Balša II
| Balša II Balšić | |
|---|---|
| lord of Zeta | |
 | |
| Coat of arms | |
| 1378 — 18 September 1385 | |
| Komnina (Kanina), a daughter of John Komnenos Asen | |
| Royal house | Balšić noble family |
| Father | Balša I |
| Died | 18 September 1385 --> Saurian field, near Lushnjë |
| Religion | Serbian Orthodox |
Balša II Balšić (Serbian Cyrillic: Балша II Балшић; died September 18, 1385) was the lord of Zeta from 1378 to 1385. He managed to expand his borders towards the south; defeating the Albanian Duke Karl Thopia.
He was a member of the Balšić noble family, which ruled Zeta (with Shkodra) from 1356 to 1421.
Life
Balša II was the youngest of three sons of Balša I. On January 13, 1378, he came to power in Zeta after the death of his older brother, Đurađ I. His power was felt only in the region around Shkodra and in the eastern part of Zeta's coast. The most prominent feudal lords who did not recognize Balša's rule were their sworn enemies, the Đurašević-Crnojević family, who were allies of the Venetians. In 1372, Balša II married Komnina (Kanina), a daughter of John Komnenos Asen.[A] As a dowry, Balsha gained the cities of Berat and Kanina.[1] In 1382, Balša II started the war for the conquest of Durrës, taking it following four attempts. In 1385, defeated ruler Karl Topia appealed to Murat I for assistance and Ottoman Army led by Hajredin Pasha routed the Balšići the Battle of Savra on Saurian field, near Lushnjë. The Ottomans chopped Balša's head off and sent it as an exclusive gift to Hajredin Pasha. This ends the rule of his family over Durrës.
Balša's widow, Komnina, and their daughter Ruđina, later took control of Balša's territory in southern Albania to protect it from Turkish invaders. Komnina seemed to be the Duchy of Valona's main ruler, until her death in 1396. In the meantime, the Muzaka family had gained control of Berat. In 1391, however, Ruđina married Mrkša Žarković. Žarković succeeded the duchy, calling himself Lord of Valona. He reigned over the city until his death in 1414. Ruđina took over her late husband's position and ruled Valona until 1417, when it, as well as its citadel in Kanina, was seized by the Turks.[2] Ruđina fled Albania and sought asylum in Zeta. Her nephew, Balša III, then-ruler of Zeta, granted her asylum and entrusted her with governorship of the coastal town of Budva.[3]
Note
- ^ According to not completely reliable chronicle of Gjon Muzaka (repeated in some historical works) Comita, one of the daughters of Andrew II Muzaka, married Balša II. Other authors confirm that Balša II married in 1372 and gained control over the territory south of Durazzo, including Valona and Kanine, as dowry. Still, many scholars believe that Balša II did not marry Comita Muzaka but Komnena, daughter of John Komnenos Asen who succeeded control over Valona and Kanine after the death of her brother Alexander in early 1372.
References
Sources
- Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994), The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, University of Michigan Press, ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5
- Sedlar, Jean W. (1994). East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000–1500 III. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-97290-4.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balša II. |
- Charter of Duke Balsa II Balšić (1379, Ratac monastery, near Bar)
- Balsa II Balšić (1385th Tuzi, near Podgorica)
| Balša II Born: ? Died: 1385 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Đurađ I |
Lord of Lower Zeta 1378–1385 |
Succeeded by Đurađ II |