KOSOVA NË KUADRIN E PRINCIPATËS SË BALSHAJVE
KOSOVO AS PART OF THE BALSHAJ PRINCIPALITY

Summary/Abstract: The Baljash Principality was created in 1360s and lasted till 1421. The overlords Balshaj brothers (Strazimir, Gjergj and Balsha II) in 1360 ruled over the territory of Zeta that included Ulqin, Tivar, and Shkodra which became its center. In the Middle Ages the territory of Zeta was considered a region of Arbëria. With regard to this family’s origin are held various opinions. The Hungarian King Sigismund, when he met personally in 1396 with one of these overlords, called him “ruler ofArbëria”. After the battle of Marica (26 September 1371) and the fall of the Nemanjid dynasty, once the Serbian emperor Urosh V died, (4 December 1371) the political fate of Kosovo and other Albanian territories in the south, from Ohër to Kostur remained in the hands of native local authorities. The Balshaj Principality reached the height of its economic development and political stability especially during Balsha II (1379-1385). In the 1380s Balsha II managed to include the greater part of the territory of Kosovo within its principality. The strengthening of Balshaj was considered a danger for the Venetian Republic’s interests in Albanian territories. Moreover, The Balshaj aims to expand the territory of their principality led to conflicts with other Albanian overlords such as Dukagjini and Topia. In 1385, the Balshaj Principality was attacked jointly by the Ottomans and Karl Topia. In the battle taking place in Sarva, Balsha II was killed. This was a serious blow that weakened the foundations of the unified Balshaj principality. Therefore, the principality was divided in three parts. The most of Balshaj possessions preserved were in the north, in Zete and the towns of Shkodra and Drishti, under Gjergj II Strazimir Balsha who ruled the principality from 1385 to 1403. The territory of Kosovo in its greater part fell under Slavs’ rule, as the later had become vassals of the sultan, while another part, from Lezha to Peja, fell to the local rulers, Dukagjini who had also recognized the sultan as their overlord. In June 1389, in the Battle of Kosovo, the Ottoman alliance won against the Balkan alliance in which Gjergj II Strazimir Balsha had been part of. In 1395 he found himselfin a very difficult situation due to Ottoman pressure and consequently handed to the Venetian Republic the towns of Shkodra, Shasi, Drishti. However, he continued to rule the towns of Ulqini and Tivari.

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