Niccolo Stanissa (Nikollë Stanisha) was an Albanian¹ military captain from Tivar (Antivar) who served in the Neapolitan military in the 17th century. He was formerly a standard-bearer in a company of Capelletti of the militia. Stanisha was banished by the Illustrious Rectors of Padua from Lands and Places, for having killed a certain Mattio Vaniss.² According to Croatian sources, Stanisha was in charge of an armed barge in Koper.³

In 1607, he was described as “very tall, one eyed, with a chestnut beard and is thirty-eight years old”.⁴

On February 3, 1607, the Viceroy Conde de Benavente sent Captain Nicolò Stanizza to Albania, where he was supposed to meet with the Bishop of Stephania and give him letters from himself and Marco Gini. The official reason for the trip was stated in the passport: he wanted his wife from Antivari.⁵

During this time, an investigation was started which revealed a large-scale fraud affair: Captain Nicolò Stanizza, who was in Neapolitan service, and to whom the Viceroy introduced Antonio de Nicolo’s companions, recognized them as old acquaintances: They were all Venetian subjects and sailors.⁶

In March 1607 Captain Nicolò Stanizza was in Zadar where he reported on the Albanians plans for rebellion with the aim of bringing Albania under Spanish rule, and in this context mentions the capi delle Montagne de Ducagini e Clemenete.⁷

In March 1607, ther were various letters of the secretary Resident in Naples and from those also of the Proveditor general in Dalmatia and Albania and the Rector and Proveditor of Cattaro recently received, where:

“The singular faith of the strenuous Nicholas Stanissa from Antivari is fully attested in revealing not only the plans for the Castle of Cattaro but also the Albanian negotiations passed with him in the aforementioned City of Naples and since he offered to make one hundred Albanian infantrymen and go to serve in our Army, it is appropriate to give him this treatment so that he can continue in his loyalty and devotion towards our service and therefore”.⁸

References

1. https://www.google.se/books/edition/archivo_veneto/rzkFAAAAQAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&dq=Nicolo+Stanissa&pg=PA313&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
2. https://www.google.se/books/edition/%D0%93%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%92%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%98%D1%83_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BA/XH0vAQAAMAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&dq=Nicolo+Stanissa&pg=PA358&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
3. https://www.google.se/books/edition/Monumenta_spectantia_historiam_Slavorum/JnYKAQAAIAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&bsq=Nicolo+Stanissa&dq=Nicolo+Stanissa&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
4. https://www.google.se/books/edition/%D0%93%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%92%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%98%D1%83_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BA/XH0vAQAAMAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&dq=Niccolo+Stanissa&pg=PA401&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
5. https://www.google.se/books/edition/Albanische_Forschungen/TV1pAAAAMAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&bsq=Nicol%C3%B2+Stanizza&dq=Nicol%C3%B2+Stanizza&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
6. https://www.google.se/books/edition/Albanische_Forschungen/TV1pAAAAMAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&bsq=Nicol%C3%B2+Stanizza&dq=Nicol%C3%B2+Stanizza&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
7. https://www.google.se/books/edition/Num%C3%ABr_p%C3%ABrkujtimuer_kushtue_Prof_Ernest/UrANAAAAIAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&bsq=Nicol%C3%B2+Stanizza&dq=Nicol%C3%B2+Stanizza&printsec=frontcover ↩︎
8. https://www.google.se/books/edition/%D0%93%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%92%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%98%D1%83_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BA/XH0vAQAAMAAJ?hl=sv&gbpv=1&dq=Stanissa+1607&pg=PA425-IA2&printsec=frontcover ↩︎