Ruđina Balšić

Ruđina Balšić
Duchess
Predecessor Mrkša Žarković
captured by Ottoman Empire
Spouse(s) Mrkša Žarković
Noble family Balšić
Father Balša II
Mother Komnina Asen

Ruđina Balšić (fl. 1396–1420) was a Serbian and Albanian noblewoman from the Balšić family. She married Mrkša Žarković and inherited his realm, Duchy of Valona, Kanina, Himare and Berat when he died in 1414. After unsuccessful negotiations to sell her duchy to the Venetians, the Ottomans captured it in 1417. Ruđina fled Valona to Zeta where she was governess of Budva from 1418. In 1420, during the Second Scutari War, she surrendered Budva to Venetians without any resistance and moved to Dubrovnik with the town's treasury.

Family and marriage

Ruđina (or Rugina, Rudina) was the daughter of Balša II, a lord of Zeta, and Komnina Asen, daughter of Jovan Asen. In 1391 Ruđina married Mrkša Žarković.[1] Their marriage was blessed by the Ohrid Archbishop although it was seen as noncanonical because they were related.[2] In 1397 she and her mother Komnina Asen, daughter of Jovan Asen, were given citizenship of the Republic of Ragusa.[3]

Duchess of Valona, Kanina, Himare and Berat

After her husband's death in 1414 Ruđina inherited control over Valona and held it until it fell to the Ottomans in 1417.[4] She offered Valona to Venetian Republic in exchange for 10,000 dukats. Venetians were interested to gain control over Valona in order to prevent Ottomans to control the entrance into Adriatic Sea. While Venetians prolonged negotiations with Ruđina hoping to get better price, the Ottomans captured Valona in June 1417.[5]

Governess of Budva

After the Ottoman conquest of Valona, Ruđina had to flee, first to Corfu[5] and then to Zeta ruled by her nephew, Balša III who entrusted her with governorship of the coastal town of Budva in 1418.[6][7] When Venetians sent a naval squadron to the port of Budva in 1419 during the Second Scutari War, Ruđina surrendered the town without any resistance and fled to Dubrovnik, with town's treasury.[8][9]

References

  1. Veselinović & Ljušić 2008, p. 94.
  2. Grozdanov, Krsteski & Alčev 1980, p. 23.
  3. Purković 1956, p. 55.
  4. Fine 1994, p. 391.
  5. 1 2 umetnosti 1983, p. 65.
  6. Gavrilović 1981, p. 96.
  7. Мишић 2010, p. 62.
  8. Fine 1994, p. 516.
  9. Pavle Mijović; Mirko Kovačević (1975). Gradovi i utvrđenja u Crnoj Gori. Arheološki institut. p. 101.

Sources

Ruđina Balšić
Born: ? Died: ?
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Mrkša Žarković
Duchess of Valona and Kanina
1414–1417
Succeeded by
Principality dissestablished after Ottomans captured it
Preceded by
unknown
Governess of Budva
1418–1419
Succeeded by
Venetian Republic
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