Gjon Kastrioti - Administration

Administration

Some of Gjon's subordinates held the title of kephale as it was used in many regions of Albania at that time (like in Valona and Kanine). In the court of Gjon Kastriot there was also a position of čelnik. Gjon's chelniks had the same or similar duties like those of Stefan Lazarević or Đurađ Branković being responsible for judiciary and civil affairs.

Collecting the custom duties from Ragusan traders, exporting the grain and trading with salt was important source of income of Gjon Kastrioti.

Venetian Republic attempted to introduce its own units of measure on marketplaces in Scutari, Durazo and Alessio since the beginning of 1410. This intention caused confusion which was a reason for Gjon Kastriot to complain through his envoys in Venice. In January 1410 Venetians accepted Gjon's demands to measure grain and other products exported by him the way they were previously measured.

On 25 February 1420 Gjon Kastriot wrote a letter in the Serbian language to merchants from Ragusa (Dubrovnik). Based on the order of the despot of Serbia, when they would travel from Ragusa to Prizren they had to use the route trough Shkodër in Albania Veneta and the Kastriot's land instead of the previous route trough the land under control of the small feudal lords and highland tribes of Montenegro. With that letter Gjon informed merchants from Dubrovnik that they were granted safe conduct when passing through regions under his control, on their way from Šufadaj to Prizren. In March 1422 Gjon asked Venice to allow Ragusan traders to travel to his territory in Sufaday through Alessio instead of Scutari, which was allowed starting from August.

After the death of Balša in 1421 Venetians promised to allow Kastrioti to collect salt produced in Durres. Because of the reduced production Venice did not respect its promise. Gjon tried to avoid the monopoly of Venetian Republic and built his own salt evaporation ponds. In 1424 Venetians forced him to destroy all of them because they noticed some of their convoys directed to collect salt in Durres never appeared there. Оn 17 August 1428 Gjon complained through his representatives in Venice because he was not allowed to collect salt in Durres.