Kelmend region

Kelmend, or Kelmendi mountains (Albanian: Malet e Kelmendit) is a region and clan in the mountainous borderlands of Albania and Montenegro, of the wider Malësia-region.^[1] Part of the region lies within the Kelmend municipality, and is composed of a Roman Catholic majority and Muslim minority. The Kelmendi speak a subdialect of Gheg Albanian as the other northern Albanian clans.

Families hailing from Kelmend can also be found in Plav, Montenegro and Rugova, Kosovo^[a] where they are Muslim. The name is derived from Saint Clement, the patron saint of the region.

Contents 1 History 2 Folklore 3 Anthroponymy 3.1 Montenegro 4 Notable People 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References

History

Johann Georg von Hahn, one of the founders of Albanology placed the settlement of Kelmendi's first patriarch in Bestana, southern Kelmend. The foundations of the settlements, where the Kelmendi are found in modern times has been attributed to his seven sons.^[2] The Kelmendi tribe is first mentioned in Latin documents of 1485 as Celmente.^[3] The Kelmendi recognized the Ottoman rule in 1497 and gained the status of derbend and became the guards of the roads leading to Plav and Shkodër-Gjakova route.^[4] Marino Bizzi, the Archbishop of Bar mentions them in 1610 as "popoli quasi tutti latini, e di lingua Albanese e Dalmata" (almost all are Catholics, speaking Albanian and Slavic).^[5] Marino Bolizza reported in 1613 an incident that involved the Kelmendi-Ottoman conflict. An Ottoman commander Arslan Pasha raided the villages of the Kelmendi and started taking prisoners until an agreement was reached with the Kelmendi. According to the agreement the Kelmendi would surrender fifteen of their members as slaves and pay a tribute of 1000 ducats to the Ottomans, however, as Arslan Pasha waited for the payment of the tribute the Kelmendi ambushed part of his troops and killed about thirty cavalrymen. After this incident the Ottoman troops retreated to Herceg Novi (Castelnovo).^[6]

In 1614 along with the Kuçi, Piperi and Bjelopavlici (Palabardhi)^[7][8] they sent a letter to the Kings of Spain and France claiming that they were independent from the Ottoman rule and did not pay tribute to the empire.^[4] In 1651, they aided the army of Ali-paša Čengić, which attacked Kotor; the army raided and destroyed many monasteries in the region. In 1685, they helped the Sanjak Bey of Skadar, Sulejman Bushati, ancestor of Kara Mahmud Bushati to defeat the Montenegrin forces at the Battle on the Vrtijelica, in which Bajo Pivljanin died. Again, in 1692, they aided him capturing Cetinje after defeating the Montenegrins and their Venetian allies. Giorgio Stampaneo, abbot of Mirdita reported in 1685 that the city of Peć paid an annual tribute of 3000 reali to the Kelmendi.^[9]

In 1689 the Kelmendi volunteered in the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire during the Kosovo campaign. Initially they were serving Sulejman Pasha, the mutasarrif of Shkodër, but after negotiations with a Venetian official they abandoned the Ottoman ranks.^[10] A year later, c. 2500 people from Selcë settled in Pešter, after the defeat and subsequent withdrawal of the Imperial army and their surrounding by the Ottoman army.^[3] Some of them returned to their home region after 1706. In the 18th century, the Hoti and Kelmendi assisted the Kuçi and Vasojevići in the battles against the Ottoman Turks, after that unsuccessful war, a part of the Klimenti fled their lands.^[11] After the defeat in 1737, under Archbishop Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta, a significant number of Serbs and Kelmendis retreated into the north, Habsburg territory.^[12] Around 1,600 of them settled in the villages of Nikinci and Hrtkovci, where they later adopted a Croat identity.^[13] On May 26, 1913 130 leaders of Gruda, Hoti, Kelmendi, Kastrati and Shkreli sent a petition to Cecil Burney in Shkodër against the incorporation of their territories into Montenegro.^[14]

Folklore

During Easter processions in Selcë and Vukël the kore, a child-eating demon, was burnt symbolically.^[15] In Christmas time alms were placed upon ancestors' graves. As in other northern Albanian clans the Kanun (customary law) that is applied in Kelmend in that of the mountains (Albanian: Kanuni i Maleve). According to Franz Baron Nopcsa's researches the Kelmendi were the most numerous and notable of the northern Albanian clans.^[4]

Anthroponymy

The region consists of six primary villages: Boga, Nikç, Selcë, Tamarë, Vermosh and Vukël, all part of the Kelmend Municipality. Their clan neighbours are the Kuči and Hoti, to the west, and the Vasojevići to the north. The following lists are of families in the Kelmend region by village of origin (they may live in more than one village):

Vermosh The following families come from the Vermosh area: Tinaj Miraj Bujaj Bunjaj Cali Hasanaj Hysaj Lelçaj Lekutanaj Lumaj Macaj Mitaj Mrnacaj/Mernaçaj Naçaj Peraj Pllumaj Preljocaj (also Tinaj) Racaj Selmanaj Shqutaj Vukaj Vuktilaj Vushaj

Vukël The following families come from Vukël: Nilaj Pepushaj Grishaj Bardhecaj Gjelaj Drejaj Aliaj Tamarë The following families come from Tamarë: Bunjaj Bujaj Rukaj Mrnacaj/Mernaçaj Lelcaj Vukaj cekaj

Nikç The following families come from Nikç: Smajlaj Preldakaj Nikçi Rukaj Gildedaj Prekelezaj Hasaj Nikac Kapaj Ujkaj Alijaj Hutaj Selcë The following families come from Selcë: Bujaj Tinaj Mrnacaj/Mernaçaj Vushaj Pllumaj Vukaj Rugova

Montenegro

Plav-Gusinje

• Ahmetaj (Vusanje. They descend from a certain Ahmet Nikaj, son of Nika Nrrelaj and grandson of Nrrel Balaj, and are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
• Bacaj (Bacić),
• Balaj (Baljić), in Grnčar. Immigrated to Plav-Gusinje in 1698 from the village of Vukël (or Selcë?) in northern Albania and converted to Islam the same year. The clan's closest relatives are the Balidemajt/Balidemići. Legend has it that the Balaj, Balidemaj and Vukel clans descended from three brothers. However, a member of the Vukel clan married a member of the Balić clan, later resulting in severed relations with the Vukel clan.
• Balidemaj (Baljidemaj/Balidemić), in Martinovići. This branch of the clan remained Catholic for three generations, until Martin's great-grandson converted to Islam, taking the name Omer. Since then, the family was known as Omeraj/Omerović. Until recently was the family's name changed to Balidemaj. The clan's closest relatives are the Balajt/Balići. Legend has it that the Balaj, Balidemaj and Vukel clans descended from three brothers.
• Bruçaj (Bručaj/Bručević), they are descendants of a Catholic Albanian named Bruç Nrrelaj, son of Nrrel Balaj, and are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
• Cakaj (Cakić)
• Canaj (Canović), in the villages of Bogajići, Višnjevo and Đurička Rijeka. Immigrated to Plav-Gusinje in 1698 from the village of Vukël in northern Albania and converted to Islam the same year.
• Çelaj (Čeljić), in the villages of Vusanje and Vojno Selo. Claims descendance from Nrrel Balaj. The Nikça/Nikča family are part of the Çelaj.
• Dedushaj (Dedušaj/Dedušević), in Vusanje. They are descendants of a Catholic Albanian named Ded (Dedush) Balaj, son of Nrrel Balaj, and are originally from Vukel in northern Albania.
• Hakaj (Hakanjin), in Hakanje.
• Hasilović, in Bogajići.
• Gorçaj (Gorčić),
• Gjonbalaj (Đonbaljaj/Đonbalić), in Vusanje, with relatives in Vojno Selo. Their ancestor, a Catholic Albanian named Gjon Balaj, immigrated with his sons: Bala, Aslan, Tuça and Hasan; along with his brother, Nrrel, and his children: Nika, Ded (Dedush), Stanisha, Bruç and Vuk from the village of Vukël in northern Albania to the village of Vusanje/Vuthaj in the late-17th century. Upon arriving, Gjon and his descendants settled in the village Vusanje/Vuthaj and converted to Islam and were known as the Gjonbalaj. Relatives include Ahmetajt/Ahmetovići, Bruçajt/Bručevići, Çelajt/Čelići, Goçaj/Gočević, Lekajt/Lekovići, Selimajt/Selimovići, Qosajt/Ćosovići, Ulajt/Uljevići, Vuçetajt/Vučetovići.
• Kukaj (Kuković), in Vusanje
• Lecaj (Ljecaj), in Martinovići. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
• Lekaj (Leković), in Gornja Ržanica and Vojno Selo. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Lekë Pretashi Nikaj.
• Martini (Martinović), in Martinovići. The eponymous founder, a Catholic Albanian named Martin, immigrated to the village of Trepča in the late 17th century from Selcë.
  • Hasangjekaj (Hasanđekaj/Hasanđekić), in Martinovići. They descend from a Hasan Gjekaj from Vukël, a Muslim of the Martini clan.
  • Prelvukaj (Preljvukaj/Preljvukić), in Martinovići. They descend from a Prelë Vuka from Vukël, of the Martini clan.
• Musaj (Musić), Immigrated to Plav-Gusinje in 1698 from village Vukël in northern Albania and converted to Islam the same year.
• Novaj (Novović)
• Pepaj (Pepić), in Pepići
• Rekaj (Reković), in Bogajići, immigrated to Plav-Gusinje circa 1858.
• Rugova, in Višnjevo with relatives in Vojno Selo and Babino Polje. They descend from a Kelmend clan of Rugova in Kosovo.
• Qosaj/Qosja (Ćosaj/Ćosović), in Vusanje. They are descendants of a certain Qosa Stanishaj, son of Stanisha Nrrelaj and are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
• Selimaj (Seljimaj/Seljimović),
• Smajić, in Novšići.
• Ulaj (Uljaj/Uljević), in Vusanje. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Ulë Nikaj, son of Nika Nrrelaj. Possibly moved to the Koja e kucit area.
• Vukel (Vukelj), in Dolja. They immigrated to Gusinje in 1675 from the village of Vukël in northern Albania. A certain bey from the Šabanagić clan gave the clan the village of Doli.
• Vuçetaj (Vučetaj/Vučetović), in Vusanje. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Vuçetë Nikaj, son of Nika Nrrelaj.

Notable People

• Prek Cali Hasanaj (fl. 1911-1930), Vërmosh-born guerilla fighter, that fought in the Battle of Deçiq against the Ottoman Empire, and later against the Kingdom of Serbia and the communist forces under Enver Hoxha. Hoxha had him lured and killed him on Palm Sunday.
• Nora of Kelmendi, a notable female guerilla fighter that assassinated the Bosnian Pasha of Shkodër, Vutsi Pasha, in 1620. The figure is half historical and half legendary. Nora is one of the heroines that has largely contributed to the legacy of the Albanian highlanders.^[16]
• Ali Kelmendi, Kachak in Rugovo (fl. 1919)^[17]
• Bajram Kelmendi, founder of the Council for Human Rights and Freedoms
• Migjen Kelmendi, writer and musician
• Nekibe Kelmendi, head of the Department of Justice of Kosovo
• Aziz Kelmendi, shot dead four people and wounded five in the Paraćin massacre (1987)^[18]

See also

• Albanian Alps
• Culture of Albania

Notes

a.	^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, while Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory. Its independence is recognised by 86 UN member states.

References