The Dushmani family was an Albanian feudal family, which ruled during the 14th and 15th centuries a territory in northern Albania, from Zadrima plain to Albanian Alps.
They are mentioned first in the middle of the fourteenth century in Venetian charters, as vassals of Balšić.[1] One member of the family, Gjin Dushmani has been mentioned together with other Albanian feudals, as a commander of Albanian auxiliary troops in the Battle of Ankara in 1402.[2] After the Ottoman defeat they offered themselves as vassals to the Venice Republic in 1403.[3] Members of this family were also elected in Catholic clergy. Among them is Pal Dushmani which is mentioned as Bishop of Pult (“Dusmanus ep. Polat.”) in 1427.[4] Another member of the family, Lekë Dushmani, is mentioned as one of the founders of League of Lezhë.[5] His daughter Irene Dushmani became famous while there was a dispute for her which brought the first defection among the members of League of Lezhë which led toward Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–1448.[6] Alongside with Spani family, the Dushmani family was against the war with the Venice Republic and did not participate in it.
In the XXth century Albania there was still a Dushmani tribe called after the name of the feudal family. The description of the tribe taraditions and customs has been done by Edit Durham in her book "Some tribal origins, laws and customs of the Balkans" published in 1928. After the occupation of Albania from Ottoman Empire, part of family that descended from Lekë Dushmani migrated in the Venetian territory of Corfu. Notable members of this branch of the family include Antonio Dusmani, Sofoklis Dousmanis and Viktor Dousmanis.[7][8][9]