Gjergj Arianiti was an important Albanian hero and the great uncle of Moisi Arianit Golemi. He was also the father of Gjergj Kastrioti's wife Marina Donika (Donika). He shared a distant relation from his great grandmother with the famous Byzantine Komnenos dynasty, originating in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor. He was thus often referred to as Gjergj Arianit Komneni.[1]
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Gjergj Arianiti has many names. His full name was Gjergj Arianit Komnen Golem Thopia, however he was most commonly known as Gjergj Arianiti. Among folk legends and Albanian folklore, he is also known as Gjorg Golemi, and on his bust found in Librazhd is written Gjorg Golem Arianiti. He is also known as Gjergj Golemi. There has also been found a document that refers to him as "Golemi Arenit Comninovich de Albania".[2] Another rare form of the name (Harianites) is used in a document of the Kingdom of France of the Charles VII era.[3]
Writings of his figure are not very common. He is more commonly referred to as the father of Donika Kastrioti, Skanderbeg's wife, rather than a leader of a rebellion that held back the Ottoman armies for years.
He was a member of the Arianiti family that ruled large areas in Albania and neighbouring areas from the 11th to the 16th century.[4] In 1253, Byzantine chronicles mention a Gulem who ruled the lands of Albanon. Gulemi may be an ascendant of Gjergj Arianiti. Gulemi married a cousin of the Byzantine empress, Irene. From this marriage came the name Komneni.
Gjergj was the oldest of three sons. He married Maria Muzaka, and from this he acquired a territory from Mallakastra to Vlorë. His territories eventually reached northwards to Dibër. The center of his dominions were located between Librazhd and Elbasan.
With the death of his first wife, Gjergj married Pietrina Francone, an Italian aristocrat. His two wives bore him ten children, three of which were boys.[5]
The first was called Lady Andronica (also known as Donika), the second Lady Voisava, the third Lady Chiranna, the fourth Lady Helena, the fifth Lady Despina, the sixth Lady Angelina, the seventh Lady Comita and the eighth Lady Catherine.[5]
The first daughter, Lady Andronica, was married to Lord Scanderbeg Castriota, who was Lord of Dibra, Mat and Kruja down to the sea, and of Deberina, also called Randesio (Renc?), and of the province of Guonimi (Gjonëm).[5]
This Lady Andronica and Lord Scanderbeg gave birth to Lord John Castriot II who was Duke of Saint Pietro in Galatina. Lord John Castriot II was married to the lady Donna Irina Palaeologus, who was the daughter of Lord Lazar, Despot of Serbia. They had many children who died. Only two of them survived: a boy and a girl, Don Prince Ferdinand Castriota who is Duke of Saint Peter, and a girl called Donna Maria Castriota.[5]
The second daughter called Donna Voisava was married to Lord John Cernovichi (Cernojevic), Lord of Montenegro and Zeta, and they had two sons. The first one was called Lord George and the second one was Lord Scanderbeg.[5]
Lord George married and had two sons. The first one was called Lord Solomon, the second Lord Constantine, as well as three daughters. Two of the latter married in Hungary and the third one in Venice. The said Solomon died and Constantine married in Venice.[5]
The second son, the said Lord Scanderbeg, turned Turk and now rules the land of his brother, which was given to him by the sultan for his having turned Turk.[5]
The third daughter, Lady Chiranna, was married to Lord Nicholas Dukagjini. She was the only daughter among brothers, and gave birth herself to two sons. One died and the other turned Turk and became a pasha and a great commander of the sultan.[5]
The fourth daughter, Lady Helena, was married to Lord George Dukagjini, to whom many children were born and all turned Turk. One called Scanderbeg is still alive and is a sanjak bey.[5]
The fifth daughter, Lady Despina, was married to Lord Tanush Dukagjini. They had two children: a boy and a girl. The boy died. The girl, Lady Theodora, was married to [...] and had two sons, Lord Blaise and Lord Jacob.[5]
The sixth daughter, Lady Angelina, was married to Lord Stephen, son of the Despot of Serbia called Lord George. The said Lady Angelina and Lord Stephen had two sons and one daughter. The sons died. The daughter was called Lady Maria and married the lord Marquis of Monferrato. They had two sons. The first one was called Lord William who married the sister of Monsignor d'Alençon, who is now the dauphin of France. This nobleman had two children: a boy and a girl. The boy is now the Marquis of Monferrato and the girl married Lord Frederick, Duke of Mantua. The other brother, Lord George, died without children.[5]
The seventh daughter, Lady Comita, married Lord Gojko Balsha who is Lord of Misia. They had two sons and one daughter. The sons died in Hungary. The daughter, Lady Maria, married the nobleman, Count of Muro, and had two daughters. The latter were called Donna Beatrice and Donna Isabel. The first lady, Donna Beatrice, married Prince Ferdinand Orsino, Duke of Gravina, and the other one, Princess Isabel, married Lord Louis of Gesualdo, Count of Conza.[5]
The eighth daughter was Lady Catherine who was married to Nicholas Boccali. They had two sons, Lord Manoli and Lord Constantine Boccali, and two daughters. Now let us turn to the five brothers who are as follows: Lord Andrew Musachi, Lord Materango, Lord Blaise, Lord Bogdan and Lord Laldi.[5]
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The eventual Ottoman rule over Albania caused much distress and negative reactions among the population. The Ottoman domination of Albania brought their legal, political, and economic systems into Albania, threatening to destroy the feudal system and autonomy of the Albanians. These reforms took away much of Gjergj's power, but still remained a vassal of the sultan. These drastic changes encouraged the rebellions of the Albanians against the Ottoman empire. Gjergj Arianiti was one of the main leaders of these rebellions.
In the spring of 1432, after the first phase of the reforms ended, an Albanian revolt erupted which spread to much of Albania. The first revolts began in central Albania. The Albanians called on Gjergj Arianit - who was thirty six years old- to lead the revolt.
Gjergj was at first apprehensive, but saw an opportunity to save the dominions left to him by his father. Upon hearing of the rebellions, many political enemies of Gjergj, who had become sipahis returned from Edirne to Albania. Upon reaching Albania, Gjergj immediately banished them. He was to lead the soldiers rebellion, which came from the peasant masses. Durrës, the area of Tirana controlled Andrea Topia, and Nikoll Dukagjin in the North joined the revolt.
Although Skanderbeg was summoned home by his relatives when Gjergj Arianiti with other chiefs from region between Vlorë and Shkodër organized rebellion, he did nothing remaining loyal to the sultan. [6] The Porte responded by sending an army of fresh troops in Albania under experienced commanders. Danja in northern Albania fell, while the Topias were returned to their former state. After a strong counterattack by Arianiti, the Ottomans were soon defeated.
This victory strengthened the revolt in southern Albania, especially in Kurvelesh. Murad II headed for Albania and chose to camp at Serez in Macedonia. From here, he sent out a force of ten thousand into Albania under Ali Beg. The army of Ali Beg, in the winter of 1432-1433, went through the tight valleys of the Shkumbin; near Buzurshekut (Bërzeshtës), the Albanians ambushed the Ottoman army. Arianiti observed and maneuvered against the Turks while also encouraging his men, eventually leading to an Ottoman rout. This victory further strengthened the Albanian cause and gave hope to the Europeans who feared a major Ottoman invasion.
The Byzantine chronicler, Chalcondyles, wrote: "In this battle, Arianit Komneni won a glorious victory."
Arianit used the classic tactic of "Pulling the enemy in, preparing the trap and striking suddenly." Arianiti also destroyed a second army sent by Ali Beg, leaving hundreds dead in the valleys of Kuç all the way to Borsh. The failure of the second Ottoman expedition became known throughout Europe, which was used to hearing about Christian defeats in the East. The joyful states of Europe - Pope Eugene IV, Alfonso V, Emperor Sigsimund, Venice and Ragusa - promised aid. In his third battle (1434), in order to recapture Vlorë and Kanina, Arianiti used numbers, expediency and his tactics. Arianiti was known as the "protector of freedom" throughout the European kingdoms. During the Ottoman campaigns of 1435 and 1436 Ali Beg, together with Turakhan Beg, effected a partial submission of the Albanians[7] led by George Arianiti[8].
During the fall of 1443 and the winter of 1444 Arianiti led an army deep into Macedonia. During the same time, the Turks were routed at Nish and Skanderbeg deserted the Ottoman army and began another rebellion. Skanderbeg eventually allied with Gjergj Arianit through the League of Lezhë.
When Krujë was besieged by the Turks, the sixty seven year old Gjergj Arianiti fought fiercely against the Turks. Arianiti, along with 3,000 warriors, joined the anti-Venetian force which eventually defeated the Venetian army at Drin. He was one of the main commanders during the short siege of Durrës and the siege of Dagno. Some of his troops went as far as the gates of Shkodër. Thus, his interests were not harmed by Venice, who wished to incorporate the bay of Vlorë into its dominions.
Arianiti supported the recapture of Sfetigrad with 4,000 men. During the two main engagements of the siege, Arianiti showed great bravery. During the siege, his brother was killed. The experience of Arianiti convinced Skanderbeg to marry Donica, Arianiti's daughter. The strong connections between the Kastrioti and Arianiti families were of great benefit to the Albanian cause.
Arianiti was the only Albanian leader to have two capitals; one near the coast in Kanina, and another near the eastern mountains in Sopot. His dominions acted as the first defense against many of the Ottoman expeditions and served as one of the main centers of the Albanian League. The union between the Kastrioti and Arianiti did not have much effect due to the exposed territories of Arianiti. Through many localities, he brought together his last resistance force (1460–1462). In an open front, Mehmet II ordered movements into Albania to engaged a group of Arianiti's warriors. He then surrounded Gjergj Arianiti by moving through the valley of Furka all the way through Shushicë. Fierce engagements began, but Sopoti was not captured and the Ottoman encirclement failed. The people compared Gjergj Arianiti to Skanderbeg. To celebrate this victory, the army was taken to Galigat after the Ottomans had fully left Albania. However, when the Ottomans heard of this, they traveled back to Albania at night. The fortress of Sopot, left with a garrison chosen by Arianiti, still could not be taken. Only through bribery and treachery was it possible for the castle be taken. The Ottoman commander, took advantage of Arianiti's absence by launching a large attack with his main army. The Ottomans soon entered the castle, and in revenge for the defeats they had suffered, the entire population was massacred.
Fitoret e Gjergj Arianitit (1432-1435) dhe zgjerimi i luftës antiosmane (Albanian)