Sanjak of Scutari

Sanjak of Scutari / Sanjak of Shkodra İşkodra Sancağı Sanxhaku i Shkodrës Скадарски санџак
sanjak of the Ottoman Empire
←   ← 1479–1913 →
Coat of arms
The sanjak highlighted, late 19th century.
Capital		Scutari (present-day Shkodër)
History
-	Ottoman Empire captured Shkodra from Republic of Venice	1479
-	Ottoman Empire signed Treaty of London
-	Disestablished	30 May 1913

The Sanjak of Shkodra

The Sanjak of Scutari or Sanjak of Shkodra (Albanian: Sanxhaku i Shkodrës; Serbian: Скадарски санџак; Turkish: İskenderiyye Sancağı or İşkodra Sancağı ) was one of the sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire. It was established after Ottoman Empire acquired Shkodra after the siege of Shkodra in 1478-9. It was part of Rumelia Eyalet until 1867, when it became a part, together with Sanjak of Skopje, of newly established Scutari Vilayet. In 1912 and beginning of 1913 it was occupied by members of Balkan League during the First Balkan War. In 1914 the territory of Sanjak of Scutari became a part of Principality of Albania, established on the basis of peace contract signed during London Conference in 1913.

History

With short interruptions, the territory that later became a part of Sanjak of Scutari in the Ottoman Empire, belonged to the Slavic medieval feudal states for many centuries.^[1] That explains why first Ottoman censuses (1431, 1467 and 1485) show such substantial presence of Slavic toponyms.

The last Slavic dynasty that controlled Shkodra was House of Balšić.^[2] At the end of 14th century the city came under control of the Republic of Venice and after Ottoman Empire acquired Shkodra from Venice after the siege of Shkodra in 1478-9,^[3] it became the centre of Sanjak of Scutari.

Marino Bizzi, the Archbishop of Bar (Antivari), in his 1610 report stated that name of the sanjakbey of Sanjak of Scutari was Ali Pasha.^[4]

Merger with former Principality of Zeta

Principality of Zeta, a former Ottoman vassal, lost its status as an independent state and was largely incorporated into the Sanjak of Scutari in 1499.^[5] In 1514, this territory was separated from the Sanjak of Scutari and established as a separate sanjak, under the rule of Skenderbeg Crnojević. When he died in 1528, the Sanjak of Montenegro was reincorporated into the Sanjak of Scutari as a unique administrative unit (vilayet) with certain degree of autonomy.^[6]

Pashalik of Scutari

In the period between 1757 and 1831, the Sanjak of Scutari was elevated to the Pashalik of Scutari, a semi-autonomous^[7] pashalik under the Ottoman empire created by the Albanian Bushati family. Its territory encompassed parts of modern-day northern Albania and Montenegro, with its center in city of Shkodër. The weakening of Ottoman central authority and the timar system of land ownership brought anarchy to the West Balkans region of Ottoman Empire. In the late 18th century, two centers of power emerged in this region: Shkodër, under the Bushati family; and Janina, under Ali Pasha of Tepelenë. Both regions cooperated with and defied the Sublime Porte as their interests required.^[8]

Scutari Vilayet

Before 1867, Shkodër (İşkodra) was a sanjak within the Rumelia Eyalet. In 1867, the Sanjak of Scutari merged with the Sanjak of Üsküb (Skopje), forming the Scutari Vilayet. The vilayet was subsequently divided into three sanjaks: İșkodra (Scutari), Prizren and Dibra. In 1877, the Sanjak of Prizren was transferred to the Kosovo Vilayet, and the Sanjak of Dibra was transferred to the Monastir Vilayet. Following the territorial transfers, the Sanjak of Scutari was subsequently divided into two sanjaks: Sanjak of Scutari and Sanjak of Draç (Durrës).

Following the invasion of Montenegrin forces during the Montenegrin-Ottoman War between 1876 and 1878, ownership of the cities of Bar, Podgorica, and Ulcinj was transferred from the Sanjak of Scutari to the Principality of Montenegro.

In 1900, the Vilayet of Scutari was disestablished, demerging into two separate sanjaks: Sanjak of Scutari and Sanjak of Durrës.

Disestablishment

In 1912 and beginning of 1913 it was occupied by members of Balkan League during the First Balkan War. In 1914 the territory of Sanjak of Scutari became a part of Principality of Albania, established on the basis of peace contract signed during London Conference in 1913.^[9]

Demographics

Based on the people names registered in the census, it may be concluded that population of Sanjak of Scutari was mainly composed of Serbs and Albanians (Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim). There was also certain number of Wallachians, Turks and other people present, mainly in towns.^[10]

1485 census

The first Ottoman census of the Sanjak of Scutari was organized in 1485. It was the third Ottoman census which was organized on the territory within modern Republic of Albania. The first census was organized in 1431 on the territory of Sanjak of Albania. The 1485 census shows that Sanjak of Scutari consisted of four kazas:^[11]

• İşkodra
• Depedöğen
• İpek
• Bihor

The kazas were divided into smaller administrative units, nahiyah.

1582—1583 census

Part of a series on the
History of Albania
Prehistory Prehistoric Balkans Origin of the Albanians
Antiquity Illyria Illyrians Macedonia Illyricum
Middle Ages Byzantine rule Bulgarian rule Serbian rule Principality of Arbanon Kingdom of Albania Principalities League of Lezhë Venetian Albania
Early modern Ottoman Albania Sanjak of Albania Sanjak of Scutari Sanjak of Debar Scutari Vilayet Janina Vilayet Kosovo Vilayet Pashaliks Massacre of the beys National Awakening Revolts of 1833–1839 Revolt of 1843–1844 Revolt of 1847 League of Prizren League of Peja Revolt of 1910 Revolt of 1911 Battle of Deçiq Revolt of 1912 Albanian Vilayet Declaration of Independence
Post-independence Independent Albania Provisional Government Congress of Trieste International Commission of Control Balkan Wars Principality Peasant Revolt Republic of Central Albania Vlora War Republic of Korçë Republic of Mirdita Italian protectorate (southern) Congress of Durrës Vlora War Congress of Lushnjë Italian protectorate June Revolution Principality (Regency) Albanian Republic Albanian Kingdom Union of Italia and Albania Albania under Germany Resistance during World War II Second League of Prizren Liberation Socialist Albania
Contemporary Post-communism 1997 unrest Republic of Albania
Topics Art Constitution Economy Military Names
Albania portal
v t e

The census organized in period 1582—1583 shows that there were many nahiyah within Sanjak of Scutari with following number of villages:^[12]

• Shkodër with 128 villages
• Dušmen with 24 villages; majority had personal names with an Albanian character, minority with a Serbian character.
  • Toponyms show some South Slavic influence, indicating a presence of a South Slavic-speaking population that later depopulated the region
  • Islamisation was slowly occurring within the nahiyah, based on the presence of characteristically Muslim names within its population
• Zabojana with 48 villages; majority had personal names with an Albanian character, minority with a Serbian character.
• Mrko with 9 villages; majority had personal names with a Serbian character, minority with an Albanian character.
• Krajina with 18 villages; majority had personal names with an Albanian character
  • Toponyms show an overwhelming South Slavic influence, indicating a presence of a South Slavic-speaking population that later depopulated the region
• Gorje Šestan (Džebel-i Šestan) with 7 villages; majority had personal names with a Serbian character, minority with an Albanian character.
• Podgorica with 13 villages; majority had personal names with a Serbian character, minority with an Albanian character.
• Žabljak with 8 villages; majority had personal names with a Serbian character, minority with an Albanian character.
• Hoti with 8 villages; majority had personal names with an Albanian character, while a minority had with a Serbian character.
• Bjelopavlići with 6 villages; overwhelming majority had personal names with a Serbian character
• Vražegrmci with 16 villages; overwhelming majority had personal names with a Serbian character
• Pobor with 11 villages; overwhelming majority had personal names with a Serbian character
• Klemente with 2 villages; majority had personal names with an Albanian character, minority with a Serbian character.
• Kuči with 13 villages; majority had personal names with a Serbian character, minority with an Albanian character.
• Peć with 235 villages; overwhelming majority had personal names with a Serbian character; very few personal names with an Albanian character mentioned
  • Islamisation was common within the nahiyah, with many Serbs and Albanians converting to Islam
• Altin (Altun li) with 41 villages; relative majority had names with a Serbian character, minority with an Albanian character
• Petrišpan with 33 villages
• Budimlje with 31 villages; overwhelming majority had personal names with a Serbian character
  • Presence of Muslim inhabitants shown in one village within the nahiyah
• Komoran with 20 villages; overwhelming majority had personal names with a Serbian character
  • Presence of Muslim inhabitants shown in two villages within the nahiyah
• Plav with 18 villages; all inhabitants had personal names with a Serbian character
  • No Muslim inhabitants within the nahiyah
• Zla Rijeka with 12 villages

There was a total of 709 villages.

Additionally, a smaller part of Ottoman census from 1582—1583 dealt with Montenegro (Vilâyet-i Karaca-dağ) as separate administrative unit within Sanjak of Scutari. This part consisted of following nahiyah and villages:

• Grbavci with 13 villages
• Župa with 11 villages
• Malonšići with 7 villages
• Plješivci with 14 villages
• Cetinje with 16 villages
• Rijeka with 31 villages
• Cernica (Crmnica) with 11 villages
• Paštrovići with 36 villages
• Grbalj with 9 villages.

There was a total of 148 villages belonging to the Montenegrin subdivision.

The 1582—1583 census shows 857 villages and several towns including Shkodër (İşkodra), Peć (İpek), Podgorica (Depedöğen), Bar (Bar) and Ulcinj (Ulçin).

References

Further reading

• Bizzi, Marino (1610) Relatione della visita fatta da me, Marino Bizzi, Arcivescovo d'Antivari, nelle parti della Turchia, Antivari, Albania et Servia alla santità di nostro Signore papa Paolo V (Report of Marino Bizzi, Archbishop of Bar (Antivari), on his visit to Turkey, Bar, Albania and Serbia in the year 1610) 
• Bolizza, Mariano (1614) Report and Description of the Sanjak of Shkodra archived from the original on 24 April 2011 retrieved 24 April 2011 
• Đurđev, Branislav (1957) Kanuni i kanun-name za Bosanski, Hercegovački, Zvornički, Kliški, Crnogorski i Skadarski sandžak (in Serbo-Croatian or Turkish) Sarajevo: Orijentalni institut OCLC 5221418 
• Pulaha, Selami (1974) Defteri i regjistrimit të sanxhakut të Shkodrës i vitit 1485 (in Albanian) Tirana: Akademia e Shkencave e RP. të Shqipërisë, Instituti i Historisë OCLC 500501246 
• Folić, Milutin (1990) "Izveštaji ruskog konzula Ivana Stepanoviča Jastrebova iz Skadra o slovenskom življu i njihovim crkvama u Albaniji u drugoj polovini XIX veka (Reports from Skadar of Russian consul Ivan Stepanovič Jastrebov about Slavic population and their churches in Albania in second half of 19th century)" Stanovništvo slovenskog porijekla u Albaniji : zbornik radova sa međunarodnog naučnog skupa održanog u Cetinju 21, 22. i 23. juna 1990 (Population of Slavic origin in Albania: Publication from International Conference held in Cetinje on 21, 22 and 23 June 1990) (in Serbian) OCLC 29549273 
• Vasić, Milan (1991) "Etnički odnosi u jugoslovensko-albanskom graničnom području prema popisnom defteru sandžaka Skadar iz 1582/83. godine" Stanovništvo slovenskog porijekla u Albaniji : zbornik radova sa međunarodnog naučnog skupa održanog u Cetinju 21, 22. i 23. juna 1990 (Population of Slavic origin in Albania: Publication from International Conference held in Cetinje on 21, 22 and 23 June 1990) (in Serbo-Croatian) OCLC 29549273 

v t e Sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire in Europe Adrianople Alaca Hișar Albania Andıra Avlona Bosnia Çingene Çirmen Dedeağaç (Dimetoka) Değirmenilk ve Mesentûri Delvina Dibra Draç Drama Dukagjin Eğriboz Elbasan Esztergom Filibe Gelibolu Golos Gümülcine Herzegovina Inebahti Ioannina Islimiye Karli-Eli Kavala Kesriye Kırk Kilise Klis Kyustendil Lemnos Mezistre Mytilene Mohaç Monastir Montenegro Morea Nakşa Berre Niš Novi Pazar Ohri Pakrac Pojega Preveza Prizren Rhodes Sakız Salonica Scutari Segedin Senturin Serfiğe Silivri Siroz Smederevo Sofia Syrmia Tekfürtaği Tirhala Üsküb Vidin Vize Voynuks Vučitrn Yoruks Zağra-i Atik