Gojko Balšić

Gojko Balšić (Гојко Балшић, Gojko Balsha, ; fl. 1444) and his brothers George Strez and John were the lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adriatic. The brothers were members of the Balšić family, which earlier held Zeta. They participated in founding the League of Lezhë, an alliance led by their maternal uncle Skanderbeg. Gojko supported Skanderbeg until the latter's death in 1468, and then continued to fight against the Ottomans within Venetian forces.

Family
There are two views of his geneaology. According to Gjon Muzaka and Karl Hopf, Ivan (John, Gjon) and Gojko Strez Balšić were in fact children of Vlajka Kastrioti and Stefan Strez who was a son of Đurađ Balšić, an illegitimate child of Đurađ I Balšić. According to Fan Noli, Gojko had two brothers (George Strez and Ivan), both children of Jela Kastrioti and Pavle Balšić. Both views confirm that Gojko was Skanderbeg's nephew.

Gojko married Komnina, a daughter of Gjergj Arianiti. According to Gjon Muzaka, they had two sons and one daughter, Maria. The sons died in Hungary. Muzaka stated that Maria married the Count of Muro and had two daughters, Beatrice and Isabel. Beatrice, married Prince Ferdinand Orsino, Duke of Gravina while Isabel, married Lord Louis of Gesualdo, Count of Conza.

Biography
Gojko and his brothers were lords of Misia, a coastal area from the White Drin towards the Adriatic. Gojko attended the meeting of several Christian noblemen from Albania held in Lezhë in March 1444, which resulted in the forging of an alliance against the Ottoman Empire. The League of Lezhë was founded by:


 * Lekë Zaharia (lord of Sati and Dagnum) and his vassals Pal Dukagjin and Nicholas Dukagjini
 * Peter Spani (lord of the mountains behind Drivast)
 * Lekë Dushmani (lord of Pult)
 * George Strez, Ivan and Gojko Balšić (lords of Misia)
 * Andrea Thopia and his nephew Tanush
 * Gjergj Arianiti
 * Theodor Corona Musachi
 * Stefan Crnojević (lord of Upper Zeta) and his sons

Gojko's brother George cancelled his support to Skanderbeg after a while, while Gojko and John supported Skanderbeg until his death in 1468. After Skanderbeg's death Gojko and John Balsha, together with Leke, Progon and Nicholas Dukagjini, continued to fight for Venice.