Qazim Namani: The state of cultural heritage 1999-2012 and the list of monuments under permanent protection
This article by Qazim Namani analyzes the state of cultural heritage in Kosovo during the period 1999–2012, focusing on the process of compiling lists of monuments under permanent protection. It highlights the extensive damage to cultural heritage caused by war, neglect, and uncontrolled urban development after 1999. Namani argues that the expansion of heritage lists…
Albanians of Rugova: Rexhep Lajçi, Rame Tahiri, Mikel Sadria, Imer Zeneli (son of Zenel Syla) and Mehmet Beka
Albanians of Rugova: From left: Rexhep Lajçi, Rame Tahiri, Mikel Sadria, Imer Zeneli (son of Zenel Syles) and Mehmet Beka
Albanian hero Ejup Lah Pacolli (1911–2006)
A fellow fighter of the Shytë Marec ballistic battalion and a participant in the Shytë Marec group that provided assistance to Molla Idriz Gjilani in the Battle of Gjilan.in 1945 Ejup was born in the village of Gllamivadë, Marec, and died in Slovi, Lypljan.
Adem Bajraktari Radonaj
“One of the branches of the Kuç tribe is the Radonçiqe of Guci. With their settlement in Guci, over time they changed their faith, from Orthodoxy to Islam. During the time of the League of Prizren, this family produced fierce warriors such as: Huso, Halil and Sylë Radomçiqi who, together with the brave leader Adem…
Theodoros Kolokotronis (Theodor Bythguri or Bithgur) the Arvanite and grandson of Jani Boçka
According to Antonio Bellusci, the surname Kollokotronis originates from a nickname given to the hero’s grandfather, Jani Boçka. Described as a large and physically powerful man with notably strong hips, he was jokingly called “Bithgur” by an Albanian, a term in Arvanite referring to firm, stable buttocks. Over time, this nickname replaced the family surname…
The three brothers of Skanderbeg who were poisoned in Edtine by the Turkish Government in 1443
This article discusses an engraving depicting the three brothers of Skanderbeg who were poisoned in the palace of Sultan Murat. The portraits were copied from engravings of the time and were brought to Albania in the 30s of the last century by Dr. Ibrahim Temo. On the back it states “The three brothers of Skanderbeg…
The Arvanitic Language in Greece: History, Identity, and Recognition
This 1985 poster promotes the First Panhellenic Conference on the Arvanitic Language, held in Athens with support from the Greek Ministry of Culture. It presents Arvanitic as one of the oldest Indo-European languages and an inseparable part of Greek historical identity. By invoking revolutionary heroes such as Markos Botsaris and Miaoulis, the event emphasizes Arvanitic…
Old manuscripts from Elbasan in Albanian from the 18th century
Old manuscripts from Elbasan in Albanian from the 18th century. This article discusses old manuscripts in Albanian from t8th century. Avni Rustem Mahmutaj writes: “Never seen before, that I was able to secure today. It is about 44 pages of manuscripts (author unknown) found in Elbasan. These manuscripts were sent to the Austrian Consul J.…
Arvanites in the Greek War of Independence
The proclamation argues that the Greek uprising of 1821 was largely shaped by Arvanites, both Christian and Muslim, who fought decisively against Ottoman rule. Island heroes from Spetses, Poros, and Kranidi, as well as fighters from Souli, Himara, and many regions of mainland Greece, are described as Arvanite in origin. It emphasizes cooperation between Greeks…
Migration of an Albanian family from Georgia Batumi to Sakarya Hendek
The article focuses on an Albanian family that migrated from Batumi, Georgia, to Sakarya Hendek during the War of 93 in 1877–1878. A gravestone in Lütfiye village contains an inscription identifying the deceased as Arnavutoğlu Shah Ismail, confirming Albanian presence in Batumi. His sons’ tombstones carry the same designation. Shah Ismail died in 1910, and…
The Selimaj Family who defended Nokshiq in 1879: Brah Zhujë Nokshiqi Selimaj (1884-1991) and his son Avdi Brah Selimaj (1940-2024)
This article is dedicated to the Selimaj family of Vraqev of Nokshiq, an area known during the Battle of Nokshiq in 1879 where Albanians defended their country from Montenegrin invaders. There are 4 families from Nokshiq; Buqaj, Selimaj , Mekuli and Mehaj. The father of Brah Zhujë Nokshiqi – known as Zhujë – fought at…
Did a notorious Serbian mercenary kill the British journalist? Investigations into the shocking crime are relaunched
British police have reopened the investigation into the 1999 murder of TV presenter Jill Dando after new evidence published by the Mirror linked Serbian mercenary Milorad Ulemek to the crime. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, a photograph showing Ulemek wearing a distinctive striped tie matching that of a mysterious man seen fleeing the scene, and…
Shejh Ibrahim Muçaj – A Devoted Heir of the Path of Dervish Salihu
The article portrays Shejh Ibrahim Muçaj as a devoted spiritual heir of Dervish Salihu and a respected religious and national figure in Has. After inheriting leadership of the tekke from his father, he expanded its spiritual life, strengthened its organization, and served the community until his death in 1989. Beyond religious duties, he showed moral…
The Serbian and Turkish murder of Isuf Bardhosh Haklaj of Isniq (1873-1913) in April 1913
The text recounts the forgotten story of Isuf Bardhosh Haklaj from Isniq, who is claimed to be the first person to raise the Albanian flag of independence on November 28, 1912, under the orders of Isa Boletini and Ismail Qemali. According to eyewitness testimony, he replaced the Turkish flag with the Albanian flag near Deçan.…
Martin Çuni: A Letter from the infamous Serbian prison of Nish
The text is a heartfelt letter written in 1989 by Martin Çuni from a Serbian prison to his wife, Mrikë, on her birthday. He reflects on love, distance, memory, and the meaning of life, expressing how separation deepens his affection and longing. Martin values simplicity, kindness, and harmony, while criticizing jealousy, hatred, and moral decay…
Unë më Sheh Abedinin (The Imam of Our Village Will See Me)
Unë më Sheh Abedinin follows Jashar, a young man in an Albanian village during the 1940s and 1950s, as he works with his brother to prepare feed for their animals. As they labor in the fields, Jashar encounters the imam, Sheh Abedini, and other community figures, whose discussions reveal the local political and cultural tensions.…
Nehat Hyseni: Serbian Control over Tito and the Position of Albanians in Yugoslavia
Nehat Hyseni’s article examines how Serbian political control over Josip Broz Tito influenced the treatment of Albanians within Yugoslavia. Despite Tito being of Croatian origin, Serbia, through key figures like Aleksandar Ranković, maintained significant influence over the Yugoslav government. This control led to policies that undermined the position of Albanians, subjecting them to repression and…
Unmasking Serbian Oppression Against Albanians: Stories of Resistance, Injustice, and Survival
This collection highlights the oppression and resilience of Albanians under Serbian rule, focusing on key historical moments like the 1999 Kosovo liberation and the traumatic experiences of figures like Halil Bllaca, Nezir Gashi, and Kadri Kusari. It discusses the torture and imprisonment of Albanians, particularly in notorious Serbian prisons, and the fight for freedom despite…
Colonialism in the Balkans: Serbian and Montenegrin Dominance Over Albanians
The article discusses the colonialism imposed by Serbia and Montenegro on the Albanian population from the 19th to 20th centuries. It highlights how Albanians were subjected to territorial expansion, ethnic assimilation, cultural suppression, and forced displacement by both states, which parallels colonial practices seen in other parts of the world. The article emphasizes that Albanians…
Notable Scientific and Cultural Figures of the Albanians from the Preshevë Valley and other Albanian regions
Arben Kondi’s speech at a conference in Preševo honors Abedin Pasha Dino, a distinguished figure in Chamëria and Albania’s history. Born in 1843, Dino was a key figure in the Albanian National Renaissance, known for his roles as a diplomat, economist, and patriot. He actively defended Albanian lands against foreign encroachments, particularly Greece, and played…
The Myth That You Have About Albania and the Albanians
The text critiques modern criticism of Albania, particularly when it targets the nation as a whole rather than focusing on political issues. Gëzim Mekuli compares contemporary criticism of Albania to a 1937 Serbian propaganda document by Vaso Çubrilović, which advocated for the expulsion of Albanians. Mekuli argues that while criticizing the government is important, attacking…
When the German General Helmut Harff liberated the Albanian people from Serbian Chetnik paramilitary criminals in 1999
When the German General Helmut Harff liberated the Albanian people from Serbian Chetnik paramilitary criminals in 1999
Shaxhar al-Durr, the woman who was born a slave, was sold to Egypt and founded a dynasty that ruled for 267 years
Shaxhar al-Durr, born a slave in Central Asia, rose to prominence in 13th-century Egypt. After marrying Sultan al-Salih Ayyubi, she became his advisor. In 1249, when the Crusader King Louis IX invaded Egypt, Shaxhar took control after her husband’s death, leading Egyptian forces to a victory at the Battle of Mansurah. She was briefly crowned…
Fazli Zenuni (1941-2017), from the village of Çabër, Mitrovica, convicted by the Yugoslav regime and betrayed by the Albanian Communists
Fazli Zenuni (1941-2017), from the village of Çabër, Mitrovica, convicted by the Yugoslav regime, came to Albania in 1966 to escape, but was convicted 4 times for political reasons. He suffered almost 20 years of deprivation of liberty and humiliation in the camps and prisons of the internationalist communist regime. This is the photo of…
Nikaj-Mërturi and the Malësia e Gjakovës in the Battle of Maraça, 1871
The Battle of Maraça in 1871 was a significant confrontation in which Albanian tribes, particularly from Nikaj-Mërturi and Malësia e Gjakovës, fought against the Ottoman forces. Despite being poorly equipped, the Albanians emerged victorious, albeit with heavy casualties. This battle, along with others that followed, highlighted the Albanian resistance against Ottoman oppression and betrayal by…
Gashi in the Pantheon of the Nation
The Gashi tribe, one of the oldest clans in the Tropoja region, has a rich history dating back to the Illyrian and Dardanian civilizations. Situated between Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, the tribe has resisted numerous invaders, including the Ottomans, Montenegrins, and Austro-Hungarians. Known for their bravery, Gashi played a key role in the Albanian uprisings…
A Register of Albanian Warriors from Himara from 1532
A 1532 letter from Himara, Albania, to the Spanish imperial representative, the Marquis of Atripalda, discusses the military potential of Albanian villages. The letter includes a detailed register listing the villages and the number of men each could provide for defense, offering insight into the region’s military structure. It also addresses territorial issues, specifically regarding…
How The Orthodox Clergy and Chetnik Community Brainwashes Serbian Society into Narcissism
This essay argues that Serbian nationalist violence is best understood through the lens of collective narcissism sustained by religious and ideological institutions. The Serbian Orthodox Church, in alliance with ultra-nationalist movements, has transformed historical grievance into a sacralized identity defined by victimhood, moral exceptionalism, and denial. By mythologizing Ottoman rule, erasing Serbian atrocities, and externalizing…
Mal Dula Bajraktari (1851-1914) of Gjakova
Mal Dula Bajraktari, born in the Gjakova Highlands, was a prominent leader and military commander who fought for Albanian independence. A key figure during the late 19th century, he led the Bytyçi wing in the defense of Albanian lands against Ottoman and Slavic forces. Mal Dula participated in significant battles, including those at Plav and…
Halil Brahim Bajraktari (b. 1838) of Gjakova
Halil Brahim Bajraktari (b. 1838) was a leading figure of the Gjakova Highlands and a delegate to the Prizren League, representing the Gashi tribe in battles and assemblies. He and his family, prominent local bajraktars, played key roles in resisting Ottoman, Serbian, and Montenegrin forces during the 19th century. Halil commanded forces in major uprisings,…
Book from 1836: Colocotroni (Theodoros Kolokotronis, Theodor Bythguri) is an Albanian
The 1836 account describes Theodoros Kolokotronis, also called Colocotroni or Theodor Bythguri, as an Albanian and an outlawed kleftis, a type of armed warrior or bandit. In his youth, he participated in raids against Ottoman forces in the Morea. During one expedition, he and seven or eight companions were pursued by Turkish troops and sought…
Muslim Albanians of Vranje and the surrounding area
Vranja from the 15h century functioned as a key military, trade, and administrative hub. Its kaza encompassed numerous villages and rural settlements. Muslim Albanians were a major demographic group, shaping the city’s social, economic, and cultural life, while preserving the Albanian language and traditions. Interfaith coexistence was largely harmonious, with religious affiliation not strictly aligned…
Albanian patriot Tahir Sejfiu Zhegoci (1880-1957)
Tahir Sejfiu was born in 1880 in the village of Zhegoci, in the heart of Anamorava, where he spent his entire life and died in 1957. Known for his wisdom, manliness and loyalty, he left an indelible mark on local and national history, as a figure who never bowed to injustice. A wise, loyal man…
New Data From Archeological Excavations at Hisar, Suhareka
The rescue excavations at Hisar in Suhareka (2023–2024) revealed a complex, multilayered settlement inhabited from the Late Neolithic to the Hellenistic period. Archaeological evidence includes Eneolithic Baden–Kostolac materials, Bronze Age domestic features, Iron Age metallurgical activity, and Hellenistic ceramics, including imported wares. The site expanded eastward during the Late Eneolithic and reached its greatest extent…
Many of the victims of Vlad the Impaler were Christians
In John Freely’s book “he Grand Turk: Sultan Mehmet II – Conqueror of Constantinople, Master of an Empire and Lord of Two Seas” we can read that Vlad The Impaler killed many Christian victims. “Vlad justified these massacres on grounds of piety, which rings all the more false since the majority of his victims were…
The Legend of the Nemuna Mountains and the Albanian Bogë tribe
The text reflects on the belief that truth and knowledge exist within one’s own land, preserved in regional legends. The author recounts a memorable story told by a mountaineer from Bogë about the mythical origins of the Boga tribe and nearby peoples of the Namuna Mountains. According to the legend, two divine brothers descended from…
The Bajraktar Hysen Bajri Muriqi (1848-1875) from Koshutan of Rugova who fell heroically at the Battle of Shekullar in 1875
Hysen Bajri was an Albanian Flagbearer (“Bajraktar”) born in 1848 in Koshutan, Rugova. He was the younger brother of Kadri Bajri. As a young man, he joined the warriors of Rugova and his older brother Kadri Bajri, to defend the Albanian lands from the Ottoman and Serbian advances in Montenegro. In all the wars he…
Yugoslav and Serbian Communist Oppression, Atrocities, War Crimes and Imprisonment of the Albanians of Gjilan (1945-1990)
The article explores the systematic oppression of the Albanian population in Gjilan (Kosovo) under the Yugoslav and Serbian communist regimes from 1945 to 1990. It highlights widespread human rights violations, including imprisonment, forced assimilation, and ethnic persecution, targeting Albanians. Through archival research and personal testimonies, the paper documents atrocities and war crimes committed during this…
The Albanian Kaçak Movement in Anamorava (1918-1939)
From 1918 to 1939, the Kaçak movement in Anamorava waged guerrilla warfare against Serbian and Yugoslav occupation, building on centuries of Albanian armed resistance. Initially small and local, it gained political and national character under the Kosovo National Defense Committee, led by figures such as Azem Bejtë-Galica and Hasan Prishtina. Local leaders like Lotë Vaku,…
Serbian and Bulgarian oppression and atrocities committed against the Albanians of Gjilan (1912-1918)
Between 1912 and 1918, Gjilan faced repeated invasions and occupations by Serbian and Bulgarian forces following the collapse of Ottoman rule. Local Albanian leaders, notably Idriz Seferi, organized volunteers to defend the region but were ultimately overwhelmed. The Serbian occupation brought massacres, land confiscations, forced migration, and the settlement of Serbian and Montenegrin colonists. During…
The Communist Serbo-Yugoslav torture of the Albanian Fazli Deli Zenuni of Mitrovica (b 1941)
Fazli Deli Zenuni, born in 1941 in Çabër near Mitrovica, endured nearly 20 years of harsh imprisonment under Yugoslav and Albanian communist regimes. After seeking refuge in Albania in 1966, he faced repeated convictions, isolation, and forced relocation, living in Shijak, Rubik, Kukës, Çermë, Ballsh, and Zejmen. Introduced to internationalist communist ideology, he attempted escape…
A collection of Onomastic, Linguistic, Etymological, Mythological and Historical Studies of The Proto-Albanian Language and Alphabet by Albanian Researchers
This Balkan Academia collection presents a multidisciplinary survey of studies on the Proto‑Albanian language and alphabet. Compiled by Petrit Latifi, it includes contributions examining ancient inscriptions, early Albanian gospel texts, bas‑reliefs with Albanian names, and rare 19th‑century manuscripts. Scholars such as Alexander Hasanas, Eli Eli, Agron Dalipaj, Nikos Stilos, Vullnet Xhango, and others offer linguistic,…
Etnor Canaj: The Ballsh Inscription and Robert Monteforte: Archaeological and Historical Evidence from Mallakastër
The Basilica of Ballsh in Mallakastër, Albania, preserves a limestone slab bearing Greek inscriptions documenting the baptism of Prince Boris of Bulgaria and his people in 866 CE. Austrian archaeologist Camillo Praschniker first recorded the site in 1918, revealing its early medieval Christian significance. The slab’s secondary inscription commemorates Norman knight Robert Monteforte, who served…
Albanian text written in Cadmenian letters
This article presents an archaic Arberian (Arvanite) revolutionary song from Spetses, preserved in Greek-script photowriting and transliterated into Latin characters and Albanian. The text is analysed as historical testimony to the role of Arvanite speakers in the Greek War of Independence, linguistic evidence for early Albanian-Greek contact, and identity evidence challenging later national narratives. By…
Forty “sisters” of the Goddess on the Throne (Hyjneshës në Fron)
On September 9, an important archaeological discovery was made in Dardhishte (formerly Krushevc), in the Municipality of Obiliq. A local resident noticed part of an anthropomorphic ceramic figure emerging from the ground and informed the Kosovo Museum. Archaeologists quickly began excavations, which lasted 25 days and were led by Luan Gashi. The team uncovered nearly…
When armed Serbian forces murdered a 87 year old unarmed woman looking for her grandson grave who was also killed by Serbs
Naile Canolli Jahiri, known as Gjysha Nole, was an Albanian woman born in 1912 whose life became a symbol of sacrifice, dignity, and unwavering love for family and homeland. During the Kosovo War, on May 22, 1999, she was killed by Serbian forces while walking from Vërbica e Žegoc to Marec to find the grave…
The Albanian martyr Astrit Suli from the village of Luzaj of Berat who resisted the Serbian invaders in 1998-1999
The Albanian martyr Astrit Suli from the village of Luzaj of Berat who resisted the Serbian invaders in 1998-1999. This is an article dedicated to the Albanian martyr Astrit Suli, from the village of Luzaj in the Berat district, who left exile to join the KLA.
The Brigët/Brygët as an Illyrian tribe in ancient sources
This study reassesses the ethnic identity of the Brygians (Brigët) in the Western Balkans using Strabo’s Geography as primary evidence. Ancient authors classified peoples mainly through geography and tribal proximity rather than explicit ethnic labels. Strabo places the Brygians together with undisputed Illyrian tribes such as the Taulants, Parthines, and Byliones between Epidamnus, Apollonia, and…
Illyrian onomastics as evidence of Indo-European grammatical developments
This study explores Illyrian personal names as linguistic evidence for Indo-European grammatical continuity and their relevance to the historical development of Albanian. The mythic name Tyrimmas / Tirimmas is compared with Albanian trim ‘hero’, suggesting a phonological development in which Proto-Indo-European o shifts to a, reflected in the accusative form Turimman. The reconstructed form *truimos…
The Serbian expropriation of Albanian land in Shkup (Skopje) after the Serbian invasion and (1912)
This text examines patterns of land ownership in the Skopje Plain (Skopsko Polje) during the final years of Ottoman administration and the early post-Ottoman period. It identifies major Muslim landholding families and individuals, describes the presence of vakuf lands whose revenues supported religious institutions, and notes the fragmentation of smaller estates across surrounding villages. The…
Albanian poetry about Serbian atrocities against Albanians of Nish, Leskoc, Vranje, Preshevë, Gjilan and Zhegovc (1912-1999)
This article is dedicated to a poem by Muazad writing about Serbian atrocities against the Albanians of Nish, Leskoc, Vranje, Preshevë, Gjilan and Zhegovc (1912-1999).
Photo from 1942: Albanian fighters Sak Faslia, Kolë Bibë Mirakaj, Bajram Gashi, Shaban Basha, Salih Canë Ukella, Sahit Mehmei of Loxha, Sali Rama Kelmendi, Ymer Zeneli Lajqi, Ramë Syla Muriqi, Ramë Beka Muriqi, Shaban Rrust Rugova and Rrust Sadri Elezi Rugova, and Imer Zenel Lajçi from Pepaj of Rugova, Imer Zenel Lajçi, and Syl Mehmeti Nikq
Photo from 1942 in Peja. Sak Faslia (in the middle with a flag in his hand) among the Rugova fighters together with the Albanian officers Kolë Bibë Mirakaj, Bajram Gashi and Shaban Basha. Here is also: Rud Halili, Salih Canë Ukella, Sahit Mehmeti from Loxha, killed in Cakorr, Sali Rama Kelmendi, Ymer Zeneli Lajqi, Ramë…
Albanian hero Hasan Rizë Muriqi of Koshutan of Rugova (killed in 1947 by the Yugoslav regime)
Hasan Riz Muriqi, son of Riz Zymer, was born in the village of Koshutan into a large and noble family of Zymer Selmanaj, where generation after generation fought against foreign invaders. Hasan was a young man who graduated from the School of Normala in Albania, capable and educated. Hasan was betrayed and killed in the…
Theodor Ippens analysis of Albanian toponyms in 1892: Leskovac was Lekofusha, Vranja was “Ujvarina”, and Gjilan was “Gjinhani”
This article analyzes historical toponyms recorded by Theodor Ippen in Novi Pazari dhe Kosova (1892), emphasizing the Albanian linguistic origins of several place names in the Raška region. Using historical maps and onomastic interpretation, it demonstrates how settlements such as Lekofusha, Ujvarina, and Gjinhani were later renamed into Slavic forms. These changes are interpreted as…
An analysis of the propaganda of Serbian author Miroljub Jevtic in his book “Albanians and Islam
This study offers a critical analysis of Miroljub Jevtić’s Albanians and Islam, arguing that the work functions as nationalist propaganda rather than scholarly research. Jevtić employs derogatory language, stereotypes, and cultural essentialism to delegitimize Albanian identity and political leadership. Albanian society is portrayed as passive and morally deficient, while Islam is reduced to an instrument…
The Orthodox Arbanasi (Albanians) of Vranje and its surroundings
This study analyzes the Orthodox Arbanasi of Vranje and its surroundings as an autochthonous Albanian population that existed prior to Serbian consolidation in the region. Using the works of Jovan Hadži-Vasiljević, the research shows that these communities were originally Albanian, later adopting Orthodoxy and gradually undergoing linguistic and cultural Slavization. Assimilation occurred through the Serbian…
Albanian patriots Avdyl Dura and Ram Beka who fought Yugoslav forces until death in 1949
This text examines the life, resistance, and martyrdom of Avdyl Dura (1893–1949), an Albanian nationalist from Duraj near Kaçanik, whose struggle reflects the broader suffering and resistance of Albanians in Kosovo during the 20th century. Through persecution under Bulgarian, Serbian, and Yugoslav rule, the Dura family endured imprisonment, executions, and collective punishment for their defiance.…
Paintings of Albanian women and men from Himara and Dhermi (1811)
In 1811, English painter William Innes Pocock traveled from Corfu to Himara and later to Dhermi, where he portrayed the beauty and character of local women and men. The people he met clearly identified themselves as Albanian, not Greek, a fact Pocock faithfully recorded despite his Hellenist background. At that time, later Greek claims and…
Albanian heroine and female UÇK warrior Lutfije Lejla Ramushi
This article is dedicated to Lutfije Lejla Ramushi, a former UÇK soldier who defended her homeland from Serbian aggressions in 1998-1999.
A Commemoration of the Albanian UÇK fighters of Gjakova, Peja, Malishevë, Lypjan, Deçan and Rogovë te Hasit
Agron Osman Rama
Agim Bardh Zeneli
Sejdi Avdyl Rama
Agush Asllan Gjocaj
Daut Idriz Kelmendi
Luan Avdi Smajli
Valon Muharrem Gashi
Bahtjar Avdyl Morina
Haxhi Hajdar Kleçka
Gëzim Qazim Ademaj
Emrush Çaush Çetaj
Naim Halil Dreshaj
Sahit Abdurrahman Krasniqi
Ilir Rexhep Merturi
Naim Xhafer Gashi
Vesel Sejdi Avdyli
Rrustem S. Morina
Selman Morina
Muhamet Morina
…
Albanian Imams Defended Novi Pazar from the Serbian Chetniks in World War 2
When Novi Pazar and Senica were threatened with extermination by the Serbian Chetniks, Mulla Jakup Efendi immediately organized the Rozaje and Bisevo people and also informed his friend in Kosovo, Shaban Polluzha, asking him to immediately come to the aid of the residents of Novi Pazar, because they were in danger from the Chetniks. These…
The Lahutar rhapsod Prelë Dedivanaj of Trieshi
In the repertoire of the Lahutar Gjokë Prela, a special place is occupied by old songs inherited with fanaticism from his ancestors. Songs that carry strong messages of life, endurance and bravery, with which the highlanders distinguished themselves generation after generation as a province. In the book Malësia e Madhe në Shekuj, the author Sokol…
The Latins – Catholic Albanians of Vranje
This study analyzes the term “Latins” used in Serbian historiography to describe an early population of Vranje and its surroundings. Drawing primarily on Jovan Hadži-Vasiljević, it demonstrates that these “Latins” were Catholic Albanians, not Slavs, and that they constituted an autochthonous population present before the arrival and dominance of the Serbian Orthodox element. Their disappearance…
The Greek invasion of Korça, Lake Presba and Albania in 1920
According to the publication “Albania’s Past and Present” by Constantin A. Chekrezi fromm 1919, after the French left Albania, the Greeks immediately invaded Albania in 1920. 21 of those invaded villages in Korça were given back to Albania, but the Greeks instead receieved Lake Presba, also inhabited by Albanians.
Serbian and Montenegrin massacres, atrocities and war crimes in the Albanian villages of Burim (Istog) (1912-1999)
Between 1912 and 1999, Serbian and Montenegrin invader forces committed many war crimes and atrocities against the Albanian civilian population in the villages of Burim (Istog). Many Serbian and Montenegrin (Slav) colonists also settled on Albanian villages whose inhabitants had been expelled or killed. Notorious Chetnik paramilitary vojvoda and murderer Milic Krstic (Milić Kërstić) is…
Albanian and Illyrian-Dardanian toponyms, onomastics and Pre-Slavic heritage of Burim (Istog) according to Dr. Jusuf Osmani’s 2004 study
The article describes several Kosovo villages with long histories dating back to medieval and even ancient times, with archaeological evidence like old church ruins and ancient road traces showing early settlement. It cites Ottoman records from 1458 and later statistics to outline population and household numbers. Many villages experienced changes in ethnic composition due to…
Albanian hero Islam Bali Nokshiqi (1919-1947)
Islam Bali Nokshiqi was an Albanian freedom fighter who was killed on the 5th of April 1947 by the Yugoslav Secret Service (UDB) in Molliq, Gjakova. He was the son of Bali Bajram Nokshiqi (1860-1944) who was killed in war fighting Serbian and Montenegrin invaders at the Battle of Shekular.
When the French newspaper Le Charivari asked the Albanian Arvanites to give up their language in 1862
According to “Document no. 63 of the album Arvanite – Arbërore – Albanian Language “, published in the InforCulture, the French newspaper Le Charivare asked the Albanians, the Arvanites, to give up their language (Albanian) in 1862. “Brave, may your revolution be a blessing even for poor students! Burn your dictionaries and grammars, give up…
The 93 year old Albanian Lahutar Nik. M. Prëla
Nik M. Prëla was the famous 93 year old lute player from Malèsia e Madhe who became a legend with his rhapsodies. During his artistic career he participated in many cultural and artistic events in Malësia e Madhe and beyond. In the book THE GREAT MOUNTAINS THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES, author Sokol P. Lulgjuraj pays special…
The Albanian regions of Zhlepi, Çakorr, Lug te Shtjerrav, Ishtedim, Hajla and Stanet demaracted to Montenegro and the expulsion of Albanian families
Yugoslav-era Montenegrin documents, geographic atlases, maps, photographs, and border stamps confirm that the administrative boundary followed mountain peaks such as Çakorr, Hajla, and Zhleb, with official border crossings at Çakorr and Kulla e Zhlepit. Despite this evidence, recent demarcation agreements transferred territories including Žleb, Hajla, and parts of Rugova to Montenegro. These changes led to…
The Albanian Assembly of Dobërdol in 1945
The Assembly of Dobërdol was a gathering Albanian freedom fighters seeking to unite Albanian lands from Serbo-Montengrin communist and partisan invasions in 1945. The photo shows Biko Dreshević (Bilal Dreshaj) (b. 1910-d. 1987) who had also brought with him four fugitives from the Sanxhak), who was the representative from the Sanxhak.
Albanian hero Zhuj Vesel Lajçi-Nilaj (1898-1999) and his sons Kapllan, Arif and Shaqir (murdered by Serbs in 1999)
Zhuj Vesel Lajçi-Nilaj (1898–1999) was an Albanian patriot from Rugova who dedicated his life to resisting Serbian and Yugoslav oppression. Orphaned in 1919, he joined the armed “Volunteers” during World War II, defending Albanian lands. Arrested in 1954, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent ten years in Niš and Idrizovo prisons. Even after…
Albanian hero Ahmet Selaci (1894-1947)
Ahmet Selaci (1894–1947) was a prominent Albanian patriot and resistance leader from Shala of Bajgora. During World War II and its aftermath, he served as mayor of Bare, led armed battles across Kosovo and Sandžak, and played a vital role in the Second League of Prizren and the NDSH. Selaci helped organize volunteer units, secured…
Albanian fighter Zhukë Haxhia (born 1885) from Rugova
Zhukë Haxhia (1885–1947) was a prominent Albanian fighter from Rugova who dedicated his life to national resistance. Descended from a renowned patriotic family active since the Albanian League of Prizren (1878), he distinguished himself through bravery and leadership in battles against Montenegrin forces in Luma, Berane, and Mokna. Widely respected, he served as mayor of…
Cynnane The Illyrian & The Perils of Onomastics
Cynnane, daughter of Philip II and the Illyrian princess Audata, is described by Duris of Samos as “the Illyrian” and credited with teaching her daughter Eurydice warfare. Some scholars have taken this as evidence of an Illyrian cultural or matriarchal tradition within the Macedonian royal house. This study challenges such views, arguing that Duris’ epithet…
Clothing according to age and marital status among Albanian women of Medvegja
The traditional clothing of Albanian women from the Medvegja region constitutes a special cultural asset, which has unfortunately been treated very little in ethnographic studies. It was not simply a form of covering or adornment, but a silent language that clearly indicated the age, family status and social position of the woman within the community.
Chameria is Threspotia, originally a Pelasgian, Illyrian and Albanian region
The oracle of Dodona represents the oldest Pelasgian cult of Zeus, originating in the region of Epirus and present-day Chameria. Ancient sources identify the Dodonians, later known as Thesprotians, as Pelasgians who maintained a central religious center at Dodona. This region played a key role in Pelasgian migrations, particularly into Thessaly, where the Thesprotians became…
An intelligence report about Shemsi Pasha from 1907
The intelligence report titled “TFR_I_ŞKT_00104_10362_001_001,” dated January 19, 1907, relays information gathered by Pristina Gendarmerie Captain Curri regarding activities linked to Shemsi Pasha. According to tribal representatives from Gjakova and Peja, several Albanian notables and officers assembled in Peja following measures taken by Shemsi Pasha. Major Mehmed Aga Toş reportedly organized armed subordinates and appointed…
The Persecution of the Albanian Bektashi
Flamuri (February 1950), a special exile issue of the National Front (Balli Kombëtar), describes severe persecution under Albania’s communist regime. It reports repression of religious groups, particularly the Bektashi Order, whose leaders and followers had supported national resistance but were later targeted as “reactionaries.” The paper recounts violent coercion against religious authorities, mass arrests of…
Yenice-i Vardar or Vardar Yenicesi (today known as Giannitsa)
Yenice-i Vardar s located on the northern edge of the Great Macedonian Plain (Campania), between the southern slopes of the Paikon Mountains and the shallow Yenice Lake (now partially dried up), which lies further south. It was founded by Gazi Evrenos Bey in the late 14th century. The Thessaloniki-Vodina road, one of the important transport…
Visiting Albanians of Ukraine; Mihail Supjur of Karakurt in 2009
Ukraine, Kiev 2009, After visiting 4 Albanian-inhabited villages in Ukraine before leaving for Kosovo, a guest at the home of the Albanian Mihail Supjur, born in the village of Karakurt. Employed in a metal processing company in the capital of Ukraine. By Jakup Lecaj
The Vajtimi (wailing) of Arvanite Albanian women
“He who is forgotten dies” reflects the deep meaning of Vajtimi, the Albanian mourning tradition practiced by Arvanite women, as described by Bellusci. The author recounts a powerful encounter in 1995 with Jorgjia Gjikas, an 85-year-old Arvanite mother from Bisha, Corinth, who sang a lament for her deceased daughter. Dressed in black, she embodied living…
The Drama of Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu (Scanderbeg) published in 1747 by Thomas Whincop
On January 13, 1920, the drama Scanderbeg, or Love and Liberty: A Tragedy, was published in the Albanian language. The work was originally written by the English author Thomas Whincop (1697–1730) and reflects the early eighteenth century’s interest in heroic, classical, and historical subjects. First published posthumously in London in 1747, seventeen years after Whincop’s…
H. V. Arndt and Dr. Ludwig Kluber in 1835: The Albanian language is ancient
H. V. Arndt and Dr. Ludwig Klüber described Albanian as one of Europe’s most ancient languages, claiming no older language can be proven to have preceded it in the region except possibly that of the Iberians. They argued that early Iberian populations may have lived in Albania and shared linguistic roots with peoples of Epirus,…
The Albanians Ndrec Preng Marku and Preng Marka Prenga from Mirdita who fought against the Yugoslav invasion of Kopliku in 1920
This is a photograph of two Albanians from Mirdita, who fought in the Koplik War in 1920, against the Yugoslav military intervention in the Shkodra region. Left, Ndrec Preng Marku, son of the Oroshi flag bearer, Preng Marka Prenga.
Albanian UÇK (KLA) fighters Avni Tifeku, member of the 111th brigade Adem Jashari Black Tigers, Commander Ilaz Kodra 114 and Zenun Kodra from Kaçanik
Albanian UÇK (KLA) fighters Avni Tifeku, member of the 111th brigade Adem Jashari Black Tigers, Commander Ilaz Kodra 114 and Zenun Kodra from Kaçanik
Albanian fighter Cukë Halili (1892-1977) from Stankaj of Rugova, who fought alongside Ker Sadria, Rud Halili and Bajram Curri
Cukë Halili (1892-1977) was an Albanian kachak fighter from Stankaj of Rugova. The father of Cukë Halili was killed by Montenegrins in a village of Istog (called Burim today in Albanian). Cukë Halili fought along side his brother Rud Halili and even with Bajram Curri in Junik. He also fought together with Zhuk Haxhia and…
Albanian fighter Rud Halili (1890-1977) of Stankaj of Rugova who resisted for 40 years
Albanian fighter Rud Halili of Rugova in the 1920s. Rud Halili is my uncle who was the right hand of Riz Zymer and Halil Uka and one of the most loyal people like Butak Hyseni and Imer Maliqi for over 30 years. The Yugoslav terrorist state was afraid these Albanians who would lead Rugova. They…
Professor of University of Oxford James Pettifer’s commentary on the Albanians of Greece
James Pettifer, an expert on the Southern Balkans and professor at the University of Oxford, has written the book “The Greeks”. Unlike the usual political rhetoric that tends to be very hypocritical, Professor Pettifer is a realist. He says that in fact history shows that the Greeks and Albanians are not two friendly peoples. Pettifer…
On June 4, 1883, the “Albanian Brothers” association was founded, under the chairmanship of Marko Boçari’s first cousin, Dhimitër Noti Boçari.
On June 4, 1883, the “Albanian Brothers” association was founded, under the chairmanship of Marko Boçari’s first cousin, Dhimitër Noti Boçari. A League under the name “Albanian Brothers” is established in Greece and temporarily has its headquarters in Athens. The League considers as brothers all people who are inspired by the pure and noble…
David Brawer: The Hydriots (Hydria) and Spetziots (Speces) inhabitants are pure Albanians
David Brawer writes: the three maritime islands flourished through grain trading fleets and by breaking the British blockade during the Napoleonic Wars, with Hydra becoming especially wealthy. This prosperity declined after Napoleon’s defeat due to falling grain prices, currency devaluation, and an abundant harvest in 1820, creating economic pressure that made revolution appealing. The islands…
Is Malçani of Finiq in Epirus the ancient city of Helikranon?
One of the most intriguing mysteries of the history of Epirus. In the interior of the territory of Finiq, far from tourist attention, lies the ancient city of Malchani – a fortified urban center of the 3rd century BC, known today only as the “castle”. But according to serious hypotheses by archaeologists, including Halil Shabani,…
The Serbian Yugoslav murder of the Albanian poet Alush Canaj (1952-1972)
Alush Canaj was born on August 24, 1952 in the village of Koretin in Kamenica, Dardana today. In 1956, at the time of Serbian terror, in the famous action of arms and the displacement of Albanians to Turkey, his family settled in Gjilan. The young poet Alush Canaj was killed in 1972.
The Arvanite Albanian Spiridhon Luisi (Spyridon Louis) who won the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896
On January 12, 1873, in Marousi, north of Athens, was born Spiridhon Luisi (Spyridon Louis), an Arvanite (Albanian) who would make history by winning the first modern Olympic marathon at the Summer Olympic Games held in Athens on April 10, 1896. His victory became a defining moment of the first modern Olympiad and remains one…
Egyptian historian Mathieu Aref: Not only Albanians, but also Zeus was Pelasgian
Mathieu Aref is an Albanian‑French historian born in Cairo to parents from Mati, Albania, who has lived in France since 1961. Educated in multiple disciplines, he earned a doctorate from the Sorbonne in History and Ancient Civilizations, defending a thesis that identifies the Pelasgians as the ancestors of the Albanians and the foundation of ancient…
How Modern Greece and Greek Identity Was Created 200 Years Ago
After the war against the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Greece was created in 1832 under Bavarian King Otto. Most people spoke Albanian, Vlach, or Turkish. The modern Greek state was built through a deliberate project to craft a “pure Hellenic” identity, erasing local populations, languages, and traditions. Albanian, Vlach, and Slavic communities were suppressed;…
Greek magazine Βύρων: The Albanian language is connected to Illyrians, Epirotes and Macedonians
“The Albanian language, being defined, places the Albanians as a branch of the great ethnic trunk of the Illyrians, close and with a common language with the ancient Epirotes and Macedonians; the Epirotes and Macedonians, on the other hand, also belong to the barbarian Illyrians and not to the Greeks. “«Η αλβανική γλώσσα, όπως ορίζεται,…
The execution of the Serbian police and war criminal “Vidomir Shalipuri” by Albanian freedom fighter Avni Elezaj
The killing of “Shalipuri” for Peja was like the Freedom of Kosovo. Of course, when historical dates are marked in our country, which stem from a painful past, the celebration increases in meaning when we know how much and how we have suffered as a people, so we have selected a notorious case to bring…
Albanians pre-date Serbs and Slavic Macedonians by centuries
The text argues that certain Balkan nationalist narratives distort history by portraying some groups as more ancient and indigenous than others in order to justify territorial and political claims. It challenges Serbian claims over Kosovo and Slavic Macedonian claims of direct descent from ancient Macedonians, emphasizing instead the long-standing presence of Albanians in these regions.…
Salaria at Mount Këndrevicë – An Albanian Village of Labëria of Tepelena
Salaria, a village in Labëria at Mount Këndrevicë, has a long historical legacy. First mentioned in Ottoman records in 1507 as Istraixh, it later became known as Salari. The village played an active role in regional defense during the early 20th century, including the struggle against Greek Andarts and participation in the Battle of Vlora…
Balkan Academia 