The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the Mat and Dibra regions. The most notable member was Gjergj Kastrioti, better known as Skanderbeg, regarded today as an Albanian hero for leading the resistance against Mehmed the Conqueror's efforts to expand the Ottoman Empire into Albania. After Skanderbeg's death and the fall of the Principality in 1468, the Kastrioti family gave their allegiance to the

Kingdom of Naples The Kingdom of Naples ( la, Regnum Neapolitanum; it, Regno di Napoli; nap, Regno 'e Napule), also known as the Kingdom of Sicily, was a state that ruled the part of the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States between 1282 and 1816. It was ...

and were given control over the Duchy of

San Pietro in Galatina Galatina ( el, label=Griko, Ας Πέτρο, As Pètro; scn, label= Salentino, San Pietru), known before the unification of Italy as San Pietro in Galatina, is a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Lecce in Apulia, southern Italy. It is situa ...

and the County of Soleto, now in the Province of Lecce, Italy. Ferrante (died 1561), son of Gjon Kastrioti II, Duke of Galatina and Count of Soleto, is the direct ancestor of all male members of the Kastrioti family today. Today, the family consists of two Italian branches, one in

Lecce Lecce ( ); el, label=Griko, Luppìu, script=Latn; la, Lupiae; grc, Λουπίαι, translit=Loupíai), group=pron is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Lecce, the province ...

and the other in Naples. The descendants of the House of Kastrioti in Italy use the family name "Castriota Scanderbeg".

History

A figure attested as

Kastriot of Kanina Kastriot of Kanina is a figure who is mentioned in 1368 in a letter of Alexander Komnenos Asen, ruler of the Principality of Valona to the Republic of Ragusa in relation to the Ragusan citizenship which Asen had acquired. Kastriot must have been an ...

in southern Albania who appears in a letter sent on September 2, 1368 by

Alexander Komnenos Asen Alexander Komnenos Asen ( el, Αλέξανδρος Κομνηνός Ασέν; bg, Александър Комнин Асен) was the son of Despot John Komnenos Asen and nephew of Emperor Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and Empress Helena of Serbia ...

to the

Ragusan Ragusan may refer to: * citizen of the Republic of Ragusa hr, Sloboda se ne prodaje za sve zlato svijeta it, La libertà non si vende nemmeno per tutto l'oro del mondo"Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world" , population_estimate ...

senate has been hypothesised by a number of authors, mostly in the early 20th century, as an ancestor of the Kastrioti family.

Heinrich Kretschmayr Heinrich Kretschmayr (1870–1939) was an Austrian archivist and historian who specialized in the history of Venice. His principal work is the ''The History of Venice'' (German: ''Geschichte von Venedig'') in three volumes - a monumental surv ...

argued that this Kastriot may have been in fact Pal or Gjergj Kastrioti, John Fine considered it "probable" that this Kastriot was an ancestor of

Gjon Kastrioti Gjon Kastrioti (1375/80 – 4 May 1437), was a member of the Albanian nobility, from the House of Kastrioti, and the father of future Albanian leader Gjergj Kastrioti (better known as Skanderbeg). He governed the territory between the Cape of ...

and

Aleks Buda Aleks Buda (7 September 1910 – 7 July 1993) was an Albanian historian. After completion of his education in Italy and Austria, he returned to Albania. Although his education was in literature, he made a career as a historian during the socialist ...

tried to bridge the geographical discrepancy between the Kastriot of Kanina who lived in southern Albania and the Kastrioti who were active in north-central Albania by arguing that after the fall of the Balšić, they returned to their ancestral lands in the

Dibër valley Dibër may refer to: *Dibër Valley, known today as the "Two Dibers", a tribal-highland region of northern Albania with the administrative and commercial center in Debar that was split between Albania and Yugoslavia, present North Macedonia Alban ...

. In contemporary historiography, the figure recorded as Kastriot of Kanina in 1368 is considered to be unrelated to the Kastrioti family. The Kastrioti so far remain absent from historical or archival records in comparison to other Albanian noble families until their first historical appearance at the end of the 14th century. The historical figure of

Konstantin Kastrioti Kostandin Kastrioti Mazreku (died ca. 1390) was an Albanian regional ruler in parts of the wider Mat and Dibër areas. He is the first Kastrioti to be known by his full name and the progenitor of all members of the family. His son was Pal Ka ...

Mazreku is attested in Giovanni Andrea Angelo Flavio Comneno's ''Genealogia diversarum principum familiarum''. Angelo mentions Kastrioti as ''Constantinus Castriotus, cognomento Meserechus, Aemathiae & Castoriae Princeps'' (Constantinus Castriotus, surnamed Meserechus, Prince of Aemathia and Castoria). The toponym Castoria has been interpreted as Kastriot, Kastrat in Has, Kastrat in Dibra or the microtoponym "Kostur" near the village of Mazrek in the Has region. In connection to the Kastrioti family name, it is very likely that the name of one the different Kastriot or Kastrat which were fortified settlements as their etymology shows ( castrum) was as their family name. The Kastrioti may have originated from this village or probably had acquired it as

pronoia The ''pronoia'' (plural ''pronoiai''; Greek: πρόνοια, meaning "care" or "forethought," from πρό, "before," and νόος, "mind") was a system of granting dedicated streams of state income to individuals and institutions in the late Byz ...

. Angelo used the cognomen ''Meserechus'' in reference to Skanderbeg and this link to the same name is produced in other sources and reproduced in later ones like

Du Cange Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange (; December 18, 1610 in Amiens – October 23, 1688 in Paris, aged 77), also known simply as Charles Dufresne, was a distinguished French philologist and historian of the Middle Ages and Byzantium. Life Educate ...

's ''Historia Byzantina'' (1680). These links highlight that the Kastrioti used Mazreku as a name that highlighted their tribal affiliation (''farefisni''). The name Mazrek(u), which means horse breeder in Albanian, is found throughout all Albanian regions. The Kastrioti themselves where organised in a tribal structure and formed a ''fis'' or clan/tribe. Konstantin Kastrioti's son, who was the father of

and grandfather of Skanderbeg, appears in two historical sources,

Gjon Muzaka Gjon Muzaka ( fl. 1510; it, Giovanni Musachi di Berat ) was an Albanian nobleman from the Muzaka family, that has historically ruled in the Myzeqe region, Albania. In 1510 he wrote a ''Breve memoria de li discendenti de nostra casa Musachi'' (Sho ...

's ''Breve memoria de li discendenti de nostra casa Musachi'' (1510) and Andrea Angelo's ''Genealogia diversarum principum familiarum'' (1603/1610) who was later largely reproduced by

(1680). Angelo calls Gjon Kastrioti's father "Georgius Castriotus" (Gjergj), lord (princeps) of "Aemathiae, Umenestria" ( Mat and probably

Ujmisht Ujmisht is a village and a former municipality in Kukës County, northeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Kukës. The population at the 2011 census was 1,797.

) and "Castoriae". Muzaka calls him "Paulo Castrioto" (Pal) and asserts that "he ruled over no more than two villages, called Signa and Gardi Ipostesi" (

Sinë Sinë ( sq-definite, Sina), is a small village in the Dibër County, in Albania. After the 2015 local government reforms, it became part of the municipality Dibër. History Pal Kastrioti (fl. 1383—1407) was given village of Sina (''Signa'') as ...

and Gardhi i Poshtëm, in Çidhën of Dibër). His first name is disputed. Neither name can be characterized as the correct version because of an extreme lack of sources. The name "Paulo" (Pal) is mentioned only by one author (Muzaka) and wasn't used as the name of any of his grandsons (Reposh, Konstantin, Stanisha, Gjergj) or great-grandsons (Giorgio, Costantino, Ferrante). His rule over "only two villages" as described by Muzaka has been disputed because if true, it would mean that his son, Gjon Kastrioti who ruled over a much larger area rose to power in the span of one generation. This is considered a very unlikely trajectory in the context of Albanian medieval society because

noble families Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characterist ...

had acquired their area of influence over multiple generations. Historian Kristo Frashëri considers it likely that he ruled over his region "in the third quartier of the 14th century" between 1350-75 based on the fact that when his grandson Gjergj Kastrioti was born, his son Gjon had already fathered eight children. His son,

(died 1437), became the lord of Matia ( Mat). He managed to expand his territory but was ultimately subdued by the invading Ottomans. The most notable member was Gjergj Kastrioti, better known as Skanderbeg (1405–1468), declared an Albanian national hero, renowned in Albanian folklore for uniting the Albanian principalities in a military and diplomatic alliance, the League of Lezhë, which fought against Mehmed the Conqueror's efforts to further expand the Ottoman Empire into Europe.

Titles

The list of titles used by Kastrioti family are: Albania in the Middle Ages * Lord or King of Albania * Prince of Kruja ( Principality of Kastrioti) * Lord of Sina and Lower Gardi * Lord of

Emathia Emathia ( gr, Ἠμαθία) was the name of the plain opposite the Thermaic Gulf when the kingdom of Macedon was formed. The name was used to define the area between the rivers Aliakmon and Loudias, which, because it was the center of the kingdom ...

and Vumenestia In Ottoman Empire * Sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Dibra *

Subaşi The ''soubashi'' ( tr, subaşı, sq, subash, sh, subaša) was an Ottoman gubernatorial title used to describe different positions within Ottoman hierarchy, depending on the context. This title was given to Ottoman timar holders who generated more ...

Krujë Krujë ( sq-definite, Kruja; see also the etymology section) is a town and a municipality in north central Albania. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km north from the capital of Albania, Tirana. Kruj ...

In the

* Duke of

* Count of Soleto * Signore of Monte Sant'Angelo * Signore of San Giovanni Rotondo * Baron of Gagliano * Baron of Salignano * Baron of

Arigliano Nicola Arigliano (6 December 1923 – 30 March 2010) was an Italian jazz singer, musician, and occasional actor. Born in Squinzano, Province of Lecce, at young age he ran away from home because of the humiliations received even by family members ...

Members

Kostandin Kastrioti Kostandin Kastrioti Mazreku (died ca. 1390) was an Albanian regional ruler in parts of the wider Mat and Dibër areas. He is the first Kastrioti to be known by his full name and the progenitor of all members of the family. His son was Pal K ...

, possibly the father of Pal Kastrioti **

Pal Kastrioti Pal or Gjergj Kastrioti was an Albanians, Albanian medieval ruler in the latter part of the 14th century in northern Albania. Not much is known about his life. He is mentioned in only two historical sources which describe his rule as extending in ...

- had the title "segnior de Signa et de Gardi-ipostesi" (Sina ( sq, Sinë) and Lower Gardi ( sq, Gardhi i Poshtëm)), three sons *** Aleks Kastrioti - lord of three villages, unknown issue *** Kostandin Kastrioti - Lord of Kruja castle ( lat, dominus Serinae), unknown issue ***

(fl. 1407-1437†), married

Voisava Tripalda Voisava ( at least 1402–05) was the wife of Gjon Kastrioti, a member of the Albanian nobility with whom she had nine children, one of whom is Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti, better known as Skanderbeg. She is mentioned in passing in tw ...

, nine children ****

Reposh Kastrioti The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the ...

- († 1430 or 1431), unknown issue, possibly father of Constantine ****

Stanisha Kastrioti Stanisha Kastrioti ( la, Stanissa; 1421–45) was an Albanian nobleman, a member of the Kastrioti family, and older brother of Skanderbeg. His father Gjon Kastrioti was an Albanian lord who had possessions in the Mat region. His mother was Voisa ...

- († 1445?), one son ***** Hamza Kastrioti - (After 1457) ****

Kostandin Kastriot Kostandin is an Albanian masculine given name. Individuals bearing the name Kostandin include: * Kostandin of Berta (fl. 18th century), writer and translator *Kostandin Boshnjaku (1888–1953), banker, politician * Kostandin Çekrezi (1892–1959), ...

i, unknown issue, possibly father of Constantine ***** Constantine Kastrioti ****

Mara Kastrioti The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the ...

, married

Stefan I Crnojević Stefan may refer to: * Stefan (given name) * Stefan (surname) * Ștefan, a Romanian given name and a surname * Štefan, a Slavic given name and surname * Stefan (footballer) (born 1988), Brazilian footballer * Stefan Heym, pseudonym of German writ ...

, buried in Kom Monastery, three sons ( Ivan,

Andrija Andrija ( sr-cyr, Андрија, ) is the South Slavic variant of Greek ''Andreas'' (Andrew). It may refer to: *Andrija Stipanović, basketballer *Andrija Žižić (born 1980), Croatian basketballer *Andrija Kaluđerović (born 1987), Serbian foot ...

and

Božidar Božidar ( Bulgarian, Macedonian, sr-cyr, Божидар, pl, Bożydar, sometimes transliterated as Bojidar, or Bozhidar) is a Slavic given name meaning "Divine gift". It is a calque of the Greek name Theodore, itself derived from the Greek wor ...

) **** Skanderbeg (Gjergj Kastrioti) - Albanian national hero (d. 1468) ***** Gjon Kastrioti II (d. 1501)- Count of Soleto, married Jerina Branković, daughter of despot

Lazar Branković Lazar Branković ( sr-cyr, Лазар Бранковић; c. 1421 – 20 February 1458) was a Serbian despot, prince of Rascia from 1456 to 1458. He was the third son of Đurađ Branković and his wife Eirene Kantakouzene. He was succeeded by his ...

of Serbia ******

Costantino Castriota Costantino Castriota Scanderbeg (1477–1500) was an Albanian nobleman from the House of Kastrioti and prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Isernia (1497–1500). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Costantino Castriota was born in 1477 ...

(d. 1500), bishop of Isernia (fl. 1498) ****** Ferrante Castrioti (d. 1561), duke of San Pietro in Galatina ****** Maria (d. 1569) ****** Giorgio (d. 1540), Venetian military (fl. 1499–1501) ****

Jelena Kastrioti The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the ...

- married

Pavle Balšić Pavle ( Macedonian and sr-cyr, Павле; ka, პავლე) is a Serbian, Macedonian, Croatian and Georgian male given name corresponding to English Paul; the name is of biblical origin (cf. Saint Paul). People known mononymously as Pavle inc ...

p. 96 with whom she had

George Strez Balšić George Strez Balšić ( sr-Cyrl, Ђурађ Стрезов Балшић) or Gjergj Balsha ( sq, Gjergj Balsha) ( 1444–57) and his brothers Gojko Balšić, Gojko and Ivan Strez Balšić, Ivan were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White ...

, Lord of Misia ****

Mamica Kastrioti The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the ...

, married Muzakë Thopia in 1445 **** Angelina Kastrioti, married

Vladan Arianiti , nickname = , variant forms = Vladin, Vladunfemale form Vladana, Vladanka , related names = , seealso = Vlada, Vlado, Vlade, Vladko, Vladoje, Vladeta , name day = , derived = , wikt = Vladan (, sr-Cyrl, Влада� ...

****

Vlajka Kastrioti The House of Kastrioti ( sq, Dera e Kastriotëve) was an Albanian noble family, active in the 14th and 15th centuries as the rulers of the Principality of Kastrioti. At the beginning of the 15th century, the family controlled a territory in the ...

, married

Gjin Muzaka Gjin is an Albanian male given name, clan, surname and onomastic element. As a name, it is usually held by Albanian Christians, as it is derived from the name of a saint, although the identity of this saint is unclear, as both theologists and lingui ...

, secondly

Stefan Strez Balšić Stefan may refer to: * Stefan (given name) * Stefan (surname) * Ștefan, a Romanian given name and a surname * Štefan, a Slavic given name and surname * Stefan (footballer) (born 1988), Brazilian footballer * Stefan Heym, pseudonym of Germa ...

, two sons with Stefan with whom she had

Gojko Balšić Gojko Balšić or Gojko Balsha ( sr, Гојко Балшић; sq, Gojko Balsha; fl. 1444) and his brothers George Strez and John were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adriatic. The brothers were members of the ...

and

Ivan Strez Balšić Ivan Strez Balšić ( sr-cyr, Јован Стрез Балшић) or Gjon Balsha ( sq, Gjon Balsha); fl. 1444–1469) and his brothers George Strez and Gojko Balšić were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adri ...

Two possible members of the Kastrioti are recorded in the Ottoman ''

defter A ''defter'' (plural: ''defterler'') was a type of tax register and land cadastre in the Ottoman Empire. Description The information collected could vary, but ''tahrir defterleri'' typically included details of villages, dwellings, household ...

'' of 1467. The first, a certain ''Dimitri Kastrijoti'', appears as a household head from the village of ''Setina e Poshtme'' which, alongside ''Setina e Sipërme'', can be identified with ''Signa'' which was traditionally held by the Kastrioti. The second was a '' yamak'' by the name of ''Mark Kastrioti'' from

Derjan Derjan is a village and a former municipality in the Dibër County, northern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Mat. The population at the 2011 census was 1,102. It includes the following settl ...

who was stationed in ''Shtjaknëz'' (modern Shqefën).

Italian period

Paolo Veronese - The Triumph of Mordecai - WGA24785

After the fall of Albania to the Ottoman Empire, the

gave land and noble title to Skanderbeg's family, the Kastrioti. His family were given control over the Duchy of

and the County of Soleto, now in the Province of Lecce in Italy. His son, Gjon Kastrioti II, married Jerina Branković, daughter of Serbian Despot

and one of the last descendants of the Palaiologos. Two patrilineal branches of the Kastrioti family exist today: the branch of

with two sub-branches and the branch of Napoli with one sub-branch. Both branches are patrilineally descended from the sons of Ferrante (-1561), Duke of Galatina and Count of Spoleto.

Armorials

Main branch

File:Miniatura - Ms.1379 c.22V - Catriota.png, Venetian Armorial (16th century) File:Kastriotic CoA Korenić-Neorić Armorial.jpg, Korenić-Neorić Armorial (1595) File:Castriotich (Fojnica Armorial).jpg,

Fojnica Armorial Fojnica Armorial ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Fojnički grbovnik, Фојнички грбовник) is a prominent Illyrian armorial which contains South Slavic heraldic symbols, and expresses romantic nationalism and Illyrism rather than historical accuracy ...

(1675-1688) File:Coat of arms of the House of Kastrioti (by Charles Du Cange).svg, Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange (1680) File:Coat of arms of the House of Kastrioti (by Giuseppe Schirò).svg,

Giuseppe Schirò Giuseppe Schirò ( Arbërisht: Zef Skiroi; 10 August 1865 – 17 February 1927)Elsie, ''Albanian literature'',pp. 60–64/ref> was an Arbëresh neo-classical poet, linguist, publicist and folklorist from Sicily. His literary work marked the tran ...

(1904)

Cadet branches

File:Castrioti, by Giacomo Fontana, 1605.jpg, Coat of arms of the Neapolitan branch of the family by Giacomo Fontana (1605) File:Castrioti, by Jerónimo de Bolea, 17th century.jpg, Coat of arms of the Neapolitan branch of the family by Jerónimo de Bolea (17th century) File:Castrioti, by Angelo Maria da Bologni, 1715.jpg, Coat of arms of the Neapolitan branch of the family by Angelo Maria da Bologni (1715)

Footnotes

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * *

External links

I Castriota Scanderbeg

Genealogical Tree
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kastrioti Family League of Lezhë