Ruđina Balšić

Ruđina Balšić (Serbian Cyrillic: Руђина Балшић, Albanian: Rugjina Balsha; fl. 1396–1420) was a Zetan noblewoman, from the Balšić family, who ruled over parts of modern-day Montenegro and Albanian. She married Mrkša Žarković and inherited his realm, the Principality of Vlorë, when he died in 1414. After unsuccessful negotiations to sell her duchy to the Venetians, the Ottomans captured it in 1417. She fled to Corfu,^[1] then to Zeta where she was governess of Budva from 1418. In 1420, during the Second Scutari War, she surrendered Budva to the Venetians without any resistance and moved to Dubrovnik with the town's treasury.

Reign1414–1417

PredecessorMrkša Žarković

Born14th century

Spouse

Mrkša Žarković

(m. 1391; died 1414)

Quick facts Ruđina BalšićРуђина Балшић Rugjina Balsha, Lady of Vlorë, Berat, Kaninë and Himarë ...

Ruđina Balšić Руђина Балшић Rugjina Balsha
Princess of Zeta Lady of Vlorë, Berat, Kaninë and Himarë
Coat of Arms of the Balšić family
Lady of Vlorë, Berat, Kaninë and Himarë
Reign	1414–1417
Predecessor	Mrkša Žarković

Born	14th century
Spouse	Mrkša Žarković (m. 1391; died 1414)
House	Balšić
Father	Balša II
Mother	Comita Muzaka

Close

Family and marriage

Ruđina (or Rugina, Rudina) was the daughter of Balša II, the lord of Zeta (1378–85), and Comita Muzaka daughter of Andrea II Muzaka.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] In 1391 Ruđina married nobleman Mrkša Žarković.^[7] Their marriage was blessed by the Archbishop of Ohrid, although it was seen as noncanonical because they were close relatives.^[8] In 1397 she and her mother were given citizenship of the Republic of Ragusa.^[9]

Duchess of Vlorë, Kaninë, Himare and Berat

After her husband's death in 1414, Ruđina inherited control over Vlorë and held it until it fell to the Ottomans in 1417.^[10] She offered Vlorë to the Republic of Venice in exchange for 10,000 ducats. The Venetians were interested in gaining control over Vlorë in order to prevent the Ottomans from controlling entrance into the Adriatic Sea. While the Venetians prolonged negotiations with Ruđina hoping to get a better price, the Ottomans captured Vlorë in June 1417.^[11]

Governess of Budva

After the Ottoman conquest of Vlorë, Ruđina had to flee, first to Corfu^[11] and then to Zeta, which was ruled by her nephew, Balša III, who entrusted her with the governorship of the coastal town of Budva in 1418.^[12]^[13] When the Venetians sent a naval squadron to the port of Budva in 1419 during the Second Scutari War, Ruđina surrendered the town without any resistance and fled to the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) with the town's treasury.^[14]^[15]

Family tree

More information Ancestors of Ruđina Balšić ...

Ancestors of Ruđina Balšić

4. Balša I

2. Balša II

5. Unknown

1. Rugjina Balsha

12. Teodor I Muzaka

6. Andrea II Muzaka

26. Pal Gropa

13. Unknown

3. Comita Muzaka

14. Paul Mataranga

7. Euphemia Mataranga

15. Unknown

Close

References

[1]
E. Jacques, Edwin (2009). The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1. McFarland & Company. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7864-4238-6. ...Then her daughter Rugina Balsha of Vlora held the territory until 1417, when it all fell to the Turks and she took refuge in Corfu...
[2]
Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 47. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...that King Balsha was married to Lady Comita Musachi, the daughter of Lord Andrew Musachi the Despot. To him she bore a daughter called Regina...
[3]
E. Jacques, Edwin (2009). The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1. McFarland & Company. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7864-4238-6. ...The Balsha widow Komita Muzaka ruled from Berat until her death in 1396. Then her daughter Rugina Balsha...
[4]
Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8. ...His first daughter, the above mentioned Lady Comita, was married to the said King Balsha who held sway in Shkodra, Bar, Kotor, Šibenik, Trogir and much other land...
[5]
E. Jacques, Edwin (2009). The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1. McFarland & Company. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-7864-4238-6. ...With one daughter, Komita married to Balsha II of Shkodra...
[6]
Miller, William (1921). Essays on the Latin Orient. Cambridge, University Pressn. p. 435. ISBN 978-1-1074-5553-5. ...Under Balsha II Valona formed part of a considerable principality, for on the death of his last surviving brother, in 1372, the "Lord of Valona and Budua" had become sole ruler of the Zeta- the modern Montenegro- and then, by the capture of Durazzo from Carlo Topia, "Prince of Albania", assumed the title of "Duke" from that former Venetian duchy. By his marriage with Comita Musachi, he became connected with a powerful Albanian clan... {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
[7]
Veselinović & Ljušić 2008, p. 94.
[8]
Grozdanov, Krsteski & Alčev 1980, p. 23.
[9]
Purković 1956, p. 55.
[10]
Fine 1994, p. 391.
[11]
umetnosti 1983, p. 65.
[12]
Gavrilović 1981, p. 96.
[13]
Мишић 2010, p. 62.
[14]
Fine 1994, p. 516.
[15]
Pavle Mijović; Mirko Kovačević (1975). Gradovi i utvrđenja u Crnoj Gori. Arheološki institut. p. 101.

Family and marriage

Duchess of Vlorë, Kaninë, Himare and Berat

Governess of Budva

Family tree

See also

References

Sources

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks