Since 1913 Montenegros “slavicization” policy of 1913 had urged thousands of “Muslim” (Albanians) to leave Montenegro while Orthodox Montenegrins were settled in Peja, Gjakova and especially Plevle. The following photographs is evidence of an Albanian majority population in Plevle.

(Albanian family of Plevle, 1900).

(Traveler with Albanian highlander body guard in Plevle, 1900).

(Albanian highlander in Plevle, 1900).

Montenegrin expansion towards Albanian territories (1830-1913)

“Montenegro had its territorial expansion. At the beginning of the XIX century, border of Montenegro passed around Cetinje, and limit the total surface area relatively small, leaving it in the river east of the Moraca Ceni, Albanian human settlements, Bar, Dodosh, Shpuze etc. In 1830, after the Treaty of Adrianople double the area of Montenegrian territory, including territory north of Shpuzë and Podgorica and on both sides of the river Zeta etc.

In 1859, taking advantage of the Russian-Turkish war, the area of Montenegro grows mainly in the north and east of it, including the settlements: Grahova, Dobrushë, Kolasin, Berane, etc. In 1878 after the Treaty of San Stefano, doubles up the territory of Montenegro, mainly in the north and south of it, including Niksic of Plevle (north), Shpuza, Podgorica, Zhabiakun, Tivat and Ulcinj (in the center of the south).

Finally, in 1913, under the jurisdiction of Montenegro got significant territories in the northeast and east of it involved in the process, as Albanian settlements important as Plava of Gucia, Peja (the latter later crossed Serbia), Arbnesh , Braishe, extensive territories between the rivers Tara and Lim etc. Other historical events that took place in the Balkans in this period, affected the dynamics of the territories in Montenegro”. (Source: Ferim Gashi, Pal Nikolli, Murat Meha, Ismail Kabashis, “THE CARTOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW ABOUT ALBANIAN TERRITORY).

References

Balkans and Islam: Encounter, Transformation, Discontinuity, Continuity. Hamit Er, Ayşe Zişan Furat. Link

Photographs from https://www.arkiva.me/

Ferim Gashi, Pal Nikolli, Murat Meha, Ismail Kabashis, “THE CARTOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW ABOUT ALBANIAN TERRITORY). https://cartography-gis.com/docsbca/iccgis2016/ICCGIS2016-44.pdf