The word “Kraja” according to the author Ermanno Armao in the book “Localities, churches, rivers, mountains and various toponyms of an ancient map of Northern Albania”; published under the auspices of the Royal Italian Geographical Society, 1933.

“The Byzantine border,” writes Suffiay, “was fortified in the Middle Ages with gorges and mountain peaks with stone walls and wooden works. At that time the word “Kra-hina” (border town, military designation) was returned, which later gave the name to the region of Krajë which includes about fifteen villages (including Castgnia, Bobovisca, Bes and Murich of our cartographer /note: he is referring to Coronelli) located in the hills of the south-eastern shore of Lake Skadar.

In 1671, the “ville di Craina” bordered between the dioceses of Shkodra and Tivar. The inhabitants, who were once mainly Orthodox, are today almost all Muslims, but Albanian-speaking despite the first Montenegrin, then Yugoslav, occupation since 1878. The capital of Krajë is Arbneshi, located at the place where Coronelli placed the topographical mark of “Cragnia”.

Krajë is mentioned in Albania because many high officials of Sultan Abdul Hamid or his servants such as bodyguards, gardeners, boatmen, etc. were of origin from this place.”

References

Gaspari, 1932, p. 265.

Hecquard, p. 28. –

Baldacci, Itineraries, p. 322. –

Tppen, Skutari, p. 41. –

Thalloczy, I, p. 95. –

Sufflay, “Lajme” p. 197.