Principality of Muzaka
Lordship of Berat | |||||||||
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| 1279–1343 1355–1417 1444–1450 | |||||||||
Coat of arms of the Muzaka Family
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Lands of the Muzaka and Arianiti families in the 14th century | |||||||||
| Status | Principality, Despotate | ||||||||
| Capital | Berat | ||||||||
| Common languages | Albanian | ||||||||
| Religion | Eastern Orthodoxy | ||||||||
| Prince/Despot | |||||||||
• 1279-1319 | Andrea I | ||||||||
• 1319–1331 | Teodor I | ||||||||
• 1331–1372 | Andrea II | ||||||||
• 1372–1389 | Teodor II | ||||||||
• 1389-1450 | Teodor III | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval | ||||||||
• Establishment | 1279 | ||||||||
• First Ottoman capture | 1417 | ||||||||
• Revolt | 1432–1436 | ||||||||
| 1444 | |||||||||
• Second Ottoman capture | 1450 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Albania North Macedonia Greece | ||||||||
The Principality of Muzaka (Albanian: Principata e Muzakajve), also known as the Lordship of Berat, was an independent realm ruled by the Albanian Muzaka family with its capital at Berat, covering territories in Central and Southern Albania, Western Macedonia and Northern Greece. One of the first rulers was Andrea I Muzaka whose reign was recognized by the Byzantine Emperor. During the Battle of Savra, the Ottomans captured Berat from Balša II, together with Kruja and Ulcinj. They soon retreated from all of those towns keeping only Castoria under their permanent control. Some sources explain that Ottomans probably remained in Berat with intention to use it as foothold to capture Valona. By 1396 Muzaka family took over control of Berat. In 1417 the territories of the Principality, including Vlorë and Berat, became a part of the Ottoman Empire.