Shqiptarët në Korfuz dhe Rasti I Familjes Lanza
Albanians in Corfu and the case of Lanza family

Summary/Abstract: The Medieval and the new history of Corfu gives information about close ties on economic, ethno-cultural and human elements between the island and other places inhabited by Albanians in the Ionian sea cost. People of the island became Albanian Stratiots who served to the Venice which ruled the island since 1386. Also, after the ottoman invasion a lot of inhabitants of the island abandon Albania and went as economic and politic asylum seekers. As a descendant of a noble family from the area of Butrint, Pjetër Lanza became a crucial figure in some important episodes happened in the Sanjak of Delvina during XVI century. His presence and influence includes places in a large distance such Corfu, Napoli, Venice, Parga, Sopot (Borsh), Elbasan, Berat and Delvina. He had close ties with the Venetians and the Spanish who lived in Napoli but also, with ottoman administrators of Low Albania such Sanjakbey of Delvina who come from the Albanian family of Sguraj, from the city of Berat. Firstly, as a servant of Venice and after that Lanza created strong ties with the kingdom of Napoli which showed great interest in the revolts of Himara and Kurvelesh. As confidential person of king of Napoli, Lanza was appointed by him in the head of the team which had to organize the revolts and, also to establish the intelligence network of Naples in Albania. Pjetër Lanza head important operations such the conquest of Sopot castle in 1568. The sources show that his activity is evident in all important occurrences in Low Albania between the years 1566-1612. His mind projected weird plans such killing the sultan or burning the Ottoman fleet.

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