DISA ASPEKTE TË STRUKTURËS ADMINISTRATIVE TË DURRËSIT SI BASHKËSI QYTETARE DHE NËN TOPIAJT
SOME ASPECTS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF DURRËS AS A CIVIC COMMUNITY AND UNDER THOPIA’S

Summary/Abstract: Aspects of the administrative structure of medieval Durrës are treated here, based on a few archival documents. Two notarial documents of sale prove the operation of the dekarkia (1246 and 1338). Their names belongs to the main gates: Rider's Gate and Sea Gate. The identification of properties according to dekarkia shows that they were a territorial organization similar to some Italian cities. Two Venetian documents (1401 and 1500) mention a Council of 12, as local representatives, a fossil surviving from the years when Durrës was governed as a Civic Community: 2 representatives for 6 former dekarkia. While the decision-making power system itself was gone, the idea has survived in the collective memory. The term “topothésia” is found in a notarial deed of sale (1258). A concept related to the Byzantine tradition, used for agricultural territory. As the control of the hinterland passed under the Western powers, the concept of topothesia for the administration of the rural territory was lost. In October 1324, is mentioned the Rectori dyrachij as the head of the executive power. This position was functional when the city was independent or autonomous. When it moved under Anjou control, their captain replaced the Rector. The Thopia’s dynasty changed the governing system. We encounter only three military positions: captain; castellari; comestabel. One document mentions the protovestiarius, of Byzantine tradition, another mentions the local communita. We cannot say whether it was a civilian structure of city management or not. Thopias must have kept the lower positions, running the daily affairs, but eliminated the higher positions. Power was concentrated in a group of barons near the faudal. The changes should be seen as a confrontation between the boni homines of the city versus the feudal lords of the hinterland. With the passage of Durrës under Venice, the use of the administration system with elected Venetian governors has finally eliminated the municipal system of running the city

• Details
• Contents