Helena Thopia Explained

Helena Thopia
Lady of Krujë
Succession:Lady of Krujë (First reign)
Reign:1388 - 1392 (First reign)
Predecessor:Karl Thopia
Successor:Niketa Thopia
Succession1:Lady of Krujë (Second reign, with Konstantin Balsha, Ottoman vassal)
Reign1:1394 - 1402
Predecessor1:Niketa Thopia
Successor1:Herself
Succession2:Lady of Krujë (Third reign, Ottoman vassal)
Reign2:1402 - 1403
Predecessor2:Herself
Successor2:Niketa Thopia
Spouse-Type:Spouse(s)
Issue:Stefan Maramonte
House:Thopia family
Father:Karl Thopia
Mother:Voisava of Zeta
Birth Place:Principality of Albania
Religion:Roman Catholic

Helena Thopia (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.

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.[1] After Konstantin's death Helena and their son Stefan first went to Venice and then lived with her sister Maria.

Issue

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. Anamali, Skënder and Prifti, Kristaq. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. Botimet Toena, 2002, pp. 251-252