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Andrea II Thopia (Albanian: Andrea Topia; died before March 1445) was a 15th century Albanian nobleman whose domains included the territory of Scuria (between Durazzo and what would later become modern day Tirana). He was a member of the Thopia family and one of the founders of the League of Lezhë.

Family

Andrea Thopia was the great nephew of Karl Thopia. He had two sons, Karl Muzaka and Komnin (possibly Serafina Thopia).

1432—1436 rebellion

After the Battle of Savra in 1385 the region of Albania came under strong Ottoman influence and gradually most of its territory was annexed to the Ottoman Empire within a separate administrative unit: the Sanjak of Albania. Andrea revolted against Ottoman rule in 1432 and defeated a small Ottoman military unit in the mountains of Central Albania. His victory inspired other chieftains in Albania, especially Gjergj Arianiti, to rebel against the Ottomans.

League of Lezhë

Together with his nephew (Tanush Thopia) Andrea participated in founding of the League of Lezhë (1444 military alliance led by Skanderbeg). The members included Lekë Zaharia, Pjetër Spani, Lekë Dushmani, Andrea Thopia, Gjergj Arianiti, Theodor Muzaka, Stefan Crnojević, and their subjects. His title was Lord of Scuria (near Durazzo).

According to Gjon Muzaka, Andrea Thopia was among the members of this league who outlived the fall of Scutari into Ottoman hands in 1479.

In literature

Girolamo de Rada, an Italian writer of Italo-Albanian literature, dedicated his 1839 work Albanian Historical Songs of Serafina Thopia, Wife of Prince Nicholas Dukagjini (Italian: Canti storici albanesi di Serafina Thopia, moglie del principe Nicola Ducagino) to unfulfilled love of Serafina Thopia and Bosdare Stresa (an Albanian Romeo and Juliet). Serafina, who was daughter of Andrea Thopia in this song, sacrificed her love to Bosdare and married Nicholas Dukagjini to help uniting southern and northern Albania to fight against the Ottomans.

Annotations

1. League of Lezhe:
   • Lekë Zaharia (lord of Sati and Dagnum) and his vassals Pal Dukagjin and Nicholas Dukagjini
   • Peter Spani (lord of the mountains behind Drivasto)
   • Lekë Dushmani (lord of Pult)
   • George, Ivan and Gojko Balšić
   • Andrea Thopia with nis nephew Tanush Thopia
   • Gjergj Arianiti
   • Theodor Corona Musachi
   • Stefan Crnojević with his sons Ivan, Andrija and Božidar

See also

• Thopia family
• Principality of Albania (medieval)
• Saint Gjon Vladimir's Church

References

1. André Bataille (1955). Paul Lemerle (ed.). Traité d'études byzantines. Presses universitaires de France. André Thopia, petit neveu de Charles Thopia 1402 - m.
2. 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, p. 535, ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5, In 1432 Andrew Thopia revolted against his Ottoman overlords ... inspired other Albanian chiefs, in particular George Arianite (Araniti) ... The revolt spread ... from region of Valona up to Skadar... At this time, though summoned home by his relatives ... Skanderbeg did nothing, he remained ... loyal to sultan
3. Noli 1947, p. 36

   Andrea Thopia of Scuria between Tirana and Durazzo with his nephew, Tanush Thopia

4. Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania: A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Weisbaden: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 35. ISBN 9783447047838. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
5. Elsie 2005, p. 52

   The 'Songs of Serafina Thopia' also take us back to the nebulous romantic world of mid-fifteenth-century Albania... an Albanian Romeo and Juliet ... Serafina sacrifices her own happiness to state interests, and marries Prince Nicholas Dukagjini so as to unite southern Albania with the north....on the eve of Turkish invasion)

6. Noli 1947, p. 36
7. Božić 1979, pp. 364: "Никола Дукађин убио је Леку Закарију. Према млетачком хроничару Стефану Мању убио га је "у битки" као његов вазал. Мада Барлеције погрешно наводи да је убиство извршио Лека Дукађин"
8. Schmitt 2001, p. 297

   Nikola und Paul Dukagjin, Leka Zaharia von Dagno, Peter Span, Herr der Berge hinter Drivasto, Georg Strez Balsha sowie Johann und Gojko Balsha, die sich zwischen Kruja und Alessio festgesetzt hatten, die Dushman von Klein-Polatum sowie Stefan (Stefanica) Crnojevic, der Herr der Oberzeta

Sources

• Elsie, Robert (2005), Albanian literature: a short history, London: I.B. Tauris in association with the Centre for Albanian Studies, ISBN 1845110315, retrieved January 18, 2011
• Noli, Fan Stilian (1947), George Castrioti Scanderbeg (1405-1468), International Universities Press, OCLC 732882
• Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2001), Das venezianische Albanien (1392-1479) (in German), München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag GmbH München, ISBN 3-486-56569--9

• 15th-century Albanian people
• Thopia family
• Medieval Albanian nobility
• Albanian Roman Catholics