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Malësia

April 10, 2024

Malësia e Madhe ("Great Highlands"), known simply as Malësia (Albanian: Malësia, Montenegrin: Malesija / Малесија), is a historical and ethnographic region in northern Albania and eastern central Montenegro corresponding to the highlands of the geographical subdivision of the Malësi e Madhe District in Albania and Tuzi Municipality in Montenegro. The largest settlement in the area is the town of Tuzi.

View of mountains in the region.

Name edit

Malësia e Madhe is Albanian for "great highlands".[1] It is simply known as Malësia, or in the local Gheg dialect, Malcía (Albanian pronunciation: [malsia]). Elsie also describes the region as part of the Northern Albanian Alps.[2] The tribes are commonly called "highlanders", Albanian: malësorët, malsort, anglicized as "Malissori"[3] or "Malisors".[4] An archaic term used by foreign travellers in the 1860s was "Malesians".[5]

Geography edit

 
Cem valley in Albania.

The region includes parts of the Accursed Mountains mountain range (known in Albanian as Bjeshkët e Nemuna) and hinterland of the Lake Scutari, with valleys of the Cem river.

The Malësors (Albanian highlanders) live within northern Albania and historically Malësia e Madhe (great highlands) contained seven large tribes with six (Hoti, Kelmendi, Trieshi, Koja, Shkreli, Kastrati) having a Catholic majority and Muslim minority with Gruda evenly split between both religions.[6] Within Malësia e Madhe there were an additional seven small tribes.[6] During times of war and mobilisation of troops, the bajraktar (chieftain) of Hoti was recognised by the Ottoman government as leader of all forces of the Malësia e Madhe tribes having collectively some 6,200 rifles during the late Ottoman period.[6] Malësia e Vogël (small highlands) with seven Catholic tribes such as the Shala with 4 bajaraktars, Shoshi, Toplana and Nikaj contained some 1,250 households with a collective strength of 2,500 men that could be mobilised for war.[6] Shoshi had a distinction in the region of possessing a legendary rock associated with Lekë Dukagjini.[6]

History edit

During the Ottoman period, when northern Albania was part of the Sanjak of Scutari, Albanian tribes in Malësia sometimes sided with Montenegrin tribes in fighting the Ottomans. An example is from 1658, when the seven tribes of Kuči, Vasojevići, Bratonožići, Piperi, Kelmendi, Hoti and Gruda allied themselves with the Republic of Venice against the Ottomans.[7] In 1757, the Bushati family transformed the sanjak into the semi-autonomous Pashalik of Scutari. After this, the Albanian tribes sided with the Bushati.

 
Ded Gjo Luli.

After the Ottoman Empire lost the Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78), Plav and Gusinje were ceded to Montenegro, which sparked Albanian attacks in the area organized by the nationalist League of Prizren in support of the Ottoman Empire.[8] Later, in the early 20th century, the northern Albanian tribes switched sides against the Ottoman Empire and rose up with Serbian aid in 1910 and Montenegrin aid in 1911.[9] The latter began with a memorandum signed by the Malësian tribal representatives.[10]

The Malësian tribes won a victory at Deçiq in April 1911. The Albanian revolt of 1912 led to the Albanian Declaration of Independence later that year. On May 26, 1913, 130 leaders of Gruda, Hoti, Kelmendi, Kastrati and Shkreli sent a petition to Cecil Burney in Shkodër against the incorporation of their territories into Montenegro.[11] Gruda and parts of Hoti came under Montenegrin rule.

 
Prek Cali.

During World War II, the northern Albanian tribes were collaborationist and anti-Communist. Prek Cali led the Kelmendi tribe. Some leaders were persecuted by the new Communist regime.[12]

Demographics edit

The region is inhabited by an Albanian majority, divided between Catholicism and Islam, while a small Serb-Montenegrin community is present in some villages. The Albanian population ethnographically belongs to the Ghegs group.

In Montenegro:

Culture edit

 
Catholic church in the heights of the Selce village.

Due to its rich culture, the highland region has attracted more attention from anthropologists, artists, writers and scholars than any other Albanian-populated region. It is Malësia that produced what has been considered the national epic of the Albanian people, Lahuta e Malcís (The Highland Lute).[citation needed] Author and Franciscan friar Gjergj Fishta spent 35 years composing this epic poem, in which is chronicled the whole range of the ethnic Albanian cultural experience (e.g. weddings, funerals, historical battles, mythology, genealogy, and tribal law). It is as interesting to modern readers as an anthropological document as it is a magnificent poem.

Anton Harapi, Albania's most distinguished Christian philosopher, dedicated his masterpiece "Ândrra e Pretashit" (The Dream of Pretash), initially called "The Wise Men along Cemi River" to the people of Malcía.

The oldest Albanian book was written by Malësor Catholic priest Gjon Buzuku.[citation needed]

Ethnography edit

In 1908, anthropologist Edith Durham visited the Malësia region and catalogued her findings in her ethnographic work "High Albania," which was, for nearly a century, the most trusted source of information about the Albanian highlanders. Albanian anthropologist Kolë Berisha wrote, among other books, the four-volumes ethnography entitled "Malcía e Madhe" written between 1900 and 1945.

Tribes edit

See also: Tribes of Albania
 
Albanian bajraks (1918).

Robert Elsie divided the tribes of Albania in his works according to regions. There were ten tribes that belonged to the Malësia e Madhe in the Northern Albanian Alps.[13][14][15][16]

The histories of the respective clans (and hence the whole region) are amalgamations of both historical events and genealogies passed along by oral transmission.

Notable people edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Elsie 2010, p. 291.
  2. ^ Elsie 2015, p. 15.
  3. ^ Treadway 1983, Pearson 2004
  4. ^ Gawrych 2006, p. 30.
  5. ^ Mackenzie, G. Muir; Mackenzie, Georgina Mary Muir; Irby, A. P. (1867). The Turks, the Greeks and the Slavons. Travels in the Slavonic Provinces of Turkey-in-Europe. Bell & Daldy. p. 681. Retrieved 25 December 2019. the Malesians.
  6. ^ a b c d e Gawrych, George (2006). The Crescent and the Eagle: Ottoman rule, Islam and the Albanians, 1874–1913. London: IB Tauris. pp. 31–32. ISBN 9781845112875.
  7. ^ Mitološki zbornik. Centar za mitološki studije Srbije. 2004. pp. 24, 41–45.
  8. ^ Vuković, Gavro; Tomović, Slobodan (1996). Memoari vojvode Gavra Vukovića. Obod. ISBN 978-86-305-0260-6.
  9. ^ Vickers 1999, pp. 63–64.
  10. ^ Treadway 1983, p. 78.
  11. ^ Pearson 2004, p. 43.
  12. ^ . www.shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 7 June 2014.
  13. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 15–98.
  14. ^ Recherches albanologiques: Folklore et ethnologie (in French). Pristina: Instituti Albanologijik i Prishtinës. 1982.
  15. ^ Martini, Luigi (2005). Prek Cali, Kelmendi Dhe Kelmendasit. Camaj-Pipaj. ISBN 9994334077.
  16. ^ "History of Albania". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  17. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 15–35.
  18. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 36–46.
  19. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 47–57.
  20. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 68–78.
  21. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 81–88.
  22. ^ Elsie 2015, pp. 58–67.

Sources edit

  • Treadway, John D. (1983). The Falcon and the Eagle: Montenegro and Austria-Hungary, 1908-1914. Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-1-55753-146-9.
  • Pearson, Owen (2004). Albania in the Twentieth Century, A History: Volume I: Albania and King Zog, 1908-39. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-013-0.
  • Jovićević, Andrija (1923). Малесија. SANU. OCLC 635033682. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Slijepčević, Đoko M. (1974). Српско-арбанашки односи кроз векове са посебним освртом на новије време. Iskra.
  • Durham, Mary Edith (2009) [1909]. High Albania. Echo Library. ISBN 978-1-4068-2855-9.
  • Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3.
  • Elsie, Robert (2015). The Tribes of Albania: History, Society and Culture. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9780857739322.
  • Vickers, Miranda (1999). The Albanians: a modern history. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9.

April 10, 2024
malësia, madhe, great, highlands, known, simply, albanian, montenegrin, malesija, Малесија, historical, ethnographic, region, northern, albania, eastern, central, montenegro, corresponding, highlands, geographical, subdivision, malësi, madhe, district, albania. Malesia e Madhe Great Highlands known simply as Malesia Albanian Malesia Montenegrin Malesija Malesiјa is a historical and ethnographic region in northern Albania and eastern central Montenegro corresponding to the highlands of the geographical subdivision of the Malesi e Madhe District in Albania and Tuzi Municipality in Montenegro The largest settlement in the area is the town of Tuzi View of mountains in the region Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 3 History 4 Demographics 5 Culture 6 Ethnography 6 1 Tribes 7 Notable people 8 See also 9 References 10 SourcesName editMalesia e Madhe is Albanian for great highlands 1 It is simply known as Malesia or in the local Gheg dialect Malcia Albanian pronunciation malsia Elsie also describes the region as part of the Northern Albanian Alps 2 The tribes are commonly called highlanders Albanian malesoret malsort anglicized as Malissori 3 or Malisors 4 An archaic term used by foreign travellers in the 1860s was Malesians 5 Geography edit nbsp Cem valley in Albania The region includes parts of the Accursed Mountains mountain range known in Albanian as Bjeshket e Nemuna and hinterland of the Lake Scutari with valleys of the Cem river The Malesors Albanian highlanders live within northern Albania and historically Malesia e Madhe great highlands contained seven large tribes with six Hoti Kelmendi Trieshi Koja Shkreli Kastrati having a Catholic majority and Muslim minority with Gruda evenly split between both religions 6 Within Malesia e Madhe there were an additional seven small tribes 6 During times of war and mobilisation of troops the bajraktar chieftain of Hoti was recognised by the Ottoman government as leader of all forces of the Malesia e Madhe tribes having collectively some 6 200 rifles during the late Ottoman period 6 Malesia e Vogel small highlands with seven Catholic tribes such as the Shala with 4 bajaraktars Shoshi Toplana and Nikaj contained some 1 250 households with a collective strength of 2 500 men that could be mobilised for war 6 Shoshi had a distinction in the region of possessing a legendary rock associated with Leke Dukagjini 6 History editDuring the Ottoman period when northern Albania was part of the Sanjak of Scutari Albanian tribes in Malesia sometimes sided with Montenegrin tribes in fighting the Ottomans An example is from 1658 when the seven tribes of Kuci Vasojevici Bratonozici Piperi Kelmendi Hoti and Gruda allied themselves with the Republic of Venice against the Ottomans 7 In 1757 the Bushati family transformed the sanjak into the semi autonomous Pashalik of Scutari After this the Albanian tribes sided with the Bushati nbsp Ded Gjo Luli After the Ottoman Empire lost the Montenegrin Ottoman War 1876 78 Plav and Gusinje were ceded to Montenegro which sparked Albanian attacks in the area organized by the nationalist League of Prizren in support of the Ottoman Empire 8 Later in the early 20th century the northern Albanian tribes switched sides against the Ottoman Empire and rose up with Serbian aid in 1910 and Montenegrin aid in 1911 9 The latter began with a memorandum signed by the Malesian tribal representatives 10 The Malesian tribes won a victory at Deciq in April 1911 The Albanian revolt of 1912 led to the Albanian Declaration of Independence later that year On May 26 1913 130 leaders of Gruda Hoti Kelmendi Kastrati and Shkreli sent a petition to Cecil Burney in Shkoder against the incorporation of their territories into Montenegro 11 Gruda and parts of Hoti came under Montenegrin rule nbsp Prek Cali During World War II the northern Albanian tribes were collaborationist and anti Communist Prek Cali led the Kelmendi tribe Some leaders were persecuted by the new Communist regime 12 Demographics editThe region is inhabited by an Albanian majority divided between Catholicism and Islam while a small Serb Montenegrin community is present in some villages The Albanian population ethnographically belongs to the Ghegs group In Montenegro Albanians 7 839 75 8 Montenegrins 823 8 0 Bosniaks 627 6 1 Ethnic Muslims 635 6 1 Serbs 156 1 5 Romani 62 0 6 Others 120 1 2 No Ethnicity Declared 77 0 7 Total 10 339Culture edit nbsp Catholic church in the heights of the Selce village Due to its rich culture the highland region has attracted more attention from anthropologists artists writers and scholars than any other Albanian populated region It is Malesia that produced what has been considered the national epic of the Albanian people Lahuta e Malcis The Highland Lute citation needed Author and Franciscan friar Gjergj Fishta spent 35 years composing this epic poem in which is chronicled the whole range of the ethnic Albanian cultural experience e g weddings funerals historical battles mythology genealogy and tribal law It is as interesting to modern readers as an anthropological document as it is a magnificent poem Anton Harapi Albania s most distinguished Christian philosopher dedicated his masterpiece Andrra e Pretashit The Dream of Pretash initially called The Wise Men along Cemi River to the people of Malcia The oldest Albanian book was written by Malesor Catholic priest Gjon Buzuku citation needed Ethnography editIn 1908 anthropologist Edith Durham visited the Malesia region and catalogued her findings in her ethnographic work High Albania which was for nearly a century the most trusted source of information about the Albanian highlanders Albanian anthropologist Kole Berisha wrote among other books the four volumes ethnography entitled Malcia e Madhe written between 1900 and 1945 Tribes edit See also Tribes of Albania nbsp Albanian bajraks 1918 Robert Elsie divided the tribes of Albania in his works according to regions There were ten tribes that belonged to the Malesia e Madhe in the Northern Albanian Alps 13 14 15 16 Kelmendi 17 Gruda 18 in Montenegro Hoti 19 partially in Montenegro Kastrati 20 Shkreli 21 Triesh 22 KojaThe histories of the respective clans and hence the whole region are amalgamations of both historical events and genealogies passed along by oral transmission Notable people editPrek Cali Kelmendi chieftain Ded Gjo Luli 1840 1915 Hoti chieftain Sokol Baci 1837 1920 Gruda chieftain Baca Kurti 1807 1881 Gruda chieftain Tringe Smajli 1880 1917 Gruda member Nora of Kelmendi Elseid Hysaj Albanian footballer defender Bekim Balaj Albanian footballer attacker Armando Broja Albanian footballer attacker Rudi VataSee also editAlbanians in MontenegroReferences edit Elsie 2010 p 291 Elsie 2015 p 15 Treadway 1983 Pearson 2004 Gawrych 2006 p 30 Mackenzie G Muir Mackenzie Georgina Mary Muir Irby A P 1867 The Turks the Greeks and the Slavons Travels in the Slavonic Provinces of Turkey in Europe Bell amp Daldy p 681 Retrieved 25 December 2019 the Malesians a b c d e Gawrych George 2006 The Crescent and the Eagle Ottoman rule Islam and the Albanians 1874 1913 London IB Tauris pp 31 32 ISBN 9781845112875 Mitoloski zbornik Centar za mitoloski studije Srbije 2004 pp 24 41 45 Vukovic Gavro Tomovic Slobodan 1996 Memoari vojvode Gavra Vukovica Obod ISBN 978 86 305 0260 6 Vickers 1999 pp 63 64 Treadway 1983 p 78 Pearson 2004 p 43 Mark Gjomarku Ja si do ta clirojme Shqiperine nga komunistet www shqiptarja com in Albanian Archived from the original on 7 June 2014 Elsie 2015 pp 15 98 Recherches albanologiques Folklore et ethnologie in French Pristina Instituti Albanologijik i Prishtines 1982 Martini Luigi 2005 Prek Cali Kelmendi Dhe Kelmendasit Camaj Pipaj ISBN 9994334077 History of Albania Lonely Planet Retrieved 5 January 2012 Elsie 2015 pp 15 35 Elsie 2015 pp 36 46 Elsie 2015 pp 47 57 Elsie 2015 pp 68 78 Elsie 2015 pp 81 88 Elsie 2015 pp 58 67 Sources editTreadway John D 1983 The Falcon and the Eagle Montenegro and Austria Hungary 1908 1914 Purdue University Press ISBN 978 1 55753 146 9 Pearson Owen 2004 Albania in the Twentieth Century A History Volume I Albania and King Zog 1908 39 I B Tauris ISBN 978 1 84511 013 0 Jovicevic Andrija 1923 Malesiјa SANU OCLC 635033682 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Slijepcevic Đoko M 1974 Srpsko arbanashki odnosi kroz vekove sa posebnim osvrtom na noviјe vreme Iskra Durham Mary Edith 2009 1909 High Albania Echo Library ISBN 978 1 4068 2855 9 Elsie Robert 2010 Historical Dictionary of Albania Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press ISBN 978 0 8108 7380 3 Elsie Robert 2015 The Tribes of Albania History Society and Culture I B Tauris ISBN 9780857739322 Vickers Miranda 1999 The Albanians a modern history I B Tauris ISBN 978 1 86064 541 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malesia amp oldid 1217905800, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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