Battle of Savra

In 1372, Balša II married Comita Muzaka, the daughter of Andrea II Muzaka.{{cite book|last=Elsie|first= Robert|title=Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries |date=2003 |publisher=Harrassowitz|isbn=978-3-4470-4783-8 |page=42 |quote=...His first daughter, the above mentioned Lady Comita, was married to the said King Balsha who held sway in Shkodra, Bar, Kotor, Šibenik, Trogir and much other land...}}{{cite book|last=E. Jacques|first= Edwin |title=The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1 |date=2009 |publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-4238-6 |page=167 |quote=...With one daughter, Komita married to Balsha II of Shkodra...}}{{cite book|last=Elsie|first= Robert|title=Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries |date=2003 |publisher=Harrassowitz|isbn=978-3-4470-4783-8 |page=42 |quote=...In this undertaking, he had called upon the assistance of his son in law, King Balsha, who was married to Lady Comita Musachi, his first-born daughter...}}{{cite book|last=Stylian Noli|first= Fan|title=Historia e Skënderbeut Gjerg Kastriotit, Mbretit te Shqiperise, 1412-1468 |date=1921 |publisher=Shtypeshkrinja e "Diellit|isbn= |page=82 |quote=...Vlora dhe Kanina ishin ne duar te princerve bullgare nga dera mbreterore e Asenit qe me 1350 gjer me 1372. Me 72 ua rrembyen Balshet dhe i mbjatin gjer me 1385. Si u-vra Balsha II ne betejen e Savres, e shoqja e tij Princesha Komita Muzaka, nje Amazone e fjeshte, mbreteroj mi Vloren, Sazanin, Kaninen, Himaren dhe Pargen; pastaj u-zgjat gjer ne Krahinen e Devollit, qe ia rrembeu te kusheririt Nikoll Muzake, te cilin e mundi dhe e zuri rop...}}{{cite book|last= Miller|first= William|title=Essays on the Latin Orient |date=1921 |publisher=Cambridge, University Pressn|isbn=978-1-1074-5553-5 |page=435 |quote=...Under Balsha II Valona formed part of a considerable principality, for on the death of his last surviving brother, in 1372, the "Lord of Valona and Budua" had become sole ruler of the Zeta- the modern Montenegro- and then, by the capture of Durazzo from Carlo Topia, "Prince of Albania", assumed the title of "Duke" from that former Venetian duchy. By his marriage with Comita Musachi, he became connected with a powerful Albanian clan...}} As a dowry, Balša II gained Vlorë, Berat, Kaninë and Himarë which constitued the Principality of Vlorë.Fine 1994, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QDFVUDmAIqIC&pg=PA372 p. 372] This arrangement, made after the death of Alexander Komnenos Asen in 1371, also ensured Balša's support against mutual enemies like Marko. It's unclear whether Muzaka had already conquered the cities or if Balša was planning to take them, but the agreement solidified Balša's claim to the territories through marriage.{{cite book|last= Qeriqi|first= Ahmet|title=The Stone of the Oath |date=December 13, 2023 |publisher=novum pro Verlag|isbn=978-1-6426-8417-9 |page= |quote=...At that time, Andrea Muzaka II Vlora and Kanine from Sebastian Alexander, who ruled there after the death of the despot Gjon Komen. However, the despot Muzaka soon gave these two cities to the younger brother of the Balshas, Balsh II, after his marriage to his daughter Komita...}}{{cite book|last= Duka|first= Ferit|title=Studime Historike-MUZAKAJT - LIDHËZ E FUQISHME MIDIS KOHËVE PARAOSMANE DHE OSMANE |date=2004|publisher=Qendra e Studimeve Albanologjike|isbn= |page=10 |quote=}} By 1383 or 1385, Balša II had conquered Durrës, presumably from Karl Thopia and in a charter issued to Ragusa during this period, he referred to himself as "Duke of Durrës".{{cite book|last=E. Jacques|first= Edwin |title=The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1 |date=2009 |publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-4238-6 |page=169 |quote=...In 1383 Balsha II captured Durrës from Karl Topia and assumed the title "Duke of Durrës"...}}{{cite book|last=Elsie|first= Robert |title=Historical Dictionary of Albania |date=2010 |publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-8108-6188-6 |page=443 |quote=...The lost Durrës to his brother-in-law Balsha II in 1385...}} The expansion of Balša's realm into Epirus brought him to the frontline against the Ottomans. Aware of Ottoman aspirations to his territory, on 8 August 1385 Balša II asked Venetians to support him with four galleys.{{Sfn|Ivić|Mrđenović|Spasić|Palavestra|1987|p=102}}{{cite book|title=Ecrits historiques|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-nTAAAAMAAJ|year=1987|page=31}}

Karl Thopia invited the Ottomans to support him in his conflict with Balša II. Thopia's invitation was accepted and Hayreddin Pasha{{cite book|last=Houtsma|first=M. Th.|author-link=M. Th. Houtsma|title=E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913-1936|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Va6oSxzojzoC&pg=PA556|year=1993|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-09791-0|page=556}} brought his forces from the region of Ohrid (modern-day Macedonia){{cite book|last=Gibbons|first=Herbert Adam|title=The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire: A History of the Osmanlis Up To the Death of Bayezid I 1300-1403|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQiAAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|date=21 August 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-02982-1|page=159}} to Saurian field, near Lushnjë.{{cite book|last=E. Jacques|first= Edwin |title=The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1 |date=2009 |publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-4238-6 |page=169 |quote=...Topia called on the Turks for assistance. Amurat I (or Murad I) gladly sent an army of 40,000 men from Macedonia. In the plain of Savre between Elbasan and Lushnja...}} News about the incursion of the Ottoman forces into the region of Berat reached Balša II while he was in Durrës.{{cite book|title=Recueil des travaux de la Faculté de philosophie: Les sciences historiques|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9d87AQAAIAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Univerzitet|page=164}} According to Mavro Orbini, Balša II rounded up 1,000 men in Durrës and, ignoring the advice of his nobles, headed out to take on the Ottoman raiders.{{Sfn|Fine|1994|p=390}} Unsurprisingly, Balša's small forces had little success and Balša II was killed.{{cite book|last=Fine, Jr|first= John V. A.|title=The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest |date=1994 |publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=978-0-4720-8260-5 |page=391 |quote=...ignoring the advice of his more level-headed courtiers, reaced out to take on the Turkish raiders. Not surprisingly, his small forces had little success, and Balsa was killed near Berat in battle against the Turks on 18 September 1385...}}{{cite book|last=Elsie|first= Robert |title=Historical Dictionary of Albania |date=2010 |publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-8108-6188-6 |page=443 |quote=...he appealed to the Turks for assistance and defeated him at the Battle of Savra on 18 September 1385...}} Orbini's work is the only source that mentions Ivaniš Mrnjavčević as participating in this battle.{{cite book|last=Fine, Jr|first= John V. A.|title=The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest |date=1994 |publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=978-0-4720-8260-5 |page=391 |quote=...We can see why Orbini called Balsa brave but stupid. Orbini reports that Marko’s brother Ivanis, then living with Balsa, also died in this battle...}} Some scholars believe he did not even exist, while others believe that he was not an independent medieval lord, but a loyal member of the Balša family.Veselinović, Andrija & Ljušić, Radoš (2001). СРПСКЕ ДИНАСТИЈЕ, СРЕДЊОВЕКОВНЕ ДИНАСТИЈЕ Another person mentioned only by Orbini is Balša's voivode Đurađ Krvavčić, described as a brave warrior who also died in this battle. Mavrini explains that the body of Balša II was decapitated and his head taken to Hayreddin Pasha.{{cite book|last=E. Jacques|first= Edwin |title=The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Volume 1 |date=2009 |publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-4238-6 |page=169 |quote=...In the plain of Savre between Elbasan and Lushnja Balsha fought the Turks and was defeated and killed, his head being taken to the Turkish capital as a trophy...}}

Since the Ottomans were victorious, most of the local Serbian and Albanian lords became their vassals.Sedlar, Jean W. East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500, University of Washington Press, p. 385 Immediately after this battle Thopia recaptured Durrës,{{cite book|last=Jovetić|first=Jovan|title=Odjeci Srpske prošlosti: eseji, govori, polemike|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b4wMAAAAIAAJ|year=1985|publisher=Jovan Jovetić|page=29}} probably under the Ottoman suzerainty.{{Sfn|Fine|1994|p=390}} The Ottomans captured Krujë, Berat, and Ulcinj but soon retreated from them, keeping only Kastoria under their permanent control.{{cite book|last=Pitcher|first=Donald Edgar|title=An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire: From Earliest Times to the End of the Sixteenth Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8gs4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA45|year=1968|publisher=Brill Archive|page=45|id=GGKEY:4CFA3RCNXRP}}{{cite book|last=Gibbons|first=Herbert Adam|title=The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire: A History of the Osmanlis Up To the Death of Bayezid I 1300-1403|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQiAAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|date=21 August 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-02982-1|page=159}}

The work of Mavro Orbini (The Realm of the Slavs) is one of the main primary sources about this battle. It contains many incorrect and imprecise data.{{sfn|Орбин|1968|p=321}} Another primary source about the Battle of Savra is Marin Barleti who says that Balša II was brave and idealistic.{{cite book|last=Barleti|first=Marin|author-link=Marin Barleti|title=The Siege of Shkodra: Albania's Courageous Stand Against Ottoman Conquest, 1478|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zeZ963q3ok0C&pg=PA60|year=2012|publisher=David Hosaflook|isbn=978-99956-87-77-9|page=60}}

This battle set the foundation for centuries-long Ottoman presence in this part of the Balkans. Serbian historian Stojan Novaković emphasized that the battle's importance for these Serbian and Albanian lords was comparable to that of the Battle of Marica and Battle of Kosovo put together.{{cite book|title=Istorija: spisanie na Sojuzot na društvata na istoričarite na SR Makedonija|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cippAAAAMAAJ|year=1980|publisher=Sojuz na društvata na istoričarite na SR Makedonija|page=183|quote=Тука беше и Марица и Косово за господата српско-албанска.}} The important result of this battle was the influx of Albanians into Ottoman forces who remained a significant source of its strength during the next 527 years.{{cite book|last=Gibbons|first=Herbert Adam|title=The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire: A History of the Osmanlis Up To the Death of Bayezid I 1300-1403|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQiAAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|date=21 August 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-02982-1|page=159}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last=Fine|first=John V. A.|title=The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LvVbRrH1QBgC&pg=PA390|year=1994|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=0-472-08260-4}}
• {{cite book|last1=Ivić|first1=Aleksa|last2=Mrđenović|first2=Dušan|last3=Spasić|first3=Dušan |first4=Aleksandar |last4=Palavestra |title=Rodoslovne tablice i grbovi srpskih dinastija i vlastele|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sz4vAAAAMAAJ|year=1987|publisher=Nova knj.}}
• {{cite book|last=Kiel|first=Machiel|title=Ottoman architecture in Albania, 1385-1912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2xYzAAAAIAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture|isbn=978-92-9063-330-3}}
• {{Cite book|last=Orbini|first=Mauro|author-link=Mauro Orbini|year=1601|title=Il Regno de gli Slavi hoggi corrottamente detti Schiavoni|location=Pesaro|publisher=Apresso Girolamo Concordia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fx3OntcdUkQC}}
• {{Cite book|last=Орбин|first=Мавро|author-link=Mauro Orbini|year=1968|title=Краљевство Словена|location=Београд|publisher=Српска књижевна задруга|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MduZAAAAIAAJ}}

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{{Ottoman battles}}

{{Wars and battles involving Albanians}}

{{Albanians under the Ottoman Empire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Savra, Battle Of}}

Category:1385 in Europe

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Category:History of the Albanians

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