Niketa Thopia was an Albanian lord member of Thopia family

Thopia family

-First notices:One member of Thopia family is mentioned around 1270s with the title of miles. At that time they were holding a territory between Mat and Shkumbin and had close ties with Angevins and the Papal States. They promised to convert from Orthodox to Catholic faith and therefore their...

. After the death of Karl Topia, he ruled in the region south of Durrës. In 1403, Niketa Thopia managed to capture the city of Krujë

Krujë

Krujë is a town in north central Albania and the capital of the municipality and the Krujë District. It has a population of about 15,900. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana....

 from his cousin, Helena Thopia

Helena Thopia

Helena Thopia was an Albanian princess from Thopia family. She was married to Marco Barbarigo, a Venetian nobleman. After the death of her father, Karl Topia, in 1388, she inherited the castle of Krujë and the surrounding region...

, thus gaining another part of the territory previously held by the Thopia family.

He had good relations with 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...

, which was interested in having some buffer zone between them and the advancing 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...

 army. However, in 1412, Niketa Thopia suffered a heavy defeat from the forces of Teodor II Muzaka

Teodor II Muzaka

Theodore Musachi or Teodor II Muzaka was an Albanian Despot that ruled the Principality of Berat 1389-1417. He fought in the battle of Kosovo in 1389 where he died together with his 4000 men.-References:...

. He himself was held prisoner and with the intervention of the Ragusan Republic was released, but only after conceding some territories around the Shkumbin

Shkumbin

Shkumbin is a river in central Albania, flowing into the Adriatic Sea. It is considered the dividing line for the two dialects of the Albanian language: Tosk and Gheg ....

 river to the Muzaka family

Muzaka family

The Muzaka were an Albanian noble family, first mentioned in 1190 by the Byzantine historian Anna Comnena. The family created the Muzaka Principality.-History of the Muzaka:...

. Upon his death in 1415, the castle of Krujë felt in Ottomans' hands.