Early history The earliest traceable ancestor of the Muzaka family is Lal Muzaka, a peasant from
Opar. The earliest mention of the Muzaka comes during the 11th–12th centuries by Byzantine historian Anna Komnenos, who mentions an unnamed Muzaka noble who in 1090 was a general of
Alexios I Komnenos. Another early Muzaka Noblemen was Gjon I Muzaka, who was captured as a
prisoner of war by the
Anjou in 1279. He would be kept in
Brindisi before being released by
Charles I of Anjou with the promise of not attacking the Angevin possessions.
Rule of Andrea I The Principality of Muzaka was formed under the rule of
Andrea I Muzaka in 1279. Andrea I controlled the ancestral Muzaka lands of Myzeqe, and would also become the first to rule
Berat, establishing
de-facto independent rule over it. He would also be given the title of
Sebastokrator by Byzantine Emperor
Andronikos II Palaiologos and would also be named Marshal of the Kingdom of Albania. Initially beginning as a vassal to the
Angevin Kingdom of Albania, Andrea I would achieve independence and besides Berat and Myzeqe, his domains would expand to include parts of
Devoll,
Skrapar, Opar,
Tomorrica,
Selenicë and
Korça. In 1319, the Principality of Muzaka under the rule of Andrea I would organize an Albanian uprising against the
Kingdom of Serbia. The revolt was kickstarted by
Philip II and
Pope John XXII with the goal of organizing an Anti-Serbian crusade. The uprising ultimately failed and Andrea I died the same year.
Rule of Andrea II After the death of Andrea I, the Principality passed to his son
Teodor I Muzaka. After the death of Teodor I in 1331, the Principality passed to his son
Andrea II Muzaka. Andrea II ruled from 1331 to his death in 1372. Under his rule, the Principality gained full sovereignty and reached the preak of its power. In 1343 Andrea II lost Berat to
Stefan Dušan and thus the Muzaka would succumb to the
Serbian Empire, however it is not known if the Principality of Muzaka was fully invaded or if it submitted to Dušan. During 1350–1372, Andrea II would start a
revolt against the Serbians which would ultimately lead to him recapturing the lost lands of the Principality of Muzaka. He captured Berat in 1350 and Myzeqe some time later, Korça and Devoll in 1355,
Vlorë and
Kaninë in 1363 and Kastoria in 1370. He would also defeat the Serbian army twice in
Pelister, during 1369/70 and 1370/72, which would lead to him being awarded the title of
Despot by
John V Palaiologos. He would also capture the Castle of Bregu, Gosa and Garunja from
Blasius Mataranga in the 1360's, leading him into direct confrontation with
Karl Thopia. By the time of Andrea II's death in 1372, the Principality of Muzaka included much of Myzeqe, Berat, Tomorricë, Skrapar, Këlcyrë, Përmet, Opar, Devoll, Kolonjë and Kastoria. His lands stretched from the
Adriatic Sea in the west to Korça in the east and from the
Vjosa river in the south to the
Devoll river in the north.
Decline The death of Andrea II marked the start of the downfall of the Principality of Muzaka. After his death, the lands of the principality were split between his three sons,
Teodor II,
Stoya and
Gjin I. Gjin I inherited much of the lands of his father. The center of his state was Tomorricë. Stoya became lord of Kastoria, however after his death it would be taken by Gjin I. Teodor II became lord of Myzeqe and Berat. Bregu, Gosa and Garunja were captured by Karl Thopia. After the
Battle of Savra in 1385 between Karl Thopia and
Balša II, the Ottomans, who were allied with the Thopia in the battle, captured Berat,
Krujë,
Ulcinj and Kastoria. Although they withdrew from Krujë, Ulcinj and Berat, the Ottomans remained in Kastoria. However some sources state that after capturing Berat from Teodor II, the Ottomans stayed there to use it as an outpost for invading Vlorë. Teodor II would later die fighting the Ottomans in 1389 at the
Battle of Kosovo.
Ottoman invasions The Ottomans started a conquest of the Principality of Muzaka in 1415. In 1417 they captured Vlorë and Berat. During 1437–1438, Teodor III led an uprising in the region of Berat, however similarly to the
Albanian revolt of 1432-1436, it was suppressed. In 1444, the Muzaka joined the
League of Lezhë. Teodor III continued to govern Berat, however in 1449 he would fall seriously ill. In the name of the league, Teodor III sent for
Skanderbeg to take Berat after his death. Skanderbeg sent a contingent of 500 soldiers commanded by Pal Kuka to capture the castle, however in 1450 the Ottomans scaled the castle, killing the soldiers and hanging a dying Teodor. This led to the dissolution of the Principality of Muzaka. Despite this, Berat remained under the hands of Skanderbeg. The Muzaka, under
Karl Muzakë Thopia continued to govern Berat until it was
captured in 1455 after being besieged by the Ottomans. == Politics and Influence ==