Simon Zenebishi () was an Albanian aristocrat and vassal of 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 ...
, who held the castle of Strovilo (Castrovilari), near
Butrint
Butrint ( el, Βουθρωτόν and Βουθρωτός, ''Bouthrōtón'', la, Buthrōtum) was an ancient Greek and later Roman city and bishopric in Epirus. "Speakers of these various Greek dialects settled different parts of Greece at differen ...
, and was a member of the
Zenevisi family
The Zenevisi or Zenebishi ( 1304–1460) were a medieval Albanian people, Albanian noble family. They governed territories in Epirus, and were centered in Gjirokastër.
John Zenevisi was one of the most notable members of this family. Between 137 ...
of southern Albania. He probably dwelled in Corfu, and was later subject to the sovereignty of
Alfonso of Naples
Alfonso the Magnanimous (139627 June 1458) was King of Aragon
This is a list of the kings and queens of Aragon. The Kingdom of Aragon was created sometime between 950 and 1035 when the County of Aragon, which had been acquired by the ...
.
Life
He was a grandson a
John Zenevisi
John Zenevisi or Gjon Zenebishi ( sq, Gjon Zenebishi or ''Gjin Zenebishi''; died 1418) was an Albanian magnate that held the estates in Epirus, such as Argyrokastro (Gjirokastër) and Vagenetia.
Name
Zenevisi can be found with different spellin ...
and a son of
Thopia Zenevisi Thopia may refer to:
* Thopia family, one of the most powerful Albanian feudal families in the Late Middle Ages
** Tanusio Thopia
** Karl Thopia
** George Thopia
** Helena Thopia
** Niketa Thopia
Niketa Thopia ( sq, Niketa Topia, la, Nicetas T ...
of the
Zenevisi clan. The Zenevisi had established themselves as rulers in the region of
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a city in the Republic of Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino, at 300 metres above sea le ...
, ruled by John Zenevisi who in the late 14th century is a recorded as "sebastokrator". Simon appears in the historical records for the first time in a deal the Zenevisi had made with the
Spata
Spata ( el, Σπάτα), is a town east of downtown Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Spata-Artemida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit (officially named Spata-L ...
clan of the
Despotate of Arta
The Despotate of Arta ( sq, Despotati i Artës; el, Δεσποτάτο της Άρτας) was a despotate established by Albanian rulers during the 14th century, after the defeat of the local Despot of Epirus, Nikephoros II Orsini, by Albania ...
. As part of their alliance against the
Despote of Epirus,
Carlo Tocco, a daughter of
Maurice Spata }); ) was the ruler of Arta from late 1399/early 1400 until his death in 1414 or 1415. Maurice's reign was dominated by his wars with Carlo I Tocco. Maurice was able to defend his capital of Arta, but despite some victories failed to prevent the fa ...
was married to Simon Zenevisi. This alliance held until 1413-14, when, due to unknown actions undertaken by Simon, the alliance between the Zenevisi and Spata broke and the Zenevisi allied with the Tocco instead.
In 1443, Simon Zenebishi built the Strovili fortress with Venetian approval and support.
It was located near Saiata (Sayada),
[ and above ]Vagenetia Vagenetia or Vagenitia ( gr, Βαγενετία, Βαγενιτία) was a medieval region on the coast of Epirus, roughly corresponding to modern Thesprotia. The region likely derived its name from the Slavic tribe of the Baiounitai. It is first at ...
, the lands of his grandfather John Zenevisi
John Zenevisi or Gjon Zenebishi ( sq, Gjon Zenebishi or ''Gjin Zenebishi''; died 1418) was an Albanian magnate that held the estates in Epirus, such as Argyrokastro (Gjirokastër) and Vagenetia.
Name
Zenevisi can be found with different spellin ...
. In 1454–55 he was recognized by Alphonso V as a vassal of 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 ...
.
He had a son, born and raised in Turkey, who had deserted from the Turks in 1454, who in 1455 asked the King of Naples to be baptized.
Aftermath
His son, Alessandro "Lech" Zenevisi, ruled Strovilo following Simon's death until 1473, when he sold the castle to Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
.
Ancestry
Name
In Catalan documents, his name is also spelled ''Simone Gimlixi'' and ''Gimbixi''. An Albanian neologism of his name is ''Simon Zenebishi''.
References
Sources
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zenebishi, Simon
Simon
Simon may refer to:
People
* Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon
* Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon
* Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...
15th-century Albanian people
Republic of Venice nobility
Venetian Albanians
People of the Kingdom of Naples
15th-century Neapolitan people
15th-century Venetian people
1461 deaths