Mrkša Žarković ( sr-cyr, Мркша Жарковић) was a Serbian nobleman who ruled parts of today's southern

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

from 1396 to 1414.

Early life and marriage

Mrkša was the son of Žarko, who was mentioned in 1356–1357 as ruling over a region at the mouth of the river Buna. Mrkša's mother was Teodora Dejanović, the daughter of Dejan, one of Stefan Dušan's magnates. After Žarko's death, Teodora married Đurađ I Balšić. In 1391, Mrkša married Ruđina Balšić, the daughter of Balša II, a lord in Zeta, and Komnina Asen, daughter of Jovan Asen. Due to the fact that his mother already married into the Balšić noble family by marrying Đurađ I, Mrkša's marriage to another member of the Balšić was therefore contrary to the canon law of the Eastern church. In 1394, Mrkša sent a monk by the name of Athanasius to the

patriarch The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and ...

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

to request that his union be blessed by the archbishop of Ohrid and that his marriage was dictated by the risk posed by the advancing

Ottoman Turks The Ottoman Turks () were a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group in Anatolia. Originally from Central Asia, they migrated to Anatolia in the 13th century and founded the Ottoman Empire, in which they remained socio-politically dominant for the e ...

. In response, the patriarch answered that he could neither forbid nor confirm Mrkša's marriage, and he advised the couple to lead pious lives. Balša II ruled over Valona,

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, 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 ea ...

, Kanina, and

Himarë Himarë ( sq-definite, Himara; , ''Chimara'' or Χειμάρρα, ''Cheimarra'') is a Municipalities of Albania, municipality and region in Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality has a total area of and consists of the administrative ...

in the south of Albania. After Balša II's death in the

Battle of Savra The Battle of Savra (; ; ; "Battle on the Saurian field") or the Battle of the Vjosë was fought on 18 September 1385 between Ottoman Empire, Ottoman and much smaller Zeta under the Balsha, Zetan forces, at the Savra field near Lushnjë (in moder ...

, his wife Komnina ruled over his territory until 1396, when she became a

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

and gave her territories to son-in-law Mrkša. Mrkša became ''Lord of Berat, Valona and Kanina''.

Rule

In 1396, Mrkša offered Valona,

and the tower of Pyrgos to the Venetians in response to the Ottoman advances. The Venetians refused, prompting Mrkša to unsuccessfully turn to the Ragusans for leave to deposit his property there for safekeeping. In 1398, Mrkša again attempted to transfer his possessions to the Venetians, who decided to send an admiral to inquire about the revenues and conditions of said possessions. However, the inquiry was not yet complete by 1400, prompting Mrkša to send yet another envoy to the Venetians only to receive the same response as last time. Mrkša's headquarters seemed to be in Kanina, and he was made an honorary citizen of both Venice and Ragusa. A number of magnates were mentioned as part of his court, which consisted primarily of Slavs and Greeks: Miralija, David, Janja Janjetic, George Kavedatic and the Albanian Kosta Bardha.

Aftermath

Mrkša was able to retain his territories until his death in October 1414. After his death, his wife Ruđina tried to transfer Mrkša's possessions to the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

in 1415 and 1416, but an agreement was never reached. By 1417, the whole area was conquered by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

, who had occupied Berat, Janina and Pyrgos. The Ottomans also burned and plundered Valona before appointing the Turkish general Hamza-beg as governor of Valona. Ruđina fled to

Corfu Corfu ( , ) or Kerkyra (, ) is a Greece, Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands; including its Greek islands, small satellite islands, it forms the margin of Greece's northwestern frontier. The island is part of the Corfu (regio ...

. Thus, the Ottomans officially controlled a port on 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 Se ...

and began to build their navy in the region, threatening the Venetians. In response, the Venetians unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Sultan Mehmed I in 1418 to restore Ruđina (who was also an honorary citizen of Venice) as the ruler of Valona and the other lost possessions.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mrksa Zarkovic 14th-century Serbian nobility 15th-century Serbian nobility Princes of Zeta People from the Serbian Empire Medieval Serbian military leaders Serbs of Montenegro Serbs in Albania 1363 births 1414 deaths Albanian royal consorts