The Principality of Muzaka ( Albanian: ''Principata e Muzakajve'') was an independent realm ruled by the Albanian

Muzaka family The Muzaka were an Albanian noble family that ruled over the region of Myzeqe (southern Albania) in the Late Middle Ages. The Muzaka are also referred to by some authors as a tribe or a clan. The earliest historical document that mention Muzak ...

with its capital at

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and east of Fier. Berat is located i ...

, covering territories in Central and

Southern Albania Southern Albania ( sq, Shqipëria jugore) is one of the three NUTS-2 Regions of Albania. This ethnographical territory is sometimes referred to as ''Toskeria'' ( sq, Toskëria). It consists of five counties: Berat, Fier, Gjirokastër, Korçë ...

, and

Western Macedonia Western Macedonia ( el, Δυτική Μακεδονία, translit=Ditikí Makedonía, ) is one of the thirteen Modern regions of Greece, regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Macedonia (Greece), Macedonia. Located in north-western ...

. One of the first rulers was

Andrea I Muzaka Andrea I Muzaka, Ndrea Muzaka (also Andrew Musachi died 1319) was an Albanian prince of the Muzaka family and the ruler of the Principality of Berat. Life Andrea Muzaka came from the Muzaka noble family, who were wealthy in southern Albania. ...

whose reign was recognized by the

Byzantine Emperor This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as l ...

. During the Battle of Savra, the Ottomans captured Berat from Balša II, together with Kruja and

Ulcinj Ulcinj ( cyrl, Улцињ, ; ) is a town on the southern coast of Montenegro and the capital of Ulcinj Municipality. It has an urban population of 10,707 (2011), the majority being Albanians. As one of the oldest settlements in the Adriatic coa ...

. They soon retreated from all of those towns keeping only Castoria under their permanent control. Some sources explain that Ottomans probably remained in Berat with intention to use it as foothold to capture Valona. By 1396

took over control of Berat. In 1417 the territories of the Principality, including Vlorë and Berat, became a part of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

History

It's uncertain when the Muzaka family started to rule over

, however one of the first notable rulers known so far is

who ruled over the region of Myzeqe. Principality of Berat separates into two periods of time, between the period of 1280 to 1343, and 1355 to 1417. Andrea I Muzaka established a

de facto ''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with '' de jure'' ("by l ...

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 ''Sebastokrator'' ( grc-byz, Σεβαστοκράτωρ, Sevastokrátor, August Ruler, ; bg, севастократор, sevastokrator; sh, sebastokrator), was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers wh ...

. Some notable regions that were part of the Principality of Berat during this period are: Devoll,

, Skrapar, Tomorica, Selanica, Myzeqe, Korçe etc.. The Principality of Berat reached the peak of its power during the rule of

Andrea II Muzaka Andrea II Muzaka, was an Albanian noble of the Muzaka family and the ruler of the Principality of Muzaka. His grandfather is known as one of the first notable rulers of the principality and also the titular "Marshal of Albania". His father w ...

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 An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( e ...

. Andrea II expanded his territory to the maximum extent it would reach: from the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian 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 The Serbian Empire ( sr, / , ) was a medieval Serbian state that emerged from the Kingdom of Serbia. It was established in 1346 by Dušan the Mighty, who significantly expanded the state. Under Dušan's rule, Serbia was the major power in the ...

, but was recreated after that empire's fall in 1355. In an alliance with the Balsha, and the great lord of

Ohrid Ohrid ( mk, Охрид ) is a city in North Macedonia and is the seat of the Ohrid Municipality. It is the largest city on Lake Ohrid and the eighth-largest city in the country, with the municipality recording a population of over 42,000 inh ...

Andrea Gropa, in 1372 Andrea Muzaka managed to also conquer Kostur from Prince Marko After the death of Andrea, the rule was passed to his son

Teodor II Muzaka Teodor II Muzaka was member of the Muzaka family, Albanian nobles who ruled the Principality of Berat. He died fighting during the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 on the side of the anti-Ottoman coalition led by Lazar of Serbia. Life Theodor 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

in 1417, but the Muzaka family would briefly regain their control in central Albania in 1444 after their alliance with

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 ...

in the

League of Lezhë The League of Lezhë ( sq, Lidhja e Lezhës), also commonly referred to as the Albanian League ( sq, Lidhja Arbërore), was a military and diplomatic alliance of the Albanian aristocracy, created in the city of Lezhë on 2 March 1444. The Lea ...

, however after 6 years their territory would eventually be incorporated into the

which would end the centuries-reign of the Muzaka noble family in

Monarchs

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berat, Lordship of Lordship of Berat Albanian principalities Ottoman Albania Former countries in the Balkans Former monarchies

History

Monarchs

See also

References