This is an archontological list of Albanian monarchs, containing monarchs of the medieval Albanian principalities, Albanian kingdoms and to heads of state of modern Albania. Starting from the first established monarch Progon of Kruja from the Progoni family who ruled the Principality of Arbanon starting in 1190. Throughout history, the monarchs of Albania have held multiple different titles, often Latin or Byzantine, and in rare instances, Slavic. Some of these titles include King of Albania, Prince of Albania, Despot, and Sebastokrator. Members of the medieval Albanian monarchy were integral to the formation of the Albanian nobility. The monarchy in Albania was abolished on the 8th of September, 1943. Principality of Arbanon (1190–1257)
House of Progoni Picture TitleName Reign Notes Lord of KrujëProgoni 1190–1198 Progon was the first known Albanian ruler of the first ever known Albanian State. He is mentioned to carry the Byzantine title of Archon in the Geziq inscription. Lord of KrujëGjin Progoni 1198–1208 Eldest son of Progoni. Prince of Albania Dhimitër Progoni 1208–1216 Youngest son of Progoni. He secured further independence for Arbanon and extended the Principality to its maximum height.
House of Kamona Picture TitleName Reign Notes Lord of KrujëGrigor Kamona 1216–12?? A Greek-Albanian Lord, he first married the daughter of Gjin Progoni, then married Komnena Nemanjić who was the Widow of Dhimitër Progoni allowing him to inherit the rule of the Principality Arbanon.
Unknown Picture TitleName Reign Notes Lord of KrujëGolem of Kruja 12??–1257 The last ruler of the principality of Arbanon. He rose to power through his marriage to the daughter of Gregorios Kamonas. The ascension of Golem was regarded as a reversion to the native rule of Albania.
Principality of Gropa (1258–????)
House of Gropa Image Name Notes Lord of Deabolis and DebarPal Gropa Pal Gropa, also known as Paul or Paulo Gropa, (Pal Gropa) was an Albanian feudal ruler of Ohrid and Dibër from the 13th century and a member of the Gropa family. He held the title of Sebastos. Lord of OhridAndrea II Gropa Andrea Gropa was a 14th-century Albanian nobleman who ruled the region and the city of Ohrid, first as a minor vassal for a very short time (župan) to Serbian King Vukašin Mrnjavčević (r. 1365–1371), then as independent after 1370. He was a rival to Prince Marko and together with Andrea II Muzaka managed to take Prilep and Kostur from him. He hailed from the noble Gropa family. Zacharia Gropa Zacharia Gropa (Albanian: Zeqiri Gropaj) was an Albanian nobleman who lived during the 15th-century and member of the Gropa family who historically ruled over parts of modern-day Albania and North Macedonia. He was a military commander who served in the forces of Skanderbeg during Skanderbeg's rebellion. He was also an associate of Moisi Dibra. Pal II Gropa Andrea I Gropa Aidin Gropa Lord of Vrezhda sometime during the 14th century.
Principality of Blinishti (13th century–1330)
House of Blinishti Vlado Blinishti Kalojan Blinishti Gulielm Blinishti Principality of Skuraj (13th century)
House of Skuraj Gjergj Skura Pepe Skura Pjetër Skura Mihal Skura Progon Skura
Kingdom of Albania (1272–1368 & 1376-1383)
House of Anjou Picture TitleName Reign Notes King of AlbaniaCharles I of Anjou 1272–1285 Charles of Anjou established the Kingdom of Albania in 1271 through diplomatic efforts and alliances with local Albanian leaders. In February 1272, a delegation of Albanian nobles and citizens from Durrës reached Charles's court, where he signed a treaty declaring himself the King of Albania "by common consent of the bishops, counts, barons, soldiers, and citizens." The treaty solidified the union between the Kingdom of Albania and the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles of Anjou, who, with the title of "King of Albania," promised to protect the Albanians and honor their Byzantine privileges. King of AlbaniaCharles II of Naples 1285–1294 Charles II of Naples inherited the title "King of Albania" from his father, Charles I of Anjou after his death. Charles II assumed this claim as part of his broader inheritance, which included territories in Italy and France. In August 1294, Charles II then passed his rights on Albania to his son Philip I, Prince of Taranto. King of AlbaniaPhilip I, Prince of Taranto 1294–1331 After gaining the rights of Albania from his father Charles II of Naples in 1294. Philip reigned as Lord of the Kingdom of Albania and solidifying his position as the ruler of the kingdom. In November 1294, Philip I strengthened ties with the Epirote Despot Nikephoros I by marrying his daughter, thereby renewing the longstanding alliance between the Kingdom of Albania and Epirus. Although his initial plans to recover Angevin's domains were delayed due to his imprisonment by Frederick III of Sicily in 1299, Philip I, upon his release in 1302, actively pursued reclaiming the Albanian kingdom. With the support of local Albanian Catholics and Pope Benedict XI, he successfully regained control of Durrës and granted privileges to the citizens and nobility. Despite facing challenges and territorial restrictions, Philip I played a crucial role in maintaining the Kingdom of Albania and defending it against external pressures. King of AlbaniaRobert, Prince of Taranto 1331–1332 Robert of Taranto inherited the title Lord of the Kingdom of Albania after the death of his father, Philip I, in 1331. His uncle, John, Duke of Durazzo, who did not want to swear fealty to Robert for the Principality of Achaea, arranged to surrender Achaea to Robert in exchange for his rights to the diminished Kingdom of Albania and a loan of 5,000 ounces of gold raised upon Niccolo Acciaiuoli. Duke of DurrësJohn, Duke of Durazzo 1332–1336 After acquiring the Kingdom of Albania from his nephew Robert, Prince of Taranto in 1332, John of Gravina, also known as John of Anjou, assumed the title of Duke of Durrës. While the available information doesn't offer detailed insights into his specific actions or policies in Albania, it's known that he never used a royal title "Regnum Albaniae" during his rule. Duke of DurrësCharles, Duke of Durazzo 1336–1348 Charles of Durrës inherited the title of Duke of Durrës and Count of Gravina from his father, John, after his death. His rule in Albania is not extensively documented. However, it's known that Charles was part of the faction that opposed Joan I of Naples and Louis of Taranto. Duchess of DurrësJoanna, Duchess of Durazzo 1348–1368 Joanna of Durazzo's rule as Duchess of Durrës began in 1348 when she inherited the title from her father when she was only four years old. However, she initially remained in Naples rather than going to Durrës when she became Duchess. It wasn't until her Marriage to Louis of Navarre that she began to get involved in the affairs in the Kingdom of Albania. Duke of DurrësLouis, Duke of Durazzo 1366–1368,1376 Louis of Évreux, also known as Louis of Navarre, became Duke of Durrës in 1366 through his marriage to Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo. His reign in Albania was marked by efforts to recover the Kingdom of Albania, which included Durrës. With the support of his brother Charles II of Navarre and the King of France, Louis aimed to reclaim Durrës, after being taken by Karl Thopia in 1368. In 1372, he enlisted the assistance of the Navarrese Company of mercenaries, recruiting additional forces in 1375 directly from Navarre. Through strategic military planning and engineering, they successfully captured Durrës in the summer of 1376. However, Louis died shortly after this achievement. Louis and Joanna had no children. Joanna never fully regained full control of Durrës and in 1383 the city was back in the hands of Karl Thopia when the last mercenaries of the Navarrese Company moved to Greece. Louis left behind an illegitimate son, Carlos de Beaumont, who later played a role in the Navarrese Civil War. Duke of DurrësRobert IV of Artois, Count of Eu 1376-1383 Robert IV of Artois, became Duke of Durrës in 1376 through his marriage to Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo. His tenure as Duke lasted until 1383, a period marked by political turbulence and conflict. In 1383, Robert's rule in Durrës came to an abrupt end when Karl Thopia, an Albanian nobleman, took control of the city.
Principality of Muzaka (1279–1450)
House of Muzaka Picture TitleName Reign Notes Sebastokrator and Marshal of AlbaniaAndrea I Muzaka 1279–1319 Received the title Sebastokrator by the Byzantine Emperor and his reign was de facto independent until 1319. ProtosebastusTeodor I Muzaka 1319–1331 Son of Andrea I Muzaka Despot of AlbaniaAndrea II Muzaka 1331–1372 Andrea II, much like his father, fulfilled the role of the Angevins' titular marshal in Albania. Apart from being acknowledged as despotus Regni Albaniae (the despot of the Kingdom of Albania) and Marshal of Albania by the Angevins, he also held several other titles, including sebastokrator. Prince of BeratTeodor II Muzaka 1372–1389 Son of Andrea II.Participated in the Battle of Kosovo.Teodor II was in territorial dispute over Kostur with Prince Marko and because this dispute he was commemorated in Serbian epic poetry as Musa Kesedžija. Lord of BeratAndrea III Muzaka 1389–1396 Father of Theodor Corona Musachi Lord of BeratTeodor III Muzaka 1396–1450 He was an Albanian nobleman who led the 1437–38 revolt against the Ottomans and was one of the founders of the League of Lezhë in 1444.
Principality of Mataranga (1358–1367)
House of Mataranga The Mataranga family was a vassel of Charles I of Anjou before 1284. The family was first documented in 1297 by the Republic of Ragusa. The family became a vassal of the Byzantine emperor as well between 1284 and 1288 but then accepted the Angevin overlordship again in 1304. Picture TitleName Reign Notes Sebastokrator & Lord of KaravastaBlasius Mataranga 1358-1367 Blasius established an independent principality from 1358 to 1367 in the Myzeqe region between Durrës and Vlorë. He was recognized as Sebastokrator by Simeon Uroš Palaiologos Lord of KaravastaGjon Mataranga 1367-13?? Son of Blasius, after his father's death, Gjon inherited a small portion of his father's lands.
Principality of Gjonima (1319–1430)
House of Gjonima Dhimitër Gjonima Vladislav Gjonima Marin Gjonima
Principality of Albania (1328–1415)
House of Thopia