Gjin Zenevisi

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Gjin Zenevisi ( Albanian  also  Gjon Zenebish [ti] , Middle Greek Γκιόνης Ζενεβέσης , Italian Giovanni Sarbissa ; † 1418 in Corfu ) was an Albanian magnate and military leader in northern Epirus .

Life

Gjin Zenevisi probably came from an originally Genoese family who lived in the Zagoria region in Dryinupolis between Përmet and Argyrokastron (Gjirokastra) . He ruled Vagenetia around the city of Delvina , roughly today's region of Çamen in northwest Greece ; he was also referred to as the Lord of Pyrgo and Sayada . In 1380 he was evidently elevated to (or recognized as such) by the Byzantine Emperor John V as Sebastocrator ; with this title he appears in two Venetian documents from 1387 and 1419. Zenevisi maintained good relations with the Republic of Venice, whose citizenship he received.

When the Ottoman Turks, summoned by Karl Thopia, invaded Epirus for the first time in 1385, Zenevesi surrendered and handed his son hostage to Edirne at the court of Sultan Murad I. His son converted to Islam and later made a career in the Ottoman military under the name Hamza . Shortly after the Battle of Savra (September 18, 1385) and his submission, Zenevisi rebelled and took possession of the heavily fortified Argyrokastron, apparently encouraged by the attack of the Albanian despot from Arta , Gjin Bua Shpata , on the Epirotic capital Ioannina . In 1386 he officially accepted the title of Prince of Argyrokastron .

Zenevisi married a daughter Shpatas who was not known by name and was therefore a brother-in-law of the despot of Epirus, Esau de 'Buondelmonti, from 1396 . This attacked Zenevisi in April 1399 with the support of Albanian tribal warriors, but was defeated near Mesopotam and imprisoned in Argyrokastron. For the release of his brother-in-law, Zenevisi collected 10,000 guilders ransom from his hometown of Florence .

In 1411 and 1412, in alliance with the despot of Arta, Muriq Shpata , Zenevisi defeated the army of Carlos I Tocco , who had recently been proclaimed despot of Epirus; however, he could not take Ioannina. At the beginning of 1413 Sultan Musa Çelebi demanded from him with military force the release of the Archons of Ioannina whom he had mistreated . After a defeat against the Ottomans, Zenevisi had to flee to the Venetian city of Corfu, where he died in 1418 after returning to the mainland. The following year, Argyrokastron fell to the Ottomans. Gjin's son Depa Zenevisi was killed in a last attempt at reconquest in 1435.

progeny

swell

literature

Remarks

  1. ^ Elsie, Dictionary , p. 501.
  2. ↑ Osswald, Ethnic Composition , p. 151.
  3. ↑ Nicol, Despotate , p. 164.
  4. ^ Fine, Late Medieval Balkans , p. 355.
  5. ^ Fine, Late Medieval Balkans , p. 356.
  6. ↑ PLP 3, p. 148.
  7. ↑ Johann Georg von Hahn: Journey through the areas of the Drin un Wardar . Imperial and Royal Court and State Printing Office, Vienna 1867, p. 312 ( online version in Google Book Search).
personal data
SURNAME Gjin Zenevisi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gjon Zenebish; Gjon Zenebishti; Giovanni Sarbissa; Γκιόνης Ζενεβέσης (Middle Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Albanian magnate and military leader in northern Epirus
DATE OF BIRTH 14th Century
DATE OF DEATH 1418
Place of death Corfu