Principality of Arbanon

Principata e Arbërise

Autonomous principality within the Byzantine Empire (until 1204) and the Despotate of Epirus (from ca. 1205)

1190–1255

Capital

Kruja

Languages

Albanian

Religion

Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodoxy

Government

Principality

Prince (archon)

•

fl. 1190–98

Progon

•

fl. 1216–53

Gregory Kamonas

•

fl. 1252–55

Golem (last)

Historical era

Medieval

•

Established

1190

•

Disestablished

1255

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Byzantine Empire

Kingdom of Albania (medieval)
Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)

Arbanon (Albanian: Arbër, Arbëria, Greek: Ἄρβανον, Latin: Arbanum) or Albanon (Greek: Ἄλβανον), was an autonomous principality, the first Albanian entity during the Middle Ages, initially part of the Byzantine Empire and later of the Despotate of Epirus. The state was established by archon Progon in the region of Kruja, in c. 1190. Progon was succeeded by his sons Gjin and then Demetrius, who attained the height of the realm. After the death of Demetrius, the last of the Progon family, the principality came under Gregory Kamonas, and later Golem, until its dissolution in 1255.

Throughout its existence, the principality was an autonomous dependency of its neighbouring powers, first Byzantium and, after the Fourth Crusade, Epirus, while it also maintained close relations with Serbia.

According to some scholars, Progon's realm was the first Albanian state during the Middle Ages. Pipa and Repishti conclude that Arbanon was the first sketch of an "Albanian state", and that it retained semi-autonomous status as the western extremity of an empire (under the Doukai of Epirus or the Laskarids of Nicaea). The rulers were titled archon by the Byzantines.

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Wikipedia