A rare historical document from the mid-16th century sheds new light on the noble lineage of Vojsava, the mother of Albania’s National Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Published in 1551, the work “Genealogia degl’Imperatori Romani et Constantinopolitani, et de’ Re, Principi, et Signori discesi da Isaaco Angelo, et dal suo Nipote Imperatore Vespasiano” by Andrea Comneno, provides one of the earliest written sources confirming Vojsava’s Albanian noble heritage.
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On page 55 of this genealogical chronicle, written in old Italian, Comneno explicitly states:
“Coi de Musachia ha generato Voissava ch’hebbe Isuann Castriotto signor di Croia, & del contado detto Emathia.”
Translated, the passage reads:
“From the house of Musachia [Muzaka] descended Vojsava, who married Gjon Kastrioti, lord of Kruja and of the county called Emathia [Mat].”
This concise but powerful sentence is among the earliest European sources to directly associate Vojsava with the prominent Albanian noble family of the Muzaka (or Musachia) — one of the most influential feudal dynasties in medieval Albania.
Historical Significance of the Testimony
The statement by Andrea Comneno reinforces the long-held belief among historians that Vojsava was not a foreign noblewoman but of Albanian descent, belonging to the Muzaka family, which held vast territories across Berat, Myzeqe, and Tomorrica during the 14th and 15th centuries.
Given that Comneno’s work was published only a few decades after Skanderbeg’s death in 1468, the proximity in time adds significant credibility to the record. It indicates that the genealogical knowledge of Skanderbeg’s family lineage was still alive among European scholars and noble circles who valued such heritage.
Moreover, the reference to “Emathia” as the region of Mat reflects the influence of classical Roman and Greek geographical terminology. Renaissance humanists, including Comneno, often employed ancient toponyms in their works, connecting contemporary territories with their classical roots. This linguistic choice highlights both the cultural sophistication of the author and the recognition of Albania’s ancient historical identity within broader European scholarship.
Andrea Comneno and His Legacy
Andrea Comneno descended from the illustrious Byzantine Komnenos family — a dynasty that once ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. After the fall of Constantinople, many members of this noble line settled in Italy, where they continued to cultivate their imperial legacy through literature, genealogy, and historiography.
His “Genealogia” was an ambitious attempt to preserve and document the descent of European and Eastern noble houses, connecting them to the Byzantine imperial lineage. By including the Kastrioti family within this noble framework, Comneno placed the Albanian dynasty among the recognized heirs of Eastern imperial aristocracy.
For the author, Vojsava’s connection to the Muzaka family and her marriage to Gjon Kastrioti symbolized not merely a political union but the continuation of a noble bloodline interwoven with Byzantine and Balkan traditions. In Renaissance Italy, where lineage and heraldry defined social status and identity, this recognition carried immense prestige.
The Broader Context of Albanian Nobility
The inclusion of Albanian noble families such as the Kastrioti and Muzaka within European genealogical records demonstrates Albania’s integral role in the medieval political landscape of the Balkans. Far from being isolated or peripheral, Albanian dynasties maintained strong ties with both the Byzantine Empire and Western Christendom.
This documentation by Comneno serves as a rare bridge between East and West, showing how the legacy of Skanderbeg’s family was perceived in the learned circles of 16th-century Europe. It also offers modern historians valuable confirmation of the indigenous noble roots of Albania’s greatest national hero — a counterpoint to speculative theories about his mother’s supposed foreign origins.
A Precious Source for Albanian Studies
Today, Andrea Comneno’s “Genealogia” is preserved in several European libraries and remains a vital reference for scholars of Albanian and Byzantine history. Its rediscovery underscores the importance of early modern sources in understanding the historical continuity of Albania’s nobility and its contribution to the cultural and political fabric of Europe.
By highlighting the Muzaka connection of Vojsava, Comneno not only reaffirms Skanderbeg’s noble descent but also situates his family within the wider European aristocratic tradition — a lineage that transcended borders and empires.
In light of this evidence, the history of Skanderbeg and his family emerges not only as a national epic but also as an essential chapter of European nobility, heritage, and cultural unity.
Prepared by Elis Buba – US Albanian Media Group