View source for Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412)

{{Short description|Albanian invasion of Epirus}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412)
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| date              = 1411 – 1412
| place             = [[Despotate of Epirus]], (Modern-day [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] and [[Western Greece]])
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| result            = Albanian victory
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| combatant1        = [[File:Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta.png|Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta|18px]] [[Despotate of Arta]]<br>[[File:Zenevisi CoA.png|18px|Zenevisi_CoA]] [[Albanian Principalities#Principality of Gjirokastër|Principality of Gjirokastër]]
| combatant2        = {{Tree list}}[[File:Coat of arms of Carlo I Tocco in Arta.svg|18px|Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta]] [[Despotate of Epirus]]
** [[File:Arms of the Tocco family.svg|18px|Arms_of_the_Tocco_family]] [[Tocco family]]{{tree list/end}}
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| commander1        = [[File:Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta.png|Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta|18px]] [[Muriq Bua Shpata]]<br>[[File:Zenevisi CoA.png|18px|Zenevisi_CoA]] [[Gjon Zenebishi]]
| commander2        = [[File:Coat of arms of Carlo I Tocco in Arta.svg|18px|Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta]] [[Carlo I Tocco]]<br>[[File:Coat of arms of Carlo I Tocco in Arta.svg|18px|Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta]] [[Leonardo II Tocco]]<br>[[File:Coat of arms of Carlo I Tocco in Arta.svg|18px|Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta]] Symeon Strategopoulos ([[Wounded in action|WIA]])
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| strength1         = [[File:Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta.png|Coat of arms of Despotate of Arta|18px]] [[File:Zenevisi CoA.png|18px|Zenevisi_CoA]] Unknown
| strength2         = [[File:Coat of arms of Carlo I Tocco in Arta.svg|18px|Coat_of_arms_of_Carlo_I_Tocco_in_Arta]] Unknown
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The '''Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412)''' was a military campaign led by Albanian chieftains [[John Zenevisi|Gjon Zenebishi]], [[Albanian Principalities#Principality of Gjirokastër|Lord of Gjirokastër]], and [[Maurice Spata|Muriq Bua Shpata]], [[Despotate of Arta|Despot of Arta]], against the [[Despotate of Epirus]].
== Background ==
In April 1399, [[Esau de' Buondelmonti]], the Despot of Epirus, launched an invasion of the Principality of Gjirokastër. His forces were defeated in battle by Albanian troops led by Gjon Zenebishi, leading to his [[Prisoner of war|capture]].<ref name=mid>{{Cite web |title=Albania in Middle Ages - The Albanian Principalities |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/229290386/Albania-in-Middle-Ages-The-Albanian-Principalities |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Scribd |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Soustal |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Nikopolis_und_Kephall%C4%93nia.html?id=XPMTAQAAMAAJ#spata |title=Nikopolis und Kephallēnia |last2=Koder |first2=Johannes |date=1981 |publisher=Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften |isbn=978-3-7001-0399-8 |language=de}}</ref> De' Buondelmonti was held for [[ransom]] and remained in captivity until his release in June 1400,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Fine (Jr.) |first=John V. A. |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Late_Medieval_Balkans.html?id=LvVbRrH1QBgC#v=onepage&q=john%20zenevisi%201411&f=false |title=The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest |last2=Fine |first2=John Van Antwerp |date=1994 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-08260-5 |page=355 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Studia_Albanica.html?id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ#1412 |title=Studia Albanica |date=2004 |publisher=L'Institut |page=32 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dahri |first=Fahri |title=Çamëria(¹) Në Shekujt XIV, XV Dhe XVI |url=https://www.ikvi.at/?p=226646 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Bashkimi i Shqiperise |language=sq}}</ref> for 10,000 [[ducat]]s.<ref name=sn>{{Cite journal |last=Nika |first=Spiro |date=2020-07-20 |title=Gjirokastra Despotate and Gjin Zenebish |url=https://zenodo.org/records/3952987 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.3952987}}</ref><ref name="Principata e Zenebishëve">{{Cite web |title=Principata e Zenebishëve |url=https://balkancultureheritage.com/find/Principata_e_Zenebish%C3%ABve/1980 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Trashegimia |language=sq}}</ref>
On 6 February 1411, following the death of Esau de' Buondelmonti, his [[widow]] attempted to [[Coup d'état|assume control]] of the [[Despotate of Epirus]]. Upon learning of her intentions to marry a [[Serbs|Serbian]] noble, the people rejected her claim. On 26 February, the citizens of Ioannina [[Revolution|revolted]], exiled her, and invited [[Carlo I Tocco]] to become their new ruler. Tocco arrived in [[Ioannina]] on 1 April 1411, and assumed control of the city.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Petanović |first=Luka |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Elena.html?id=vE6qoMy-UbkC#v=onepage&q=Giannina%201411&f=false |title=Elena: l'ultima imperatrice bizantina |date=2006 |publisher=Editoriale Jaca Book |isbn=978-88-16-43518-6 |language=it}}</ref><ref name="Principata e Zenebishëve"/>
== Invasion ==
Upon hearing of Carlo I Tocco's rise to power, Muriq Bua Shpata and Gjon Zenebishi, feeling [[threat]]ened, formed an [[alliance]] despite their [[rivalry]];<ref>{{Cite book |last=Imber |first=Colin |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Ottoman_Empire_1300_1481.html?id=lIppAAAAMAAJ#allied%20themselves |title=The Ottoman Empire 1300-1481 |date=1990 |publisher=Isis Press |isbn=978-975-428-015-9 |language=en}}</ref> this pact was solidified by the [[marriage]] of Muriq's daughter to Gjon's son. From his camp at Pratokai, north of Ioannina, Carlo launched [[Raid (military)|raids]] against Gjon Zenebishi’s territories, including Lachanokastron, and also invaded the [[Despotate of Arta]].<ref name=dmn>{{Cite book |last=Nicol |first=Donald M. |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Despotate_of_Epiros_1267_1479.html?id=XIj0FfKto9AC#v=onepage&q=ioannina%201412&f=false |title=The Despotate of Epiros 1267-1479: A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages |date=1984 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26190-6 |language=en}}</ref>
In response, the two Albanian rulers united their armies and engaged Carlo's forces in battle during the [[Spring (season)|spring]] or [[summer]] of 1412. Carlo dispatched his brother, [[Leonardo II Tocco|Leonardo II]], to [[Reconnaissance|estimate the size]] of the Albanian army, discovering that they were outnumbered nearly four to one. The Epirote army, led by [[Carlo I Tocco]], Leonardo II, and Symeon Strategopoulos, advanced to the plain of [[Kranea, Grevena|Kranea]], south of [[Mesopotamo, Kozani|Mesopotamon]], where they were [[Encirclement|surrounded]] and nearly annihilated.<ref name=sn/><ref name="Principata e Zenebishëve"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Schirò |first=Giuseppe |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Cronaca_dei_Tocco_di_Cefalonia.html?id=VX4CAAAAMAAJ#Giannina%201411%20spata |title=Cronaca dei Tocco di Cefalonia |date=1975 |publisher=Accademia nazionale dei Lincei |language=it}}</ref> Symeon was [[Wounded in action|wounded]] but escaped, while Carlo and Leonardo [[Withdrawal (military)|retreated]] to [[Ioannina]]. After this [[decisive victory]], the Albanian forces marched to Ioannina and laid [[siege]] to the city but ultimately failed to capture it.<ref name=dmn/><ref name=mid/>
== Aftermath ==
After the war, a [[scandal]] involving Gjon Zenebishi’s son and Muriq Bua Shpata’s [[Affinity (law)|son-in-law]] led to a [[feud]] that collapsed their alliance. Carlo I Tocco capitalized on this rift, securing [[Peace treaty|peace]] with Zenebishi, the region’s most powerful ruler.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, I, 1-12, Add. 1-2 |url=https://austriaca.at/3310-3inhalt |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=austriaca.at}}</ref>
In 1414, Muriq died, and soon after, the [[Ottoman Empire]] [[Invasion|invaded]] Zenebishi’s lands, forcing him into [[exile]] on [[Corfu]], where he remained until his death in 1418.<ref name=mid/>
== References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Despotate of Epirus]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1411]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1412]]