Battle of Achelous (1359)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Achelous took place in 1359 near the river Achelous, in Aetolia
, modern Greece
fought between Albanian
troops, under Peter Losha
, and forces of the Despotate of Epirus
, under Nikephoros II Orsini
. The Albanians defeated Orsini's army, which suffered massive casualties during the battle. The battle established two despotates from regions previously part of the Despotate of Epirus: the Despotate of Arta
and the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto
.
had been decreasing while the Albanian rulers had been increasing their control over many areas of the despotate. Nikephoros II Orsini
, Despot of Epirus decided to establish closer relations to the Serbian Empire
by dropping his previous wife Maria Cantacuzena and marrying the sister of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan's widow. The Albanians of the Despotate threatened revolt if Orsini married Helena of Bulgaria
's sister and didn't recall Maria, who was part of the Cantacuzene family allied with them. Orsini was forced to recall Maria but decided to wage war against the Albanians to stop their increasing power in the despotate.
, modern western Greece
. The Albanians gathered their forces and under the leadership of Peter Losha
fought against Orsini in the late spring of 1359 near the Achelous river. The Albanians won the battle. Orsini was killed and his whole army was destroyed.
and the remaining areas of the despotate were divided between him and Radoslav Hlapen. Simeon unable to expel the Albanian leaders tried to maintain indirect control of the Despotate of Epirus by recognizing as Despots of the regions of Arta and Aetolia Peter Losha and Gjin Bua Shpata, who created the Despotate of Arta
and the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto
.
Although most of Epirus was under Albanian rule due to their tribal structure and lack of central authority the Albanians didn't replace any existing Greek or Serbian rule with a centralized Albanian state. As an aftermath by 1366-7 only the city of Ioannina
wasn't under Albanian control.
Aetolia
Aetolia is a mountainous region of Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, forming the eastern part of the modern prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania.-Geography:...
, modern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
fought between Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
troops, under Peter Losha
Peter Losha
Peter Losha was a 14th-century Albanian despot of Despotate of Arta from 1359 to his death in 1374 under Simeon Uroš.In 1346-1348 Epirus became a part of the Serbian Empire and Albanian tribes were defeated by Stefan Dushan....
, and forces of the Despotate of Epirus
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
, under Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini - Doukas , was the ruler of Epirus from 1335 to 1338 and from 1356 until his death in 1359.-Life:...
. The Albanians defeated Orsini's army, which suffered massive casualties during the battle. The battle established two despotates from regions previously part of the Despotate of Epirus: the Despotate of Arta
Despotate of Arta
The Despotate of Arta was a despotate established by Albanian rulers during the 14th century, when Albanian tribes moved into Epirus and founded two short-lived principalities there...
and the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto
Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto
The Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto was a short-lived despotate ruled by the Albanian chieftain Gjin Bua Shpata, in the late medieval period including parts of Western Greece. It was created after the defeat of Nikephoros II Orsini, Despot of Epirus in the Battle of Achelous, in 1359 and...
.
Prelude
Since the early 14th century the power of the Despotate of EpirusDespotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
had been decreasing while the Albanian rulers had been increasing their control over many areas of the despotate. Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini - Doukas , was the ruler of Epirus from 1335 to 1338 and from 1356 until his death in 1359.-Life:...
, Despot of Epirus decided to establish closer relations to the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
by dropping his previous wife Maria Cantacuzena and marrying the sister of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan's widow. The Albanians of the Despotate threatened revolt if Orsini married Helena of Bulgaria
Helena of Bulgaria
Jelena or Helena of Bulgaria was the daughter of Sratsimir of Kran and Keratsa Petritsa and the sister of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria....
's sister and didn't recall Maria, who was part of the Cantacuzene family allied with them. Orsini was forced to recall Maria but decided to wage war against the Albanians to stop their increasing power in the despotate.
Battle
Nikephoros II Orsini gathered his forces and marched against the Albanians in the regions they had settled in AetoliaAetolia
Aetolia is a mountainous region of Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, forming the eastern part of the modern prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania.-Geography:...
, modern western Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The Albanians gathered their forces and under the leadership of Peter Losha
Peter Losha
Peter Losha was a 14th-century Albanian despot of Despotate of Arta from 1359 to his death in 1374 under Simeon Uroš.In 1346-1348 Epirus became a part of the Serbian Empire and Albanian tribes were defeated by Stefan Dushan....
fought against Orsini in the late spring of 1359 near the Achelous river. The Albanians won the battle. Orsini was killed and his whole army was destroyed.
Aftermath
After Nikephoros's death the remaining major towns in the Despotate Epirus, being under risk of capture by the Albanian troops, submitted to Simeon UrošSimeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš Nemanjić, nicknamed Siniša , also known in Greek as Symeōn Ouresēs Palaiologos , was the Despot of Epirus from 1359 to 1366, and of Thessaly from 1359 until his death in 1370. He governed Epirus and Acarnania under his half-brother Emperor Dušan the Mighty Simeon Uroš Nemanjić,...
and the remaining areas of the despotate were divided between him and Radoslav Hlapen. Simeon unable to expel the Albanian leaders tried to maintain indirect control of the Despotate of Epirus by recognizing as Despots of the regions of Arta and Aetolia Peter Losha and Gjin Bua Shpata, who created the Despotate of Arta
Despotate of Arta
The Despotate of Arta was a despotate established by Albanian rulers during the 14th century, when Albanian tribes moved into Epirus and founded two short-lived principalities there...
and the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto
Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto
The Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto was a short-lived despotate ruled by the Albanian chieftain Gjin Bua Shpata, in the late medieval period including parts of Western Greece. It was created after the defeat of Nikephoros II Orsini, Despot of Epirus in the Battle of Achelous, in 1359 and...
.
Although most of Epirus was under Albanian rule due to their tribal structure and lack of central authority the Albanians didn't replace any existing Greek or Serbian rule with a centralized Albanian state. As an aftermath by 1366-7 only the city of Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
wasn't under Albanian control.