Albanian princess (c. 1410 – 1440s)
Maria Muzaka was an Albanian princess from the Muzaka family. She was a daughter of Andrea III Muzaka and his wife Anna Zenevisi, Lady of Grabossa. From her marriage to Gjergj Arianiti, Maria had eight daughters, most notably Andronika, Queen of Albania and Saint Angelina, Empress of Serbia.
Early life
When it comes to Maria Muzaka's early life, written documents are limited. She is thought to have been born around the 1410s in the prominant Muzaka family. They were rulers of the Principality of Muzaka in southern Albania.
Her father was Prince Andrea III Muzaka, son of Gjin I Muzaka and Lady Suina Arianites Comneniates. Her mother, Chiranna "Anna" Zenevisi, is mentioned in Gjon Muzaka's Chronicles as Lady of Grabossa and a daughter of Giovanni Sarbissa (alb. Gjon Zenebishi), from the Zenevisi family who ruled Epirus, Zagoria and Argirocastron.
Maria was the eldest daughter of the couple. She had two brothers Gjin II and Theodore III, as well as a younger sister, Lady Helena.
Marriage and children
Maria Muzaka married Gjergj Arianiti, ruler of the Arianiti Principality. The couple had eight daughters:
- Voisava (or Goisava), married to John Cernoievich, Lord of Montenegro and Zeta, with whom she had two sons: Giorgio and Scanderbeg. According to John Muzaka, Giorgio had three daughters and two sons: Salomone, who died, and Costantino, who married a Venetian noblewoman. Two of the daughters were married in Hungary, while one was married in Venice. As for Scanderbeg, Muzaka mentions him as "having become a Truk" and ruling his brother's lands. This indicates him having converted to Islam. His original name, however, is not mentioned in John Muzaka's chronicles.
- Chiranna, married Nicholas Ducagini with whom she had two sons. One of them died young, while the other was appointed a Pasha and a Grand Captain by the Ottomans.
- Helena, married George Ducagini with whom she had many children, all of which "turned Turk". John Muzaka mentions one son, Scanderbego, a "Sangiacco", as being still alive during the time he wrote the chronicles.
- Despina, married Tanusso Ducagini. The couple had one son who died young and a daughter, Lady Theodora Ducagini. The latter went on to have two sons, Lord Blasio and Lord Jacob.
- Angelina, who married Stephen, Emperor of Serbia. The couple had three children.
- Comita married Coico Balsha, Lord of Misia. They had two sons, who died in Hungary and one daughter, Lady Maria Balsha. From her marriage to the Count of Muro, Maria Balsha had two daughters, Donna Beatrice, married to Don Ferrante Orsino, Duke of Gravina and Donna Isabella, married to Luise de Gesualdo, Count of Conza.
- Caterina, firstly married to Andrew Spani then to Italian nobleman Nicolò Bocali. They had two sons, Lord Manoli and Lord Costantino, as well as, two daughters.
After her death, around the 1440s, Arianiti married Italian noblewoman Pietrina Francone, with whom he went on to have five more children. One of his daughters with Francone was named Maria in her honor.
Legacy
Maria's eldest daughter, Andronika, is traditionally recognised as the first Albanian Queen through her marriage to Albania's national hero George Castriot Scanderbeg.
Another one of her daughters, Angelina, is recognised as a Saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church, where she is known as "Saint Angelina of Serbia" and "Mother Angelina".
