Irene, Princess of Zadrima and Pult (albanian: Jerina Dushmani) was a 15th century Albanian Princess of the Dushmani family that ruled over the north-western part of the country. Her father was Prince Lekë Dushmani, Lord of Zadrima and a participant of the League of Lezhë. The Princess is often compared to Helen of Troy, as her beauty and intelligence caused a great conflict between two albanian Princes : Prince Alexander Ducagini and Prince Alexander Zacharia.

Marin Barleti's version of the conflict[]

According to Marin Barleti, Irene preferred Prince Zaharia and might have possibly been betrothed to him, however, this decision was not accepted lightely by Prince Ducagini.^[1]

In 1445 the nobles had been invited to Princess Maria Kastrioti, Skanderbeg's elder sister's, wedding to Musacchio Thopia. As soon as Irene entered the wedding reception hostilities began. Ducagini might have asked her to marry him, but Zacharia, drunk, saw this and assaulted him. Some Princes and nobles attempted to stop the fight, but only more people became involved, resulting in several deaths, until peace was established. Neither of the two antagonists had suffered any physical damage, however Alexander Ducagini was morally humiliated.

Two years later in 1447, Prince Zaharia would be killed in an ambush and Ducagini was blamed for his murder. Irene refused the proposed marriage after the death of her lover, and lived a closed life as a nun on the island of Sardinia in Italy. She stated in her last will that her remains were to be taken to Dagnum near the tomb of Prince Lekë Zaharia.

Original Venetian documents contradict Barleti's version by showing that this murder happened in 1444.^[2] According to Venetian chronicler Stefano Magno it was Nikollë Dukagjini, Zaharia's vassal, who killed him in the battle, not Lekë as stated by Marin Barleti.^[3]

References[]

^ La Discorde: L'Albanie face à elle-même (in French). Fayard. 2013. p. 76. ISBN 978-2213668482.
^ Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2001), Das venezianische Albanien (1392-1479), München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag GmbH München, p. 300, ISBN 3-486-56569--9, In ein Aktenstück von Januar 1445 inseriert ist eine Urkunde des Skutariner Grafen Francesco Querini vom 18. Septembar 1443, in der Lekas witwe Bozha, seiner Tochter Bolja und derren sohnchen Koja einge Dorfer aus Lekas baština und eine pension...
^ Božić, Ivan (1979), Nemirno pomorje XV veka (in Serbian), Beograd: Srpska književna zadruga, p. 364, OCLC 5845972, Никола Дукађин убио је Леку Закарију. Према млетачком хроничару Стефану Мању убио га је "у битки" као његов вазал. Мада Барлеције погрешно наводи да је убиство извршио Лека Дукађин

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[1] La Discorde: L'Albanie face à elle-même (in French). Fayard. 2013. p. 76. ISBN 978-2213668482.

[2] Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2001), Das venezianische Albanien (1392-1479), München: R. Oldenbourg Verlag GmbH München, p. 300, ISBN 3-486-56569--9, In ein Aktenstück von Januar 1445 inseriert ist eine Urkunde des Skutariner Grafen Francesco Querini vom 18. Septembar 1443, in der Lekas witwe Bozha, seiner Tochter Bolja und derren sohnchen Koja einge Dorfer aus Lekas baština und eine pension...

[3] Božić, Ivan (1979), Nemirno pomorje XV veka (in Serbian), Beograd: Srpska književna zadruga, p. 364, OCLC 5845972, Никола Дукађин убио је Леку Закарију. Према млетачком хроничару Стефану Мању убио га је "у битки" као његов вазал. Мада Барлеције погрешно наводи да је убиство извршио Лека Дукађин

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Irene Dushmani

Marin Barleti's version of the conflict[]

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