Gjin Bua Shpata

Gjin Bua Shpata (died 1399), also known as John Bua Spata, was an Albanian ruler of the Despotate of Arta.[1] He was part of the noble Shpata family.[2] He was also despot of Angelokastro and Acheloos (1358–1399), Lord of Arta 1375, Lord of Lepanto, Despot of Arta and Lepanto.[3]

Ruler and Despot of Arta

In the summer of 1358, Nikephoros II Doukas, the last despot of Epirus that belonged to the Orsini dynasty, fought against the Albanian forces in the Battle of Achelous (1359) near the river Acheloos, Acarnania. The Albanians won the war and managed to create two new states in the Southern Despotate of Epirus.

After the fall of the Orsini dynasty of the Despotate of Epirus, the Serbian lords of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, divided the territory between them and the Albanian rulers that supported the Serbian campaign.

The first of the two Albanian lead states had its capital in Arta and was under the Albanian nobleman Peter Losha. The second, centered in Angelokastron, was ruled by Gjin Bua Shpata. After the death of Peter Losha in 1374, the Albanian despotates of Arta and Angelocastron were united under the rule of Despot Gjin Bua Shpata. The territory of this Despotate was from the Corinth Gulf to Acheron River in the North. The Despotate of Epirus, just north of the Despotate of Arta, managed to control in this period only the eastern part of Epirus, together with Vagenetia (Thesprotia). Its capital was Ioannina.

North of the Despotate of Epirus was another Albanian state, the Principality of Gjon Zenebishti.

During this period the Despotate of Epirus was ruled by Thomas II Preljubović, who was in an open conflict with Gjin Bue Shpata. In 1375, Gjin Bue Shpata started an offensive in Ioannina, but he couldn't invade the city. Although Shpata married with the sister of Thomas II Preljubović (the Despot of Epirus), Helena, their war did not stop. In 1380 and 1382 Thomas II Preljubović allied with the Ottomans against Gjin Bua Shpata.[4]

In the same period Shpata started a war against Leonardo I Tocco, who was the ruler of Cefalonia and Leucada. Shpata died in 29 October of 1399, under the continuous pressure of Preljubović and Tocco, whose son would become the next despot of Epirus.[5]

Shpata family

Gjin Bue Shpata was part of the noble Albanian Shpata and Boua families. His father Pietro Bua Shpata was lord of Gjirokastër and Delvina.[6] His genealogical family was as follows:

References

  1. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica "He (Stefan Dusan) was able to assert Serbian control over northern Epirus and fought with the Albanian lords of Arta (Ghin Bua Spata and Peter Ljoša) in the south, eventually defeating them with Ottoman help"
  2. ^ The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present. Edwin E. Jacques. P. 166 ISBN 0899509320
  3. ^ a b Marek, Miroslav. "Bua Spatas family". http://genealogy.euweb.cz/balkan/spatas.html. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
  4. ^ Johnson, Raphael (2000). TBR. TBR. 6. TBR Co.. pp. 41. http://books.google.com/books?id=HcnvAAAAMAAJ&q=Gjin+Bua+Shpata&dq=Gjin+Bua+Shpata&lr=&hl=en&cd=5. 
  5. ^ "History of Albanian People" Albanian Academy of Science. ISBN 9992716231
  6. ^ Rivista di studi bizantini e neoellenici, Volumes 5-9 Author Università di Roma. Istituto di studi bizantini e neoellenici Publisher Istituto di studi bizantini e neoellenici, Università di Roma, 1968 Original from the University of Virginia
Preceded by
Post created		 Despot of Angelokastron and Lepanto
1358–1374		 Succeeded by
Post abolished
Preceded by
Peter Losha		 Despot of Arta
1374–1399		 Succeeded by
Muriq Shpata