Helena Thopia

Helena Thopia
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	; Marco Barbarigo (m. 1380; ann. 1394) ; Konstantin Balšić (m. 1394; died 1402)
Issue	Stefan Maramonte
House	Thopia family
Father	Karl Thopia
Mother	Voisava of Zeta
Religion	Roman Catholic

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.

Life

Princess 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

She married Marco Barbarigo, and then Konstantin Balšić in 1394. She had a son with Konstantin, Stefan Maramonte.

Family tree

Ancestors of Helena Thopia

8. Tanusio Thopia

4. Andrea Topia

2. Karl Topia

20. Charles II of Naples

10. Robert, King of Naples

21. Mary of Hungary

5. Hélène of Anjou

11. Unknown mistress

1. Helena

6. Balša I

3. Voisava Balsha

7. Unknown

References

^ 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

Preceded by Karl Topia as Prince of Albania	Lady of Krujë 1388–92 Served alongside: Marco Barbarigo di Croia	Succeeded by Niketa Thopia as Lord
Preceded by Konstantin Balšić	Lady of Krujë 1394–1403 Served alongside: Konstantin Balšić (1402†)	Succeeded by Niketa Thopia as Lord

[1] 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.)...

[2] Anamali, Skënder and Prifti, Kristaq. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. Botimet Toena, 2002, ISBN 99927-1-622-3 pp. 251-252

[1]

[2]

Life

Issue

Family tree

See also

References