Gjon Kastrioti
Encyclopedia
Gjon Kastrioti member of Kastrioti family, son of Pal Kastrioti, was an Albanian lord and the father of Scanderbeg. He was called also Hamza (Camusa) Kastrioti.
. Barleti, who wrote in Latin, calls him Iohannes. In the few acts of his own chancellery, his name results Ivan or Ivanъ. It is possible that these acts were written by Ninac Vukosalić. Besides the acts in Slavonic, Ivan is used by some Byzantine chroniclers, like Laonicus Chalcocondyles and many works written by the contemporary scholars. Also, interesting is a testimony from Franciscus Blancus, who lived and wrote two centuries after Gjon Kastrioti's time: In his Apology, he writes about two "heroes" of his own time from the Kastrati family, one Muslim called Isuf bey, and the other Gjon "i.e. in Latin Iohannis Kastrati". This same author, knowing the difference Gjon/Iohannis, specifically calls Skanderbeg's father by his Latin name.Kastrioti's family had its origin in Has
region and ruled over Northern Albania from Kruja region up to Prizren
, Tetova and Gostivar
.
from Lower Polog (present day Tetovo
, Macedonia
) and had nine children with her: four sons and five daughters. The sons' names were Stanisha, Reposh, Kostandin, and George (Skanderbeg
). The oldest daughter of Gjon Kastrioti, Maria Kastrioti, also called Mamica, married Muzakë Topia. Gjon Kastrioti was also the name of the grandson through George Kastrioti.
, despot of Serbian Despotate
in period 1419—1426, he converted to Orthodoxy
, and in 1431 he was converted to Islam
because of he was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire.
to merchants from Dubrovnik
. Based on the order of despot of Serbia, when they traveled from Dubrovnik to Prizren
they had to use the route trough Shkodër
in Albania Veneta
and the Kastriot's land instead of the previous route trough the land under control of the small feudal lords and highlander tribes of Montenegro. With that letter Gjon informed merchants from Dubrovnik that they were granted safe conduct when passing the land under his control, on their way to Prizren.
Defeated by Murad II
in 1421 he was forced to vasality and from time to time one or more of his sons were sent as a hostages to Ottoman court. This way Kastrioti, blackmailed through his sons would be faithful to the Empire.
Gjon Kastrioti was made a citizen of Venice in 1413, along with his inheritors. In 1426 he donated the right to the proceeds from taxes collected from the two villages (Rostuša
and Trebište
in Macedonia) and from the church of Saint Mary, which was in one of them, to the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Hilandar in Mount Athos
where his son Reposh retired and died in 25 July 1431: in his honor the Saint George
tower of Monastery of Hilandar was known as the Albanian tower .
In 1430, Gjon Kastrioti led an unsuccessful uprising against the Ottoman Empire
in the city of Krujë
in what is now Albania
. He was defeated again by the Ottoman forces of Isak-Beg
.
After his death in 1437 his son George
was appointed as commander of Kruja in 1438.
Name
In the documentary acts of the time, Scanderbeg's father is variously called Iohannes, Janus, Iouan, Ioannis, Yuan, Ivan, Yuvan, etc. Gjon Muzaka – or Giovanni Musachi, who by the way knew him and his family well – in his Breve memoria de li discendenti de nostra casa Musachi, written in Italian, calls him Giovanni. Giovanni is also used by Demetrio FrancoDhimitër Frëngu
Dhimitër Frëngu was an Albanian scholar, soldier and Catholic priest. His foremost work is considerered to be Comentario de le cose de' Turchi, et del S. Georgio Scanderbeg, principe d' Epyro, a biography of the national hero of Albania Skanderbeg.- Life :Dhimitër Frëngu was born in Drivast,...
. Barleti, who wrote in Latin, calls him Iohannes. In the few acts of his own chancellery, his name results Ivan or Ivanъ. It is possible that these acts were written by Ninac Vukosalić. Besides the acts in Slavonic, Ivan is used by some Byzantine chroniclers, like Laonicus Chalcocondyles and many works written by the contemporary scholars. Also, interesting is a testimony from Franciscus Blancus, who lived and wrote two centuries after Gjon Kastrioti's time: In his Apology, he writes about two "heroes" of his own time from the Kastrati family, one Muslim called Isuf bey, and the other Gjon "i.e. in Latin Iohannis Kastrati". This same author, knowing the difference Gjon/Iohannis, specifically calls Skanderbeg's father by his Latin name.Kastrioti's family had its origin in Has
Has District
The District of Has is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania and one of the smallest. It has a population of 17,419 , and an area of . It is in the north-east of the country, part of Kukës County, and its capital and only municipality is Krumë...
region and ruled over Northern Albania from Kruja region up to Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
, Tetova and Gostivar
Gostivar
Gostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...
.
Family
He married Vojsava TripaldaVojsava Tripalda
Vojsava Tripalda was a 15th century Balkanian princess, according to some authors from a family of Polog.She is best known as the wife of Gjon Kastrioti and mother of the Albanian national hero George Kastrioti Skanderbeg...
from Lower Polog (present day Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
) and had nine children with her: four sons and five daughters. The sons' names were Stanisha, Reposh, Kostandin, and George (Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
). The oldest daughter of Gjon Kastrioti, Maria Kastrioti, also called Mamica, married Muzakë Topia. Gjon Kastrioti was also the name of the grandson through George Kastrioti.
Religion
His religion was directly influenced by the international balance of political powers. When he was an ally of Venice, in period 1407—1410, he was Roman Catholic. After he allied himself with Stefan LazarevićStefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
, despot of Serbian Despotate
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate was a Serbian state, the last to be conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of the medieval Serbian state, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and Moravian Serbia survived for 70 more years,...
in period 1419—1426, he converted to Orthodoxy
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
, and in 1431 he was converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
because of he was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire.
Biography
On February 25, 1420 Gjon Kastriot wrote a letter on Serbian languageSerbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
to merchants from Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
. Based on the order of despot of Serbia, when they traveled from Dubrovnik to Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
they had to use the route trough Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
in Albania Veneta
Albania Veneta
Venetian Albania was the name for the possessions of the Venetian Republic in southern Dalmatia that existed from 1420 to 1797. It originally covered the coastal area of what is now northern Albania and the coast of Montenegro, but the Albanian and southern Montenegrin parts were lost to the...
and the Kastriot's land instead of the previous route trough the land under control of the small feudal lords and highlander tribes of Montenegro. With that letter Gjon informed merchants from Dubrovnik that they were granted safe conduct when passing the land under his control, on their way to Prizren.
Defeated by Murad II
Murad II
Murad II Kodja was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1451 ....
in 1421 he was forced to vasality and from time to time one or more of his sons were sent as a hostages to Ottoman court. This way Kastrioti, blackmailed through his sons would be faithful to the Empire.
Gjon Kastrioti was made a citizen of Venice in 1413, along with his inheritors. In 1426 he donated the right to the proceeds from taxes collected from the two villages (Rostuša
Rostuša
Rostuša is a village in Republic of Macedonia. It is a seat of the Mavrovo and Rostuša municipality.In 1426 Gjon Kastrioti from Albania and his three sons donated the right to the proceeds from taxes collected from the villages Rostuša and Trebište and from the church of Saint Mary, which was in...
and Trebište
Trebište
Trebište, Trebishte, or Trebišta is a village in the Republic of Macedonia in Mavrovo and Rostuša Municipality, situated in the Dolna Reka district, on the eastern slopes of Dešat, above the gorge of Radika.-History: In 1426 Gjon Kastrioti from Albania and his three sons donated...
in Macedonia) and from the church of Saint Mary, which was in one of them, to the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Hilandar in Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
where his son Reposh retired and died in 25 July 1431: in his honor the Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
tower of Monastery of Hilandar was known as the Albanian tower .
In 1430, Gjon Kastrioti led an unsuccessful uprising against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the city of Krujë
Krujë
Krujë is a town in north central Albania and the capital of the municipality and the Krujë District. It has a population of about 15,900. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana....
in what is now Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. He was defeated again by the Ottoman forces of Isak-Beg
Isak-Beg
Ishak Bey or Isak-Beg was the second ruler of Bosansko Krajište from 1414 to 1439. According to some sources he was a member of Hranušić family, released slave and adopted son of Pasha Yiğit Bey...
.
After his death in 1437 his son George
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
was appointed as commander of Kruja in 1438.