Humoj family

The Humoj family, also known in variant forms such as Humoy, Humoja, Omoj, Omoy, and Moia, was an Albanian noble lineage active in the fifteenth-century borderlands between the Republic of Venice, local Albanian and Serbian powers, and the expanding Ottoman Empire. The family is associated particularly with Balec, Drisht, Scutari, and nearby territories in what is now northern Albania. Its members held pronoias, a form of land or revenue tenure granted in return for military and administrative service, and were therefore integrated into the Venetian political and military system without ceasing to be a local aristocratic family. The family's documented prominence begins with Radiq I Humoj, who was appointed pronoier of Balec around 1402–1403 by Donato de Porto, the Venetian governor of Scutari. The appointment was confirmed by the Venetian Senate in September 1404. Radiq also controlled the fortress of Petra in the region of Polat and was regarded by Venetian authorities as an important local officeholder. During the conflict between Balša III and Venice in 1405, Radiq supported Balša in an effort to protect his position and possessions. Venice retook the Scutari region and initially declined to restore his former holdings. After Radiq was killed while fighting for Venice, however, the Senate recognized his service and restored his sons to positions connected with his earlier benefices in 1410. The Humoj family's relationship with Venice remained pragmatic and sometimes divided. After Radiq's death, Balec was assigned to his brother Andrea and his son Kojaçin, with the arrangement confirmed in 1419. During the Second Scutari War, Andrea supported the Serbian despot, while other Humoj relatives continued to side with Venice. Kojaçin married into another local elite family through his marriage to a daughter of Zuan Anglezi, a Venetian officer at Shkodër. Their sons Radiq II and Marin later held offices in the region, including the pronoia of Gleros near Scutari. Other family members, including Michael and his brothers, held or contested smaller benefices such as Passo Bianco near Drisht. The family became especially visible during the wars involving Venice and Skanderbeg. In 1447, Andrea and Kojaçin Humoj, together with Simeon Vulkata, led a pro-Venetian coalition in fighting over Balec and Drisht. Kojaçin was killed during an attack on Sati. In the mid-1450s, members of the family again fought alongside Venetian forces, Skanderbeg, and other local families in a conflict involving rival branches of the Dukagjini family and Ottoman-backed forces. The Humoj family's claims to land, office, and status were repeatedly presented before the Venetian Senate. Andrea Humoj travelled to Venice in 1464 and again in 1472 to defend the family's privileges and emphasize the military service of his ancestors. During the Siege of Shkodra in 1474, Venetian authorities reconfirmed the family's ownership and tenure rights. These confirmations did not secure the family's long-term position. Several members died in the fighting against the Ottoman Empire, and Ottoman forces captured Shkodër in 1479. Andrea Humoj was later accused of treason and executed by order of the Venetian commander Triadan Gritti. After Venice ceded Shkodër to the Ottoman Empire through the Treaty of Constantinople, members of the Humoj family left the region for Italy along with many other inhabitants of Shkodër. The family also entered literary memory. Marin Barleti mentioned Blasius Humoj in his account of the Siege of Shkodra, while Girolamo de Rada referred to Cola Humoj as a knight associated with the defense of Shkodër. The Humoj were not a modern commercial brand or corporate enterprise; they were a historical noble family whose identity was expressed through hereditary status, military service, land tenure, and political alliances.

The Humoj family was an Albanian noble lineage active in the Venetian-controlled and contested territories around Balec, Drisht, Scutari, and Polat during the fifteenth century. Its members served as pronoiars, local holders of land or revenue rights granted in exchange for military and administrative service. Their history illustrates the unstable position of regional nobles who had to negotiate between Venice, Serbian rulers, Albanian lords, Skanderbeg, and the Ottoman Empire. Radiq I Humoj is the earliest prominent figure identified in the surviving account. Donato de Porto, Venetian governor of Scutari, appointed him pronoier of Balec around 1402–1403, and the Venetian Senate confirmed the appointment on 16 September 1404. Radiq also controlled the fortress of Petra in Polat and was considered an influential pronoier in the Scutari area. When Balša III rebelled against Venetian authority in 1405, Radiq supported him, apparently to preserve his possessions and political position. Venice recovered the surrounding region but did not immediately restore Radiq's former benefices. After Radiq was killed while fighting for Venice, the Senate accepted the governor's account of his service and decided in September 1410 to appoint Radiq's sons to positions connected with their father's previous status. Following Radiq's death, Venice assigned Balec to his brother Andrea and his son Kojaçin. The arrangement was confirmed by the Senate on 13 February 1419. Yet the family was not politically uniform. During the Second Scutari War, Andrea joined the Serbian despot, while other Humoj relatives remained on the Venetian side. Kojaçin strengthened the family's local connections by marrying a daughter of Zuan Anglezi, a Venetian officer at the fortress of Shkodër. Their sons Radiq II and Marin became associated with additional pronoias. Radiq II married a daughter of Peter Spani in 1433 and became pronoier of Serel in the Bar district. After Kojaçin's death, Venice assigned his former pronoia to another person but promised Radiq II a future grant when the incumbent died. From 1441, Radiq II and Marin held Gleros near Scutari, a settlement formerly connected with the Bonzi family. The family also held smaller properties and offices. In 1443, Michael Humoj and three brothers were pronoiars of Passo Bianco near Drisht, a village consisting of four houses. A dispute among the brothers led the Venetian Senate to decide in 1445 that Michael alone would retain the pronoia. These cases show how the family's status depended on formal Venetian decisions as well as hereditary claims. The Humoj became involved in the wars surrounding Skanderbeg. In 1447, Andrea and Kojaçin, allied with Simeon Vulkata, led pro-Venetian forces in fierce fighting for Balec and Drisht. Kojaçin died during a charge on Sati. Numerous other local families fought on the Venetian side, making the conflict a broad coalition struggle rather than an isolated family dispute. Between 1456 and August 1457, the Humoj fought with Venetian forces and Skanderbeg in a conflict between branches of the Dukagjini family. The Ottoman-supported Lekë and Pal Dukagjini opposed Draga Dukagjini, who was supported by Venice. Andrea Humoj later travelled to Venice in 1464 and 1472 to defend the family's rights before the Senate, stressing the services of his ancestors. During the Siege of Shkodra in 1474, Venetian authorities again confirmed the family's titles and ownership claims. These confirmations were short-lived. Several Humoj men, including Koja, Tanush, Duka, Michael, and Piero, died fighting the Ottoman Empire before or during the Ottoman conquest of Shkodër. In January 1478, the wife and daughter of Koja Humoj were among the families evacuated to Venice before the siege. Andrea Humoj was accused of treason and executed by order of the Venetian commander Triadan Gritti. When the Treaty of Constantinople transferred Shkodër to the Ottoman Empire, surviving members of the Humoj family emigrated to Italy with many other displaced inhabitants. The family's memory continued in historical and literary works. Marin Barleti named Blasius Humoj as a knight in his account of the Siege of Shkodra, published in Venice in 1504. Girolamo de Rada later referred to Cola Humoj as a knight who fought in the defense of Shkodër. The Humoj were therefore remembered both as local aristocrats and as participants in the military history of Venetian Albania.

• 1479

  Shkodër falls and the family disperses

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  After the Ottoman conquest and Venetian cession of Shkodër, surviving Humoj family members migrate to Italy.

• 1474

  Family titles reconfirmed during the siege

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  Venetian authorities reconfirm Humoj ownership and tenure claims during the Siege of Shkodra.

• 1464

  Andrea presents the family's claims in Venice

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  Andrea Humoj appeals to the Venetian Senate and invokes the family's history of service.

• 1447

  Humoj leaders fight for Balec and Drisht

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  Andrea and Kojaçin lead a pro-Venetian alliance in the conflict involving Skanderbeg; Kojaçin dies at Sati.

• 1445

  Michael retains Passo Bianco

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  The Senate resolves a family dispute by leaving the Passo Bianco pronoia to Michael Humoj alone.

• 1441

  Radiq II and Marin hold Gleros

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  The two relatives are recorded as pronoiars of Gleros near Scutari.

• 1419

  Andrea and Kojaçin receive Balec

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  Venice confirms the grant of Balec to Andrea Humoj and his son Kojaçin.

• 1410

  Radiq's sons regain family standing

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  Following Radiq's death in Venetian service, the Senate approves the appointment of his sons to positions tied to their father's former holdings.

• 1403

  Radiq Humoj becomes pronoier of Balec

  [1]Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org

  The Venetian governor of Scutari appoints Radiq Humoj to administer Balec; the Senate confirms the appointment in 1404.

A historical Albanian noble lineage positioned within the Venetian system of frontier administration, military service, and pronoia tenure.

• Andrea Humoj's treason conviction

  Andrea Humoj was accused of treason during the Venetian-Ottoman conflict and executed on the order of Venetian commander Triadan Gritti.

  Source

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• 1445

  Passo Bianco pronoia assigned to MichaelOther

  Background

  The Humoj brothers disputed control of the small village pronoia.

  Action taken

  The Venetian Senate decides that Michael Humoj alone will remain pronoier.

  Aftermath

  The ruling limits the family's internal division of the benefice.

  Source

• 1419

  Balec grant confirmed for Andrea and KojaçinOther

  Background

  After Radiq's death, Balec was reassigned within the family.

  Action taken

  The Senate confirms Balec for Andrea Humoj and Kojaçin.

  Aftermath

  The family continues to hold an important local position, although later political divisions weaken its unity.

  Source

• 1410

  Senate restores succession rights to Radiq's sonsOther

  Background

  Radiq Humoj had died while fighting for Venice after losing his earlier benefices.

  Action taken

  The Venetian Senate appoints Radiq's sons to positions connected with their father's former holdings.

  Aftermath

  The decision preserves the family's place in the Venetian pronoia system.

  Source

• 1404

  Venetian Senate confirms Radiq's Balec appointmentOther

  Background

  Radiq Humoj had been appointed by the Venetian governor of Scutari to administer Balec.

  Action taken

  The Senate formally confirms his appointment as pronoier.

  Aftermath

  The confirmation establishes the family's formal relationship with Venetian frontier administration.

  Source

1. 1Humoj familyen.wikipedia.org