Gjon Zenebishi

Gjon Zenebishi (see below about names) (died 1418) was an Albanian nobleman and Prince of Gjirokastër.^{[citation needed]}

Name

Gjon Zenebishi can be founded with different name in historical documents. His name was: Albanian: Gjon Zenebishi, or Gjon Zenebishti and English: John Zenevisi, Ghin Zenebisi.

Rise to power

In 1380, Gjon Zenebishi was appointed Sebastocrator or prefect of Vagenetia near Delvinë. He was also ruler of Pyrgo and Sayada. He submitted to the Turks after the initial invasion and gave them his son as a hostage to be sent to Edirne to the court of the sultan. In Turkish historiography, this son became known as Hamza Bey, a military leader. Shortly after his submission, Gjon revolted and seized the fortress of Gjirokastër, encouraged no doubt by the attack on Ioannina by the Albanians of Acarnania.^{[citation needed]}

Prince

In 1386 he became officially the Prince of Gjirokastër, post which he held until the abolishment of his principality. Gjon Zenebishi was married with the daughter of Gjin Bua Shpata, Despot of Arta, Irene, and thus became the son-in-law of Shpata and the brother-in-law of the wife of Esau de' Buondelmonti Despot of Epiros. In 1399 Esau, supported by some Albanian clans, marched against his wife's brother-in-law John Zenevisi of Gjirokastër. Now Esau was routed and captured, and much of his land was occupied by Zenevisi. The neighboring magnates determined to restore the captured despotes and secured Venetian intercession in his favor. Esau returned to Ioannina in 1400, regaining the reign from Zenebishi. During this time, Zenebishi was defeated by the Turks, he fled to the Venetian island of Corfu, but was called back two years later (1416) by an uprising of the mountain tribes. With the support of Venice, he again set his sights on Gjirokastër, but was chased away once more by the Turks and died in Corfu in 1418.^{[citation needed]}

Descendants

Gjon Zenebishi's descendants continued to live undisturbed in the mountains of Zagoria and eventually faded into history. In 1455, a certain Simon Zenebishi, who was ruler of Kastrovillari (Castro i Vivarit near Butrint) was active at the court of the king of Naples and Aragon on behalf of Skanderbeg in order to gain back Neapolitan support for his land in Albania. In 1455, Venice, the only power to support his claim, reminded him of his pledge of allegiance to the Republic but was not able to change his political orientation, i.e. his ties with Naples. A son of this Zenebishi was also a hostage at the court of the sultan, this time of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, but fled to Naples where King Alphonso had him baptized and made him his vassal. The fate of this Alphonso Zenebishi was to be closely linked to that of Skanderbeg.^{[citation needed]}

Zenebishi Family

Gjon Zenebishi, Lord of Makasi 1382, Sevastocrator of Argyrokastron and Paracolo, Lord of Vagenetzia and Strovilo (a castle) (1387–1418), Despot (=Prince) of Ioannina (1399–1400), +1418; m.N, a dau.of Gjin Bua Shpata, Lord of Arta^{[citation needed]}

• A1. Anna "Kyrianna", Lady of Grabossa in 1419; m.1419 Andrea III Musachi
• A2. Maria, +after 1419; m.Perotto d’Altavilla Baron of Corfu (+1445)
• A3. Bua Thopia, Lord of Argyrokastron (1418–34), deposed by Turks, +1435
  • B1. Simone, Lord of the Strovilo’s castel (1443–61), deposed by Turks
    • C1. Alfonso, fl 1456
    • C2. Alessandro/Lech, Lord of Strovilo’s castle in 1473, sold to venetian in 1473 (destroyed 1479)
    • C3. Filippo, Lord of Strovilo’s castle in 1473 with his brother
• A4. Hamza, a Muslim, fl 1456-59

References

• "History of Albanian People" Albanian Academy of Science.ISBN 99927-1-623-1
• Ekrem Bey Vlora: The Ruling Families of Albania in the pre-Ottoman Period