Principality of Albania (medieval)

Principality of Albania
Principata e Arbërisë (Albanian)
1359–1415
Coat of Arms of Karl Thopia
The Principality of Albania in 1370
StatusPrincipality
CapitalDurrës
Common languagesAlbanian
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Eastern Orthodoxy
Prince 
• 1359–1388
Karl Thopia
• 1388–1392
Gjergj Thopia
• 1388–1392
Helena Thopia
Marco Barbarigo
(co-rulers)
• 1392–1394
Niketa Thopia
• 1394–1402
Helena Thopia
Kostandin Balsha
(co-rulers)
• 1402–1415
Niketa Thopia
Historical eraMedieval
• Established
1359
• Capture of Durrës by Karl Thopia
1368
• Ottoman conquest
1415
ISO 3166 codeAL
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kingdom of Albania
Sanjak of Albania
Venetian Albania
Today part ofAlbania

The Principality of Albania (Albanian: Principata e Arbërisë) was an Albanian principality ruled by the Albanian dynasty of Thopia. The first notable ruler was Tanusio Thopia, who became Count of Mat in 1328. The principality would reach its zenith during the rule of Karl Thopia, who emerged in 1359 after the Battle of Achelous, conquering the cities of Durrës and Krujë and consolidating his rule of central Albania between the rivers of Mat and Shkumbin. The principality would last up until 1415, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.