Pjetër Losha was an
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:
*Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular:
**Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans
**Albanian language
**Albanian culture
**Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
clan leader in medieval
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
. He belonged to the Losha ''fis'' (clan or tribe) and was the leader of a combined force of his own clan and the ''fis'' of Mazaraki and
Malakasi
Malakasi ( el, Μαλακάσι) is a village and a former municipality in the Trikala regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Meteora, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal u ...
. In 1360, he became
Despot of Arta,
Rogoi
Rogoi ( el, Ρωγοί) is a Byzantine castle in Nea Kerasounta near Preveza, in western Greece. It is located on the site of the ancient city of Bouchetion (Βουχέτιον), which was abandoned in the late 1st century BC. Re-occupied in t ...
and the area of
Amphilochia
Amfilochia ( el, Αμφιλοχία) is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvasaras (Καρβασαράς; from ''carav ...
. He died in 1374 and was succeeded by his close ally,
John Spata
Gjin Bua Shpata (sometimes anglicized as ''John Spata'') ( 1358 – 29 October 1399) was an Albanian ruler in Western Greece with the title of Despot. Together with Peter Losha, he led raids into Epirus, Acarnania and Aetolia in 1358. He was r ...
. The ''
Chronicle of the Tocco'' is an important primary source for his life and the Albanians in medieval Epirus in general.
Life
Losha's genealogy or birth date is unknown. He belonged to the Losha clan. The word ''lios'' means "pockmark" in Albanian. He was part of the Albanian attacks in the remnants of Byzantine Epirus. In 1358–59, Albanian clans overran the regional feudal rulers and established themselves under
John Spata
Gjin Bua Shpata (sometimes anglicized as ''John Spata'') ( 1358 – 29 October 1399) was an Albanian ruler in Western Greece with the title of Despot. Together with Peter Losha, he led raids into Epirus, Acarnania and Aetolia in 1358. He was r ...
and Peter Losha.
[ In 1358 the Albanians overran Epirus, Acarnania and Aetolia, and established two principalities under their leaders, John Spatas (shpatë in Albanian meaning a sword) and Peter Leosas (lios in Albanian meaning a pockmark.] He had a son named Gjin. Losha led the Albanian force against
Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini - Doukas (Greek: Νικηφόρος Β΄ Δούκας, ''Nikēphoros II Doukas''), was the ruler of Epirus from 1335 to 1338 and from 1356 until his death in 1359.
Life
Nikephoros was the son of John Orsini of Epirus and ...
at the
Battle of Achelous that won him the rule of Arta; he founded his domain around Arta with the help of the Mazaraki and
Malakasi
Malakasi ( el, Μαλακάσι) is a village and a former municipality in the Trikala regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Meteora, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal u ...
clans.
[Epeirotica 2.220; cf. 222 f] The domains he gained after the battle also included
Rogoi
Rogoi ( el, Ρωγοί) is a Byzantine castle in Nea Kerasounta near Preveza, in western Greece. It is located on the site of the ancient city of Bouchetion (Βουχέτιον), which was abandoned in the late 1st century BC. Re-occupied in t ...
and
Amphilochia
Amfilochia ( el, Αμφιλοχία) is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvasaras (Καρβασαράς; from ''carav ...
, as mentioned in the ''Chronicle of Ioannina''. In 1360,
Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš ( sr-cyr, Симеон Урош, gr, Συμεών Ούρεσης; 1326–1370), nicknamed Siniša (Синиша), was a self-proclaimed Emperor of Serbs and Greeks, from 1356 to 1370. He was son of Serbian King Stephen Uroš III a ...
, the titular Serbian Emperor, in an attempt to avoid conflict with the Albanians and as an acknowledgment of their military strength decided to the leave the areas of Arta and Aetolia to Shpata and Losha.
[ In 1360, avoiding conflict with the Albanian forces and admitting thus their military superiority, Symeon Uros left in their hands Aetolia, which was divided between two rulers belonging to the Albanian race (genos), namely Gjin Bouas Spatas, who became Despot of Acheloos and Angelokastron, and Peter Liosas who was made Despot of Arta, Rogoi and the region of Amphilochia.]
In 1366,
Toma Preljubović succeeded Simeon as ruler of Epirus. His rule marked a renewal of hostilities in the region as from 1367 to 1370, Ioannina, the capital of Preljubović, came under constant siege and was blocked by the Mazaraki and Malakasi clans under Losha.
A truce was signed when Peter's son John was betrothed to Thomas's daughter Irina.
She died in the 1375 plague that affected the region and hostilities began again.
Possessions
His estates included the Epirote cities of:
*
Arta,
[Vizantološki institut 1994]
p. 133
*Rogoi or Roga (modern
Filippiada
Filippiada ( el, Φιλιππιάδα) is a small town and a former municipality in the Preveza regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ziros, of which it is a municipal unit. The munic ...
)
[
*]Amphilochia
Amfilochia ( el, Αμφιλοχία) is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvasaras (Καρβασαράς; from ''carav ...
Family
He had a son named Gjin, who married Irina Preljubović, the daughter of Thoma.
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Losha, Peter
1374 deaths
14th-century Albanian people
Despots of Arta
People of the Serbian Empire
Medieval Albanian nobility
Year of birth unknown