Summary

Between 1423 and 1426, the Republic of Venice consolidated control over several key coastal cities in northern Albania and Montenegro, including Ulcinj, through a series of diplomatic agreements and treaties with the Serbian Despotate of Raška (under Stefan and Gjergj Branković). Venetian documents detail the surrender of Ulcinj, confirmation of local property rights, religious freedoms, and trade privileges for its citizens. The Peace of Shkodër (1423) and subsequent 1426 agreements defined borders, resolved disputes over Kotor, Budva, and the Buna River, and established annual payments from Venice. These acts marked Venice’s strategic expansion in the region while guaranteeing limited autonomy to local Albanian and Slavic populations.

These pages present a summary of 15th-century historical documents (registers) written in Italian, concerning the relations between the Republic of Venice, the Despotate of Serbia (Rashka), and the coastal cities of Ulqin, Shkodër, Tivar, Budva, and Kotor.

“I libri commemoriali della Republica di Venezia – Regesti”, Volume 4, Riccardo Predelli, 1896

The first document is a historical summary of a Venetian decree from 1423 concerning concessions and properties in the area of Ulcinj and its surroundings.

128. — 1423, indiction I, 3 February. — c. 108 (106). — A heavy ducal privilege confirming to Nica and Giorgio Erman Pamalioti the concessions granted in 1422 by Francesco Goro, provveditore of Ulcinj (Dulcigno), and confirmed by Nicolò Cappello, Captain of the Gulf, and by the provveditori of the Gulf Marco Bembo and Marco Barbo. Namely: the right to reside in Shas (Soacio); if expelled from the land, they shall have the house of Pietro de Nico and Nico di Pietro, which is located in the square; ownership of the vineyard of Peresti and that which belonged to the nun called Chacarich Valesse et Obria; half of the great Dobriza of the Pamalioti; a village (casale) called Bardoni held by Nicola Zauli, a slave (shkjau?).

Dated in the Ducal Palace of Venice.

Similar confirmations follow for:

• The above-mentioned Nica: the middle mill of Pietro de Nico, co-owned with Gjergo Armenia, with the son of the latter, Nice and Monza Turch.
• Pietro Rossi, Jcaruci (perhaps from Caruci), and to himself and Giorgio Chacarich and the commune of Masiera: the villa of Gorani Pistoli and the Dusans.
• Nica Crute and his brothers: that which Muza de Vano from Tivar had as dowry in Ulcinj.
• Rado Borchi and his relatives: the house of Maurian that belonged to a woman from Tivar, and the vineyard of Slava Demetri da Bore.
• Teodoro Chiurco: Cochuli and a house of Marco de Valle, and a vineyard in Postuma.
• Duca and Teodoro Armenia: half of the upper mill and the house of Marino de Dabre with its properties.
• Giorgio di Michele Zaccaria and Alessio di Lusio: the properties of Jurko and a mill, and other things.
• Jon Chorez, Aleca Bideci and Stefano son of Gionrez de Necis: the village of Pietro de Nico near the house of Gion Radoan and a village of Nica de Des.
• Stefano son of Gion Rez di Rezi: in exchange for his house which was given to others, the lands located in the villa of Rezi.
• Aleca and Pietro Bub: the house and lands of their family.
• Andrea Cruta de’ Propati: the properties of the Krutes with the whole clan (societate), and a house of Pietro de Nico.
• Zaccaria Mad: one fourth of the vineyard of Pietro de Nico located in Peresti.

The second document is extremely important for the history of Ulcinj, as it contains the conditions for the surrender of the city to Venetian rule and the protection of the rights of the local citizens.

131. — 1423, indiction I, 14 May. — c. 93 (91). — Doge Francesco Foscari makes known that, at the request of Giovanni di Nico from Ulcinj, Iacopo da Siena (de Senis) and Nico di Mese (Mexi), orators (representatives) of the commune of Ulcinj, he confirms the following in the appendix.

Dated in the Ducal Palace.

APPENDIX: 1421, indiction XIV, 15 May. — Iacopo Dandolo, Count and Captain in Shkodër for the Venetian Signoria, declares that he has agreed as follows with Giovanni, archpriest of St. John of Ulcinj, Bribe di Vitco, Marco di Nico, Nico di Pietro, Giovanni di Nico and Martino di Vanchapa, representatives of the commune of Ulcinj, who promise the surrender of that city with its territory to the above-mentioned Signoria (what follows is in the vernacular):

• The rector sent by Venice shall be a noble of the Great Council.
• No inhabitant shall be disturbed in property or person; whoever wishes may remain or emigrate. Inhabitants shall be treated everywhere as Venetians.
• Ownership of properties and the integrity of borders are guaranteed. Those who live in the territory of the commune belong to it.
• The respective ecclesiastical (religious) jurisdiction is guaranteed.
• The import of wine from outside is prohibited as long as local wine is available, except for that sent from Venice for the use of the rector. The commune may purchase wherever it wishes 600 moxhia of salt for internal consumption.
• The people of Ulcinj are free to buy grain in the territories of the Signoria.
• The monks of St. Archangel shall enjoy all their properties, except for Goragna which has been given to the Krutes (Poprati).
• Those accused of felony (treason) shall be confronted with their accusers and sent to Venice. Animals or produce sent to Ulcinj by citizens shall not be seized. Venice shall not give Ulcinj to anyone else; in any case it shall leave it in full freedom.
• Tornesi (coins) are prohibited. The wine tax shall remain at the old rate. Previous decisions made by local judges remain in force.
• No Ulcinj citizen shall be disturbed for having received from Lord Balsha things that had been taken from Venetians or others during the war with Venice.
• The borders of Ulcinj’s territory are confirmed. The monastery of St. Nicholas shall retain its jurisdictions; people belonging to it may not buy wine other than that of Ulcinj.
• The commune retains its rights over forests and waters. Dabisino di Vith and his heirs shall not be disturbed, except that they may not go to the districts of Shkodër and Drisht.
• Iacopo da Siena shall not be disturbed. The people of Ulcinj shall enjoy exemption from duties (dazio) on everything imported for three years. Payment of citizens’ debts shall be suspended for one year.
• Dome de Susi shall be kept at his salary at the gate. Those who took horses or animals from Lord Stefan may keep them.
• Don Jacopo de Marcozo de Luxe shall retain his jurisdictions over the church of St. George of Buna. The Count of Shkodër shall hear appeals on his decisions and those of the judges of Ulcinj.
• The oath of loyalty given by Zive de Mladussi to Lord Balsha is annulled.
• The people of Ulcinj shall not be disturbed for the grain taken by Nicola Senta on the order of Balsha.
• Wine shall not pay tax at the customs of Grazie. Properties shall be returned to owners who prove their rights, except those confiscated for debts or treason.
• No Albanian (Nessun Albanese) shall be allowed to plant new vineyards in the territory of Ulcinj.
• The confraternity of St. Mary of Ulcinj shall retain its villa in Scimiri.
• The galeota (ship) and boats of the previous lords shall be given to the commune.

Written by Vittore di Vittore, chancellor of Dandolo.

The third document presents a decisive peace treaty of 1423, known as the Peace of Shkodër, which ended the wars between the Republic of Venice and the Branković family (successors of the Balsha) for control of Venetian Albania.

133. — 1423, indiction I, 12 August. — c. 114 (112) t.o — In order to put an end to the wars that disturbed Albania and Dalmatia, Francesco Bembo, Captain General of the Gulf, procurator of the Doge and the Signoria of Venice, and Lord Gjergj son of the late Vulko (Wkovich Brancovich), procurator of Stefan, Despot and Duke of Raška, agree on the following (the articles are in the vernacular):

Venice shall possess Shkodër (Scutari) with all its district, except for the territory held by Andrea Humoj in the mountains with 100 peasant houses, which shall be administered by Radosano, voivode of Drisht (Drivasto), until the Signoria decides whether it wishes to exchange this territory by giving it to Gjergj son of the late Vulko in exchange for an equivalent territory in the district of Drisht.

The same Signoria shall also have Ulcinj (Dulcigno) and Kotor (Cattaro) with their districts, as in the time of Gjergj Strazimiri and his son Balsha. Stefan and Gjergj shall retain Drisht and Tivar (Antivari), and shall be handed over the fortress of Budva and the saltworks that belonged to Balsha, with everything possessed by the aforementioned Strazimiri and Balsha.

Gjergj of Vulko shall have no jurisdiction over the Buna (Bojana) River, nor shall he be allowed to raise fortifications along its banks or for one mile inland; he shall destroy those that currently exist there. Venice shall destroy the bastion opposite that of St. Sergius. The Despot and the Signoria shall determine to whom the Paštrovići belong, claimed by Gjergj of Vulko.

All prisoners taken in the recent wars shall be returned. The parties promise not to occupy nor allow their adherents to occupy each other’s territories or places. Nica Herman, voivode of the Paštrovići, who killed three men of Lord Gjergj during the armistice, may not reside in Shkodër or within a radius of 100 miles around it until the Signoria has pronounced sentence against him. Crimes committed by citizens of one side against those of the other shall be judged by judges chosen by both parties.

Venice shall pay every year, on 15 August, to the Despot and Lord Gjergj and their successors, 1,000 gold ducats from the revenues of Shkodër. Citizens of the parties may freely visit and trade in each other’s domains. The Despot and Lord Gjergj may pass through Venetian possessions with their men, or have them pass, but without causing damage. The parties shall mutually return fugitives who flee from one territory to the other, together with everything they carry with them. Citizens of each party shall peacefully enjoy the properties they possess in the other’s territories.

Since the Despot and Lord Gjergj requested that, if they should have war with the Turks or others, Venice should lend them 6 galleys to be armed at their own expense, Bembo promises to obtain this concession from the Signoria, as well as confirmation of the privileges granted by the same to the fathers of these lords. Observance of this agreement was sworn by the parties upon the image of the Crucifixion; the penalty for the violator is 100,000 ducats.

Done in the camp of the above-mentioned Lord Gjergj near the bastion of St. Sergius. — Witnesses: Voyn Juga, Seran (or Scian), Alias Beg, Novach, Hrebelian, all voivodes; Maffeo Leoni and Jacopo Abramo, Venetian nobles; Giovanni da Caprino, Franceschiro da Grossa, Morello da Monza and Antonio Fontana. — Acted by Nicolò Arcilupi from Kotor, imperial notary and scribe of the Despot and Lord Gjergj.

The fourth document constitutes an important diplomatic treaty of 1426 between the Republic of Venice and local rulers, resolving disputes over the territories of Kotor, Budva, Ulcinj and the Buna area.

221. — 1426, indiction IV, 22 April. — c. 146 (148). — Since certain differences of interpretation arose between the Despot of Raška, Lord Gjergj son of the late Vulko, and the Venetian Signoria regarding the implementation of treaty no. 133, which are explained; Francesco Querini, Count and Captain in Shkodër and Captain in Albania, procurator of the Doge, and the second Lord Gjergj for himself and as procurator of Stefan, Despot of Raška (procuration given in Topolonizza), in order to remove every disagreement, agree on the following (the conditions are in the vernacular):

The Despot shall renounce his claim to 1,000 ducats per year for the surrender of Kotor. The Paštrovići and Risevići with everything they possessed in the time of Lord Balsha and the 25 houses that are in la stua (Llastva?) shall belong to the Venetian Signoria, but not those who obeyed the Despot and Lord Gjergj at the time of the above-mentioned treaty. Lord Gjergj shall destroy the fortress called Zorzevez on the borders of Grbalj (Garbelli), that is, the Župa of Kotor, built by Stefeniza, son of Gjergj Juras.

Lord Gjergj shall hand over to Venice the said Grbalj, or the Župa of Kotor, as it was possessed in the time of Gjergj Balsha, reimbursing the Signoria for what Lord Gjergj has collected from the said Grbalj and Župa from the date of no. 133 onwards from the revenues of those territories. He shall also hand over to Venice the 100 houses of Andrea Humoj in the district of Shkodër together with their revenues from the specified date.

He shall ensure respect for the rights of the citizens of Ulcinj over the abbey of St. Nicholas of the Fosa (Fossa?) of the Buna (Bojana), that is, that people dependent on the abbey may not buy wine other than in Ulcinj, that the people of Ulcinj may fish in the entire sea up to the said mouth, may cross the Buna without payment, and may cut wood in the forest of Begazi; while Lord Gjergj retains his rights over the said church. The saltworks that belonged to Balsha shall remain with Lord Gjergj and those of Kotor with the Signoria. The saltworks of Raico Moneta shall remain with him and his heirs.

Querini shall hand over to Lord Gjergj the fortress of Budva as soon as the Župa of Kotor and the houses of Andrea Humoj are received. The abbey of St. Mary of Rotez with its territory shall remain with Lord Gjergj, who shall be reimbursed by Venice for what it has collected from the revenues of the abbey itself since the time of treaty no. 133. The crossings of the Buna, such as those of St. Theodore, Bellini and others, and the entire river shall belong to Venice.

Citizens of the Despot and Lord Gjergj who commit crimes in Venetian territories shall be judged by the rectors of those territories and shall be handed over to those same rectors if they flee into the possessions of the said lords. Venice shall do the same toward its own delinquent citizens in the territories of those lords. Freedom of residence and trade in the reciprocal territories of the parties and their adherents is confirmed for the citizens of each, except for rebels, whose names the parties shall give to each other in a list. The same applies to properties that citizens of one party possess in the other’s domains. Venice shall hold the said lords and their sons and family members until the last descendants of the family as friends and adherents.

The contracting parties swear to observe this agreement under penalty of 100,000 ducats for the violator; they confirm treaty no. 133, allowing the exchange of ratifications by the respective principals (see nos. 227 and 231).

Done in Wuolaterii in the curia (court/seat) of Lord Gjergj. — Witnesses: Faonna, Metropolitan of Gračanica; Lucaz and Merchissa, voivodes; Luigi son of the late Giovanni Donato from Venice; Tomaso Schiavo, scribe of the court of Shkodër; Giannino from Venice and Gjergj Veneciani, mounted mercenary in Shkodër. — Acted by Manfredino di Guglielmo da Montechiaro, imperial notary and chancellor of Querini.

The fifth document is an important historical summary from 1426 dealing with borders and jurisdictions between Venice and local rulers (such as Despot Stefan and Gjergj Balsha) in the territory of Northern Albania and Montenegro.

231. — 1426, indiction IV, 11 November. — c. 148 (150). — Gjergj son of the late Vulko, for himself and on behalf of Stefan, Despot of Raška, and Francesco Querini for the Venetian Signoria, in order to remove every further cause of dispute and for greater clarification of no. 221, by agreement determine the borders of the territory of Shkodër (Scutari) with Drivasto (Drisht), describing them in detail (mentioned: Coponico, Clia vecchia, the two fortresses, Lake of Shkodër, Drin, Riolli, Balez, St. John, Carpaneto, Castelletto, peak of Marmaa (Marana), Veschas, properties of Pjetër Spani, Mount Veleçik, Otti, Stara, house of Benco Otti); the lake shall belong to Venice.

They also determine the borders of the district of Ulcinj (Dulcigno) (mentioning Kruta (Poprati), St. Nicholas of the Fosa, St. Sergius, Iurovich, St. Elijah, Monxuar, St. Vladin (or Vladimir), St. Mary of Romani, Begazi); those of St. Mary of Rolez (mentioning Mostenz; Lastua, Linoberd); those of Budva with the Paštrovići (mentioning the river Rieka, Mount Predigne). They declare which Paštrovići shall be citizens of Venice and which of Lord Gjergj.

The Metropolitan shall retain his spiritual jurisdiction over the churches of his rite in Venetian territories, as he had in the time of Gjergj Strazimiri and Balsha, but he shall not be able to appoint igumens in the churches of St. Peter of Reda and St. Michael under Ulcinj without the permission of the Venetian rectors; likewise bishops subject to Venice shall retain their old jurisdictions in the domains of the Despot and Lord Gjergj; and the Archbishop of Tivar (Antivari) shall also retain his ancient jurisdiction.

The borders of the territory of Kotor (Cattaro) are set, mentioning Yas, the church of St. Tryphon, the steps of Dubonizzas, Villma Yama, Ponesdol, Drenoviz, Miscvaglava (or Nuscaglava), St. George, Porta e Maistori. The borders between Kotor and Danize shall be determined by honest men from both districts. The inhabitants of Kotor and its territory may visit the possessions of Lord Gjergj, and vice versa, the inhabitants of these may visit that district. The above-mentioned lord may send and sell salt in Budva as Gjergj Strazimiri once did.

The contracting parties shall give each other assistance with men where needed in Zeta; those of Tivar may send salt to their city as in the time of Gjergj Strazimiri. The Despot and Lord Gjergj renouncing any other claim for payments, provisions, etc., agreed in previous treaties and matured up to today, Querini shall pay the second 1,200 ducats or 4,200 perpers; beginning from 24 August last, the payment of 1,000 ducats for Kotor shall run.

The determination of the borders between the territories of Kotor and the Metropolitan and the church of St. Michael shall be entrusted to Raico Moneta, Tomaso Schiavo, Panco de Briza, Drago di Marco and Luxa di Paunti, with two honest men from the župa of St. Michael and three from that of Kotor, all chosen by the Venetian count in Kotor. (This document is in the vernacular — see no. 227).

Done in Drisht (Drivasto).