Helena Thopia (fl. 1388–1403) was an Albanian princess of the Thopia family who held the Krujë region as sovereign lady for two terms; 1388-1392 and 1394–1403.
| Helena Thopia | |
|---|---|
| Lady of Krujë | |
 | |
| Lady of Krujë (First reign) | |
| Reign | 1388 - 1392 (First reign) |
| Predecessor | Karl Thopia |
| Successor | Niketa Thopia |
| Lady of Krujë (Second reign, with Konstantin Balsha, Ottoman vassal) | |
| Reign | 1394 - 1402 |
| Predecessor | Niketa Thopia |
| Successor | Herself |
| Lady of Krujë (Third reign, Ottoman vassal) | |
| Reign | 1402 - 1403 |
| Predecessor | Herself |
| Successor | Niketa Thopia |
| Born | c. 1370s Principality of Albania |
| Spouses | |
| Issue | Stefan Maramonte |
| House | Thopia family |
| Father | Karl Thopia |
| Mother | Voisava of Zeta |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Life
editPrincess Helena Thopia was the eldest daughter of Karl Thopia and Voisava Balsha. Her first marriage was to Marco Barbarigo, a Venetian nobleman, around the 1380s. After the death of her father, in 1388, she inherited the castle of Krujë and the surrounding region. In 1392 as a result of the hostilities between her husband and the Venetian forces, her half-brother, Niketa Thopia, a Venice loyal, attacked the city of Krujë and forced them to find refuge among the Balsha family.
After her brother Gjergj Thopia died in 1392 she gained the bulk of the rest of his holdings. A smaller portion was also left to their younger sister, Voisava Thopia.[1]
In 1394, Konstantin Balšić, who was appointed by the Ottomans to govern Krujë, married her. Konstantin ruled as an Ottoman vassal and was killed in 1402. In 1403 Niketa Thopia captured the castle from Helena.[2] After Konstantin's death Helena and their son Stefan first went to Venice and then lived with her sister Maria, Baroness of Botrugno.
Issue
editShe married Marco Barbarigo, and then Konstantin Balšić in 1394. She had a son with Konstantin, Stefan Maramonte.
Family tree
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ John V. A. Fine. The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5.
...Later that year George Thopia died without issue. The bulk of his holdings, for he surrendered only Durazzo and environs to Venice, went to his sister Helena. (A small piece was left to his younger sister Vojsava, who was married to a patrician of Durazzo known as Lord [Kyr] Isaac. That couple continued to reside in Durazzo under the Venetians.)...
- ^ Anamali, Skënder and Prifti, Kristaq. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. Botimet Toena, 2002, ISBN 99927-1-622-3 pp. 251-252