| Part of a series on |
| Albanian tribes |
|---|
 |
The Kushneni or Kuzhneni tribe are an Albanian tribe and one of the traditional bajraks of the Mirdita region in northern central Albania. The Kushneni tribe were one of the three traditional bajraks of Mirdita, which has now increased to five.
Kushneni tribal territory is situated in the Mirditë municipality, County of Lezhë, north central Albania. It is centred along the basin of the Greater Fan River and extends southwards to the Lesser Fan River. It is bordered by Kthella to the south, Oroshi to the southeast, Spaçi to the north and east, and Dibrri to the west. The main Kushneni settlements are Ndërfana, Gëziq, Blinisht, Pëshqesh and Simon. [1] Kushneni tribal territory consists of the central part of the Fan i Gojanit and Shperlasa valleys, as well as the right bank of the Fan i Fandit. [2]
The ancestral father of the Kushneni tribe was Gjin Biba, brother to Mark Biba and Dodë Biba, the ancestral fathers of Oroshi and Spaçi tribes respectfully. These three tribes formed the three original bajraks of Mirdita and therefore do not marry with each other due to their blood relations. Gjin and his two brothers are the sons of Bib Kola, and all three sons hailed from the Pashtrik region near Gjakova in Kosovo, from where they migrated to what is now Oroshi tribal territory in Mirdita. [3] [4]
Kushneni was first mentioned in a 1795 report as Cuscnen, again as Cusneni in 1866 and as Cusceni and Cusneni 1928. In 1881, it numbered to 3,600-4,000 inhabitants, and was already a bajrak by this point. In 1918, there were 318 households with 2,430 inhabitants in Kushneni territory. Their traditional meeting place is in Sh'Pal (the ancient abbey of Saint Paul), which is also the main meeting place for Mirdita in its entirety. The bajraktar (flagbearer, chieftain) of the Kushneni tribe in 1931 was Ndrekë Bajraktari, and in 1956 it was Ndue Bajraktari. [5] [6]
The Kushneni are traditionally an exclusively Catholic tribe, and their patron saint is Saint Stephen. [7]
Due to being blood related to the Oroshi and Spaçi tribes, with whom they form the three original bajraks of Mirdita, marriage is not permitted between members of these tribes. [8] Additionally, they hold themselves to be related to the Shala and Shoshi tribes and therefore do not intermarry with these tribes either. [9] The Kushneni would regularly marry with the Dibrri tribe. [10]
Malakasa is a village and former community of East Attica in Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 10.450 km2. The municipal unit Malakasa consists of the villages Malakasa, Milesi (425) and Sfendali (110).
The Kabashi are an Albanian tribe, or fis, from the Pukë region. It is considered part of the "seven tribes of Puka" that inhabit the region. Durham said of them: "Puka group ... sometimes reckoned a large tribe of seven bairaks. Sometimes as a group of tribes".
The Jonima family was an Albanian noble family that held a territory around Lezhë, as a vassal of Arbër, Serbia and Ottoman Empire, active in the 13th to 15th centuries. The Jonima, like most Albanian noble families, were part of a fis or clan. It is also said that they had close ties to the Kastrioti family.
The Nikaj are an historical Albanian tribe (fis) and region in the Highlands of Gjakova of north Albania. The Nikaj tribe is a traditional fis in the sense of being a community that claims paternal descent from one common ancestor, consisting of a single bajrak during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The Nikaj are directly related to the Krasniqi tribe. Today, the Nikaj are usually grouped along with the Mërturi tribe as Nikaj-Mërturi.
Toplana is a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and ethnographic region located on the northern banks of the River Drin in northern Albania.
Kakarriqi was an Albanian tribe (fis) of the Middle Ages. They inhabited the Mbishkodër plain, stretching up into the grasslands of Zeta.
The Rrjolli is a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and region in Malësia of north Albania. The tribal region is centred along the banks of the Rrjoll river that stems from Mount Bishkaz and empties into Lake Shkodër. The Rrjolli tribe is not a traditional fis in the sense of a community that claims paternal descent from one common ancestor; rather, it is polyphyletic. During the Ottoman period it formed a single bajrak.
The Plani are a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and region in Pult of north Albania. The Plani tribe is not a traditional fis in the sense of a community that claims paternal descent from one common ancestor; rather, it is polyphyletic. During the Ottoman period it formed a single bajrak.
Kiri is a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and ethnographic region located on the eastern side of the upper Kir river in the wider region of Pulti, northern Albania.
The Lepuroshi were a historical Albanian tribe (fis) that inhabited the ethnographic region of Rrjolli in Malësia, northern Albania, during the Middle Ages.
Boga is a region and former bajrak of the Kelmendi, a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and ethnographic region located in Malësia, northern Albania.
Xhani is a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and ethnographic region located on the western side of the upper Kir river in the wider region of Pulti, northern Albania.
The Bulgëri are a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and tribal region in the districts of Lezha and Mirdita of northern Albania. It is one of the four traditional bajraks of the Highlands of Lezha, alongside the Kryezezi, Vela and Manatia.
The Manatia are a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and tribal region in the district of Lezha of northern Albania. It is one of the four traditional bajraks of the Highlands of Lezha, alongside the Kryezezi, Vela and Bulgëri.
The Kryezezi are a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and tribal region in the districts of Lezha and Mirdita of northern Albania. It is one of the four traditional bajraks of the Highlands of Lezha, alongside the Bulgëri, Vela and Manatia.
The Vela are a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and tribal region in the districts of Lezha and Mirdita of northern Albania. It is one of the four traditional bajraks of the Highlands of Lezha, alongside the Bulgëri, Kryezezi and Manatia.
The Mërturi are an historical Albanian tribe (fis) and region in the Highlands of Gjakova of north Albania. The Mërturi tribe is a traditional fis in the sense of being a community that claims paternal descent from one common ancestor, consisting of a single bajrak during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The Mërturi are directly related to the Berisha tribe. Today, the Mërturi are usually grouped along with the Nikaj tribe as Nikaj-Mërturi.
The Mazreku, or alternatively, the Mazaraki, Mazarech and Masarachi, were a historical Albanian tribe in medieval Epirus and Thessaly. They appear in historical records as one of the Albanian tribes which raided and invaded Thessaly after 1318 and throughout the 14th century were active in the struggles of the Albanian Despotate of Arta against the Despotate of Epirus.
The Spaçi or Spaqi tribe is an Albanian tribe and one of the bajraks of the ethnographic Mirdita region in northern central Albania. The Spaçi tribe were one of the three traditional bajraks of Mirdita, which has now increased to five.
The Oroshi tribe is an Albanian tribe and one of the bajraks of the ethnographic Mirdita region in northern central Albania. The Oroshi tribe was one of the three traditional bajraks of Mirdita, which has now increased to five.