Mara Thopia

Not to be confused with Maria Thopia.

Mara Thopia (Albanian: Mara Topia), was a member of the Albanian Thopia family and the daughter of Niketa Thopia, the Lord of Krujë.

Mara Thopia Mara Topia
Princess Consort of Zeta
Coat of arms of the Thopia family
Princess Consort of Zeta
Tenure	1407–1412
Predecessor	Jelena Lazarević
Successor	Boglia Zaharia
Spouses	Balsha III ​ ​ (m. 1407; ann. 1412)​
Issue	Jelena Balsha
House	Thopia
Father	Niketa Thopia
Mother	Daughter of Komnen Arianiti or Daughter of Maurizio Bua Sgouros

Life

Mara was the daughter of Niketa Thopia.^[1][2] The identity of Mara's mother is disputed. According to Shuteriqi, she was the daughter of Komnen Arianiti.^[3] Meanwhile, Karl Hopf suggests that Niketa Thopia married the daughter of Maurizio Bua Sgouros.^[4] Much isn't known about her early life. Mara married Balsha III in 1407.^[5] They had one daughter Jelena Balsha who was named after Balshas mother.^[6] Mara's father and her husband allied to drive out the Venetians.^[7] It is unknown when Balsha III divorced Mara but he was remarried to Boglia Zaharia by late 1412 or the beginning of 1413.^[8][9] Mara Thopia is also the Grandmother of Catherine of Bosnia. Who was the Queen of the Kingdom of Bosnia.

Family tree

Ancestry of Mara Thopia
8. Andrea I Thopia 4. Karl Thopia 9. Hélène of Anjou 2. Niketa Thopia 10. Unknown 5. Unknown 11. Unknown 1. Mara Thopia 12. Unknown 6. Maurizio Bua Sgouros 13. Unknown 3. Unknown Name 14. Unlnown 7. Unknown Name 15. Unknown

See also

• Thopia family
• Principality of Albania (medieval)