Chiranna Zenevisi (), also known as Anna 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 ...

noblewoman and member of the

Zenevisi family The Zenebishi () ( 1304–1460), were an Albanian noble family. They governed territories in Epirus and were centred in Gjirokastër. Gjon Zenebishi was one of the most notable members of this family. Between 1373 and 1414, he controlled Gjiroka ...

, as the daughter of Count John Zenevisi.

Life

Chiranna Zenevisi was the daughter of

Gjon Zenebishi John Zenevisi or Gjon Zenebishi ( or ''Gjin Zenebishi''; died 1418) was an Albanian magnate that held the estates in Epirus, such as Gjirokastër and Vagenetia. Name Zenevisi can be found with different spellings in historical documents. His n ...

, Serbastokrator of Epirus. Her mother was a daughter of Gjin Bua-Spata and sister of Irene, wife of

Esau de' Buondelmonti Esau de' Buondelmonti () was the ruler of Ioannina and its surrounding area (central Epirus) from 1385 until his death in 1411, with the Byzantine title of despot. Life Esau was the son of the Florentine nobleman Manente and Lapa Acciaiuoli, ...

. Not much is known about Chiranna's early life. Church of the Holy Trinity in Lavdar

Upon her marriage to

Andrea III Muzaka Andrea III Muzaka was a 14th-century Albanian nobleman and Lord of Deabolis from the Muzaka family. Life and reign Born into the noble Muzaka family, Andrea's father was Gjin I Muzaka, a son of Despot Andrea II. His mother was princess Zanfi ...

, Chiranna received the territory of Grabossa as part of her dowry from her father, John Zenevisi. Through this marriage, the territory became part of the holdings of the Muzaka family, and Chiranna assumed the title of Lady of Grabossa. In 1470, Chiranna built the

Holy Trinity Church, Lavdar Holy Trinity Church of Lavdar (), also known as the Holy Trinity Church of Tudas is a 15th century Albanian orthodox church built in the Byzantine style by the medieval Albanian noble family of Muzaka. It is located near the villages Lavdar and ...

. Her son, Gjin II, built Saint Mary's Church in Bungë, near the village of Zerec. He was buried on the south side of Saint Mary's Church. The church was built just a few kilometers from Lavdar, where the Holy Trinity Church is located. Later on, her descendants built another church dedicated to Saint George in the nearby Arostë. Upon her death, Chiranna Zenevisi was buried on the west side of Saint Mary’s Church, where she was laid to rest alongside her daughter-in-law, Chiranna Mataranga, who was the wife of her son, Gjin II.

Family

Chiranna Zenevisi married

. The couple had four children: # Gjin II, married Chiranna Mataranga, father of

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

. #

Maria Muzaka Maria Muzaka was an Albanian princess from the Muzaka family. She was a daughter of Andrea III Muzaka and his wife Chiranna Zenevisi, Lady of Grabossa. From her marriage to Gjergj Arianiti, Maria had eight daughters, most notably of them were ...

, married

Gjergj Arianiti Gjergj Arianiti (13??–1462) was an Albanian feudal lord who led several successful campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. He was the father of Donika, Skanderbeg's wife, as well as the uncle of Moisi Golemi. Gjergj Arianiti was Skanderbeg's ...

. The couple had eight children, the most famously known

Donika Kastrioti Andronika "Donika" Arianiti, commonly known as Donika Kastrioti, (1428 – 1506) was an Albanians, Albanian noblewoman and Grand Princess of Albania from her marriage to Skanderbeg. She was the daughter of Gjergj Arianiti, an earlier leader in th ...

. # Teodor III, who became his father's successor and participated in various battles against the Ottomans, eventually co-founding the

League of Lezhë The League of Lezhë (), also commonly referred to as the Albanian League (), was a military and diplomatic alliance of the Albanian aristocracy, created in the city of Lezhë on 2 March 1444. The League of Lezhë is considered the first unif ...

. His son,

Yakup Bey Muzaka Yakup Bey (; 1437 – September 1442) was the sanjak-bey of Albania in 1437. Life Jakup was born into the Albanian noble Muzaka family. During the revolt staged by his father, Teodor III Muzaka, he was replaced by Hadım Şehabeddin (sanjak- ...

converted to

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

and Teodor was succeeded by his elder brother Gjin II Muzaka. # Helena Muzaka, married Lord Philip of Ragusa.

References

Year of birth missing Year of death missing Zenevisi family 15th-century Albanian people 15th-century Albanian women {{DEFAULTSORT:Zenevisi, Chiranna