Moisi Golemi, also known as Moisi of Dibra (Albanian: Moisiu i Dibrës), was an Albaniannobleman and a commander of the League of Lezhë. In 1443–44 he captured all Ottoman holdings in the area of Dibër region. For a brief period in the 1450s he joined the Ottomans, but soon abandoned them and returned to the League. He died in 1464, when he was executed publicly in Constantinople after being captured by the Ottoman army.
Born in the vicinity of modern Elbasan he was the only son of Muzakë Arianiti, son of Komnen Arianiti and brother of Gjergj Arianiti. In 1445 he was married to Zanfina Muzaka after her divorce with Muzakë Thopia, who was married to Skanderbeg's sister Maria. They had two sons and four daughters, two of which died at an early age.[2] His firstborn son Çezar Arianiti (Cesare Comnino Arianiti) had one daughter named Giovanna Comminata, who lived in Naples and was married to patrician Paulo Brancaccio. His second son Aranit Arianiti was married to Gjon Muzaka's sister and had only one daughter Helena who was married to a Venetian commander. One of this daughters, Despina was married to Stanisha Kastrioti, son of Gjon Kastrioti and brother of Skanderbeg, while his other daughter Helena was first married to Nikollë IV Dukagjini, son of Lekë Dukagjini. After his death she was married to Sinan bey Muzaka.[2]
After the debacle of the Siege of Berat, and growing envious of the fame Skanderbeg had accumulated over the years, he betrayed his commander in chief and went over to the Ottomans. However, Albanian border troops did not follow him. Instead the command of border troops was passed to Nikolle and Dhimiter Berisha.[4]
One year later he returned at the head of a fifteen thousand men-strong army, but was promptly defeated by Skanderbeg. He retreated first to Macedonia and then to Constantinople, where he was left ignored by the Ottoman authorities. Soon thereafter, he went back to Skanderbeg, who pardoned and reinstated him. He got back the position of a commander of the Albanian border troops.
Moisi devoted the rest of his life to the Albanian struggle, but in 1464 he fell prisoner to Ballaban Badera, an Albanian-born Ottoman sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Ohrid at the Battle of Vaikal. Dispatched hastily to Constantinople along with other Albanian princes and captains, he was skinned alive publicly, in Constantinople.
Domainedit
Muzakë Arianiti's domains extended in areas of Mokër and Çermenikë. Gjon Muzaka mentions Librazhd, Qukës, Dorëz, and Gur among others as parts of his personal demesne. Apart from the areas inherited by his father Golemi was acknowledged as lord of Dibra by Skanderbeg as he led the expedition against the Ottomans in that region. Golemi's son Aranit is mentioned in contemporary sources as the lord of a barony in Çermenikë.[5]
Legacyedit
In Albanian folk tradition, Golemi became a popular hero mostly through the Song of Moisi Golemi (Kënga e Moisi Golemit), an epic of the Arbëreshë in southern Italy.
His given name is equivalent to Moses.[6] Janus-Jacobus Boissard called him Moises Dibriota (1596).[7]
Referencesedit
Notes
^Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe. Ecumenical Press, Temple University. 1986. His father was an ancestor of the second greatest Albanian national hero, Moisi Golemi Komnenos who, though Orthodox, fought with the Catholic Skanderbeg.
^Albanien in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft. 1991. ISBN9783925450242. Golemi, Moisi (Moses)
^Janus-Jacobus Boissard (1596). Vitae et Icones Sultanorum Turcicorum, Principum Persarum aliorumque illustrium Heroum Heroinarumque, ab Osmane usque ad Mahometem II. - Francofurti a. M., Theodorus de Bry 1596. Theodorus de Bry. p. 90.
Media related to Moisi Arianit Golemi at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
moisi, golemi, also, known, moisi, dibra, albanian, moisiu, dibrës, albanian, nobleman, commander, league, lezhë, 1443, captured, ottoman, holdings, area, dibër, region, brief, period, 1450s, joined, ottomans, soon, abandoned, them, returned, league, died, 146. Moisi Golemi also known as Moisi of Dibra Albanian Moisiu i Dibres was an Albanian nobleman and a commander of the League of Lezhe In 1443 44 he captured all Ottoman holdings in the area of Diber region For a brief period in the 1450s he joined the Ottomans but soon abandoned them and returned to the League He died in 1464 when he was executed publicly in Constantinople after being captured by the Ottoman army Moisi Golemi1596 engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry 1561 1623 Died1464ConstantinopleNoble familyArianiti familySpouse s Lady Zanfina MuzakaFatherMuzake Arianiti Contents 1 Family 2 League of Lezhe 3 Domain 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 Annotations 7 References 8 External linksFamily editBorn in the vicinity of modern Elbasan he was the only son of Muzake Arianiti son of Komnen Arianiti and brother of Gjergj Arianiti In 1445 he was married to Zanfina Muzaka after her divorce with Muzake Thopia who was married to Skanderbeg s sister Maria They had two sons and four daughters two of which died at an early age 2 His firstborn son Cezar Arianiti Cesare Comnino Arianiti had one daughter named Giovanna Comminata who lived in Naples and was married to patrician Paulo Brancaccio His second son Aranit Arianiti was married to Gjon Muzaka s sister and had only one daughter Helena who was married to a Venetian commander One of this daughters Despina was married to Stanisha Kastrioti son of Gjon Kastrioti and brother of Skanderbeg while his other daughter Helena was first married to Nikolle IV Dukagjini son of Leke Dukagjini After his death she was married to Sinan bey Muzaka 2 League of Lezhe editWhen Skanderbeg came in Albania Moisi quickly allied with him and became commander of the border guard Golemi was first distinguished in the battle of Torvioll in 1444 3 Later he oversaw the capture of the crucial castle of Svetigrad in modern day North Macedonia After the debacle of the Siege of Berat and growing envious of the fame Skanderbeg had accumulated over the years he betrayed his commander in chief and went over to the Ottomans However Albanian border troops did not follow him Instead the command of border troops was passed to Nikolle and Dhimiter Berisha 4 One year later he returned at the head of a fifteen thousand men strong army but was promptly defeated by Skanderbeg He retreated first to Macedonia and then to Constantinople where he was left ignored by the Ottoman authorities Soon thereafter he went back to Skanderbeg who pardoned and reinstated him He got back the position of a commander of the Albanian border troops Moisi devoted the rest of his life to the Albanian struggle but in 1464 he fell prisoner to Ballaban Badera an Albanian born Ottoman sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Ohrid at the Battle of Vaikal Dispatched hastily to Constantinople along with other Albanian princes and captains he was skinned alive publicly in Constantinople Domain editMuzake Arianiti s domains extended in areas of Moker and Cermenike Gjon Muzaka mentions Librazhd Qukes Dorez and Gur among others as parts of his personal demesne Apart from the areas inherited by his father Golemi was acknowledged as lord of Dibra by Skanderbeg as he led the expedition against the Ottomans in that region Golemi s son Aranit is mentioned in contemporary sources as the lord of a barony in Cermenike 5 Legacy editIn Albanian folk tradition Golemi became a popular hero mostly through the Song of Moisi Golemi Kenga e Moisi Golemit an epic of the Arbereshe in southern Italy See also editMusa Kesedzija Ancestors of Moisi Golemi4 Komnen Arianiti2 Muzake Arianiti10 Nikola Sakat5 Unnamed1 Moisi3 UnknownAnnotations editHis given name is equivalent to Moses 6 Janus Jacobus Boissard called him Moises Dibriota 1596 7 References editNotes Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe Ecumenical Press Temple University 1986 His father was an ancestor of the second greatest Albanian national hero Moisi Golemi Komnenos who though Orthodox fought with the Catholic Skanderbeg a b Shuteriqi 2012 pp 58 60 Buda 2002 pp 257 Marin Barletius Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum Principis Shuteriqi 2012 pp 104 7 Albanien in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart Sudosteuropa Gesellschaft 1991 ISBN 9783925450242 Golemi Moisi Moses Janus Jacobus Boissard 1596 Vitae et Icones Sultanorum Turcicorum Principum Persarum aliorumque illustrium Heroum Heroinarumque ab Osmane usque ad Mahometem II Francofurti a M Theodorus de Bry 1596 Theodorus de Bry p 90 Sources Shuteriqi Dhimiter 2012 Zana Prela ed Aranitet Historia Gjenealogjia Zoterimet Toena ISBN 978 99943 1 729 5 Buda Aleks 2002 Shkrime historike Shtepia Botuese 8 Nentori ISBN 9789992716519 Retrieved 8 September 2012 External links edit nbsp Media related to Moisi Arianit Golemi at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Moisi Golemi amp oldid 1224528649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
