muzaka explained that theodor inherited control over berat from his father andrea muzaka iii. it is unknown when muzaka family began to control berat. byzantine eastern roman sources state that the muzaka family was in control of berat regions since 1270 sometimes under byzantine umbrella and sometimes as de juro independent lords. many albanian princes unlike other ethnicities of the eastern roman empire had the right of total autonomy and self governance in their lands, with the promise to join the roman emperor in foreign wars. this is also stated in the diary of teodor muzaka, in which is mentioned that muzaka family was the ruler of epirus for centuries. it is not states clearly if it was historical epirus or just some parts of southern albania. the muzaka family was in conflict with prince marko. muzaka family managed to defeat marko and take large shares of south and southwestern macedonia from him.