Drivast
Encyclopedia
Drivast was an important medieval town in contemporary Albania
. Today, it is located in the municipality Postribë
in the Shkodër District
.
.
In 1183, Serbian Stefan Nemanja
conquered Drivast and its surroundings.
The townspeople of Drivast murdered their bishop in the thirteenth century.
In 1241, the city was plundered by Tatars
as they were advancing east across Zeta as they were heading home.
Scholars estimate that Drivast was taken by the Serbian Balšići
ca. spring of 1362. However, it is known that by 1363, they had captured Drivast and nearby Scutari.
In 1393, Đurađ II Balšić, having negotiated his freedom from Turkish captivity, submitted to Ottoman suzerainty and surrendered Drivast, along with Sveti Srđ and Scutari. However, Đurađ soon ended his vassalage to the Ottomans and reconquered the cities he had surrendered mere months before. Knowing he could not outlast an Ottoman counter-attack, he handed these cities, including Drivast, to Venice in exchange for 1,000 ducats yearly.
In 1399, the townspeople in Drivast and Scutari started a revolt against Venice, angered at the high taxes they were paying. The revolt lasted for three years, when Venetian troops managed to control the situation. However, the areas surrounding Drivast and Scutari no longer recognized Venetian authority.
Angered by Venice's policy on his former lands and its trade monopoly policy that caused an economic stagnation in his ports, Đurađ II sent troops to his former lands, including Drivast, breaking his peace treaty with Venice. Đurađ's actions led to Venice believing that he had a major role in the uprising's initiation. Scholars are unsure whether this accusation is accurate. The Turks also decided to send raiding parties to these rebellious lands.
In 1423, Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković conquered Drivast.
In August 1442, Venice took Drivast from Đurađ Branković. In mid-1440s, Skënderbeg ordered the Venetians to give Drivast to the Albanians, along with the lands of the former Lekë Zakarija. However, the Venetians refused to accept.
In September 1478, Drivast was captured by the Ottomans.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Today, it is located in the municipality Postribë
Postribë
Postribë is a municipality in the Shkodër District, Shkodër County, northwestern Albania....
in the Shkodër District
Shkodër District
The District of Shkodër is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Shkodër County. It has a population of 185,646 , and an area of 1,973 km². It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Shkodër...
.
History
Drivast is known to have existed before the twelfth century AD. The Diocese of Drivast, in 1089, became a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Antivari after it was transferred from the Archdiocese of RagusaRoman Catholic Diocese of Dubrovnik
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dubrovnik is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southern Croatia. The diocese is centred in the city of Dubrovnik. It was first erected in 990...
.
In 1183, Serbian Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
conquered Drivast and its surroundings.
The townspeople of Drivast murdered their bishop in the thirteenth century.
In 1241, the city was plundered by Tatars
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
as they were advancing east across Zeta as they were heading home.
Scholars estimate that Drivast was taken by the Serbian Balšići
House of Balšic
The Balšić was a noble house that ruled Zeta and the coastlands , from 1362 to 1421, during the fall of the Serbian Empire. Balša, the eponymous founder, was a petty nobleman that held only one village during the rule of Emperor Dušan the Mighty The Balšić was a noble house that ruled Zeta and...
ca. spring of 1362. However, it is known that by 1363, they had captured Drivast and nearby Scutari.
In 1393, Đurađ II Balšić, having negotiated his freedom from Turkish captivity, submitted to Ottoman suzerainty and surrendered Drivast, along with Sveti Srđ and Scutari. However, Đurađ soon ended his vassalage to the Ottomans and reconquered the cities he had surrendered mere months before. Knowing he could not outlast an Ottoman counter-attack, he handed these cities, including Drivast, to Venice in exchange for 1,000 ducats yearly.
In 1399, the townspeople in Drivast and Scutari started a revolt against Venice, angered at the high taxes they were paying. The revolt lasted for three years, when Venetian troops managed to control the situation. However, the areas surrounding Drivast and Scutari no longer recognized Venetian authority.
Angered by Venice's policy on his former lands and its trade monopoly policy that caused an economic stagnation in his ports, Đurađ II sent troops to his former lands, including Drivast, breaking his peace treaty with Venice. Đurađ's actions led to Venice believing that he had a major role in the uprising's initiation. Scholars are unsure whether this accusation is accurate. The Turks also decided to send raiding parties to these rebellious lands.
In 1423, Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković conquered Drivast.
In August 1442, Venice took Drivast from Đurađ Branković. In mid-1440s, Skënderbeg ordered the Venetians to give Drivast to the Albanians, along with the lands of the former Lekë Zakarija. However, the Venetians refused to accept.
In September 1478, Drivast was captured by the Ottomans.