Gropa family


The Gropa family was Albanian noble family which controlled the region between Pogradec, Ohrid and Debar in the period 12th — 14th century.
In the 13th century members of Gropa family were Catholics, but in the 14th century they converted to Orthodoxy because of the political relations with Archbishopric of Ohrid. Pal Gropa, a nobleman of the Kingdom of Albania was given extended privileges by Charles I of Naples on May 18, 1273: "nobili viro sevasto Paulo Gropa »casalia Radicis maioris et Radicis minons, пeс non Cobocheste, Zuadigorica, Sirclani et Craye, Zessizan sitam in valle de Ebu". A member of Gropa family, Andrea Gropa, ruled the region and the city of Ohrid as a vassal to King of Serbia Vukašin Mrnjavčević until his death in 1371 and later to Vukašin's son Prince Marko. After a while he became semi-independent from Prince Marko and was referred to as Župan and Gospodar of Ohrid.
After Andrea's death his lands were again under direct Marko's rule.
Zacharia Gropa is mentioned by Athanase Gegaj as one of the military commanders of Skanderbeg's forces.

Members