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Spata family

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Spata
Shpata

Spatas
Noble family
CountryMedieval Albania
FounderGjin Bua Shpata
Titlescount, despot
Connected familiesArianiti family
Estate(s)

The Spata family (Albanian: Shpata) was an Albanian noble family which rose to prominence in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, initially as Venetian vassals and later as Ottoman vassals. The family's progenitors were the brothers Gjin Bua Shpata and Skurra Bua Shpata. Shpata means "sword" in Albanian.[1]

History

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In the first half of the 14th century, mercenaries, raiders and migrants known in Greek as Άλβανοί (Albanoi or "Albanians") flooded into Greece (specifically raiding Thessaly in 1325 and 1334).[2] In 1358, Albanians got regions of Epirus, Acarnania and Aetolia to rule for their support in Serbian campaign and established two principalities under their leaders, Gjin Bua Shpata and Pjetër Losha.[1] Naupactus (Lepanto) was later taken in 1378.[1] The Shpata family frequently collaborated with the Ottomans and saw them as protectors.[3]

Although German historian Karl Hopf provided a genealogy of the Shpata family, it is deemed by modern scholarship as "altogether inaccurate".[4]

According to Schirò, Shpata family was not kin (blood relatives) with the later Bua family.[6]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Hammond 1976, p. 59.
  2. ^ Hammond 1976, pp. 39, 57.
  3. ^ Imber, Colin (1990). The Ottoman empire: 1300-1481. Isis. p. 113. ISBN 978-975-428-015-9. The Spata clan, however, continued to see the Ottomans as their protectors.
  4. ^ a b Luttrell 1982, p. 122.
  5. ^ Madgearu & Gordon 2008, p. 83: "The despots Gjin Buia Spata and Peter Liosha were recognized by Symeon Uroš in 1359–1360 as rulers in Epirus and Aetolia. Albanian historians consider Gjin (or Ghinu) Buia and Peter Liosha Albanian, but it is sure that at least the Buia family was of Aromanian origin..."
  6. ^ Schirò 1971–1972, p. 81.

Sources

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