Kuči

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Kuči is one of Montenegro's Highland clans, and is also a name of geographical region in eastern Montenegro which the clan populates. The region is located north-east of Podgorica, an extends alonthe border with Albania. Marko Miljanov Popović, writer and warrier from Kuči, is arguably the most prominent member of the clan.

[edit] Demographics

There are over 15,000 residents in Kuči, with over 3,000 homes. Three ethnic groups, Montenegrin Serbs, Montenegrins and Albanians live together in Kuči. The first two groups may be regarded as one, as families may be split between the two, with one brother being a Serb and another being a Montenegrin. Most of the Montenegrins are followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church, while a minority are Muslims. Most of the Albanians are followers of the Roman Catholic Church, while a minority is Muslim. Christian Othodox residents used to be split into two distinct groups: Stari Kuči (Old Kuči) and Novi Kuči (New Kuči). The Old Kuči is generally seen as being of Serb descent and have settled in the area at the time of the Serbian empire. The Novi Kuči (generally referred to as "Drekalovići") are a large group of families that share the same ancestor - Drekale Castriota . He is believed to have been an ethnic Christian Albanian that settled in the area in the 16th century.