Progon was the first Albanian ruler known by name, an ''archon'' of the Kruja Fortress (modern Krujë) and its surroundings, known as the

Principality of Arbanon Arbanon ( sq, Arbër or , el, Ἄρβανον, ''Árvanon''; la, Arbanum) was a principality ruled by the native Progoni family, and the first Albanian state to emerge in recorded history. The principality was established in 1190 by the native ...

. He ruled between 1190 and 1198. Progon was succeeded by his two sons,

Gjin 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 lingu ...

, and Dimitri.

Life

Progon's realm was the first Albanian state during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

.Clements 1992, p. 31 ''"By 1190, Byzantium's power had so receded that the archon Progon succeeded in establishing the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, a principality"''Pickard-Çeliku 2008, p. 16Norris 1993, p. 35 Little is known about ''archon'' Progon who was the first ruler of Kruja and its surroundings, between 1190 and 1198.Frashëri 1964, p. 42 ''"The territories of this principality extended over the present- day districts of central Albania. Its capital was at Kruja. The first ruler of the Principality of Arberia was Archon Progon (1190-1198) about whose life and doings we know.."'' The Kruja fortress stayed in the possession of the

Progon family The Progoni were an Albanian nobility, Albanian noble family which established the first Albanian state to be recorded in history, the Principality of Arbanon.: "By 1190, Byzantium's power had so receded that the archon Progon succeeded in establ ...

, and Progon was succeeded by his sons

, and later Dimitri. Before 1204, Arbanon was an autonomous principality of the Byzantine Empire.Ellis, p. 134 He is mentioned with his two sons in an inscription from the St. Mary Monastery in Trifandina, Gëziq, northern Albania. The titles ''

archon ''Archon'' ( gr, ἄρχων, árchōn, plural: ἄρχοντες, ''árchontes'') is a Greek word that means "ruler", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem αρχ-, mean ...

'' (held by Progon) and '' panhypersebastos'' (held by Dimitri) is a sign of Byzantine dependence.Abulafia, p. 780

Family

* Progon (founder), ''

'' of Kruja ruled (between 1190 and 1198) **

Gjin Progoni Gjin Progoni ( la, Ginius) was an ''archon'' (or lord) of Kruja, located in present-day Albania, from c. 1198 until his death in 1208.: "Even if it is hard to identify the outlook of Prince Gjin, the son of Progon, who died in 1208, it is clear t ...

, ruled 1198–1208 **

Dimitri Progoni Demetrio Progoni ( sq, Dhimitër Progoni) was an Albanian leader who ruled as '' Prince of the Albanians'' from 1208 to 1216 the Principality of Arbanon, the first Albanian state. He was the successor and brother of Gjin Progoni and their fath ...

, ruled 1208–1216, married Komnena Nemanjić, the daughter of Serbian Grand Prince, later

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, queen, which title is also given to the queen consort, consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contempora ...

Stefan Nemanjić Stefan Nemanja II ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Немања II, ), or Stephen the First-Crowned ( sr, / , ; – 24 September 1228), was the Grand Prince of Serbia from 1196 and the King of Serbia from 1217 until his death in 1228. He was the first ...

(r. 1196–1228).Frashëri 1964, p. 43Bogdanović-Samardžić 1990, p. 37: "Димитрије Прогон се назива „архонтом Арбанаса" и ступа у међународне везе - са Дубровником, Венецијом и, најзад немањићком Србијом; ожењен је Комнином, кћерком Стефана Првовенчаног." This resulted in an alliance, and vassalage to Serbia amidst conflicts with the

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 ...

Annotations

Byzantinische Zeitschrift
p. 305
/ref>). He is eponymous to the

(''Progoni'').

References

Sources

*Kristo Frashëri (1964), The history of Albania: a brief survey. Publisher: s.n. *John Clements (1992), Clements' encyclopedia of world governments, Volume 10, Publisher: Political Research, inc. *Donald MacGillivray Nicol (1986), Studies in late Byzantine history and prosopography Volume 242 of Collected studies Variorum reprints ; CS242 Volume 242 of Variorum reprint. Illustrated edition. Variorum Reprints, , 9780860781905 *Donald MacGillivray Nicol (1957), The despotate of Epiros, Blackwell *Thalóczy-Jireček-Sufflay (1913), Acta et diplomata res Albaniae mediae aetatis illustrantia: Collegerunt et digesserunt dr Ludovicus de Thalóczy, dr Constantinus Jireček et dr Emilianus de Sufflay, Volume 1, Editors: Lajos Thallóczy, Konstantin Jireček, Emil von Sufflay. Publisher: typis A. Holzhausen *Anamali, Skënder and Prifti, Kristaq. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. Botimet Toena, 2002, *The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest Author John Van Antwerp Fine Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher University of Michigan Press, 1994 , 9780472082605 *Fontes Fontes, Catholic Church. Pontificia Commissio Codici Iuris Canonici Orientalis Recognoscendo Author Catholic Church. Pontificia Commissio Codici Iuris Canonici Orientalis Recognoscendo Publisher Typis polyglottis Vaticanis, 1943 *Zogo ve Atatürk Author Tayfun Atmaca Publisher Tayfun Atmaca, 2007 , 9789759421519 *David Abulafia
The New Cambridge Medieval History: c. 1198-c. 1300
* * *Arshi Pipa, Sami Repishti, Studies on Kosova, East European Monographs, 1984 *Peter Jordan, Karl Kaser, Walter Lukan, Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers, Holm Sundhaussen
Albanien: Geographie - historische Anthropologie - Geschichte - Kultur - postkommunistische Transformation
Peter Lang, 2003 *Steven G. Ellis,Lud'a Klusáková
Imagining frontiers, contesting identities
{{refend 12th-century births 1198 deaths Albanian monarchs Albanian princes 12th-century Byzantine people 12th-century Albanian people Progon Medieval Albanian nobility