Moisi Arianit Golemi
Encyclopedia
Moisi Arianit Golemi, the Albania
n feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni
.
When Skanderbeg
came in Albania, Moisi quickly allied with him and became commander of the border guard. In that capacity he oversaw the capture of the crucial castle of Svetigrad in modern day Macedonia
.
He was a dashing cavalry commander, always charging at the most dangerous point, often changing the course of the battle to Albanian benefit.
After the debacle of the Siege of Berat, and growing envious of the fame Scanderbeg had accumulated over the years, he betrayed his commander in chief and went over to the Ottoman
s.
One year later he returned at the head of a fifteen thousand men-strong army, but was promptly defeated by Scanderbeg. He retreated first to Macedonia and then to Istanbul
, where he was left ignored by the Ottoman authorities. Soon thereafter, he went back to Scanderbeg, who pardoned and reinstated him.
Moisi devoted the rest of his life to the Albanian struggle, but in 1464 he fell prisoner to
Ballaban Badera
, an Albanian-born Ottoman general at the Battle of Vaikal. Dispatched hastily to Istanbul along with other Albanian princes and captains, he was skinned alive publicly, in Constantinople
in what became known as the Massacre of Constantinople.
His memory was captured in literature in Kenga e Moisi Golemit (the Song of Moisi Golemi) amongst the Albanian-Italian community in Southern Italy
known as Arbëreshë
.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni
Gjergj Arianit Komneni
Gjergj Arianiti was an important Albanian hero and the great uncle of Moisi Arianit Golemi. He was also the father of Gjergj Kastrioti's wife Marina Donika . He shared a distant relation from his great grandmother with the famous Byzantine Komnenos dynasty, originating in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor...
.
When 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...
came in Albania, Moisi quickly allied with him and became commander of the border guard. In that capacity he oversaw the capture of the crucial castle of Svetigrad in modern day Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
He was a dashing cavalry commander, always charging at the most dangerous point, often changing the course of the battle to Albanian benefit.
After the debacle of the Siege of Berat, and growing envious of the fame Scanderbeg had accumulated over the years, he betrayed his commander in chief and went over to the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
s.
One year later he returned at the head of a fifteen thousand men-strong army, but was promptly defeated by Scanderbeg. He retreated first to Macedonia and then to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, where he was left ignored by the Ottoman authorities. Soon thereafter, he went back to Scanderbeg, who pardoned and reinstated him.
Moisi devoted the rest of his life to the Albanian struggle, but in 1464 he fell prisoner to
Ballaban Badera
Ballaban Badera
Ballaban Badera was a battle-hardened and experienced Janissary commander who fought for the Ottoman Empire. He was born Michael, son of Milosch and Helena, and was kidnaped, when a child, during Ottoman raids...
, an Albanian-born Ottoman general at the Battle of Vaikal. Dispatched hastily to Istanbul along with other Albanian princes and captains, he was skinned alive publicly, in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
in what became known as the Massacre of Constantinople.
His memory was captured in literature in Kenga e Moisi Golemit (the Song of Moisi Golemi) amongst the Albanian-Italian community in Southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
known as Arbëreshë
Arbëreshë
The Arbëreshë are a linguistic and ethnic Albanian minority community living in southern Italy, especially the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Molise, Calabria and Sicily...
.
Popular culture
- Moisi appears in the expansion pack of the game Legendary Warriors, where he is called Moist instead. He is portrayed as an inspiring commander who is aristocratic but trusted well by his men. His change of sides is portrayed as a vast plot by SkanderbegSkanderbegGeorge 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...
and him to undermine OttomanOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
morale. He is also portrayed as a man of immense honour, who never shows any weakness. He wields a strange "razor disc".