Kastrioti
Encyclopedia
The Kastrioti family were a noble Albanian
family in the middle Ages
. The Kastrioti dynasty originally hailed from the Dibër region in Albania. Pal, the founder was Roman-Catholic (as the majority of Albanians at that time) and had good relations to the Republic of Venice
, the Kingdom of Naples
and the Papacy.
According to many interpretations the family name Kastrioti is derived from the Greek
word κάστρο (castle).
The first notable member of the Kastriotis was Pal Kastrioti who fought with his Albanian
knights on the side of the Serbs
in the battle of Kosovo
(1389) against the Ottomans. He did not survive the battle. His son Gjon Kastrioti
(† 1437), father of Skanderbeg
, expanded the territory of his dominions but was ultimately crushed by Ottomans. His son George Kastrioti Skanderbeg (1405–1468) was the most famous member of the Kastrioti family known for his epic resistance to superior Ottoman forces. Today he is renowned as an Albanian national hero.
The coat of arms
of the Kastrioti was a black double headed eagle. This symbol was inspired by the Byzantine
war flag. When Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in order to defend Albania from the Ottomans he first used the black double-headed eagle on a red background as a war flag. Because of his fame and status as a national hero, Albania uses Skanderbeg's war flag as its national flag
. The eagle on the national flag of Albania has 25 feathers, which symbolizes the 25 successful years of Skanderbeg's struggle against the Ottoman armies.
Jela, then wife of Gjin (Gino) Musacchio; Angjelina (Angelina), then wife of Vladan Arianit Conmenus Thopia; Vlajka, then wife of Stefan Maramonte Balšić; Maritsa, then wife of Karol Musacchio Thopia
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...
family in the middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The Kastrioti dynasty originally hailed from the Dibër region in Albania. Pal, the founder was Roman-Catholic (as the majority of Albanians at that time) and had good relations to the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
and the Papacy.
According to many interpretations the family name Kastrioti is derived from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word κάστρο (castle).
The first notable member of the Kastriotis was Pal Kastrioti who fought with his 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...
knights on the side of the Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
in the battle of Kosovo
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
(1389) against the Ottomans. He did not survive the battle. His son Gjon Kastrioti
Gjon Kastrioti
Gjon Kastrioti , member of Kastrioti family, son of Pal Kastrioti, was an Albanian lord and the father of Scanderbeg. He was called also Hamza Kastrioti.- Name :...
(† 1437), father of Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
, expanded the territory of his dominions but was ultimately crushed by Ottomans. His son George Kastrioti Skanderbeg (1405–1468) was the most famous member of the Kastrioti family known for his epic resistance to superior Ottoman forces. Today he is renowned as an Albanian national hero.
Coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Kastrioti was a black double headed eagle. This symbol was inspired by the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
war flag. When Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in order to defend Albania from the Ottomans he first used the black double-headed eagle on a red background as a war flag. Because of his fame and status as a national hero, Albania uses Skanderbeg's war flag as its national flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
. The eagle on the national flag of Albania has 25 feathers, which symbolizes the 25 successful years of Skanderbeg's struggle against the Ottoman armies.
Members
- Pal Kastrioti - Albanian knight that fought in the Battle of Kosovo alongside Serbs, founder
- Gjon KastriotiGjon KastriotiGjon Kastrioti , member of Kastrioti family, son of Pal Kastrioti, was an Albanian lord and the father of Scanderbeg. He was called also Hamza Kastrioti.- Name :...
- father of Gjergj (Skanderbeg) († 1438) - Vojsava TripaldaVojsava TripaldaVojsava Tripalda was a 15th century Balkanian princess, according to some authors from a family of Polog.She is best known as the wife of Gjon Kastrioti and mother of the Albanian national hero George Kastrioti Skanderbeg...
- wife of Gjon Kastrioti- Reposh Kastrioti - monk or duke
- Stanisha Kastrioti - († 1445?)
- Hamza KastriotiHamza KastriotiHamza Kastrioti was the nephew of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Probably born in Ottoman territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they...
- († 1460?)
- Hamza Kastrioti
- Konstandin Kastrioti
- Mara Kastrioti
- Gjergj KastriotiSkanderbegGeorge Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
(Skanderbeg) - Albanian national hero- Gjon Kastrioti II - Count of Soleto, son of Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg)
- Co(n)stantino (bishop of Isernia 1498, † 1500)
- Ferrante (duke of San Pietro in Galatina, † 1561)
- Maria Kastrioti († 1569)
- Gjergj (fought from 1499-1501 on the side of the Republic of VeniceRepublic of VeniceThe Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
in Albania, † 1540)
- Gjon Kastrioti II - Count of Soleto, son of Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg)
- Jelena Kastrioti - married Pavle Balša/Musachi
- Mamica Kastrioti - married Musachio Thopia in 1445
- Angjelina Kastrioti - married Stefan I CrnojevićStefan I CrnojevicStefan a.k.a. Stefanica Crnojević was a medieval lord of the Principality of Zeta , from the House of Crnojević that ruled it from 1451 to 1465.-Reign:...
- Vlajka Kastrioti - married Ghin Musachi/Balša
Jela, then wife of Gjin (Gino) Musacchio; Angjelina (Angelina), then wife of Vladan Arianit Conmenus Thopia; Vlajka, then wife of Stefan Maramonte Balšić; Maritsa, then wife of Karol Musacchio Thopia