Lekë Zaharia
Encyclopedia
Lekë Zaharia was an Albanian nobleman from Zaharia family
. He was the only son of Koja Zaharia
. In 1444 he was one of the founders of League of Lezhë
. In 1445 during the ceremony of the marriage of Skanderbeg
sister Mamica Kastrioti, he had a dispute with Lekë Dukagjini
. The reason of this dispute was a woman named Irene Dushmani, the heir of Dushmani family
. She seemed to prefer Zaharia, while this was not accepted by Dukagjini. A skirmish happened and Lekë Dukagjini remained wounded, saved only by the intervention of Vrana Konti
. Two years later, in 1447, Lekë Zaharia was killed in an ambush and Lekë Dukagjini was accused for this murder. Having left no heirs, the fortress of Danjë
was claimed from Skanderbeg in the name of League of lezhë, whose Lekë Zaharia was a participant. However, his mother surrendered the castle to the Venice Republic. This events triggered the Albanian Venetian war which lasted two years. In the end the castle of Danjë remained in Venetian hands toward an annual tribute to Skanderbeg.
Zaharia family
Zaharia was an Albanian noble family that appears for the first time mentioned in the 14th century along with other Albanian noble families, such as the Blinishti family, and the Thopia family. A certain Nicholas Zaharija is first mentioned in 1385 as a Balsha family commander and governor of Budva...
. He was the only son of Koja Zaharia
Koja Zaharia
- Life :In 1396 he could capture the castle of Danjë and from there he ruled the territory around it. He became an Ottoman vassal and in 1402, together with other Albanian noblemen, he fought alongside Bayezid I forces, in the Battle of Ankara. In 1403 after the defeat of the Ottomans in the...
. In 1444 he was one of the founders of League of Lezhë
League of Lezhë
The League of Lezhë was an alliance of Albanian Principalities forged in Lezhë on the 2nd of March 1444. It was initiated and organised by Skanderbeg with the aim of uniting the Albanian principalities that had been founded in the 12th - 14th centuries, to fight the Ottoman Armies...
. In 1445 during the ceremony of the marriage 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...
sister Mamica Kastrioti, he had a dispute with Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë III Dukagjini was an Albanian prince who fought against the Ottoman Empire. A contemporary of Skanderbeg, Dukagjini is known for the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, a code of law instituted in northern Albania.- Biography :...
. The reason of this dispute was a woman named Irene Dushmani, the heir of Dushmani family
Dushmani family
The Dushmani family was an Albanian feudal family, which ruled during the 14th and 15th centuries a territory in northern Albania, from Zadrima plain to Albanian Alps.- History :...
. She seemed to prefer Zaharia, while this was not accepted by Dukagjini. A skirmish happened and Lekë Dukagjini remained wounded, saved only by the intervention of Vrana Konti
Vrana Konti
Vrana Konti or Kont Uran Altisferi was a 15th century Albanian count and one of the closest collaborators of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Up to his death in 1458 he was the counselor of Skanderbeg and one of his best commanders....
. Two years later, in 1447, Lekë Zaharia was killed in an ambush and Lekë Dukagjini was accused for this murder. Having left no heirs, the fortress of Danjë
Dagnum
Dagnum was an important medieval fortress in contemporary Albania.- History :It is known that in 1395, Konstantin Balšić captured Dagnum, however, lost it to his relative, Đurađ II Balšić, Lord of Zeta...
was claimed from Skanderbeg in the name of League of lezhë, whose Lekë Zaharia was a participant. However, his mother surrendered the castle to the Venice Republic. This events triggered the Albanian Venetian war which lasted two years. In the end the castle of Danjë remained in Venetian hands toward an annual tribute to Skanderbeg.