List of Albanian monarchs
This is an archontological list of Albanian monarchs, containing monarchs of the medieval Albanian principalities, Albanian kingdoms and to heads of state of modern Albania. Starting from the first established monarch Progon of Kruja from the Progoni family who ruled the Principality of Arbanon starting in 1190. Throughout history, the monarchs of Albania have held multiple different titles, often Latin or Byzantine, and in rare instances, Slavic. Some of these titles include King of Albania, Prince of Albania, Despot, and Sebastokrator. Members of the medieval Albanian monarchy were integral to the formation of the Albanian nobility. The monarchy in Albania was abolished on the 8th of September, 1943.
[Principality of Arbanon] (1190–1257)
House of Progoni">Progoni family">House of Progoni
House of Kamona
Unknown
Principality of Gropa (1258–????)
House of Gropa">Gropa family">House of Gropa
Principality of Blinishti (13th century–1330)
House of Blinishti">Blinishti family">House of Blinishti
- Vlado Blinishti
- Kalojan Blinishti
- Gulielm Blinishti
Principality of Skuraj (13th century)
House of Skuraj">Skuraj family">House of Skuraj
- Gjergj Skura
- Pepe Skura
- Pjetër Skura
- Mihal Skura
- Progon Skura
Kingdom of Albania">Kingdom of Albania (medieval)">Kingdom of Albania (1272–1368 & 1376-1383)
House of Anjou">Capetian House of Anjou">House of Anjou
[Principality of Muzaka] (1279–1450)
House of Muzaka">Muzaka family">House of Muzaka
[Principality of Mataranga] (1358–1367)
House of Mataranga">Mataranga family">House of Mataranga
The Mataranga family was a vassel of Charles I of Anjou before 1284. The family was first documented in 1297 by the Republic of Ragusa. The family became a vassal of the Byzantine emperor as well between 1284 and 1288 but then accepted the Angevin overlordship again in 1304.| Picture | TitleName | Reign | Notes |
| Sebastokrator & Lord of Karavasta Blasius Mataranga | 1358-1367 | Blasius established an independent principality from 1358 to 1367 in the Myzeqe region between Durrës and Vlorë. He was recognized as Sebastokrator by Simeon Uroš Palaiologos | |
| Lord of Karavasta Gjon Mataranga | 1367-13?? | Son of Blasius, after his father's death, Gjon inherited a small portion of his father's lands. |
Principality of Gjonima (1319–1430)
House of Gjonima">Gjonima family">House of Gjonima
- Dhimitër Gjonima
- Vladislav Gjonima
- Marin Gjonima
Principality of Albania">Principality of Albania (medieval)">Principality of Albania (1328–1415)
House of Thopia">Thopia family">House of Thopia
| Picture | TitleName | Reign | Notes |
| Count of Mat Tanusio Thopia | 1328–1338 | Tanusio was recognized as count of Matia. | |
| Count of Mat Andrea I Thopia | 1338–1343 | Andrea inherited the county of Mat after Tanusios's death. Andrea had become the son-in-law of the Neapolitan King Robert of Anjou without his consent. It should end up costing him his head. Robert sent his biological daughter Hélène of Anjou, whom he had promised to be a wife to a potentate in Morea, via Durrës to Greece. In the Albanian port city she met Andrea Thopia, they fell in love and got married. The marriage resulted in two sons, Gjergj Thopia and Karl Thopia. However, King Robert did not accept the violation of his will to rule. He invited the couple to Naples on the pretext of wanting to reconcile with them and had them executed there. | |
| Prince of Albania Karl Thopia | 1358–1388 | In 1358, Karl rose against the rule of the Anjou and managed to drive them out of Durrës from Epirus and Albania. He ruled most of modern central Albania from 1358 to 1388 and claimed the title of Princeps Albaniae. Karl gained control of Durrës in 1368, which was where the Angevins held out due to their Kingdom becoming smaller. In 1374, Pope Gregory XI awarded him the title "Grande Conte d'Albania". Karl lost Durrës in 1376, conquered by Louis, Duke of Durazzo, but recovered it in 1383 when the last mercenaries of the Navarrese Company moved to Greece. Thopia ruled over the regions of Durrës, Kruja, Peqin, Elbasan, Mokra and Gora, that is, along both sides of the Via Egnatia as far east as Lake Ohrid. | |
| Prince of Albania Gjergj Thopia | 1388–1392 | Son of Karl Thopia. He succeeded his father after his death. In 1392 he was required to return Durrës to the Republic of Venice. In 1392 and died later that year without issue. | |
| Lady of Krujë Helena Thopia | 1388–1392 | Eldest daughter of Karl thopia. She was married to Marco Barbarigo. She inherited Krujë and the surrounding region after her father's death and ruled with her husband. In 1392 her brother Niketa attacked the city and forced them to find refuge with the Balsha family. | |
| Lord of Krujë Niketa Thopia | 1392–1394 | He ruled for 2 years until losing Krujë. | |
| Lady of Krujë Helena Thopia | 1394–1403 | Married Kostandin Balsha in 1394 and ruled Krujë with her Husband. After Kostandin Balsha's death in 1402 Helena's brother Niketa recaptured the castle from her. | |
| Lord of Krujë Niketa Thopia | 1403–1415 | In 1403, Niketa Thopia managed to capture the city of Krujë from his sister, Helena Thopia, thus uniting the principality previously held by another member of the Thopia family. Upon his death in 1415, the castle of Krujë fell into Ottoman hands. | |
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[Principality of Vlorë] (1345–1417)
House of Sratsimir">Sratsimir dynasty">House of Sratsimir
House of Balsha">Balsha family">House of Balsha, House of Muzaka">Muzaka family">House of Muzaka & House of Žarković">Žarko (nobleman)">House of Žarković
Principality of Zeta">Zeta under the Balsha">Principality of Zeta (1356–1421)
House of Balsha">Balsha noble family">House of Balsha
Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto (1358–1374)
Shpata dynasty">Spata family">Shpata dynasty
[Despotate of Arta] (1360–1416)
Losha dynasty
House of Shpata">Spata family">House of Shpata
Principality of Gjirokastër (1386—1418)
House of Zenebishi">Zenebishi family">House of Zenebishi
[Principality of Dukagjini] (1387–1479)
House of Dukagjini">Dukagjini family">House of Dukagjini
Principality of Arianiti (????–1462)
House of Arianiti">Arianiti family">House of Arianiti
[Principality of Kastrioti] (1389–1444)
[House of Kastrioti]
Principality of Zaharia (1396–1447)
House of Zaharia">Zaharia family">House of Zaharia
Principality of Spani (1400-1442)
House of Spani">Spani family">House of Spani
- Pjetër I Spani
- Stefan Spani
- Marin Spani
Principality of Dushmani (1402-1444)
House of Dushmani">Dushmani family">House of Dushmani
- Pal Dushmani
- Lekë Dushmani
- Koja Dushmani
[League of Lezhë] (1444–1479)