Voisava Thopia (Albanian: Vojsava Topia), also known as Voyasclava, Vojislava, Voyslava or Voisclava was an Albanian princess of the Thopia family.
| Voisava Thopia Vojsava Topia | |
|---|---|
| Lady of Lezhë | |
 Coat of arms of the Thopia family | |
| Lady of Lezhë | |
| Tenure | 13??-???? |
| Born | 14th Century Principality of Albania |
| Spouse | Lord Isaac Cursachio Progon Dukagjini |
| House | Thopia |
| Father | Karl Thopia |
| Mother | Voisava Balsha |
Life
editPrincess Voisava, was the daughter of Karl Thopia and Voisava Balsha.[1][2][3] Not much is known about the early life of Voisava Thopia. Her first marriage was to Lord Isaac Cursachio who was a patrician of Durrës.[4] In 1392 her brother Gjergj Thopia was forced to surrender Durrës to the Republic of Venice and in the same year, he died without issue.[5][6][7] The rest of his holdings went to their older sister Helena Thopia who got the bulk and herself who got a small piece.[8][9] It is not known what happened to her first husband Lord Isaac Cursachio, but she was remarried to Progon Dukagjini who was the Lord of Lezhë.[10][11][12][13]
Progon Dukagjini, Voisava's husband, presented several petitions on behalf of himself and her during his visit to Venice in August 1393.[14] Among the ten requests he made, one included the return of precious items belonging to Gjergj Thopia, Voisava's older brother, which were held by the commune.[15] This request was likely made on Voisava's behalf.
On October 24, 1398, Voisava Thopia claimed her brother’s citizenship rights, which granted her the legal entitlement to own property in Durrës, though it is unclear whether these rights originally belonged to her brother Gjergj Thopia or Niketa Thopia.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Hopf, Karl (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romaines inédites ou peu connues. Weidmann. p. 532.
...Elena , dame de Croja - Giorgio 1381 ,- Voisava...
- ^ Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy, Milan Šufflay, Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy (1918). Acta et diplomata res Albaniae mediae aetatis illustrantia: Annos 1344-1406 continens. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Typis Adolphi Holzhausen. p. 293.
...Vojslava, filia Caroli...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Rudolf Künker, Fritz (2008). The De Wit Collection of Medieval Coins Künker Auktion 137 - The De Wit Collection of Medieval Coins, 1000 Years of European Coinage, Part III: England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Balkan, the Middle East, Crusader States, Jetons und Weights. Numismatischer Verlag Künker. p. 284.
...Karl Thopia was wedded to Vojsava, a daughter of Balsa I...
- ^ John V. A. Fine (1994). 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.
...younger sister Vojsava, who was married to a patrician of Durazzo known as Lord [Kyr] Isaac...
- ^ Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 443. ISBN 978-0-8108-6188-6.
His son, George Thopia, was obliged to return Durres to the Venetians in 1392
- ^ Early Albania. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. 2003. p. 52. ISBN 9783447047838.
- ^ O'Connell, Monique (2009). Men of Empire Power and Negotiation in Venice's Maritime State. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 26. ISBN 9780801891458.
At the end of 1389, Carlo Thopia died and Durrës passed to his equally sickly son Giorgio, who died in 1392.
- ^ John V. A. Fine (1994). 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.)...
- ^ E. Jacques, Edwin (2009). The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1. McFarland & Company. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7864-4238-6.
...The remainder of his principality was divided among the daughters of Karl and other relatives, who fought with both Venice and the Turks until Kruja fell to the latter in 1425...
- ^ Grabiela Rojas Molina (29 August 2022). Decoding Debate in the Venetian Senate Short Stories of Crisis and Response on Albania (1392-1402). American Philosophical Society. p. 173. ISBN 978-9-0045-2093-6.
...Progon, had married Voyasclava, George Thopia's sister...
- ^ Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy, Milan Šufflay, Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy (1918). Acta et diplomata res Albaniae mediae aetatis illustrantia: Annos 1344-1406 continens. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Typis Adolphi Holzhausen. p. XVII.
...Vojsalva, Cursachi vidua, Progono Ducagin nuptura est...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë; K. Prifti; Xh. Gjeçovi; M. Korkuti; G. Shpuza; S. Anamali; K. Biçoku; F. Duka; S. Islami; S. Naçi; F. Prendi; S. Pulaha; P. Xhufi (2002). Historia e Popullit Shqiptar. Tirana, Albania: Toena. p. 309. ISBN 99927-1-622-3. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy, Milan Šufflay, Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy (1918). Acta et diplomata res Albaniae mediae aetatis illustrantia: Annos 1344-1406 continens. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Typis Adolphi Holzhausen. p. 293.
...Vojslava, filia Caroli, uxor primum Cursachi, tum Progon Dukagjini...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Rojas Molina, Grabiela (2022). Decoding Debate in the Venetian Senate Short Stories of Crisis and Response on Albania (1392-1402). Brill. p. 173. ISBN 978-9-0045-2093-6.
...Between May 27 and July 2, the Council met only twice: on June 6, the sena-tors elected patroni for the merchant galleys. On June 8, the Council assembled to discuss a response to Progon, who was again in Venice. Since the Dukagjini brothers had visited the city in the summer of 1394, one brother (Tanush) had died defending the castle from an Ottoman assault, while the other, Progon, had married Voyasclava, George Thopia's sister. In the R-entry corresponding to Progon's arrival, the Council's need to respond was justified due to Progon's lack of financial ability to stay in Venice over an extended period: A certain Progon Dukagjini is here; he is one of the two Albanian nobles from whom we acquired the castle of Lezhë. He extended to us some petitions on his and his wife's behalf, pleading for a response since he is here at great expense. Progon's petition contained ten clauses. Unlike in the previous year, Venice had achieved considerable administrative continuity in Lezhë and Durrës' power units. The manner in which Progon's petitions were handled says much about the Council's confidence in its authority over the castle in Lezhë. Progon's requests revolved around monetary affairs...
- ^ Rojas Molina, Grabiela (2022). Decoding Debate in the Venetian Senate Short Stories of Crisis and Response on Albania (1392-1402). Brill. p. 173-174. ISBN 978-9-0045-2093-6.
...These included the governor's accountability in reporting trade revenue, further financial assistance from Venice, permission to take over a salt mine, the return of precious items belonging to the late George Thopia to him (they were in the commune's possession), among others...
- ^ Sabaté, Flocel (2020). Ciutats mediterrànies : l'espai i el territori Mediterranean towns : space and territory. Institut d'Estudis Catalans. p. 172. ISBN 978-8-4996-5505-5.
...Listin, vol. IV, MSHSM vol. IV, p. 415 (October 24,1398), About Vojisalva Thopia claiming her brother's citizenship rights, among which alo the right to own a house in Durres...