Summary: This page lists clerics and learned men associated with Arba (Rab, Dalmatia) and Arbanum (Albania), showing that by the 11th–13th centuries, Latin sources already used the terms Arbanensis and Arbanum to denote Albanian origin. Teudericus Arbanensis (1049) is one of the earliest recorded individuals described as Albanian in Latin documents.
ARBENSIS
In Dalmatia, from the city of Arba, under the archbishopric of Zadar.
Aloysius Arbensis, year 1514, xiv. 860. c
Aloysius from Arba (Rab, Dalmatia), recorded in 1514.
Gregorius Arbensis, year 1075, xii. 591. e
Gregory of Arba, mentioned in 1075.
Andreas Arbensis, in provincia Laderensi, year 1179, xiii. 415. d
Andrew from the province of Zadar, in 1179.
Ioannes Arbensis, year 1439, xviii. 921. c
John from Arba, attested in 1439.
Vincentius, Nicensianus Arbensis, in concilio Lateranensi, year 1515, xix. 937. b — idem anno 1563; xx. 200. d
Vincent of Arba (Nicensian), present at the Lateran Council in 1515 and again in 1563.
Dominicus archipresbyter Arbanensis, xiii. 748. b
Dominic, archpriest of Arbanum (Arbanensis — “of the Albanians”)
Description: The term Arbanensis here refers to Arbanum, a medieval Latin name used for the Albanian region or people. Dominic, thus, was an Albanian archpriest, recorded around the 13th century (possibly mid-1200s).
ARBINENSIS
(The same as Arbensis, that is, of Arba)
Maginandus Arbinensis, year 1059, xii. 52. a
Maginandus from Arba (Rab), in 1059.
Teudericus Arbanensis, year 1049, xi. 1366. a
Teuderic the Arbanensian (Albanian), in 1049.
Description: The form Arbanensis again clearly means of the Albanians. This is one of the earliest Latin references to a person explicitly designated as Albanian, dating from the mid-11th century.
Two notable Albanian-linked figures here are:
Dominicus Arbanensis (13th century) – Albanian archpriest.
Teudericus Arbanensis (1049) – One of the earliest recorded individuals described as Albanian in Latin documents.
Reference
Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica Hieronymi Fabrici. Giovanni (Joannes) Albert Fabricius, published in the 1700s.
