Voisava Balšić
Medieval Albanian noblewoman of the Balsha family
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Voisava Balšić (Serbian Cyrillic: Воисава Балшић; Albanian: Voisava Balsha), also known as Vojislava, Vojsava or Voislava was a nobewoman related to the Balšić noble family.
(As Countess of Mat)
Principality of Zeta
| Voisava Balšić Voisava Balsha | |
|---|---|
| Princess of Albania Princess of Zeta | |
Coat of Arms of the Balsha family | |
| Princess consort of Albania | |
| Tenure | 1370–1388 |
| Predecessor | Hélène of Anjou (As Countess of Mat) |
| Successor | Teodora Branković |
| Born | 14th Century Principality of Zeta |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Gjergj Thopia Helena Thopia Voisava Thopia |
| House | Balsha |
| Father | Balsha I |
| Mother | Unknown |
Life
Voisava was the daughter of Balsha I, a provincial lord who held the title Lord of Zeta. [1][2] Her mother's identity remains unknown, and details about her early life are scarce. She was married to Karl Thopia, Prince of Albania around the year 1370.[3][4][1][2][5]
Her husband Karl Thopia died in 1388, where he was buried in St. Jovan Vladimir's Church.[6] Their son, Gjergj Thopia, became Karl's successor.[7]
Family
Voisava married Karl Thopia, in c. 1370. The pair had three children:[1][5]
- Gjergj Thopia (fl. 1388–d. 1392), Prince of Albania, Lord of Durrës, married Teodora Branković
- Helena Thopia (fl. 1388–1403), married Venetian count Marco Barbadigo (first marriage) and lord Kostandin Balsha (second marriage)
- Voisava Thopia, married N. Cursachio (first marriage) and in 1394, Progon Dukagjini, Lord of Lezhë and uncle of Pal Dukagjini[8] (second marriage)