17 Facts About Karl Thopia

Karl Thopia was an Albanian feudal prince and warlord who ruled Albanian domains from 1358 until the first Ottoman conquest of Albania in 1388.

The first mention of the Thopia is from 1329, when Tanusio Thopia was mentioned as one of the counts of Albania.

Karl Thopia was named after his great great grandfather Charles I of Anjou.

Karl Thopia is first mentioned in 1350, at a time when Anjou still owned Durres.

In 1358, Karl Thopia rose against the rule of the Anjou and managed to drive them out of Durres from Epirus and Albania.

Karl Thopia ruled most of modern central Albania from 1358 to 1388 and held the title of Princeps Albaniae and Duke of Durres.

Since 1362, Karl Thopia sought Durres, which was in the possession of Duchess Joanna.

Karl Thopia gained control of Durres in 1368, which was where the Angevins held out due to their Kingdom becoming smaller in size.

Karl Thopia lost Durres in 1376, conquered by Joanna's husband Louis during the Durres Expedition, but recovered it in 1383 when the last mercenaries of the Navarrese Company moved to Greece.

Karl Thopia ruled over the regions of Durres, Kruja, Peqin, Elbasan, Mokra and Gora, that is, along both sides of the Via Egnatia as far east as Lake Ohrid.

Balsha II and the Karl Thopia had been fighting for the control of the region between Lake Skadar and Durres since 1363.

In 1380, Karl Thopia tried to make an alliance with King Louis I of Hungary, who confirmed it in the possessions he had in Durres and the surrounding area.

In 1385, Balsha II started an offensive, capturing Durres from Karl Thopia the following year, and proclaimed himself Duke of Durazzo.

Karl Thopia again gained control over Durres, probably under Ottoman suzerainty.

In 1381, Karl Thopia built the St Gjon Vladimir's Church in the proximity of Elbasan, where Jovan Vladimir's remains were held until 1995.

Karl Thopia is depicted in the icon scenes of the life of Saint Jovan Vladimir, painted by Onufri, wearing a crown and standing by the Church of the Saint.

Karl Thopia had two more children but the parentage is unknown:.