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Nicholas Dukagjini (Italian: Nicolas Ducagin, Albanian: Nikollë Dukagjini) was a 15th-century member of the Dukagjini family.

Biography

Nicholas Dukagjini was the son of Gjergj (George) Dukagjini, who died before 1409 when Nicholas was mentioned for the first time as the landlord of two villages near Lezhë (Alessio) and the commander of a 140 men troop (40 cavalry and 100 infantry). Nicholas' name appears in documents of 1409.

He participated in Albanian Revolt of 1432–1436 led by Gjergj Arianiti, during which he succeeded in regaining the territory held by his family before the Ottoman conquest of Albania. He even managed to capture Dagnum which he promptly granted to Venice. Unwilling to provoke the Ottomans, Venice returned Dagnum to Ottoman control in 1435.

League of Lezhë

Nicholas Dukagjin was one of the founding members of League of Lezhë, a military alliance of some members of the Albanian nobility forged in Lezhë on 2 March 1444 by:

• Lekë Zaharia (lord of Sati and Dagnum), and his vassals Pal and Nicholas Dukagjini
• Peter Spani (lord of the mountains behind Drivasto)
• Lekë Dushmani (lord of Pult)
• George Strez, John and Gojko Balšić (lords of Misia)
• Andrea Thopia with nis nephew Tanush
• Gjergj Arianiti
• Theodor Corona Musachi
• Stefan Crnojević (lord of Upper Zeta) with his three sons Ivan, Andrija and Božidar

When Nicholas Dukagjini killed Lekë Zaharia in 1444 the Venetian Republic took over control of Zaharia's former realm. Nicholas Dukagjini continued his struggle against the new authorities and managed to capture Sati and several villages without a fight. He later concluded peace with Venice and in 1446 he is recorded in Venetian archives as the "former enemy" (tunc hostis noster).

On October 4, 1448, the Albanian–Venetian War was ended when Skanderbeg and Nicholas Dukagjini signed a peace treaty with the Republic of Venice, represented by the governor of Shkodra, Paulo Loredano and a special envoy, Andrea Venerio. According to this agreement, signed at Skanderbeg's military camp, adjacent to Alessio, Venice would keep its possessions in Albania, including Dagnum under certain conditions: The Republic had to pay to Skanderbeg an yearly sum of 1,400 ducats, some members of the League would benefit certain trade privileges etc.

Together with many other Albanian noblemen (such as Moisi Arianit Golemi, Pal Dukagjini and Hamza Kastrioti) he abandoned Skanderbeg's forces and deserted to the Ottomans. Ottomans allowed him to govern 25 villages in Debar and 7 villages in Fandi. Nicholas died before 1454.

Descendants

Nicholas Dukagjini had two sons, Draga and Gjergj, none of whom could lead a political life, because they were both killed in 1462. Draga Dukagjini was killed from ambush by Lekë Dukagjini who first captured many Draga's villages. Only a descendant remained, Gjergj's infant son, Nicholas, who eventually entered the service of the Venetian Republic. He remained in Venetian service until 1478 when Ottoman Empire captured Kruje in (June), Drivast (September) and Alessio shortly thereafter. Nicholas Dukagjini, together with Lekë Dukagjini fled to Italy. In 1481 he returned to Albania and joined anti-Ottoman armed movement led by Gjon Kastrioti II.

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 sacrificed her love to Bosdare and married Nicholas Dukagjini to help uniting southern and northern Albania to fight against the Ottomans.

References

1. ^ Božić 1979, p. 368

   Још за живота Николе Дукађина (умро je пре 1454), између њих и Скен-дербега пукао je дубок јаз и одржавао ce годинама.

2. Božić 1979, p. 344.
3. Schmitt 2001, p. 191

   Typisch etwa ist das Gefolge von Georg Dukagjin, dem Herrn in der Gegend von Kakarriqi und Balldreni am Drin, der 140 Mann, wohl aus der Einwohnerschaft der Dörfer, ins Feld führte (1403)

4. ^ Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë 2002, p. 308

   Përfaqësuesi i sigurt i njërës degë është Gjergji, që përmendet në vitin 1403 si pronar i dy fshatrave pranë Lezhës (Balldre dhe Kakarriq) dhe si komandant i një trupe prej 40 kalorësish dhe njëqind këmbësorësh. Gjergji ka vdekur para vitit 1409 dhe, sipas Gjon Muzakës, ka pasur tre djem (Gjergjin, Tanushin dhe Nikollën). Dokumentet e kohës japin vetëm njërin prej tyre, Nikollën. Emri i Nikollës del në vitin 1409. Ai në fillim të viteve 30 u ngrit në luftë kundër serbëve dhe osmanëve dhe i dëboi ata nga Deja. Më pas mori pjesë në kryengritjen çlirimtare të vitit 1443 dhe në Kuvendin e Lezhës, ku u bë personazh politik i rëndësishëm i vendit.

5. Fine 1994, p. 535

   Nicholas Dukagjin took advantage of the rebellion to return to his family's former lands; in taking them over, he submitted to Venetian suzerainty. He also took Danj, which he soon yielded to Venice. However, the Venetians, learning that Murad was still alive and fearing to provoke Turks, reputiated Dukagjin and broke off all relations with him.)

6. Fine 1994, p. 535.
7. Noli 1947, p. 36
8. Božić 1979, p. 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

9. 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

10. Božić 1979, p. 364

    Крајем лета 1444. Никола Дукађин убио је Леку Закарију. Према млетачком хроничару Стефану Мању убио га је "у битки" као његов вазал.)

11. Božić 1979, p. 365

    Никола Дукађин наставио је борбу против нових господара Дања; заузео је Сати и неколико села која се нису могла бранити.

12. Božić 1979, p. 365

    Не види се како је склопљен мир и под којим се условима Никола споразумео са Млечанима. Тек он се 1446 године помиње као бивши непријатељ (tunc hostis noster)

13. Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë 2002, p. 412

    Bisedimet me përfaqësuesit e Venedikut u zhvilluan në kampin ushtarak të Skënderbeut, të vendosur pranë Lezhës. Besëlidhjen Shqiptare e përfaqësonin Skënderbeu dhe Nikollë Dukagjini, ndërsa Republikën e Venedikut e përfaqësonte qeveritari i Shkodrës, Paulo Loredani dhe i dërguari i posaçëm i saj, Andrea Venerio. Në përfundim të bisedimeve u nënshkrua më 4 tetor 1448 traktati i paqes. Sipas tij, Republika e Venedikut do të mbante zotërimet e saj në tokat shqiptare, duke përfshirë edhe Dejën, me disa kushte: Skënderbeut do t’i paguante çdo vit 1400 dukate, disa anëtare të Besëlidhjes Shqiptare do të kishin prej Republikës privilegje e favore të ndryshme…

14. Skendi, Stavro (1980). Balkan cultural studies. East European Monographs. p. 175. ISBN 9780914710660. Retrieved 24 March 2012. ... Arianiti's nephew ... Nicholas and Paul Dukagjini and Hamza Kastrioti deserted to the Ottomans
15. Bešić 1970, p. 297

    од којих је син некадашњегмлетачког пронијара — Никола Дукађин — добио пространепосједе, 25 села у Дебру и 7 села у области Фанди. )

16. Bešić 1970, p. 298

    Лека је морао да склопи дшр. Али, сукоб му је дониовелике посједе, многобројна села отета далеком рођаку Драги,кога је на крају, почетком 1462. год., из засједе убио)

17. Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë 2002, p. 308

    Nikollë Dukagjini ka vdekur gjatë viteve 1452–1454. Djemtë e tij, Draga dhe Gjergji, nuk arritën të kishin veprimtari politike, sepse në vitin 1462 u vranë. Si pasardhës i vetëm i tyre mbeti djali i mitur i Gjergjit, Nikolla, i cili hyri në shërbim të Venedikut.

18. Fine 1994, p. 600

    Lek and Nicholas Dukagjin fled to Italy)

19. Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Historisë dhe i Gjuhësisë, Instituti i Historisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë, Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë. Seksioni e Shkencave Shoqërore (1990). Studia Albanica, Том 27,Издање 1. Académie des sciences de la République Populaire d'Albanie, Institut d'histoire, Institut de linguistique et littérature. p. 97. Retrieved 25 March 2012. On 2 June 1481 the rector of Ragusa informed Ferrante that Prince Vlatku had returned to Bosnia and Nicholas Dukagjin to Albania to join the armed movements in their former lands{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
20. 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)

Sources

• Noli, Fan Stilian (1947), George Castrioti Scanderbeg (1405–1468), International Universities Press, OCLC 732882
• Bešić, Zarij M. (1970), Istorija Crne Gore / 2. Crna gora u doba oblasnih gospodara (in Serbian), Titograd: Redakcija za istoriju Crne Gore, OCLC 175122851
• Božić, Ivan (1979), Nemirno pomorje XV veka (in Serbian), Beograd: Srpska književna zadruga, OCLC 5845972
• Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, Instituti i Historisë; K. Prifti, Xh. Gjeçovi, M. Korkuti, G. Shpuza, S. Anamali, K. Biçoku, F. Duka, S. Islami, S. Naçi, F. Prendi, S. Pulaha, P. Xhufi (2002), Historia e Popullit Shqiptar (Vëllimi I) (in Albanian), Tirana, Albania: Toena, ISBN 99927-1-622-3{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• 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, ISBN 978-0472082605
• Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2001), Das venezianische Albanien (1392–1479) (in German), München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag GmbH München, ISBN 3-486-56569-9
• 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

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