Stoya Muzaka
| Stoya Muzaka Stojë Muzaka | |
|---|---|
| Lord of Kastoria | |
 An inscription from the Church of St. Athanasius of Mouzaki mentioning Stoya and his brother Teodor II Muzaka as the founders of the church. | |
| Lord of Kastoria | |
| Predecessor | Andrea II Muzaka |
| Successor | Gjin Muzaka |
| Died | 1384 |
| Dynasty | Muzaka |
| Father | Andrea II Muzaka |
| Mother | Euphemia Mataranga |
| Religion | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Stoya Muzaka (Albanian: Stojë Muzaka), also known as Stoja Muzaka, was an Albanian nobleman, the Lord of Kastoria, and a member of the influential Albanian Muzaka family, which played a significant role in ruling parts of Southern Albania and Epirus.
Life
[edit]Stoya Muzaka was born into the House of Muzaka as the third and youngest son of Andrea II Muzaka and Euphemia Mataranga, who was from the Mataranga family.[1][2] His father, Andrea II Muzaka, significantly expanded the Principality of Muzaka, with Berat as its capital. Under Andrea II's rule, the principality reached its greatest extent, covering the regions of Myzeqe, Berat, Tomorricë, Skrapar, Këlcyrë, Përmet, Opar, Devoll, Kolonjë, and Kastoria.[3]
Upon the death of his father Andrea II, his lands were divided among his three sons, Gjin I, Teodor II and Stoya.[4] Gjin inherited the majority of his father’s holdings, except for Berat, Myzeqe, and Kastoria. Teodor received Berat and Myzeqe, while Stoya inherited Kastoria along with its associated villages and estates.[5]
During their rule over Kastoria, the construction of the Church of St. Athanasius of Mouzaki took place during the years 1383–84 and the church was dedicated to Athanasius of Alexandria.[6][7] It is considered one of the most important monuments of 14th century Kastoria and is the last church built in Kastoria before its annexation by the Ottoman Empire.[7] The church is decorated with scenes of saints dressed in Byzantine clothing, a typical feature of Byzantine iconography. The frescoes are remarkable for depicting for the first time in Byzantine iconography, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary in imperial costume.[8] The depiction of Virgin Mary as a queen is an atypical feature for the Byzantine iconography.[9] Another unusual feature of the church is that, despite the fact that St. Alexander is traditionally not included among the ranks of military saints,[10] the church of St Athanasius of Mouzaki is decorated with a portrait of St. Alexander and St. Mercurios in military clothing. The church influenced greatly the artistic production of Kastoria and Western Macedonia in the late 14th and early 15th century.[11]
Stoya Muzaka died after 1384 without leaving any heirs. Following his death, control of Kastoria and all the villages and estates belonging to it passed to his older brother, Gjin Muzaka.[12][13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...Lord Andrew Musachi, the said second despot, and his wife, Euthymia...
- ^ Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...From the said Lord Andrew Molosachi the Despot were born three sons and two daughters. The first-born was called Lord Gjin, the second Lord Theodore and the third Lord Stoya. Of the daughters, the first one was called Lady Comita Musachi and the second Lady Chiranna....
- ^ Historia e popullit Shqiptar: gjatë shek. XVI -vitet 20 të shek. XIX. Tiranë: Botimet Toena. 2002. ISBN 978-99927-1-622-9.
- ^ Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...The first-born was called Lord Gjin, the second Lord Theodore and the third Lord Stoya...
- ^ Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...He left all of his land, with the exception of Berat, Myzeqe and Castoria, to his first-born son, Lord Gjin Musachi. To his second son, Lord Theodore, he left Berat and Myzeqe, and to his third son, Lord Stoya, he left Castoria with all the villages and estates belonging to it...
- ^ Facaros, Dana; Theodorou, Linda (2003). Greece. New Holland Publishers. p. 563. ISBN 1-86011-898-4.
- ^ a b "St Athanasius of Mouzakis" (in Greek). Kastoria City. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
- ^ Herrin, Judith (2013). Unrivalled influence: women and empire in Byzantium. Princeton (N. J.): Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-15321-6.
- ^ Vasilákī, María (2000). Mother of God: representations of the Virgin in Byzantine art [exhibition, Benaki museum, Athens, 20 October 2000 - 20 January 2001]. Milano: Skira. ISBN 978-88-8118-738-6.
- ^ Walter, Christopher (2002). The warrior saints in Byzantine art and tradition. Aldershot (GB) Burlington (Vt.): Ashgate. ISBN 978-1-84014-694-3.
- ^ Myrtalē Acheimastou-Potamianou, ed. (1988). Holy image, holy space: icons and frescoes from Greece. Greek Ministry of Culture. p. 194.
- ^ Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania A Reader of Historical Texts, 11th-17th Centuries. Harrassowitz. p. 47. ISBN 978-3-4470-4783-8.
...You should also know that the town of Castoria which was formerly ruled by King Marco, from whom it was taken by force of arms by Lord Andrew Musachi the Despot, is a beautiful town with a broad entrance. The said Lord Andrew left it to his last son called Lord Stoya, who died leaving no heirs. It thus fell to his brother called Lord Gjin, your great-grandfather, so it has always been part of our dynasty, until it and other land fell to the sultan...
- ^ Anamali, Skënder (2002). Historia e popullit shqiptar Volume 1. Harrassowitz. p. 295. ISBN 978-9-9927-1622-9.
...Stoja vdiq në vitin 1384...