Serbian Despotate (1421–1423) on the one side and the Venetian Republic on the other, over Scuta ...
. By this treaty Venice ceded Ratac to the Serbian Despotate.
Ratac was included into the list of Serbian demands probably based on the pressure of the people from Bar on Serbian negotiators.
Stefan Lazarević confirmed the privileges of Ratac Abbey initially granted by the King Milutin. To negotiate this confirmation Pelino traveled to meet Lazarević in his court. In 1438 he traveled to Dubrovnik as ambassador of despot
Đurađ Branković
Đurađ Branković (; sr-cyr, Ђурађ Бранковић; hu, Brankovics György; 1377 – 24 December 1456) was the Serbian Despot from 1427 to 1456. He was one of the last Serbian medieval rulers. He was a participant in the battle of Anka ...
.
In 1441, together with
Gjon Gazulli
Gjon Gazulli ( la, Johannes Gasulus) Gjadër, Republic of Venice, 1400 – Dubrovnik, 19 February 1465) was an Albanian Dominican friar, humanist scholar, and diplomat. he is mentioned as a member of a diplomatic mission in Italy. In Autumn 1442 Pelino was expelled from Ratac Abbey by
Stephen Vukčić for seven months period. Vukčić put a price on Pelino's head. During this period Pelino appealed to the
Venetian Senate
The Senate ( vec, Senato), formally the ''Consiglio dei Pregadi'' or ''Rogati'' (, la, Consilium Rogatorum), was the main deliberative and legislative body of the Republic of Venice.
Establishment
The Venetian Senate was founded in 1229, or le ...
to support his appointment on the position of archbishop of
Archdiocese of Bar
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar ( cnr, Барска надбискупија, Barska nadbiskupija; sq, Kryepeshkopata Katolike Romake e Tivarit; la, Archidioecesis Antibarensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Montenegro. . Venetian Senate promised that it would negotiate with the Pope to appoint Pelino on some vacant position of archbishop or some other position in the church hierarchy. In the meantime the Senate granted Pelino 10 monthly provisions paid from the treasury of
Kotor
Kotor ( Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian: ), is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative ...
.
Citizen of the Venetian Republic
The years-long dispute between Pelino and Marin Adamović, a
jeweler
A bench jeweler is an artisan who uses a combination of skills to make and repair jewelry. Some of the more common skills that a bench jeweler might employ include antique restoration, silversmith, Goldsmith, stone setting, engraving, fabrica ...
from
Kotor
Kotor ( Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian: ), is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative ...
, was ended in 1444.
At the beginning of 1445 archbishop of Bar complained to the Venetians about Pelino.
This was a beginning of Pelino's long struggle with Bar archbishops and governors to keep privileges his abbey had within Serbian Despotate.
Together with Andrea, the Bishop of Arbër, Pelino participated as a negotiator between Skanderbeg and
Venice Republic
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
during the peace treaty negotiations that ended
Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–1448.
[ ]
In 1448 Pelino was expelled from Ratac Abbey for the second time. In this case by Venetian governor of Bar, Jakov Delfino who also, in the name of all Bar clergy, wrote a letter to
pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
complaining against Pelino.
Pelino often borrowed money to Venetians. In 1450 Pelino borrowed 1,508 perpers to Venetian Republic. In 1451 he again borrowed substantial amount to Venetians.
While
Venice proveditors of Scutari and Durazzo were helping the Ottoman army during the
First Siege of Krujë
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
, as a representative of Skanderbeg, in October 1450 he proposed to the Venice to cede them a sovereignty over the city of Krujë.
[ On November 1450 Venice informed him that his request was not accepted, because it had not enough soldiers to do so. In period 1453-56 Pelino was appointed as Protonotary apostolic and wrote Skanderbeg's charters.][ Mainly due to Pelino's efforts the peace treaty privileges and payment conditions were renewed in 1456.
Based on the privileges granted to ]Ratac Abbey
Ratac or Ratac Abbey ( it, Santa Maria de Rotezo, sr, Манастир Богородице Ратачке) was a fortified monastic complex on the coast of the peninsula between Bar and Sutomore in modern-day Montenegro. Ratac Abbey was under ...
by Serbian Nemanjić dynasty
The House of Nemanjić ( sr-Cyrl, Немањић, Немањићи; Nemanjić, Nemanjići, ) was the most prominent dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages. This princely, royal, and later imperial house produced twelve Serbian monarchs, who rul ...
, Pelino complained to Venetian Senate when governors of Bar starting from 1456 insisted that Ratac should pay tax of one tenth of its income from vine and olive oil. In July 1457 Pelino complained to Venetians that Paštrovići
The Paštrovići (, ; it, Pastrouichi, Pastrouicchi) is a historical tribe and region in the Montenegrin Littoral. Paštrovići stretches from the southernmost part of the Bay of Kotor, from the cape of Zavala to Spič. Its historical capital ...
still control four villages conquered during campaign of Altomanović. In 1458 Ratac was finally completely released from the obligations to pay one tenth of its income to Bar and thanks to Pelino's efforts four villages controlled by Paštrovići were returned under control of Ratac Abbey.
In June 1457 Pelino brought Skanderbeg's letter to Venetians. In this letter Skanderbeg complained because Venetians irregularly paying him agreed provisions. Later, in the same year, in the name of Skanderbeg Pelino went in a diplomatic mission to Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III ( it, Callisto III, va, Calixt III, es, Calixto III; 31 December 1378 – 6 August 1458), born Alfonso de Borgia ( va, Alfons de Borja), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his ...
and convinced him to continue to pay allowances to Skanderbeg.
In 1458 during the conflict between Skanderbeg and Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë III Dukagjini (1410–1481), mostly known as Lekë Dukagjini, was a 15th-century member of the Albanian nobility, from the Dukagjini family. A contemporary of Skanderbeg, Dukagjini is known for the ''Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit'', a code of ...
, he acted as an intermediary between Skanderbeg and Venice, achieving a personal success in forging the bases for a future military alliance between them. In a sign of good will, in 1459 Skanderbeg handed over to Venice the castle of Sati
Sati or SATI may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Sati'' (film), a 1989 Bengali film by Aparna Sen and starring Shabana Azmi
* ''Sati'' (novel), a 1990 novel by Christopher Pike
*Sati (singer) (born 1976), Lithuanian singer
*Sati, a character in ''Th ...
, that he had captured from Lekë Dukagjini that year. Pleased by this act, Venice rewarded Pelino's brothers with a monthly pension. In 1460 Skanderbeg appointed him as his personal ambassador.[ ] When Venetian Republic
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia ...
stopped paying provisions to Skanderbeg in 1462 Pelino managed to convince Venetian Senate
The Senate ( vec, Senato), formally the ''Consiglio dei Pregadi'' or ''Rogati'' (, la, Consilium Rogatorum), was the main deliberative and legislative body of the Republic of Venice.
Establishment
The Venetian Senate was founded in 1229, or le ...
to continue payment of the provisions of 600 ducats per year and to pay all retained provisions.[ For his success in negotiations with Skanderbeg Pelino was paid by the Venetians, so he was not only Skanderbeg's diplomat in Venice but also Venice's diplomat at Skanderbeg and actually a mediator between two parties.]
In 1463 he played an important role in the signing of an alliance treaty between Skanderbeg
, reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468
, predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti
, successor = Gjon Kastrioti II
, spouse = Donika Arianiti
, issue = Gjon Kastrioti II
, royal house = Kastrioti
, father ...
and the Republic of Venice. On 20 October 1463 Pelino was mentioned for the last time in documents, as Skanderbeg's envoy in Venice. Taking in consideration that on 13 December 1463 Pal Gazulli
Pal Gazulli or Paulus Gassulus (1405–1470) was an Albanian Catholic priest, scholar and diplomat under Skanderbeg service. After the death of Georgius Pelino in 1463, he became the personal ambassador of Skanderbeg in Republic of Venice. On 13 ...
was again mentioned as Skanderbeg's envoy in Venice, it is assumed that Pelino died in this period.
Annotations
References
Sources
*
*
Further reading
* ''Đorđe Pelinović-opat Bogorodice Ratačke'', Tatjana Koprivica, "Jadranski korijeni" conference held in October 2012 in Kotor
External links
Iz prošlosti grada Bara - Opat i diplomat Juraj Pelinović
Lovorka Čoralić, Slobodna Dalmacija,
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelino, Georgius
1463 deaths
People from Novo Brdo
Year of birth unknown
15th-century Albanian Roman Catholic priests
15th-century Albanian people
Republic of Venice clergy
Venetian period in the history of Montenegro
Skanderbeg