Text and image from Krajapress.
Montenegro was inhabited by an Illyrian–Albanian population. The Montenegrin identity was formed much later, with the creation of this term by the Slavs and their Orthodox Church at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, when the assimilation of Albanian tribes also began.
Shared Illyrian–Balkan heritage
The text emphasizes that Montenegrin tribes and Albanian tribes share a common ancient Illyrian and Balkan foundation. This is connected to the fact that both peoples lived in inaccessible mountainous areas (the Albanian Alps, Malësia e Madhe, the highlands of Montenegro), where ancient customs were preserved for a longer time.
Villages and shared customs
The word katund (village) is mentioned as a socio-economic unit used in these areas. Montenegrin and Albanian tribes had very similar tribal structures: councils of elders, customary laws, divisions into bajraks (banners/tribal units) and brotherhoods.
The process of Slavicization
The text states that part of these tribes became linguistically Slavicized during the Middle Ages (that is, they adopted Slavic languages), while another part remained Albanian. However, both sides preserved many shared elements of culture and customary law.
Continuity of an indigenous civilization
The author calls this an ancient indigenous civilization that preserved old tribal laws and values expressed in terms such as:
Čojstvo (manliness, honor – Montenegrin term)
Besa (pledge of honor, trust – Albanian term)
These two values represent the moral code of the highlanders, both Albanian and Montenegrin.
Maps and tribes
On the poster there is a map showing Albanian and Montenegrin tribes such as: Kelmendi, Kuçi, Hoti, Gruda, Piperi, Kastrati, Triepshi, Shkreli, Plava, Gucia, Morača, Piperi, Bjelopavlići, etc. These tribes often share common histories, including wars against Ottoman rulers, but also conflicts among themselves.
Conclusion
Albanians and Montenegrins share a common Illyrian-Balkan root.
The linguistic difference (Albanian vs. Slavic languages) appeared later, mainly after the Middle Ages. Beyond differences, tribal culture, honor, besa, and manliness have always connected them.
In simple terms, this is an attempt to show that Albanians and Montenegrins are not two completely different peoples, but two branches of a shared Balkan-Illyrian trunk, separated more by historical and linguistic processes than by origin.
The Kuči tribe
Kuči is one of the best-known tribes on the border between Malësia e Madhe and Montenegro. Initially it was an Albanian tribe (many Kuči families spoke Albanian). During the Middle Ages, part of the tribe became linguistically Slavicized and today identifies as Montenegrin. However, many Albanian songs and legends still mention the Kuči as part of the highland tribal world.
Thus, there is a division today: Albanian Kuči and Montenegrin Kuči – the same origin, but different language and identity.
The Hoti tribe
Hoti is an indigenous Albanian tribe on the Albania–Montenegro border. They are Catholic Albanians known for their code of honor and resistance to Ottoman rule. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hoti was among the main tribes defending the northern Albanian frontier. Unlike Kuči, Hoti did not become Slavicized and preserved the Albanian language and identity.
The Kelmendi tribe
Kelmendi is a large Albanian tribe located in northern Albania and in Montenegro (Tuz, Plav, Gusinje). They are known for their resistance against the Ottoman Empire, including a famous uprising in 1638. Although some migrated to Kosovo, Bosnia, and even Dalmatia, they preserved the Albanian language. Kelmendi also has close kinship ties with several Montenegrin tribes.
The Gruda tribe
Gruda is an Albanian tribe near Podgorica. Like Hoti and Kelmendi, Gruda remained Albanian in both language and identity. They shared similar customs with neighboring Montenegrin tribes, including councils, tribal banners, warfare traditions, and the concept of besa.
The Piperi tribe
Piperi today are considered a Montenegrin tribe, but many scholars argue that they have Albanian origins. In the Middle Ages they were connected with Albanian tribal alliances and often fought together with Hoti and Kuči. Today they are almost fully Slavicized but still retain Albanian place names and historical memory.
Plav and Gusinje
These two regions were historically inhabited mostly by Albanians (Kelmendi, Hoti, Gruda, etc.). Over time, after Ottoman rule and later incorporation into the Montenegrin state, part of the population became Slavicized. Nevertheless, a large Albanian population still lives there today.
What do these examples show?
Albanians and Montenegrins emerged from related tribal roots in the western Balkans. The process of linguistic Slavicization during the Middle Ages led some tribes to adopt a Montenegrin identity, while others remained Albanian. However, customs, honor, besa, manliness, and tribal social structures remain remarkably similar.
