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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.
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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.
Xhani derives its name from the anthroponym Iohannes and is attested in various forms such as: Xhaj, Xhovani, Gjani, Joani, Ghoanni, Giovagni, Gioagni, Huan, and Zuanni. [1] [2] Italian missionaries serving in the region also Italianized the tribal name as Giovanni. [3]
Xhani is situated on the eastern banks of the upper Kir river in the mountains of Pulti. It borders the tribal territories of Plani to the north, Kiri to the east, Suma to the south, and Rrjolli to the west. The main settlement is that of Xhan. [4]
It is believed that the Xhani were among the anas (indigenous) fise of the Shkreli tribal territory, and that they were driven out of their native lands following the expansion of the Shkreli across the valley of the Përroi i Thatë. [5] The modern settlement of Xhaj in Shkrel, between Ducaj and Makaj, is connected to the Xhani. Giuseppe Valentini further elaborates that 30 families of the Xhani are descended from a widow who was married in Shkreli but had returned to her birthplace with her children following her husband's death. [6]
Xhani (Huan or Xhovan) is recorded in the Ottoman defter of 1485 for the Sanjak of Scutari as a settlement in the ziamet of Mehmet Bey in the nahiyah of Petrishpan-ili. The village had a total of seven households which were represented by the following household heads: Gjergji, son of Prekali ; Marini, son of Prekali; Gjergji, son of Mlusha; Isfani, son of Nui; Dimeniku, son of Kalshi; Kola, son of Prekali; and Martini, son of Sunja. [7]
The Xhani are subsequently recorded in later documents, such as in the relation of 1671 by Catholic bishop Stefano Gaspari (Shtjefën Gaspari) which reports that Xhani had 22 houses and 80 inhabitants, as well as a well-built church dedicated to Saint Nicholas. In the report of the French consul Hyacinthe Hecquard (1814–1866), Xhani had 115 houses and 662 inhabitants. However, later in 1918, according to statistics compiled by the Austro-Hungarian authorities, Xhani had a reduction in population as only 62 houses and 435 inhabitants are recorded. [5]
Around two-thirds (~66%) of Xhani is Catholic while the remainder is Muslim. [5] The Catholics of the tribe venerate Saint Nicholas as their patron saint.
Shkreli is a historical Albanian tribe and region in the Malësia Madhe region of northern Albania and is majority Catholic. With the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, part of the tribe migrated to Rugova in Western Kosovo beginning around 1700, after which they continued to migrate into the Lower Pešter and Sandžak regions.
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 Albanian tribes form a historical mode of social organization (farefisní) in Albania and the southwestern Balkans characterized by a common culture, often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared social ties. The fis stands at the center of Albanian organization based on kinship relations, a concept that can be found among southern Albanians also with the term farë.
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.
Krasniqi is a historical Albanian tribe and region in the Accursed Mountains in northeastern Albania, bordering Kosovo. The region lies within the Tropoje District and is part of a wider area between Albania and Kosovo that is historically known as Gjakova highlands. Krasniqi stretches from the Valbona river in the north to Lake Fierza in the south and includes the town Bajram Curri. Members of the Krasniqi tribe are also found in Kosovo and Northern Macedonia.
Lohja is a historical Albanian tribe located in a small area of the same name in Malësia, northern Albania.
Shoshi is a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and region of northern Albania in the lower Shala valley. Shoshi is first recorded as a small settlement in 1485. The fis itself traces its origin to the brothers Gjol and Pep Suma. The community of their descendants gradually grew to control part of the Dukagjin highlands. In the 19th century Shoshi also became a bajrak.
Toplana is a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and ethnographic region located on the northern banks of the River Drin in northern Albania.
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 Suma are a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and tribal region in Pult of north Albania. During the Ottoman period it formed a single bajrak.
Boga is a region and former bajrak of the Kelmendi, a historical Albanian tribe (fis) and ethnographic region located in Malësia, 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.
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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 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.