In 1391, Mrkša married Ruđina Balšić, the daughter of Balša II, a lord in Zeta, and Komnina Asen, daughter of Jovan Asen. As a dowry Balša II received Valona, Berat, Kanina, and Himarë in the south of Albania. After Balša II's death in the Battle of Savra, his wife Komnina ruled over his territory until 1396, when she became a nun and gave her territories to son-in-law Mrkša. Mrkša became a "Lord of Berat, Valona and Kanina".