Gjon Zenebishi
Encyclopedia
Gjon Zenebishi (died 1418) was an Albanian noblemen and Prince of Gjirokastër.
. He was also ruler of Pyrgo and Sayada. He submitted to the Turks after the initial invasion and gave them his son as a hostage to be sent to Edirne
to the court of the sultan. In Turkish historiography, this son became known as Hamza Bey, a military leader. Shortly after his submission, Gjon revolted and seized the fortress of Gjirokastër
, encouraged no doubt by the attack on Ioannina
by the Albanians of Acarnania
.
, Despot of Arta
, Irene, and thus became the son-in-law of Shpata and the brother-in-law of the wife of Esau de' Buondelmonti
Despot of Epiros.
In 1399 Esau, supported by some Albanian clans, marched against his wife's brother-in-law John Zenevisi of Gjirokastër. Now Esau was routed and captured, and much of his land was occupied by Zenevisi. The neighboring magnates determined to restore the captured despotes and secured Venetian intercession in his favor. Esau returned to Ioannina in 1400, regaining the reign from Zenebishi.
During this time, Zenebishi was defeated by the Turks, he fled to the Venetian island of Corfu, but was called back two years later (1416) by an uprising of the mountain tribes. With the support of Venice, he again set his sights on Gjirokastër, but was chased away once more by the Turks and died in Corfu in 1418.
) was active at the court of the king of Naples and Aragon on behalf of Skanderbeg
in order to gain back Neapolitan support for his land in Albania. In 1455, Venice, the only power to support his claim, reminded him of his pledge of allegiance to the Republic but was not able to change his political orientation, i.e. his ties with Naples. A son of this Zenebishi was also a hostage at the court of the sultan, this time of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, but fled to Naples where King Alphonso had him baptized and made him his vassal. The fate of this Alphonso Zenebishi was to be closely linked to that of Skanderbeg.
, Lord of Arta
: Gjon Zenebishi, or Gjon Zenebishti and English
: John Zenevisi, Ghin Zenebisi.
Gjin Bua Shpata
Esau de' Buondelmonti
Albanian Principalities
Rise in power
In 1380, Gjon Zenebishi was appointed Sebastocrator or prefect of Vagenetia near DelvinëDelvinë
Delvinë is a small town in Vlorë County in southern Albania, 16 km northeast of Saranda. Delvinë is the seat of the Delvinë District. Delvinë has lost over a third of its citizens since 1990, having a population of 4,200 .The city is built on a mountain slope...
. He was also ruler of Pyrgo and Sayada. He submitted to the Turks after the initial invasion and gave them his son as a hostage to be sent to Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
to the court of the sultan. In Turkish historiography, this son became known as Hamza Bey, a military leader. Shortly after his submission, Gjon revolted and seized the fortress of Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
, encouraged no doubt by the attack on Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
by the Albanians of Acarnania
Acarnania
Acarnania is a region of west-central Greece that lies along the Ionian Sea, west of Aetolia, with the Achelous River for a boundary, and north of the gulf of Calydon, which is the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. Today it forms the western part of the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania. The capital...
.
Prince
In 1386 he became officially the Prince of Gjirokastër, post which he held until the abolishment of his principality. Gjon Zenebishi was married with the daughter of Gjin Bua ShpataGjin Bua Shpata
Gjin Bua Shpata , also known as John Bua Spata, was an Albanian ruler of the Despotate of Arta. He was part of the noble Shpata family...
, Despot of Arta
Despotate of Arta
The Despotate of Arta was a despotate established by Albanian rulers during the 14th century, when Albanian tribes moved into Epirus and founded two short-lived principalities there...
, Irene, and thus became the son-in-law of Shpata and the brother-in-law of the wife of Esau de' Buondelmonti
Esau de' Buondelmonti
Esau de' Buondelmonti, ruler of Epirus in Ioannina from 1385 to his death in 1411.Esau was the son of the Florentine nobleman Manente Buondelmonti and Lapa Acciaiuoli, sister of Niccolò Acciaiuoli of Corinth and the grandson of the great Χρηστόφορxοςστασία XXIV...
Despot of Epiros.
In 1399 Esau, supported by some Albanian clans, marched against his wife's brother-in-law John Zenevisi of Gjirokastër. Now Esau was routed and captured, and much of his land was occupied by Zenevisi. The neighboring magnates determined to restore the captured despotes and secured Venetian intercession in his favor. Esau returned to Ioannina in 1400, regaining the reign from Zenebishi.
During this time, Zenebishi was defeated by the Turks, he fled to the Venetian island of Corfu, but was called back two years later (1416) by an uprising of the mountain tribes. With the support of Venice, he again set his sights on Gjirokastër, but was chased away once more by the Turks and died in Corfu in 1418.
Descendants
Gjon Zenebishi's descendants continued to live undisturbed in the mountains of Zagoria and eventually faded into history. In 1455, a certain Simon Zenebishi, who was ruler of Kastrovillari (Castro i Vivarit near ButrintButrint
Butrint was an ancient Greek and later Roman city in Epirus. In modern times it is an archeological site in Sarandë District, Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border. It was known in antiquity as Βουθρωτόν Bouthroton or Βουθρώτιος Bouthrotios in Ancient Greek...
) was active at the court of the king of Naples and Aragon on behalf of Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
in order to gain back Neapolitan support for his land in Albania. In 1455, Venice, the only power to support his claim, reminded him of his pledge of allegiance to the Republic but was not able to change his political orientation, i.e. his ties with Naples. A son of this Zenebishi was also a hostage at the court of the sultan, this time of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, but fled to Naples where King Alphonso had him baptized and made him his vassal. The fate of this Alphonso Zenebishi was to be closely linked to that of Skanderbeg.
Zenebishi Family
Gjon Zenebishi, Lord of Makasi 1382, Sevastocrator of Argyrokastron and Paracolo, Lord of Vagenetzia and Strovilo (a castle) (1387–1418), Despot (=Prince) of Ioannina (1399–1400), +1418; m.N, a dau.of Gjin Bua ShpataGjin Bua Shpata
Gjin Bua Shpata , also known as John Bua Spata, was an Albanian ruler of the Despotate of Arta. He was part of the noble Shpata family...
, Lord of Arta
- A1. Anna "Kyrianna", Lady of Grabossa in 1419; m.1419 Andrea III Musachi
- A2. Maria, +after 1419; m.Perotto d’Altavilla Baron of Corfu (+1445)
- A3. Bua Thopia, Lord of Argyrokastron (1418–34), deposed by Turks, +1435
- B1. Simone, Lord of the Strovilo’s castel (1443–61), deposed by Turks
- C1. Alfonso, fl 1456
- C2. Alessandro/Lech, Lord of Strovilo’s castle in 1473, sold to venetian in 1473 (destroyed 1479)
- C3. Filippo, Lord of Strovilo’s castle in 1473 with his brother
- B1. Simone, Lord of the Strovilo’s castel (1443–61), deposed by Turks
- A4. Amassa/Hamsa, a Moslem, fl 1456-59
Name
Gjon Zenebishi can be founded with different name in historical documents. His name was: AlbanianAlbanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
: Gjon Zenebishi, or Gjon Zenebishti and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: John Zenevisi, Ghin Zenebisi.
See also
Principality of GjirokastërPrincipality of Gjirokastër
The Principality of Gjirokastër was an Albanian principality created by Gjon Zenebishi in 1386, encompassing the area around Gjirokastër...
Gjin Bua Shpata
Gjin Bua Shpata
Gjin Bua Shpata , also known as John Bua Spata, was an Albanian ruler of the Despotate of Arta. He was part of the noble Shpata family...
Esau de' Buondelmonti
Esau de' Buondelmonti
Esau de' Buondelmonti, ruler of Epirus in Ioannina from 1385 to his death in 1411.Esau was the son of the Florentine nobleman Manente Buondelmonti and Lapa Acciaiuoli, sister of Niccolò Acciaiuoli of Corinth and the grandson of the great Χρηστόφορxοςστασία XXIV...
Albanian Principalities
Albanian Principalities
The term Albanian Principalities refers to a number of principalities created in the Middle Ages in Albania and Epirus that were ruled by Albanian noblemen...