Authored and researched by yours truly on November 5, 2025.

Author: [Petrit Latifi]
Keywords: Spizza, Spiç, Spizzanotti, Montenegro, Albania, Malesorë, name Slavicization, border conflicts

Summary:

This paper reexamines a series of conflicts between the inhabitants of Spizza (Spiç, near Antivari/Bar) and the Montenegrin tribes of Paštrovići and neighboring territories, spanning from 1752 to 1911. Through the analysis of Venetian, Austrian, and Ottoman diplomatic correspondence, it becomes evident that the Spizzanotti (It. people of Spizza) were not Slavic Montenegrins, but an Albanian-speaking border population under Ottoman jurisdiction. The linguistic forms of personal names, as well as the socio-political patterns of intercommunal violence, confirm the Albanian identity of these communities, whose memory has largely vanished from modern historiography.

Background

This article discusses the history of conflicts between the Albanians of Spiç (Spizza) sometimes called “Spizzanotti” or “Spizzanotte” and the Montenegrin bandits and troops between 1752 and 1911.

The conflict between the locals of Spizza and Antivari against the Pastrovic between 1752-1759

“From what source have certain very serious disputes arisen in the past between the Pastrovichi subjects and the Ottomans bordering Spizza and Antivari. Having spent the first year of the ordinary visit to the Bocche, by virtue of the dealings held with the Captain of Antivari, a tractable and well-disposed man, but greedy for profits, I have succeeded in putting an end to the controversy in Castel Nuovo.

There, therefore, a solemn settlement took place on the part of the Spizzanoti and Antivarini, a certain Osman Agà, and on the part of the Pastrovichi, Colonel Domenico Bubich. This must be the method in every meeting, especially constant, since in order to save public decorum and interest in the settlement of private differences with the Turks, there is someone who makes figure of Attorney of the subjects and in the negotiation and in the disbursements and in the commitments of other satisfactions.

In the matter of lands with the annexed national term I have forbidden Pastrovichi to sell or mortgage them to neighbors since with the private ones public reasons were alienated and it was restricted”.¹

The conflict of the Montenegrins of Pastrovic and the Albanians of Spiç of 1769

“They are working against the Prince of Venice, as you know. I am amazed that His Extraordinary Excellency writes a letter to our captain, and that one Pastrouichio was killed, and the other wounded, that he treats the Spizzanotti as spies, which in fact is only one wounded, and the dead one is Spizzanotto. The Turks also took material, etc.”²

The Montenegrin bandit attack against the Albanians of Spic in 1832

“Some troops are arriving; but significant supplies of rice and flour continue to be made, and many ovens have been built, where bread and biscuits are baked day and night. According to the agas, several Turkish troops are expected to advance toward Montenegro, not only via Sarajevo, but also from Pehia, where the Grand Vise has already arrived since yesterday. However, we will see if this time too it will not end with threats, and we will make it known in due time. Meanwhile, the Montenegrins are fully prepared and seem willing to face their fate not only with indifference, but even with temerity, since on the 16th of this month they attacked the Spizzanoti, who are Ottoman subjects, and stole two very large herds of animals from them. (G. in Zara)”³

The Montenegrin assault against Spiç and Braich in 1839

“The last invasion planned by the Montenegrins on the territory of the Spizzanotti did not succeed. The latter were very well prepared and received the attackers with rifle shots, so the Montenegrins had to hastily retrace their steps, always pursued by the Turks up to the inaccessible places of their mountains.

The Montenegrins thought they could blackmail themselves for this failure by descending to commit thieves and steal the cattle on the territory of a neighboring Power, precisely in the Municipality of Braich, but they were welcomed as they well deserved since a company of hunters stationed there met them and dispersed them, forcing them to regain their borders.

The peace treaty recently signed by the Basha of Scutari and the Vladika was not recognized by the Turks of Podgoritza Spusch etc., stating that the Basha sacrificed their territory without necessity and therefore also on this side of the borders the ancient law still exists.”⁴

The Spizzanotti attack of 1840

“Even against the Spizzanoti, bitter enemies of the Montenegrins, an expedition has been planned for some time now. In a dispute over pasture rights, they killed two Montenegrins and wounded several. Meanwhile, on the other side, peace negotiations are underway to protect against reprisals, a peace that is quickly broken if it yields the slightest advantage. The Vladika’s brother has gone to Grabowo for this purpose, where he is holding negotiations with the Vizier of Herzegovina and the Bey of Trebigue.”⁵

The Spizzanotti and Albanians of Antivari march against Montenegro due to Pope Luka Juovics atrocities in 1851

“1851: The situation in Herzegovina is unacceptable. Instead, daily reports are made to the Osservatore Dalmato about break-ins by Montenegrins or, less frequently, numerous hordes with stolen goods into their homes, prompting them to make another stop.

The Turks, intimidated by the threatening attitude of the Rajahs, fear for their property and do not dare to turn to their religious kin for help. The Montenegrins take advantage of this situation and direct their raids primarily against Turks. Such a state of complete anarchy is said to have not existed in Herzegovina for as long as anyone can remember.

Among the most recent raids, the one carried out under the leadership of Pope Luka Juovic bet Duka was the most devastating. Eight Turks were killed and their heads cut off. The Greeks do this in revenge for their fight with the Turks. Travelers from Albania are bringing the news that the Spizzanotter (Spizzanotti) and Antivarre (Antivarians) are preparing for a march to Montenegro, which they intend to carry out in the next few days without, however, crossing the German border.”⁶

The Montenegrin attack on Spic and the murder of the Albanian Shtjefën Lukë Spiqani on April 2, 1851

“On March 19, a body of Montenerini composed of about three hundred men descended from Montenero above the village of Spizza, carried off thirty small animals and killed a certain Stiepo Luchic Spizzanotto, violently took with them a shepherd of Montenegrino origin but who had been living in Spizza for several years.

The following day Aksa Bey, commander of Antivari, went with five hundred armed men gathered in the district of Antivari towards the village of Markovze of Montenegro where they found some shepherds from Montenegro, killed three of them and burned five huts but when a number of Montenegro arrived, they fought, killed a Turk from the village of Turgeville, cut off his head and took it to Montenegro and wounded two others.

On the 21st the Spizzanotti, having joined forces with the Ottomans of Turgeville, moved towards Montenero, killed a Montenerino shepherd and on the 23rd his head was carried in triumph to Scuttari as usual. These cannibalistic atrocities are unworthy of our times.”⁷

The Spizzanotti attack of January 22, 1851

“On January 22, 1851, approximately two hundred Spizzanotti and other Ottoman subjects of Albania attacked some Montenegrini who were guarding their flock in a mountain area of ​​Pastrovicchio. They wounded one, killed a second and stole the animals. A small number of Pastrovicchians who rushed to the scene ordered the Spizzanotti to leave the stolen animals in Austrian territory and to retreat beyond the border.

The Spizzanotti responded instead with threats which led to the exchange of several gunshots. One Pastrovicchiano was slightly wounded but one of the Spizzanotti was more seriously wounded. The latter then retreated with the loot. The political authority immediately turned to the vice-consul in Scuttari, protesting to that pasha for the violation of Austrian territory and demanding the punishment of the guilty parties.”⁸

500 Montenegrins attack the village of Spizza in Albania on January 26, 1851

“1851: (Turkey.) On January 26th, 500 Montenegrins attacked the village of Spizza in Albania, as usual planning to exact family revenge. A lively battle ensued in which the Montenegrins came out on the losing end. Two of them and one Spizzanotte were killed. Later that day, the Capuchin friar Basiltus was found beheaded in his room in Antioch. The murder is attributed to the religious fanaticism of the population of Antioch and a robbery, as the monk was to receive 1,200 florins to buy a plot of land for construction.”⁹

The Montenegrin attack on Spizza on October 26, 1851

“On the 26th of October, five hundred Montenegrins attacked the village of Spizza in Albania, either to plunder as usual or to exact family revenge. A lively battle ensued, in which the Montenegrins were outmatched. Two of them and one Spizzanotte were killed. Their alleged border encroachment on Italian territory will likely not go unpunished.”¹⁰

Montenegrin troops kill a Spizzanotti in 1864

“1864: Turkey They write from the Austro-Ottoman borders on August 5th to the Trieste Office. The Turkish-Montenegrin Commission is proceeding with the demarcation of the borders without any opposition along the line drawn by the previous mixed Commission of the five Powers.

Where there is wood, it is cut down, where there is earth, a deep canal is opened, and where there is stone, a pole is planted to distinguish the two territories. It seems that the borders thus established will be rigorously respected since the day before yesterday a castrato belonging to the Spizzanotti family was immediately killed by the Montenegrins for having passed into their territory.

The Spizzanotti family were not in the least offended by this act, as they are certain that they will not remain in debt to their neighbors. The dispute over the reintegration of the lands that will have changed ownership as a result of the aforementioned demarcation will be a serious issue and cannot be easily resolved, since, in addition to the fact that the Montenegrins, poor as they are, would not be able to pay the money for the Spizzanotti lands. They don’t even want to know about this reinstatement, claiming to have conquered those lands with weapons and to have also been in possession of them for 15 and 20 years.”¹¹

The Montenegrins cut down ancient olive trees of Spiç and Shushan in 1878

“The countryside is covered in olive trees, which produce a rich oil. The olive trees are centuries-old, often truly colossal, which is not the case in Dalmatia, especially in Šušanj and the countryside of Antivari, where, however, they were largely cut down in 1878.”¹²

Montenegrin impose high taxes on the Spizzanotti in 1911

“The Spizzanotti family, towards the end of the 17th century, acquired almost all of the Antivari countryside, and even today they are the largest landowners there, despite the rather heavy taxes to which they are subjected by the Montenegrin government. Western Spizzanotti, using their poverty as a shield, were required only to provide personal services. The eastern Spizzanotti, on the other hand, and especially those of Šušanj, paid a tax on their main products, ranging from 5 to 10 percent, according to a tariff whose value often varied at will, and which for oil, wine, brandy, and grain was specifically calculated and controlled”.¹³

References

1. Prepiska mitropolita Vasilija, mitropolita Save i crnogorskih glavara 1752-1759. Vasilije (Metropolitan Ruler of Montenegro), Dušan D. Vuksan, 1928 ↩︎
2. Nekoliko dokumenta o misiji kneza Dolgorukovog u Crnoj Gori 1769 Stjepan Antoljak, 1949 ↩︎
3. Foglio di Verona 1832 ↩︎
4. Gazzetta privilegiata di Bologna 1839 ↩︎
5. Gazzetta privilegiata di Bologna, 1840 ↩︎
6. Magdeburgische Zeitung Anhalter Anzeiger. 1851,1/3 1851 ↩︎
7. “La” Bilancia Giornale di Milano 1851 ↩︎
8. “L’”arco della pace gazzetta del Popolo · Volume 1, 1851. ↩︎
9. Würzburger Abendblatt Volume 11 1851 ↩︎
10. Leipziger Zeitung 1851 ↩︎
11. “L’”Eco delle alpi retiche 1864. ↩︎
12. imbid ↩︎
13. Storia e costituzione dei comuni dalmati, Francesco Madirazza, 1911. ↩︎

Authored and researched by Petrit Latifi on November 5, 2025.