Georg Thopia

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Georg Thopia II. ( Albanian  Gjergj Topia ; * around 1355; † before October 26, 1392 in Durrës ) was an Albanian prince from the house of Thopia . As the successor to his father Karl Thopia, he ruled the port city of Durrës in central Albania from 1388 to 1392, which he transferred to the Republic of Venice shortly before his death . He was married to the Serbian nobleman Theodora Brankovic.

Life

In 1388 Georg was only able to take over a small part of his father's principality, because a large part had already fallen into the hands of the Ottomans during his lifetime . Little more was left than Durrës and his immediate surroundings. To prevent the Turks from conquering the port city, Georg Thopia leaned closely on the Republic of Venice. In March 1388 the Venetian Senate agreed to support George with troops and grain deliveries. At the same time it was signaled to him that the republic would also take full control of Durrës if George so wished. In the event of his death, Venice was determined to inherit his legacy so that the important base would not fall into the hands of the Turks.

When the Ottomans launched a new attack on Durrës in October 1388, Georg and Count Ballsha von Vlora traveled to the lagoon city to ask for help from the troops again. In February 1389 they were able to return to Albania together with a Venetian contingent .

At the same time, the Venetian diplomacy was active in preparing the takeover of the Serenissima in Durrës. The Venetians were able to win over some Albanian officers, including Tanush Thopia, the prince's cousin, and the Bishop of Durrës, Demetrius Vesa, for their cause. In addition, the prince came under pressure from Rome. Pope Boniface IX Georg declared in April 1391 deposed because he should have got involved with the antipope in Avignon. Pope George II wanted to appoint Balsha as Lords of Durrës .

Unfortunately for Georg Thopias, the northern Albanian noble family of the Dukagjin allied with the Turks and Konstantin Kastriota, who was married to Georg's sister Helena, turned to Sultan Bayezit so that he could grant him rule over Durrës as a fief. In this situation the Venetians decided to act and took control of the port city on May 2, 1391, without, however, formally removing Georg Thopia. Rather, the aristocrat Marino Cocco was put at his side as a ranger. This took over the business of government, while another Venetian, Paolo da Canale, was appointed fortress commander. From March to August 1392 the Republic of Venice and the prince negotiated the formal transfer of Durrës. The contract of occupation was ratified on August 18, 1392 by Doge Antonio Venier . In this, Georg, who was already seriously ill at this point, reserved only the lifelong enjoyment of his income as city lord. This restriction also became irrelevant with George's early death and Durrës was completely Venetian. His death was reported to the Senate of the Republic in October 1392.

family

Georg left a daughter:

  • Helena († 1402) ∞ Constatin or Paul

Georg was survived by his two sisters Vojsava and Helena .

literature

  • General Encyclopedia of Sciences and Arts . First Section AG. Hermann Brockhaus, Leipzig 1868, p. 93 ( full text in Google Book Search).
  • Oliver Jens Schmitt: The Venetian Albania: (1392-1479). Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2001, ISBN 978-3-486-56569-0 .
  • Edgar Hösch, Karl Nehring, Holm Sundhaussen, Konrad Clewing: Lexicon on the history of Southeast Europe. UTB, Munich 2004, ISBN 978-3-8252-8270-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ludovicus de Thallóczy , Constantinus Jireček, Emilianus de Sufflay: Acta and Diplomata Res Albaniae Media Aetatis illustrantia 1344-1406 . tape II . Adolphi Holzhausen, Vienna 1916, p. 124 (Latin, bnf.fr ).
  2. ↑ General Encyclopedia of Sciences and Arts, 1868, p. 93
  3. ↑ Oliver Jens Schmitt: The Venetian Albania: (1392-1479). P. 229.
  4. ↑ Johann Georg von Hahn: Journey through the areas of the Drin un Wardar . Imperial and Royal Court and State Printing Office, Vienna 1867, p. 304 ( online version in Google Book Search).
personal data
SURNAME Georg Thopia
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gjergj Topia (Albanian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Albanian prince
DATE OF BIRTH around 1355
DATE OF DEATH October 1392
Place of death Durrës