| Euphemia Mataranga Efimia Matrënga | |
|---|---|
| Despotissa of Albania Despotissa of Epirus Lady of Ghora | |
 | |
| Lady of Ghora | |
| Tenure | 13??-13?? |
| Predecessor | Paul Mataranga |
| Despotissa Consort of Albania | |
| Tenure | 1331–13?? |
| Despotissa Consort of Epirus | |
| Tenure | 1331–13?? |
| Born | 14th century |
| Burial | St. Anthony Church, Durrës |
| Spouse | Andrea II Muzaka |
| Issue | Gjin I Muzaka Teodor II Muzaka Stoya Muzaka Comita Muzaka Chiranna Muzaka |
| House | Mataranga |
| Father | Paul Mataranga |
| Mother | Unknown |
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox |
Euphemia Mataranga (Albanian: Efimia Matrënga), also known as Euthymia, Eythvmia, Etinia or Onorata was an Albanian noblewoman and member of the Mataranga family.
Life
Euphemia, whose name means "honored" was the daughter of Paul Mataranga, an Albanian feudal lord who held the title of Sevastocrator and ruled the province of Ghora (Gora), situated near Lake Ohrid. The identity of her mother remains unknown, and not much is known about her early life.
She was married to Andrea II Muzaka most likely around 1328, in the Church of Saint Anthony in Durrës. Andrea came from the noble Muzaka family, and held the titles such as the Despot of Albania, Despot of Epirus and Sebastokrator similar to her father. The narrative highlights that through his marriage to Euphemia, Andrea II Muzaka established a significant familial connection with her father, Paul Mataranga, thereby linking the Muzaka and Mataranga families.
Euphemia and her husband, Andrea II Muzaka, were both buried in Durrës, in the Church of Saint Anthony where they had previously been married. Their tomb was positioned to the right of the altar. The beautifully crafted marble grave bore an epitaph that read: "Here lies Lord Andrew Molosachi, Despot of Epirus".
Family
Euphemia Mataranga married Andrea II Muzaka. The couple had five children:
- Gjin I Muzaka (* around 1337; † 1389), who inherited most of his fathers lands, with the exception of Berat, Myzeqe and Kastoria. He married Lady Suina Arianiti-Comneniates, a daughter of the Albanian Lord Materango Arianiti, with whom he had 5 sons: Andrea III Muzaka, Materango Muzaka, Vlash Muzaka, Bogdan Muzaka and Laldi Muzaka
- Teodor II Muzaka (* 1337; † after 1389), who inherited Berat and Myzeqe.
- Stoya Muzaka († after 1384), who inherited Kastoria as well as its villages and estates. Unfortunately, he died early with no heirs, therefore his lands were passed down to his elder brother Gjin.
- Lady Comita (or Komnene) Muzaka († 1392), who married Balsha II and secured an alliance between the Muzaka family and the Balsha family
- Lady Chiranna Muzaka (also: Kyranna), who married Andrea Gropa of Ohër and Dibra. The couple had no living issue, thus their property was inherited by the Muzakas.
See also
References
- Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140.
...Euthimia (Honorata)...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...was called Euthymia, meaning 'honoured'...
- Hopf, Karl (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romaines inédites ou peu connues. Weidmann. p. 532.
...Etimia (Euthymia), fille de Paolo Matarango de Gora..
- Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140.
...her father, the sebastos Paul Matarango...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...the daughter of Lord Paul Sevastocrator...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...This Lord Paul ruled over a province called Ghora (Gora) which is near Lake Ohrid...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...This second Lord Andrew, who captured the said King Vukashin, King of Serbia and Bulgaria, was married to the daughter of Lord Paul Sevastocrator. His wife was called Euthymia...
- Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 134.
...This wedding took place probably sometime around 1328, judging from the reference about the age of their children in AA: 808 (30 December 1336)...
- Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 134.
...(that of Andreas II Musachi and Euthimia Matarango from the fourteenth century) was emphasized because of its ceremony in the cathedral church of St. Anthonius in Durazzo...
- Stair Sainty, Guy (2018). The Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Angeli, Farnese and Bourbon families which governed it. Boletín Oficial del Estado. p. 501. ISBN 978-8-4340-2506-6.
...like his father served the Angevins as marshal of Albania but also added the much grander title of despot of Albania...
- Duka 2004, p. 10 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFDuka2004 (help)
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...Lord Andrew Molosachi, Despot of Epirus...
- Qeriqi, Ahmet (December 13, 2023). The Stone of the Oath. novum pro Verlag. ISBN 978-1-6426-8417-9.
...Andrea II received the high title of lord, second only to the emperor in the Byzantine hierarchy...
- Szende, Katalin (2000). Annual of Medieval Studies At Ceu. Volume 6. Central European University, Department of Medieval Studies. p. 140.
...As from the narrative, the marriage of Andreas II Musachi to Euthimia resulted in a significant connection to her father, the sebastos Paul Matarango...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...Lord Andrew Musachi, the said second despot, and his wife, Euthymia, as she was called, were buried in the town of Durrës, within the church of Saint Anthony, to the right side of the main altar, in a beautiful grave made of marble and containing the following epitaph: 'Here lies Lord Andrew Molosachi, Despot of Epirus'...
- Hopf, Karl (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romaines inédites ou peu connues. Weidmann. p. 532.
...Etimia (Euthymia), fille de Paolo Matarango de Gora, † ensevelie à Duras..
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...From the said Lord Andrew Molosachi the Despot were born with three sons and two daughters. The firstborn was called Lord Gjin, the second Lord Theodore and the third Lord Stoya. Of the daughters, the first one was called Lady Comita Musachi and the second Lady Chiranna...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...He left all of his land, with the exception of Berat, Myzeqe and Castoria, to his first-born son, Lord Gjin Musachi...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...To his second son, Lord Theodore, he left Berat and Myzeqe...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...and to his third son, Lord Stoya, he left Castoria with all the villages and estates belonging to it...
- Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 47. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...You should also know that the town of Castoria which was formerly ruled by King Marco, from whom it was taken by force of arms by Lord Andrew Musachi the Despot, is a beautiful town with a broad entrance. The said Lord Andrew left it to his last son Lord Stoya, who died leaving no heirs. It thus fell to his brother called Lord Gjin, your great-grandfather, so it has always been part of our dynasty, until it and other land fell to the sultan...