and seized Durrës. In 1385, the defeated Karl Thopia, appealed to Murad I for support against his rivals, the House of Balšić of the Principality of Zeta. This was the equivalent of inviting the Ottoman Empire into Albania in order to help him defeat his rivals of the Balšić family. This attempt caused an Ottoman force, led by Hayreddin Pasha, to quickly march into Albania along the Via Egnatia. The Ottoman force routed the Balšas by inflicting heavy defeats on Balša II's forces. Balša II himself was killed in a big battle on Saurian Field () near Lushnje (Battle of Savra) in 1385, ending the Balša family's rule over Durrës. In 1392 the Durazzo fell under the Republic of Venice. After Gjergj's death, Niketa Thopia was the next ruler and also the final. After the death of Bayezid (1402), many Albanian lords recognized Venetian suzerainty, such as Niketa, John Kastrioti and Koja Zaharija. The Venetians were interested in having some buffer zone between them and the advancing Ottoman army.. Niketa continued to be the ruler of Kruje until 1415 when it fell under the Ottoman Empire. Monarchs See also Albanian principalities History of Albania References Sources Albanian Academy of Science. History of Albanian People. Stefanaq Pollo Histoire de l'Albanie des origines à nos jours. Roanne: Horvath. 1974. Tajar Zavalani: Histori e Shqipnis. Tiranë: Phoenix. 1998. Georges Castellan: Histoire de l’Albanie et des Albanais. Crozon: Armeline. 2002. 1444 disestablishments States and territories established in 1368 Former countries in the Balkans Albanian principalities