Gruda (tribe)

For other uses, see Grude (disambiguation).
Gruda Albanians, 1913.

'Gruda is a historical tribal region in southeastern Montenegro, just north of Lake Skadar, which includes the small town of Tuzi, in Podgorica. It is inhabited by a majority of ethnic Albanians.

Etymology

The name is derived from gruda, meaning "soil, sod".[1]

Geography

Gruda is a historical Albanian tribal region within Montenegro, along the mountainous border with Albania, east of Podgorica.[1] It borders to the historical tribal regions of Hoti and Kelmendi to the south and east (in Southern Montenegro and Northern Albania), and Slavic regions to the north.[1]

The historical Gruda tribal region, as described by A. Jovićević (1923), include the following settlements:[2]

In the western half of Gruda lies the small mountain range of Deçiq, as well as the river, which runs through Gruda, separating Deçiq and the village of Suka, as well as forming the border between the lands of the Gruda tribe and those of Kuči. Deçiq and Suka being the largest mountains in Gruda.

History

In Mariano Bolizza's 1614 report and description of the Sanjak of Scutari, Gruda had 40 households and 100 soldiers.[3] The Old Kuči constantly were in conflict with the Old Gruda; the Kuči were stronger, thus they stole livestock from Gruda, and if only one Kuči would be killed in conflicts, and several Gruda, they would penalize the whole tribe.[4] In 1658, the seven tribes of Kuči, Vasojevići, Bratonožići, Piperi, Klimenti, Hoti and Gruda allied themselves with the Republic of Venice, establishing the so-called "Seven-fold barjak" or "alaj-barjak", against the Ottomans.[5]

Gruda proved to be a focus of conflict between Ottoman Empire and Montenegro during the 1880s. The Porte insisted that in upcoming treaty to cede Ulcinj to Montenegro, Gruda be left to Albanians. During the same time, Porte's representative, Riza Pasha was turning a blind eye to the preparations of Albanian League for resistance against the upcoming Montenegrin occupation.[6]

According to Baron Franz Nopcsa, Gruda was a primarily Catholic tribe with a population of ca. 7,000 in 1907.[1] Having been forced to disarm, and under considerable pressure by the Ottomans to convert to Islam, (and not having staged any major revolt against Ottoman authority for nearly a half century) the Albanian highlanders launched a guerrilla campaign against the occupying armies.

The Gruda tribe was instrumental in Ottoman resistance in the region. The mountains north-east of Tuzi are remembered as the site of a major uprising against the Turks which was among the first significant steps toward Albanian independence and probably the most distinguishing moment of the northern Albanian resistance. In 1911, under the leadership of Sokol Baci, Albanian guerrillas launched a major assault against the strategic high ground of Mount Deçiq. The force is said to have taken about eighty casualties, but they ultimately prevailed, and planted the Albanian flag at the crest of the hill (the first time the flag had been raised in the country since 1469).[7] This symbolic act represented a major sign of the Ottoman Empire's crumbling rule over the Balkans, and it cemented Gruda's reputation among the other ethnic Albanian tribes.

The city of Tuzi lies in the east end of Gruda. Of Tuzi's 3,789 residents, more than 2,000 are ethnic Albanians, making it, according to the 2003 census, the heaviest concentration of ethnic Albanians in Malësia. Over the last 30 years there has been a minor influx from the surrounding villages of Albanians who are looking to take advantage of Tuzi's higher standard of living and better educational system.

Anthropology

Woman photographed by Marubi.

The tribe of Gruda is divided into two clans, the Vuksangelaj/Vuksangeljići and the Berishaj/Berišići.[3]

Vuksangelaj/Vuksangeljići

According to Andrija Jovićević, there exist different accounts regarding the origins of the Vuksangelaj family, among which he only provides three:[8]

Berishaj/Berišići

The Berishaj family descends from an individual named Priftaj. Priftaj was originally from Shalë who immigrated to Gruda and inhabited a village that now carries his name - Prifti. After arriving in Prifti, he discovered several native villagers from the Tihomir family. Priftaj was Catholic, while the Tihomiri were Orthodox. The Tihomir family later relocated to Orahovo in Kuči, leaving the Berishaj family as the sole inhabitants of the village.[9]

Families

Among brotherhoods (vëllazëri) in the village are: Ivezaj, Sinishtaj, Kalaj, Lulgjuraj, Gjokaj, Berishaj, Gjolaj, Vuçinaj, Bojaj, Vulaj, Stanaj, Lulanaj, Kajoshaj, Beqaj, Kërnaj, Pepaj, Hakshabanaj, Gilaj, Pecaj and Fërluçkaj.[10] The surnames found in Gruda include:

Religion

Gruda was initially entirely Roman Catholic. Due to Ottoman Turkish presence, many families converted into Islam. While Catholics form a majority in most settlements in Gruda, Muslims form a majority in Adžovići, Dinoša and Milješ.

The Gruda Church (Kisha e Grudës), built in 1528, dedicated to St. Michael, is located in the town of Milesh, not only an Albanian cultural landmark, its construction provides the most concrete reference date from which ethnic Albanians in the area trace their ancestry.[14]

Notable people

Born in Gruda
By descent

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Robert Elsie (19 March 2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Jovićević 1923, p. 24
  3. 1 2 Jovićević 1923, p. 47
  4. ↑ Srpski etnografski zbornik. 27-28. Akademija. 1923. p. 51. Стари Кучи су се често тукли са старим Грудама. Кучи су били јачи, па су их пљачкали и отимали им стоку. Ако би у сукобу погинуо макар само један'\'Куч, а Грудама колико, Кучи су долазили, па их пљачкали и цијело племе кажњавали.
  5. ↑ Mitološki zbornik. Centar za mitološki studije Srbije. 2004. pp. 24, 41–45.
  6. ↑ New York Times (August 26, 1880). "THE DOUBLE-DEALING TURKS.; THE SULTAN HESITATING AND NOT INTERFERING WITH THE WARLIKE PREPARATIONS OF THE ALBANIANS.". New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  7. ↑ Gjonlekaj, Gjoleke. "Life of Ded Gjo Luli" (in Albanian). Nikolle Lesi, Koha Jone. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Jovićević 1923, pp. 47–48
  9. 1 2 Jovićević 1923, p. 49
  10. ↑ "Gruda, trevë e krenarisë kombëtare". http://www.malesia.org/gruda-treve-e-krenarise-kombetare (in Albanian). 3 August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  11. ↑ Jovićević 1923, p. 48
  12. 1 2 3 4 Bacaj, Ndue (27 March 2014). "Tuzi në kapercyejt e shekujve". AlbDreams.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Poreklo prezimena, selo Vranj (Podgorica)". Poreklo.rs (in Serbian). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Durham, Edith. High Albania. London: Edward Arnold, 1909. (Chapter III).

Sources

External links

Coordinates: 42°27′31″N 19°23′55″E / 42.4586°N 19.3986°E / 42.4586; 19.3986

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