Progon, Lord of Kruja explained

Progon
Lord of Krujë [1]
More:no
Reign:1190–1198
Successor:Gjin Progoni
Succession:Lord of Krujë
Issue:Gjin Progoni
Dhimitër Progoni
House:Progoni

Progon was the first Albanian ruler known by name, an archon of the Kruja Fortress (modern Krujë) and its surroundings, known as the Principality of Arbanon. He ruled between 1190 and 1198. Progon was succeeded by his two sons, Gjin, and Dimitri.

Life

Progon's realm was the first Albanian state during the Middle Ages.[2] [3] [4] Little is known about archon Progon who was the first ruler of Kruja and its surroundings,[5] between 1190 and 1198.[6] The Kruja fortress stayed in the possession of the Progoni family, and Progon was succeeded by his sons Gjin, and later Dimitri.[7] Before 1204, Arbanon was an autonomous principality of the Byzantine Empire.[8] He is mentioned with his two sons in an inscription from the St. Mary Monastery in Trifandina, Gëziq, northern Albania.[9] The titles archon (held by Progon) and panhypersebastos (held by Dimitri) is a sign of Byzantine dependence.[10]

Family

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Fine, p. 673: "Progon (holder of Kroja)"
  2. Clements 1992, p. 31 "By 1190, Byzantium's power had so receded that the archon Progon succeeded in establishing the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, a principality"
  3. Pickard-Çeliku 2008, p. 16
  4. Norris 1993, p. 35
  5. Fine, p. 51
  6. Frashëri 1964, p. 42 "The territories of this principality extended over the present- day districts of central Albania. Its capital was at Kruja. The first ruler of the Principality of Arberia was Archon Progon (1190-1198) about whose life and doings we know.."
  7. Anamali-Prifti 2002, p. 215
  8. Ellis, p. 134
  9. Curta, p. 340
  10. Abulafia, p. 780
  11. Jordan 2003, p. 114
  12. Frashëri 1964, p. 43
  13. Bogdanović-Samardžić 1990, p. 37: "Димитрије Прогон се назива „архонтом Арбанаса" и ступа у међународне везе - са Дубровником, Венецијом и, најзад немањићком Србијом; ожењен је Комнином, кћерком Стефана Првовенчаног."