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European Kingdoms

Eastern Europe

 

Principality of Arbanon (Albanians)
AD 1190 - 1257

Today's Albania began with migration. Its people - seemingly the tribal Albanoi - and related groups such as Illyrians and Epirotes occupied much of the Illyrian coast during their initial settlement here. The Albanoi settled on the southern flank of the far more numerous Illyrians, although their precise relationship is still open to much debate and some disagreement. Ptolemy in the second century AD thought of them as Illyrians.

During the Roman imperial period, much of the territory of the early Albanians (apart from the northernmost and southernmost sections) formed the province of Epirus Nova (Illyria Graeca). That province was subsequently transferred to the Eastern Roman empire and remained a Roman possession almost fully until imperial fragmentation in the thirteenth century AD released it.

However, there was a period in the late twelfth century when the empire was visibly weakening. The principality of Arbanon or Arbër was formed within modern Albanian borders in 1190. This is sometimes claimed as the first Albanian state, and it was this period which saw the first mention of recognisable Albanians as the term would be understood today, having given them around two millennia to develop that identity.

Albanians in the eleventh century AD were known as Arbanoi, a clear evolution of the Albanoi tribal name. Prior to this immediate period they were also referred to as the Arbereshe or Arbeneshe, and the land as Arbenia. The name Arbanon emerged from these variations. Polybius noted the name Arbona in the second century BC in connection with the Ardiaei Illyrians of Queen Teuta.

Arbanon held the fortress of Krujë (or Kruja) as its military and administrative centre for the duration of the principality's existence. Its general territory covered ground between the Shkumbin and Drin river valleys in the north, and between the Adriatic and the Black Drin in the east. It was Constantinople's historian and grand logothete, George Akropolites, who wrote about Arbanon in its last days. He gave its territory as being ground between Durrës and Lake Ohrid on a west-to-east axis, and between the Shkumbin and Mat river valleys on a south-to-north axis.

Mostar Bridge, Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Sofia Adventures

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World, David W Anthony, from The Illyrians, John Wilkes (Blackwell Publishers Inc, 1995 & 1996), from Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum Principis, Marinus Barletius (Bernardinus de Vitalibus, 1508, in Latin), from The Despotate of Epiros, Donald McGillivray Nicol (Blackwell & Mott, 1957), from The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade, Susan Wise Bauer (2010), and from External Links: Indo-European Etymological Dictionary, J Pokorny, and Geography, Strabo (H C Hamilton & W Falconer, London, 1903, Perseus Online Edition), and The Illyrian Wars, Appian (Livius.org), and Hellenica World, and The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, John V A Fine Jr (John Van Antwerp Fine, 1994, and catalogued by Google Books), and Polybius, Histories.)

1190 - 1198

Progon

Eastern Roman archon, & Albanian principality founder.

1190

Progon, an archon (an Eastern Roman prince, in effect) and a native Albanian of the Progoni clan or family group, establishes an independent principality by the name of Arbanon, possibly the earliest recognisably-Albanian state.

Albania's Kruje fortress
Krujë fortress was built in the fifth or sixth century AD, perched above the city of the same name, while the period which saw the greatest threat of Ottoman invasion witnessed Gjergj Kastrioti, 'Dragon of Albania', make it his headquarters

Having long been a territory within the Eastern Roman empire, later Roman fragmentation has meant that independence has become increasingly attractive. It occupies the region of Krujë, with Venetian territories situated to its west and south-west. Independence is not complete at this stage, however.

1198 - 1207/08

Gjin

Son. Little is known about him.

1204

The capture of Constantinople is the Fourth Crusade's 'success', and Latin emperors are established in the city. Close allies of Constantinople through intermarriage and trade, including Alania and the Rus, are badly affected by this disaster, but it does no harm to Turkic efforts to advance through conquest into Roman territory.

The Eastern Romans withdraw to Nicæa in Anatolia, but rival claimants also establish holdings in Trebizond, Epirus, and Thessalonica so that, at one point, there are four claimants to the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) throne, as well as the Bulgar and Serb states which also claim dominance over it.

Ivan Asen of Bulgaria
Ivan Asen leads his troops in revolt against Eastern Roman occupation of Bulgaria in this modern artistic recreation

The Albanian principality of Arbanon now achieves full independence. Demetrius, formerly a panhypersebastos of the Eastern Roman empire ('sebastos' meaning 'augustus'), is soon the independent prince of Arbanon.

1207/08 - 1215/16

Demetrius / Dhimitër

Brother. Died.

1211

The Battle of Antioch on the Meander (also known as the Battle of Alaşehir) is fought between the forces of Theodorus I Lascaris of Nicæa and Sultan Kaikhosru of Rum. The sultanate's defeat and the sultan's death on the battlefield confirms Nicæan dominance of Anatolia's Aegean coast.

The army of Lascaris is virtually destroyed itself, but the victory ends the Seljuq threat. Kaikhosru's successor (and son) concludes a truce with Nicæa on 14 June 1211 which solidifies the border between the two for the next half a century.

The Battle of Antioch on the Meander in 1211
The Battle of Antioch on the Meander in 1211 ended the threat to Eastern Romans that had been posed by the sultanate of Rum, with peace being agreed afterwards and good relations being maintained for over a generation

c.1216

The rival Eastern Roman emperor in Epirus begins a northwards advance which enters Krujë and terminates the independence of the principality of Arbanon as well as invading Macedonia. From now on the princes will be dominated by outside powers, starting with Theodore Ducas of Epirus.

Komnena Nemanjić, the Serb-born widow of the late Demetrius, remarries almost immediately to Gregorios Kamonas, a Greco-Albanian noble who had previously been married to Gujin's daughter. He assumes command of the now-beleaguered principality, sidelining the designated heir, Progon.

1215/16

Progon

Son of Gjin. Did not rule.

c.1215/16 - ?

Gregorios Kamonas

Married Demetrius' widow to gain control as a vassal.

? - 1252

Golem / Gulam

Son-in-law and local magnate. Submitted to Nicæa.

1230 - 1241

Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria wins the Battle of Klokotnitsa, crushing the forces of Theodore Komnenos Doukas (Ducas) of Epirus and the empire of Thessalonica. Theodore's empire soon collapses, allowing Ivan Asen to take possession of great swathes of Macedonia, Thessaly, and Thrace, plus Arbanon.

Byzantine icon
An icon showing four episodes from the life of Christ which was probably painted in Thessalonica, the most important artistic centre in the crumbling Eastern Roman empire after Constantinople itself

Theodore himself is captured and held for the next seven years while his brother, Michael, takes command of his remaining territories. Golem remains a vassal of the Asens until 1241, when Ivan himself dies.

1242

A Mongol force under the command of Kadan, son of Ögedei Khan, enters Bulgarian lands. Archaeological evidence shows that at least a dozen forts are burned in this period, and the Bulgarians are forced to accept that they will have to pay tribute. The Mongols are content to leave the Bulgarians alone afterwards though.

1252 - 1257

Constantine Chabaron

Appointed by Nicæa. Faced revolt.

1256/1257

With Golem having submitted in 1252 to the emperor in Nicæa and returning to a lordly role in the state, the principality suffers a revolt against imposed Nicaean rule. The revolt is put down but the principality is now annexed by the individual who becomes responsible for writing down much of the short history of Arbanon - Grand Logothete George Akropolites of Constantinople.

Mongol warriors
Within just thirty years, Mongol warriors had travelled as far afield as central China and Eastern Europe, and south-west into Persia, turning the Mongol empire into the largest single controlling force in history

He currently serves Emperor Theodorus II Lascaris as a military commander in the field of battle against Epirus - short-lived as it happens. He is captured in 1257 and imprisoned for two years.

Albanian independence is ended by this act, although only briefly. Such is the chaos in the Balkans at this time, as the Eastern Roman empire gradually rebuilds itself, that it is only fifteen years later that the Albanian '(First) Kingdom' is declared.

 
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