Španje

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Part of a series on
Albanian tribes
Albanian highland tribesmen
Tribes and regions
Malësia e Madhe
Dukagjin highlands
Gjakova highlands
Puka-Mirdita
Upper Drin
Zadrimë - Lezha highlands
Mati - Kruja highlands
Myzeqe
Albania Veneta
Brda-Zeta
Old Montenegro
Herzegovina - Ragusan hinterland
Epirus
Concepts
  • Bukë, Kripë e Zemër
History
Culture
  • v
  • t

The Španji or Shpani (Cyrillic: Шпањи)[a] were a medieval Albanian clan or fis.[1][2] They inhabited the region of Nikšić and the valley of the river Zeta in modern-day Montenegro,[3] while also being widespread around Shkodër and Pult.[4] According to folk legends, they were the oldest tribe in the region, while also being in frequent conflict with many other tribes such as the Macure or Bukumiri. [5] [6][7] They are commonly treated as one of the non-Slavic, "Old Balkanic" people that were assimilated (Slavicized) into the Serb ethnos.[8] Serbianisation of the Španji and other tribes in the region began in the 6th and 7th centuries and according to M. Radovanović (2004) was completed when Serbs from surrounding regions retreated to the mountains of Montenegro and Herzegovina because of the 14th- and 15th century Ottoman invasion.[9] The Špani were quite a rich clan, and its riches,flourished in Albania. In support of this fact we can say that in the cadastre of Shkodra of the year 1416-1417 many Špani (Shpani) are mentioned,being prevalent in the suburbs of Shkodra and owning land and villages, while also reaping privileges from Venetian possessions.[10]

The Albanian Spani family active in Shkodër and Drivast in the beginning of 14th century, originated from the clan.[11] This connection has also been supported by V.Ćorović. Toponyms Španjska gradina (in Spuž) and Španjsko katunište on mount Vražegrmac derive from the tribal name.[12] Š. Kulišić derived their name from Old Greek spanios, meaning "naked", which might have been used by Greeks for the Illyrian inhabitants of the "naked" karst mountains; similarly, the name Pješivci derives from Slavic plješiv meaning "bald", and could have been attributed to the inhabitants of those "naked" mountains (in Serbian, the demonym would be golobrđani).[13] Their name could also suggest that they were beardless (Ancient Greek: spanos meaning "beardless").[14] Judging by their name, the Spani family may have been of Greek origin,[15] however this has been considered debatable.[2]

Annotations[]

  1. ^
    Otherwise known as Španje(Serbian: Шпање) , Spani, Spano or Španci(Шпанци).[16]

References[]

  1. ^ Gashi, Skënder (2015). ONOMASTIC-HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON EXTINCT AND ACTUAL MINORITIES OF KOSOVA. ASHAK. p. 145.
  2. ^ a b Sharxhi, Afërdita (2005). "Spanët, Bokalët dhe Marulët sipas botimeve albanologjike" (PDF). Bibliothecae, nr. 6. pp. 42–45.
  3. ^ Radovanović 2008, p. 52.
  4. ^ Malaj, Edmond (2003). Noble Families of Medieval Drivasto. Studime Historike. p. 34-35.
  5. ^ Kovijanić 1974, p. 43–44.
  6. ^ GZM 1977, p. 20.
  7. ^ Barjaktarović 1984, p. 21.
  8. ^ Radovanović 2004, pp. 110–112.
  9. ^ Radovanović 2004, p. 68.
  10. ^ Malaj, Edmond (2003). Noble Families of Medieval Drivasto. Studime Historike. p. 34.
  11. ^ Gashi, Skënder (2015). ONOMASTIC-HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON EXTINCT AND ACTUAL MINORITIES OF KOSOVA. ASHAK. p. 144.
  12. ^ Kovijanić 1974, p. 44.
  13. ^ Kulišić 1980, p. ?.
  14. ^ EDJ 1977, p. 113.
  15. ^ Sainty, Guy S. (2019). La Orden Constantiniana de San Jorge: y las familias Ángelo, Farnesio y Borbón que la rigieron. Boletín Oficial del Estado. p. 502. ISBN 9788434025059.
  16. ^ Radovanović 2008, p. 101.

Sources[]

Retrieved from ""