Materials translated by Petrit Latifi. Gathered by Biz Rumeliyiz.
This is records of first Shkreli from kadaster record from the year of 1416 in the Venetian state archive. The picture is grave of Zuko Shkreli who emigrated in 1853 from Rugova Shkrel to Pester. His grave is in Çafa across Naboje village in Tutin.
This cartographic document, preserved in the Ottoman Archives, represents a late nineteenth-century boundary delimitation map produced by an international commission following the territorial reconfigurations of the Balkans.
Dated November 1879 and signed by the Italian commissioner Giuseppe Ottolenghi, the map illustrates the newly defined frontier between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire, particularly in the region surrounding Lake Skadar (Lago di Scutari).
The document reflects the technical and political processes of border demarcation in the aftermath of diplomatic negotiations that sought to stabilize the region by translating treaty provisions into precise geographic boundaries. Its use of standardized symbols, measured scales, and multilingual annotations demonstrates the increasing professionalization of cartography and international territorial administration.
Transcribed
“Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Ottoman Archives Department Directorate (BOA)
DELIMITATION COMMISSION
MONTENEGRO
Supplement to report numbered No. 53
Demonstrative sketch of the new boundaries
between Turkey and Montenegro–Fiume
Scale 1:150,000
KOČIJA
ERUDI
LAKE SCUTARI
Conventional symbols
Frontier between Albania and Montenegro
River
Road, route of the Italian Commission
Named mountains and lakes
Notice
1 – The determined point indicated with a cross [illegible]
2 – Elevations are expressed in meters above sea level
3 – Linear measurements are expressed in meters
4 – Points determined by the Commission [illegible]
April 24 – November 1879
The Commissioner
G. Ottolenghi”.
The 600 year old migration pattern of the Shkreli tribe
Comments from Turkish historian who translated Otroman documents about Shkreli
POLICY OF HÜDAVERDİ PASHA TOWARD THE ŠKRELI AND KELMENDI: AMNESTY AND SETTLEMENT (1702)
Location reference: 112-1051
File/Appendix: —
Institution: A.{DVNSMHM.d…
Language: —
Document date: H-29-02-1114 (approximately 1702) / Monday, 24 July 1702 (Gregorian)
Document Summary:
To Hüdâverdi Pasha, governor of the sanjak of Iskenderiye and Dukagjin:
Some of the Albanians (Arnauts) from the sanjak of Iskenderiye, who had previously rebelled, left their homes and came into the Ottoman Empire. Upon their arrival, they, their families, and their property were granted an amannâme (a charter of safe conduct), ensuring that they would not be harmed, and temporary places of residence were assigned to them. Most of them later accepted Islam and were placed under protection.
(Safar 1114 / dated in the “evâhir” – the last days of the month)
June/July 1702
In the sanjak of Iskenderiye, among the Albanians known as “Kelmendi,” who had raised rebellions in previous years, some voluntarily and others through your mediation as mirmiran (provincial governor) left their homes and came with their families into Islamic territory. They declared loyalty to the Ottoman State and requested forgiveness for their previous actions. Therefore, they were granted the Sultan’s amannâme, allowing them to live in peace, guaranteeing that no one would interfere with their families, lands, or property. Afterward, they were temporarily settled in places without reaya (tax-paying subjects), pending assignment of permanent settlements.
Now, the majority of this group has accepted Islam. Therefore, it is necessary that they be protected and supervised, assigned suitable places to live, and that their status be properly arranged. Accordingly, when my imperial decree reaches you:
- Carefully arrange for them to be settled in places appropriate to their condition;
- In the sanjaks of Prizren and Vučitrn, among abandoned places without reaya, let them themselves choose locations suitable for living and that will not cause harm to the local population;
- So that no future disputes arise such as “this is my old place and property,” thoroughly investigate everything and only then assign such places to them as permanent settlements, carry out their relocation and settlement;
- Ensure that they are under protection and supervision, regulate their lives, and enable them to secure a better livelihood;
- Those who have already settled, begun cultivating land, and refuse to be relocated should not be forced to move, but should remain where they are, resolving the matter through their voluntary consent;
After completing all this, report the matter in writing to my Imperial Porte.
BEO_001152_086343_001_001
Number: 1475
Draft date of the document: 21 June 1314 AH (3 July 1898)
Fair copy date: 22 June 1314 AH (4 July 1898)
To the Ministry of Finance
Since Adem Jusuf, from the Rugova district (nahija) in İpek (Peja), became disabled after being wounded in the war with Montenegro and has since been unable to perform work that would provide him with income, and has thereby fallen into hardship, we are enclosing the memorandum (mazbata) submitted by the Administrative Council of the Kosovo Vilayet, as well as the letter of the Ministry of the Interior dated 10 Safar 1316 AH (30 June 1898), number 1475, with the request that an appropriate monthly allowance be granted to the above-mentioned person and that action be taken accordingly.
Sources
Archivio di Stato di Venezia. Cadastre Record Mentioning Shkreli (1416). Venetian State Archives, Venice.
Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi (Ottoman Archives). Policy of Hüdâverdi Pasha toward the Shkreli and Kelmendi: Aman and Settlement (1702). A.{DVNSMHM.d…, 29 Safar 1114 AH (24 July 1702).
Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi (Ottoman Archives). Map of the Proposed Ottoman–Montenegrin Border Following the Congress of Berlin. Vilayet of Shkodër – North, Commissione di Delimitazione del Montenegro. Signed G. Ottolovisky. Rome, c. January 1880. Scale 1:100,000. Fond HRT.h, Record 294.
Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi (Ottoman Archives). Petition Regarding Monthly Compensation for Adem Jusuf of Rugova. BEO_001152_086343_001_001–002, 21–22 June 1314 AH (3–4 July 1898).
Ottoman Archival Translation (Turkish historian, unpublished commentary). Commentary on Ottoman Documents Concerning the Shkreli Tribe.
Grave of Zuko Shkreli (d. after 1853 migration from Rugova to Pešter). Çafa, near Naboje village, Tutin. Field documentation/photo.
Documentation on Migration Routes of the Shkreli to Istanbul. Private collection.
