Bua family

The Bua or Boua was an Albanian noble family of Aromanian (Vlach) origin.^[1] According to G. Schiro, "Bua" originated as a cognomen, perhaps a diminutive derived from Benedetto.^[2] Another possible derivation is from bua, "buffalo".^[3] It was not kin (blood relatives) with the earlier Spata family.^[4]

Its members were:

• Peter Bua (fl. 1450s), Morean rebel leader
• Theodore Bua (fl. 1479), Venetian mercenary captain
• Mercurio Bua (1478–1542), Venetian mercenary captain, son of Theodore

References

1. Madgearu & Gordon 2008, p. 83: "The despots Gjin Buia Spata and Peter Liosha were recognized by Symeon Uroš in 1359–1360 as rulers in Epirus and Aetolia. Albanian historians consider Gjin (or Ghinu) Buia and Peter Liosha Albanian, but it is sure that at least the Buia family was of Aromanian origin..."
2. Schirò & Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana 1975, p. 15: "Ili R° 48 e 23, Val AAV 1367) che cita Paolo Spata come Paolo Sguros Spata e non Paolo Bua Spata, si deduce che « Bua » aveva il duplice valore di nome proprio (= Benedetto?) oppure di cognome. Ciò comporta che si debba scindere..."
3. Janua Linguarum: Series maior. Mouton. 1966. p. 78. Namen wie Bua, "Buffel"
4. Schirò 1971–1972, p. 81

Sources

• Madgearu, Alexandru; Gordon, Martin (2008). The Wars of the Balkan Peninsula: Their Medieval Origins. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5846-6.
• Schirò, Giuseppe (1971–1972). "La genealogia degli Spata tra il XIV e XV sec. E due Bua sconosciuti". Rivista di Studi Bizantini e Neoellenici. 28–29: 67–85.
• Schirò, Giuseppe; Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (1975). Chronikon tōn Tokkōn tēs Kephallēnias. Rome: Accademia nazionale dei Lincei.