First Scutari War

First Scutari War
Scutari fortress
Date early 1405 — 30 January 1413 Location Scutari and Coast of the Lordship of Zeta Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Zeta	Republic of Venice
Commanders and leaders
Balša III Jelena Balšić Đurašević family Radič Humoj Nika Bogoje Petar Konte Nikola Lumbardini Andrija Sklavo Nikola Sigeci	Fantin Marcello Koja Zaharia Dhimiter Jonima

The First Scutari War (Serbian: Први скадарски рат) was an armed conflict in 1405—1412 between Zeta and the Venetian Republic over Scutari and other former possessions of Zeta captured by Venice.

Before this war Zeta was governed by Đurađ II Balšić. His wife Jelena Balšić was firmly opposed to his pro-Venetian policy and to his sales of Scutari, Drivast and other towns together with islands on Skadar Lake to Venetians in 1396. She did not like Venetian obstruction of the contacts between Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate and Patriarchate of Peć, the fact they cut off Orthodox monasteries around Skadar Lake from their legally valid income and an aggressive trading policy which significantly reduced Zeta′s earnings. She had significant influence on the way her son Balša III governed Zeta after the death of Đurađ II. Even before the First Scutari War she was in dispute with Venetians about the jurisdiction of Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate over the orthodox churches around river Bojana and the Church of St. Peter in Scutari. In front of Venetians Balša III, based on Jelena's instructions, protected the ancient rights of Serbian church and Zetan Metropolitan bishop appointed by the Patriarchate of Peć.

After Đurađ II died in 1403 Balša III took over control over Zeta and with Jelena′s support started eight years long war against Venice in 1405. Jelena and Balša apparently started the war without much preparations hoping they would soon easily receive international support. They especially counted on support of Serbian Despot and Dubrovnik, the supporters of emperor Sigismund who had territorial aspirations in Dalmatia. These hopes were not justified. In January and again in March 1405 they first approached Dubrovnik for help, but were politely rejected.

...
Wikipedia