Karl Thopia

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Karl Thopia (circa 1355/40 - 1388) was the Albanian King from 1358-1382. He was the son of Andreas Thopia and his mother was a daughter of Robert of Taranto. Karl was the independent Albanian ruler of Durazzo (modern-day Durrës). To the Roman Curia, Karl maintained usually good relations, therefore that could do. In 1376 a vacant place became an ore diocese in Durrës, again with a Latin Bishop to be occupied. In 1381, Karl created the monastery pc. Johannes (Albanian: Shen Gjon) in the proximity of Elbasan.

1 Control of Durazzo
2 Balsha Family Rivalry
3 Venetian Alliance
4 Marriage and Children
- 4.1 Parantage uncertain

[edit] Control of Durazzo

In 1358, Karl rose against the rule of the Anjou and could drive them out up to Durrës from Epirus and Albania. It prevailed from 1359 to 1388 over far parts of central Albania and called themselves Princeps Albaniae.

Since 1362, Karl sought himself to set Durrës, which was in the possession of the Duchess Johanna of Anjou, also into the possession of the city. The first, certainly still unsuccessful siege lasted from April, 1362 until May, 1363. Then, Thopia had to withdraw his troops, who were weakened by an epidemic disease. Only 1367 could conquer Karl, who had attained in the meantime the tactit agreement of the Venezianer for his project, Durrës, and it made the important port his residence.

Karl gained control of Durazzo in 1368, which was where the Angevins held out due to their Kingdom becoming smaller in size. This event caused the Kingdom of Albania to end.

[edit] Balsha Family Rivalry

Balsha II needed a four attempt to conquer Dürres, an important commercial and strategetic center, which was ruled by rival, Karl Thopia. In 1382, Balsha II began a war and seized Durrës. In 1385, the defeated Karl Thopia, appealed to Murad I for support against his rivals, the Balsha family of Zeta. This is like inviting the Ottoman Empire into Albania in order to help him defeat his Albanian rivals of the Balsha Family. This was a grave mistake in trying to change Albania's history dramatically.

This attempt caused an Ottoman force, led by Hajrudin Pasha, to quickly march into Albania along the Via Egnatia and routed the Balshas. Hajrudin Pasha's forces inflicted heavy defeat on Balsha II's forces and killed Balsha II in a big battle on Saurian Field (Serbian: Saurijsko Polje) near Berat in 1385, ending the Balša family's rule over Durrës.

[edit] Venetian Alliance

In the last decade of his rule Karl followed the Republic of Venice particularly with regard to foreign policy closely with the republic. On August 17, 1386, Karl Thopia allied himself with Venice. Karl committed himself to participate in all wars of the Republic or pay auxiliary funds and supply grain. In addition, he promised the Venetian buyers protection in his country. Venice supplied, in response, a galeere to it with, permitted it's mercenaries in their areas to recruit and instructed the captain of their Adria fleet to protect Karl's coasts from the Turks. These undertook several heavy attacks on Durrës, which also still persisted as Karl in January 1388 died. His son, George (Albanian: Gjergj), became Karl's successor.

[edit] Marriage and Children

Karl married Voisava Balšić in ca. 1370, a daughter of Balša I, Ruler of Zeta. The pair had four children:

Gjergj Thopia - The successor of Karl. Married Teodora Branković
Elena Thopia - Married Sergiant Marco Barbadigo (First Marriage) and Košta Balšić (Second Marriage)
Voislava Thopia - Married N Cursachio (First Marriage) and in 1394, Progon Ducaghin, Lord of Alessio (Second Marriage)

[edit] Parantage uncertain

Karl had two more children but the parentage in unknown:

Maria Thopia Married Filippo di Maramonte
Nicheta Thopia Married a daughter a Cominum Shpata.
- Mara Thopia, Daughter of Nicheta Thopia and a daughter of Cominum Shpata. Married Balša III.