Albanian-Epirote War (1374–1375)
The Albanian-Epirote War of 1374–75 was waged between the Despotate of Arta, led by Gjin Bua Shpata and the Despotate of Epirus, led by Thomas II Preljubović.[1]
| Albanian-Epirote War | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Despotate of Arta | Despotate of Epirus | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Gjin Bua Shpata | Thomas II Preljubović | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Bua (tribe) Malakasioi tribe |
Epirote Army Napoleonic Knights | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | unknown | ||||||||
Background
In 1367, Pjetër Losha together with his son, Gjin, launched an invasion into Thomas II Preljubović's Despotate.[2][3] During their Campaign, Pjetër laid a three-year siege on the Ioannina.[2][3] In 1370, the Siege and thus the War ended with a Ceasefire, in which Thomas's daughter Irina, was forced to marry Gjin, Son of Pjetër Losha.[2][4] In 1374, Pjetër Losha died of the plague in Arta, after which Gjon Bua Shpata took over the city.[1] At this time he was not bound by agreement to Thomas; He waged War against Thomas in the same year.[1]
War
Shpata quickly invaded Thomas's realm. Thomas's forces, supported by Napoleonic Knights met Shpata's Army near Arta, where Shpata decisively defeated the Army of Thomas.[5] Thomas then withdrew and barricated himself in his capital of Ioannina.[5] Not soon after that, Shpata laid siege to Ioannina and ravaged the country-side.[5][1] The siege only ended, when Thomas brought peace by betrothening his sister Helena to Gjon Bua Shpata the following year.[1]
Aftermath
Although Shpata made peace with Thomas, the Malakasi, who were an Albanian tribe acting independent and stood under no order from Shpata, continued to fight with Thomas until they were finally defeated in 1377 and 1379.[1]
References
- Nicol, Donald M. (1984). The Despotate of Epiros 1267-1479: A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-521-26190-6.
- Nicol, Donald MacGillivray (1984). The Despotate of Epiros, 1267-1479: A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-521-26190-6.
The Chronicle of Ioannina is deeply prejudiced against Thomas Preljubovic.
- Ellis, Steven G.; Klusáková, Lud'a (2007). Imagining Frontiers, Contesting Identities. Edizioni Plus. p. 139. ISBN 978-88-8492-466-7.
...the Chronicle of Ioannina, hostile to Thomas Preljubovic...
- Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. pp. 351–2. ISBN 9780472082605. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- School (U.S.), Army Language (1960). Albanian, Basic Course (in Albanian). Army Language School.