In the first part ‘Epiri-The Cradle of the Albanian People’, we have argued in a summarized manner some of the important facts cited in the chronics of the old authors but also of those modern, that Epiri population has never been Greek; that it was with an Illyrian content that was part of a Pelasgian complex. The main purpose of this study in continuance is to make known the continuity of ethnicity Illyro-Albanians in Epir from middle-ages all the way to our days.
On the Humanitarian Albanian books (Barleti, Frengu, Bardhi, etc) is mentioned at the same time the concept of ‘Albania’ ‘Epir’ and ‘Macedonia’ to mark the same place; the place of Albanians that according to the writings of the renowned British ethnograph H. Brailsford:
“It is comparatively easy to say what Albania proper is. It is the mountainous home of an unconquered race which faces the Adriatic from the Gulf of Arta in the south to Montenegro in the north. It includes the greater part of Epirus with the town of Janina…”(
1)
The frequent utilization and confound of these three terms to mark the same place it gives sufficient support for the establishment of continuance that the historical homogeneity of of these three ethno-geographic concepts. “
These co-existence is a consequent not only for the historical reason of the character of the state and administrative, or vicinity, but it has to be said, and for the reason of the kinsfolk” (
2), says historian Gazmend Shpuza.
It is not necessary to bring here the whole documentation of the Scanderbeg epoch to affirm the above mentioned, but what is more important is that Albanians in middle-ages have been identified off and on as Arber and Epirotes. “
The general ancient name of the Albanians was Epirotes. Epiras has produced its share of celebrities among them Pyrrhus the son of Achilles himself a neighbouring Thessalian Olympia the mother of Alexander the Great George Castriot better known as Scanderbeg…”(
3) writes Sutherland Menzies.
Precisely, Albanians have stored in their collective memories the historical consciousness of glorious times of Alexander the Great and Pirro of Epirus (albanian heroes) better than anyone else. ‘In the collective memory of the Albanians, Alexander the Great, also called Leka I Madh (Great Leka) and Pirro are even today folk well-known heroes, that have been noted for their bravery‘ (
4).
A picture showing the unforgettable king of Epir Pyrrhus of Epir (319-272 BC), and around him commanders, solders and people. Notice the white cap of this men and its similiarities with Traditional Albanian Cap.
The most important biographer of Scanderbeg Marin Barleti, with a origin from Shkodra, in the title of his book that came out in 1508-1510 called Scanderbeg “Epirotarum princeps”, meanwhile the second edition of this book translated in German by Johannes Pinicianus was titled “Herzog zu Epiro und Albanien” (Prince of Epirus and Albania) connecting it in a way with the ancient past with that of today. Let’s stop at the ethnic structure of Epir on the middle-ages period; how does it consists in Epir the ethnographic structure in the historical context?
Based on judgment of a Byzantine writer of 14th century, we learn that Epir even in middle-ages was inhabited by Illyrian race: “
All that place (Epiri) in the ancient time were inhabited by the kins of…Thesprotians, Molosians, Chaonians that spread all the way to the Keraunia mountainous. Even now, that place is inhabited with villages gathered and spread by Albanians, Illyrians race” (
5).
Every documentation for the historical period in report evokes strongly the immovable presence autochthon of Albanians in this vast region. Even the geographic description of a big number of geographers and different travelers are in the same idea that Epir is framed within Albanian integral, not only in the geographic concept, but of that ethnic, linguistic, cultural, etc. The New York Magazine, ‘The Eclectic Magazine of foreign Literature, science and art‘ writes: “
As regards Epirus, there was another reason, perhaps, that nearly the whole of its population is now Albanian”(
6).
Meanwhile, the famous British poet and traveler Lord Byron in the letter that he writes to Henry Drury on May 3, 1810 writes: “
I first landed in Albania, the ancient Epirus”(
7).
Another traveler, Viscountess Strangford in ‘The Eastern shores of the Adriatic in 1863’ writes: ‘
We started on June 1, intending to make Ioaninna, the capital of Southern Albania, our farthest point”(
8).
Another historian Edison L. Clark says: “
Albanians, Arnauts as the turks calls them, or Shqiptars, live in the territory of ancient Epirus and in the territory of Illyrians in East Macedonia. From Montenegro(North) till the Ambracian Golf (South). …Ancient Epirots are different from Ancient Greeks, like Albanians from todays Greeks. Epirots and Illyrians where neighbor tribes , but of the same blood, which spoke different dialects of the same language”(
9).
Beside this are a big number of proves that the realm of the Albanian language has comprise all Epirus: “
The language of the Albanians, the Arnauts, or as they call themselves, the Shkipetars, is divided into two principal dialects, the Northern or Geghian, spoken in the ancient Illyria, and the southern or Toskian, in Epirus”(
10) writes Friedrich Max Müller.
Epir in centuries has been one of the regions with most sensational historical events where there has been always shown always to have been Albanian families living and also rule. Is known historically that after 1375 in these regions lied the principality of Gjin Bue Shpata. After year 1385 its ruler was Gjin Zenebishi. In this historical trail, is very important tu underline also the time of Pashalluk and the most vigorously Albanian ruler Ali Pashe Tepelena (1741-1822) who ‘in the late eighteenth century, expelled the Turks and created an independent Epirote state’(
11).
Meanwhile John Lee Comstock for the capital of Pashallek of Ali Pashe Tepelena says: “…
His capital, loannina, or as others call it, Yanina, was situated in Lower Albania, the ancient Epirus’ (
12).
William Guthrie calls Yanina as one of the biggest Albanian cities: ‘
The two most considerable cities of Albania are Janina and Scutari. Janina is situated on the hank of a lake, almost in the center of Lower Albania. It was much improved during the sway of All Pasha, at which period its population amounted to 60,000” (
13).
Except Yanina as Albanian city, other cities of Epir or South Albania were Albanian: “
The other principal towns of Southern Albania are : Mezzovo, Ktntitxa, Premithi and Klittnin, noted for their fortifications ; Ârsyro- Castro or Ergir- Kastri, D f Ionia, Delbino or Dflrtno, Philatet or Philoti, Parnmithia, Souii, so celebrated for the long struggle of its inhabitants, the Suliotes against Ali Pasha ; Arta, Sahgnra ; Prereïti, at the entrance of the Gulf of Arta…”
(14).
Over the time of the Ottoman Empire, all part of Epir or south Albania were a part of Yanina Vilayet. ‘
Albanians formed the majority population in the vilayets of Kosovo, Ioanina and Shkoder. There was also a huge concentration in the Monastir Vilayet’(
15).
Except this exist even a big number documentation over the demography of the Vilajet of Yanina. Very important to mentioned are the registering statistics of the year 1905-1906 in the book of the most known historian Nikolla Jorga, “Short history of Albania” 1919 where he underlines that in Epir were residing 227484 Albanian muslims, 213281 Albanian orthodox, 91991 greeks, and 4906 jews
(16).
From these statistics comes out that the rapport of demography structure in Epirus consists this: 440.765 Albanians before 91.991 greeks. Except this in continuance you will have the chance to see a big number of maps that show Epir as part of Albania. In conclusion of all these evidences and facts that unfolded in this modest summary is the presence of the Albanians in Epirus that has never been absent. The general number of linguistic facts, ethnological, anthropological, geographical and graphic maps give a conclusive result the fact that Epirus has been and will be ‘The Cradle of Albanian People’.
(1) Henry N. Brailsford ‘Macedonia: Its races and Their Future’ 1906, pg. 88
(2)Gazmend Shpuza, ‘Nga Arbëreshët, perms epirotëve, te shqiptarët’ (From the Arberesh, through Epitoas to Albanians)
http://www.aiitc.org/universi/nr3/studime2.html
(3) Sutherland Menzies ‘Turkey Old and New’, 1880, pg. 356
(4) Edith Durham ‘Some tribal origins, laws and customs of the Balkans’ London, 1928, pg.237
(5) History of Albanian People, Pristina 1999, pg.43
(6) The Eclectic Magazine of foreign Literature, science, and art. January to April, 1863, W.H.Bidwell, New York 1863, pg. 379
(7) Life, Letters, and Journals of Lord Byron by Baron George Noël Gordon Byron, 1844, pg.103
(8) Viscountess Strangford ‘The eastern shores of the Adriatic in 1863’ London 1864, pg. 2
(9) Edison L.Clark “Races of the European Turkey, their history, situation and prospectus”, New York, Brodway, 1878, fq.751
(10) Friedrich Max Müller ‘‘The Languages of the Seat of War in the East’ 1855, page 58
(11) James Minahan “Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z” 2002, pg. 579
(12) John Lee Comstock ‘History of the Greek revolution” 1828 pg. 86
(13) William Guthrie ‘A new geographical, historical, and commercial grammar’ 1843 pg. 463
(14) System of Universal Geography, Founded on the Works of Malte-Brun and Balbi, 1842, page 611
(15) Misha Glenny “The Balkans: Nationalism, War & the Great Powers, 1804-1999, published 2002, page 27
(16) History of Albanian People, Pristina 1999, pg. 219).
Attachment of maps:
1. This map is showing the boundaries of Albania till Gulf of Corinth near the Peleopponesus Peninsula.
Map 2: This map showing that wholly Epir was inhabited in compact manner by Albanians. Meanwhile, the rest of Kingdom of Greece is inhabited by large ethnic Albanians marked with a green color. Source: “History of the Greek Revolution” Volume 1, by George Finlay, 1861.
Map 3: This map shows as always the incontestable presence of the Albanians in these regions (southern Albania or Epir). ~Carte Ethnographique de la Turquie D’Europe~
Map 4: This map shows that Albania bounded at south with Livadia (as a result the entirely region of Epir is Albanian land).
Map 5: The four Vilayets of Albania during the Ottoman Empire.
). Ja perkthimi ne anglisht:
me vjen te qesh me greket qe kane nxjerre Procopius of Caesarea,si argumente te tyre te forte per perkatesine "greke" te Epirit....shihni cfare ngaterron Procopius:
