Dhimitër Jonima

Dhimitër Jonima (? - 1409) was an Albanian nobleman from the Jonima family. Together with other Albanian noblemen he is mentioned as a participant of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.^[1] He suffered another defeat from the Ottoman Empire shortly after the Ottoman forces captured Shkodër in 1393. Then he acted as a mediator between them and Marco Barbadigo, the husband of Helena Thopia who was at that period in possession of Krujë castle.^[2] In 1402, as an Ottoman vassal, together with other Albanian noblemen, he fought alongside Bayezid I forces, in the Battle of Ankara.^[3] After the Ottoman defeat, he accepted the suzerainty of Venice Republic.^[4] He is last mentioned in the sources in 1409 and it is supposed to have died the same year. After his death, Gjon Kastrioti took possession of Jonima dominions, which became part of Principality of Kastrioti. Other members of Jonima family are mentioned in Shkodër region later however they never reached the fame of Dhimitër Jonima. Even long after his death, in 1431, upon the defeat of Gjon Kastrioti from Ottoman forces, the lands taken from him and once belonging to Jonima family, were registered by Ottomans as vilayet of Dhimitër Jonima.^[5]

References

1. ^ History of the Balkans: from Mohammed the Conqueror to Stalin East European monographs Author Georges Castellan Translated by Nicholas Bradley Publisher East European Monographs, 1992 ISBN 0880332220, 9780880332224 p. 54
2. ^ The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest Author John Van Antwerp Fine Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher University of Michigan Press, 1994 ISBN 0472082604, 9780472082605 p. 419
3. ^ The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest Author John Van Antwerp Fine Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher University of Michigan Press, 1994 ISBN 0472082604, 9780472082605 p. 422
4. ^ The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest Author John Van Antwerp Fine Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher University of Michigan Press, 1994 ISBN 0472082604, 9780472082605 p. 510
5. ^ Deuxième Conférence des études albanologiques: à l'occasion du 5e centenaire de la mort de Georges Kastriote-Skanderbeg, Tirana, Volume 1 Deuxième Conférence des études albanologiques: à l'occasion du 5e centenaire de la mort de Georges Kastriote-Skanderbeg, Tirana, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Historisë e Gjuhësisë Authors Geōrgios Kastriōtēs (called Scanderbeg, Prince of Epirus), Scanderbeg, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Historisë e Gjuhësisë Publisher Université d'état de Tirana, Institut d'histoire et de linguistique, 1969 p.54