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Konstantin Balšić Kostandin Balsha
Lord of Krujë
Coin of Kostandin Balsha featuring his portrait. It is the only type of coin which he minted.
Reign	1394–1402
Successor	Helena Thopia
Died	1402 Durrës, Republic of Venice
Noble family	Balsha
Spouse	Helena Thopia
Issue	Stefan Balšić "Maramonte"
Father	Đurađ I Balšić
Mother	Teodora Dejanović

Konstantin Balšić (Serbian Cyrillic: Константин Балшић; Albanian: Kostandin Balsha) (fl. 1378–died 1402), was a lord of the Balsha family, who ruled over lands in northern Albania.

Life

Konstantin was the son of Đurađ I Balšić, the Lord of Zeta and his wife, Teodora Dejanović.

Following the death of his father, Konstantin's mother Teodora remained active in managing a significant portion of their territory situated between the Drin and Bojana rivers. She continued to reside there with her son, maintaining control over these lands until her death.

Konstantin was excluded from participating in the government of Zeta, first by his uncle Balša II and then by his cousin Đurađ II Balšić. Seeking his rightful inheritance, supported by his mother, Konstantin broke away from his ruling cousin in 1390 or more likely 1391. He visited the court of Bayezid I, where he became an Ottoman vassal. Konstantin did not limit himself to a single alliance; he also built strong relations with Vuk Brankovic, a longstanding rival of the Balsici in Zeta. His maternal family connections were significant—his mother’s niece Helena Dragaš married the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos in 1392, and his half-brother Mrkša Žarković, the son of his mother’s previous marriage to Zarko of Zeta, maintained close ties with Konstantin. Konstantin played a key role for Mrkse, arranging through his cousin the Byzantine empress for the Patriarch of Constantinople to legitimize Mrkse’s controversial marriage to Ruđina Balšić, which had violated church canons due to their close kinship.

To expand links in the western Balkans, he married his sister Jevdokija Balšić to the Florentine Despot of Ioannina Esau de' Buondelmonti.

In late 1394, Konstantin was installed as governor of Krujë by the Ottomans and married Marco Barbarigo's first wife, the Albanian princess Helena Thopia who held the hereditary rights to Krujë. Helena was Konstantin's first cousin as Helena's mother Voisava Balsha and Konstantin's father Đurađ I Balšić were brother and sister. Helena's maternal grandfather and Konstantin's paternal grandfather was Balša I.

Konstantin's mother, Teodora Dejanović who was now a nun, joined him in Krujë, taking an active role at court.

Konstantin gained control of the town of Danjë, which included its lucrative customs post. He was sent to become the Balsha's head as an Ottoman protégé and apparently failed, losing his stronghold, Danjë, to his cousin, Đurađ II Balšić, in 1395. Konstantin was very faithful to Sultan Bayezid I. On 17 May 1395 he fought in the Battle of Rovine.The Venetians, displeased by the shift in control, attempted to negotiate with Konstantin to regain Kroja, but he refused.

In a Venetian document dating 8 August 1401, he is mentioned as "Konstantin, lord of Serbia, in the territory around our territory of Durachi (Durrës)" (Constantini domini Servie, teritorii, quod est circa teritorium nostrum Durachii).

In 1402, while many Albanian vassals of the Ottomans went to support Bayezid I against Timur at the Battle of Ankara, Konstantin Balsha remained in Albania. He soon launched an attack against Venice’s Durrës, which ultimately failed, leading to his capture. The Venetians then tried him and executed him. After Konstantin's death his wife Helena and their son Stefan Maramonte first went to Venetians and then lived with her sister Maria Thopia. Since Maria was married to Filip Maramonte, the Venetians and Ragusans often referred to Stefan Balsha as "Stefan Maramonte".

In 1920 Yugoslav historian Milan Šufflay published, under pseudonym Alba Limi, a historical novel about Kostandin Balsha.

Family

Konstantin Balšić married Helena Thopia who was the daughter of Karl Thopia, Prince of Albania. The couple had one child:

1. Stefan Balšić, was a Zetan nobleman who served as a close associate and vassal to Balša III, but later sought Ottoman support for his rule over Zeta.

See also

References

1. Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2001), Das venezianische Albanien (1392-1479), München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag GmbH München, p. 186, ISBN 3-486-56569--9
2. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 390. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...George and Theodora had a son, Constantine. He was a minor when George died...
3. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Constantine Balsic, his first cousin, the son of George I. Constantine's mother, Theodora, had remained active after George I's death and had continued to manage a fairly large territory between the Drin and Bojana rivers where she resided with her son...
4. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Constantine had been excluded from participating in the government of Zeta, first by his uncle Balsa, and then by his cousin George II. Wanting his rightful inheritance and supported by his mother, Constantine in 1390 or more likely 1391 broke with his ruling cousin and visited the court of Bayezid I, where he became an Ottoman vassal...
5. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...He did not limit himself to one alliance but also established good relations with Vuk Brankovic, a long-time rival of the Balsici in Zeta...
6. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...His mother's niece Helen had, most probably in 1392, married the new Byzantine emperor, Manuel II (1391-1425). His half-brother Mrkse Zarkovic, the son of his mother's earlier marriage with Zarko of Zeta…. Constantine maintained close relations with his half-brother, frequently residing at his court...
7. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...He also performed a major service for Mrkse; through his cousin the Byzantine empress, he arranged to have the Patriarch of Constantinople sanction Mrkse's marriage to Rugina, which had violated canons and not been recognized by the Church because the couple were too closely related...
8. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 419. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Presumably, the Ottomans were disappointed by Barbadigo's failure, for now— probably late in 1394— they installed their vassal Constantine Balsic as governor of Kroja ...
9. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 419. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Constantine soon married Barbadigo's wife, Helen Thopia, who had the hereditary rights (such as they were) to Kroja...
10. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Constantine's mother, who by now had become a nun, joined him in Kroja, playing an active role at court...
11. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Soon Constantine was also in possession of the town of Danj (Dagno) with its lucrative customs house...
12. Anamali, Skënder and Prifti, Kristaq. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. Botimet Toena, 2002, ISBN 99927-1-622-3 pp. 251–252
13. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 419. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...In 1395 Constantine was fighting for the Ottomans at the Battle of Rovine. The Venetians were incensed at the turn of events and approached Constantine to yield Kroja to them, but he refused...
14. Monumenta spectantia Historiam Slavorum Meridionalium. 1874. pp. 437–.
15. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 421. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...In 1402, when many Albanian vassals of the Ottomans– Koja Zakarija, Demetrius Jonima, John Castriot, and probably Tanush Major Dukagjin— led their retainers personally to support Bayezid against Timur at Ankara, Constantine Balsic remained in Albania. He promptly launched an attack against Venice's Durazzo. The attempt failed and he was captured. The Venetians tried and then executed him...
16. M. Bešić, Zarij (1970). Istorija Crne Gore /2. Crna gora u doba oblasnih gospodara (in Serbian). Titograd: Redakcija za istoiju Crne Gore. p. 119. OCLC 175122851. ...може се као доста поуздано прихватити дшшљење да је Стефан Балшић Марамонте био син Конставл-ина Балшића и Јелене Тогшје....његова је удовица отишла у Млетке, а затим се повуклакод своје рођаке Марије Топија, удате за Фшшпа Марамонте...Ду-бровчани и Млечани често називали Стефан Марамонте.
17. Elsie, Robert (2013). A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History. I.B.Tauris. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-78076-431-3. Croat historian Milan von Šufflay (using the pseudonym Alba Limi) wrote a three-part historical novel about him, Kostadin Balšić, Zagreb 1920. BALSHA, GEORGE I ( -01.1378) Mediaeval Serbian ruler.
18. Fine, Jr, John V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-4720-8260-5. ...Stefan Balsic, probably a son of Constantine Balsic...

• Albanian royal consorts
• Balšić noble family
• 1402 deaths
• Ottoman vassalage
• History of Durrës
• Krujë
• Jure uxoris lords