donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 11, 2008 8:06:12 GMT -5
This topic has been delt with a couple of times now, but most of the time there were few actual arguments involved; more like my word against yours. While in Albania and Kosova, I purchased two books; "Arvanitët" by Irakli Kocollari and "Dilemat e Arbërit" by Pëllumb Xhufi. Much is written there about the dates and manner in which the medieval Albanians (not Albanophone Greeks) settled parts of Greeks. The majority of sources are non Albanian; many of them old Byzantine, Venetian, Catalan and Turkish sources.
I thought I'd share some passages/quotes to get a better insight into this part of our medieval history which later led to an Albanian-Greek symbiosis.
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 11, 2008 8:36:15 GMT -5
The Albanian settlement in Greece began to take its true role in the 1300s. or more precisely, from 1325 and onwards. But to say that there had been no settlements earlier is wrong. In 1295, for instance, the lord of Thessaly (Michael Gabrielopoulos) wrote and mentioned the presence of Albanians in the vicinity of the castle of Fanar, near Trikkala. Several Albanian place-names have been recorded in these territories, such as Muzaka, Matranga, Loshada, Variboba, Spathada, Mazi etc. (F. Miklosich-J. Müller, Acta Graeca vol. 5, Vienna 1887, p. 260 from "Dilemat e Arbërit", P. Xhufi).
The Albanian clans that were mentioned in these territories were also the same that would later spread out through the rest of Greece; Cantacuzenus lines them up in names after their leaders (apo ton fylarhon prosagoreuomenoi), i.e. the Bua, Malakasa and Mazreku.
Another sign of the Albanian presence is the name of a certain Leon Skura, or León Sgouros in Greek, the archond of Nauplion in 1180. His surname suggests, according to among others the Greek historian C. Sathas (Documents inédits ou peu connus relatifs á l'histoire de la Gréce au moyen âge), a clearly Albanian origin; a noble who was integrated within the feudalistic structures of the Byzantine empire. He was probably a member of the Albanian noble family of the Skura, originally from the region around Kruja, which gave name to many prominent leaders and even place names.
Continues ....
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 11, 2008 9:17:45 GMT -5
The records of the Venetian lord of Naxos, Marino Sanuto, in the year of 1325, are of great value when concerning the recording of Albanian settlements in medieval Greece. He is in a way very grateful of the warlike Albanians' arrival. This because they soon became the 'natural' enemies of the Duchy of Athens, ruled by the Catalans who were rivals with Venice. Sanuto even describes the Catalans as a plague (pestem).
According to him, the Albanians of Thessaly rose in rebellion after the lord of Thessaly, a certain Stephen Gabrielopoulos, died. This is what Sanuto writes about the Albanians (my improvized translation;
"God sent these people to Thessaly where some of their kinsmen had settled even previously - Albanians they are called. Their number was so large (in tanta quantitate numerosa) that they completely destroyed everything outside the castles - the settlements of the Catalans, Greeks and those of their previously settled compatriots. The Catalans made a deal with the Greeks to jointly attack and expell the Albanians (Catellani et Graeci fuerunt quandoque simul ed expellandum Albanenses illos), but the attack failed (sed nullatenus potuerunt) since they lost the battle. It is said that after this the Albanians wanted to leave Thessaly, but new arrivers came and asked; - Why do you leave? - Because here we do not control any castle! - Do not do this, because more of our people are coming to help us. Let us stay together here in the lands of Thessaly! And so they returned together." (Dilemat e Arbërit p. 340) & Arvanitët p. 58-59).
Sanuto's record is one of the few records which describes the Albanian settlement as a violent one. The rest pretty much describe the Albanian arrivals as 'invitations' by Greek (Byzantine), Catalan and Venetian lords.
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 11, 2008 10:51:09 GMT -5
The Albanians were renown as fierce and excellent warriors. Sanuto describes them as following;
"They are lightly armed, far more lightly than the Franks, without a metallic thorax. They are excellent horsemen and skilled in arms. They are fast, dangerous, trained and quite able in combat. Their costumes, arms, terrible strategy and warlike tactics is an old inherited tradition which sets them apart. They are an enduring race, eat little and disciplined. They are loyal and men of their word. When their leader is endangered they rather sacrifice their own life than abandon him at the mercy of the enemies."
These warlike qualities were quite desirable, since the various multi-ethnic lords of continental Greece and the island world were in need of manpower. It is here that the so called 'stratopia' system was implemented. Albanian warriors were given free land in exchange for military service. This was something major back then when most of Europe's peasantry was landtied and exposed.
An example of such settlement is the invitation made by the head of the Duchy of Athens, Raniero Acciaiuoli, who in the period of 1373-82 settled Albanians en masse in colonies in Argolida and the Isthmus of Corinth. (C. Sathas, Mnimia tis ellhinikis historias, vol. I p. 176). The Catalans freed the Albanians from their taxes and in exchange the Albanians became the foremost warriors of the Duchy. One famous Albanian commander made a name of himself during this time, namely Dhimitër Rendi or Dhimitër "The Heavy" who commanded 1,500 warriors on horse (MD homens a cavall albanenses) (A Rubio y Lluch, Diplomatari p. 587). Infact, during this period, it seems all of the Catalan held fortresses were manned with Albanian warriors (Ibid. p. 528).
The Catalans and the Albanians, having been enemies became now allies. The Albanian contribution can be exemplified by defence of Negroponte, where the count of Dimitriada and his Albanians repelled the Navarre attacks headed by Pedro de Siperon. The life of many Greeks were consequently saved.In 1381 we also find Albanians in Kontene of Salona, allied with the Catalans against the Venetians. In 1382 the head of Catalans invite the Albanians to settle in Attica, freeing them from any taxes for two years. In 1388 another massive settlement took place in the immediate vicinity of Athens when the head of the Duchy was a certain Nero Acciaiuoli. (T. Jochalas, 'Über die Einwanderung der Albaner in Griechenland, p. 7).
This strategy was infact adopted from the Greeks. In 1349, for instance, John Cantacuzenus 1341-1354) called upon Albanian lords of South Albania and their warriors to conduct certain military operations. After they had finished they were settled in Peloponessus. Between the years 1380-1407, with the initiative and allowance of Teodoros I Palaiologos, some 10,000 Albanian warriors (AND their families) were settled in the regions of Argos, Arcadia & Ilia). (Ibid). Another recorded Albanian settlement occured between 1405-1418, after Carlo Tocco of Cephalonia expelled Albanians from his mainland domains (Aetolia & Acarnania) (G. Schiró, Cronica dei Tocco di Cefalonia, Rome, 1975, from P. Xhufi's work).
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 11, 2008 11:49:48 GMT -5
The Albanian influx took two main routes; one from Thessaly, from whence they also settled in the Aegean islands later on, and one from Epirus and Aetolia/Acarnania, from whence they also settled in the Ioanian islands. Thus in Zakynthos we have place names such as Zguro, Matosi, Marmori, Dushmani etc; in Cephalonia we have Menaja, Lukisa etc; in Corfu we have Buo, Buziqi, Barbasi, Veruha, Gërbeshi etc.
Both these routes lead to Peloponessus where a significiant percentage settled. The magnitude of Albanian settlements becomes clear in the light of Ottoman registers, or more precisely, the census of 1461. In this document, which took into account several nahiyes (administrative units) of Central and Northern Peloponessus (Morea), 198 settlements are recorded; of these, some 155 were inhabited by Albanians as the author himself confirms (P. Xhufi p. 351). During this time we also find several Albanian toponyms in Morea, such as Lendina, Floka, Balta, Dara, Lumi, Muzaq, Mali, Ripësi, Belushi, Kamathekra, Liopësi etc. Even Manuel Cantacuzenus, the despot of Peloponessus, was called "despot of the Albanians" (Ó δεσπóτης των Áλβανιτων) (P. Schreiner, Die byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, p. 273).
It is also because of this massive presence of Albanians that the Albanians were to compose the main barrier of defence against the Turks in the 1400s.
Continues ...
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PARIS DIO_MYSUS!
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Post by PARIS DIO_MYSUS! on Aug 11, 2008 12:26:59 GMT -5
Thrace is a pure Albanian word which means Calling. Thrace=Thras Thras=Call Because for that time I DioMYSUS Son Of Mary and king of Mysia been calling (Thras) and telling to the people that I MYSUS am God that place been named Thrace. (God Calls) Thrace Is the first place where first people such Dacians and Mysians been appeared on the earth. Romanians are descendants of Dacians. Alb-Illyrians are descendants of MYSIANS. I'm Revelation!!! Cheers, Lord/God Sun_MYSUS Christ !!!!!
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Kanaris
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Post by Kanaris on Aug 11, 2008 13:48:07 GMT -5
Interesting... but these are books written by Albanians purchased in Albania?
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PARIS DIO_MYSUS!
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Post by PARIS DIO_MYSUS! on Aug 11, 2008 15:04:58 GMT -5
Yeah Kane , There are greeks in Athens and greece that speaking and telling stories more in Albanian than in greek language.
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Kanaris
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Post by Kanaris on Aug 11, 2008 15:12:15 GMT -5
Mysia.... please....
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PARIS DIO_MYSUS!
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Post by PARIS DIO_MYSUS! on Aug 11, 2008 15:18:02 GMT -5
Kane says please video, I say PEACE !!!
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Post by Kastorianos on Aug 12, 2008 1:30:09 GMT -5
Haha ;D ;D
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Post by PrijesDardanian on Aug 12, 2008 5:16:26 GMT -5
Dijedon shume flm per shkrimin dhe mundimin tend...jam i interesuar ende pr shkrimet ne vazhdim, flm
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 12, 2008 8:13:59 GMT -5
Mysia, don't get out off topic. I'll delete your replies later on, as they have nothing to do with the topic. I'll let them be for a while in case you want to copy and paste them onto another thread where its relevance is higher. Interesting... but these are books written by Albanians purchased in Albania? But the sources they use are in the majority non Albanian, oftenly medieval quotations (Marino Sanuto being an example, Byzantine sources another, Ottoman registers yet another). Conclusions are one thing; I am not delivering the authors' conclusions here, merely their sources which are authentic. Prijes Falemnderit!
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Kanaris
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Post by Kanaris on Aug 12, 2008 9:02:33 GMT -5
I understand that Donnie...but like many one side Greek books by Greek authors... how in one to authenticate what quotes were told by whom?
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 12, 2008 14:24:07 GMT -5
Kanaris,
As I said, I am delivering their sources, not their conclusions. What we do with this info' is another topic, but Sanuto, the Ioannina chronicle, Byzantine sources and Ottoman registers weren't politically biased in the sense we are when concerning disputes of ethnic nature. Other things played bigger roles back then ... and various sources seem to agree that during the centuries in question, there was a serious influx of Albanians. One, earlier, influx (from Thessaly) seems to have been of a more violent nature. But most of them seem to have been invitations by the various lords of Greece.
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PARIS DIO_MYSUS!
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Post by PARIS DIO_MYSUS! on Aug 12, 2008 14:47:37 GMT -5
Ion sea=Deti Jon Deti Jon=Our' Sea Ion (Jon) is pure albanian word which means ours. Ion=Jon Jon=Ours Ioannina (Janina) is pure Albanian word which means Are Ours Ioannina=Janina Janima=Ours Ther is not J but I in greek.
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 12, 2008 14:48:33 GMT -5
The Turkish invasion
The Turkish expansion in the Balkans did not spare the territories of modern Greece. The massive presence of warlike Albanians, however, were to be a considerable obstacle to the Turks. In his book (I alvani kata tin qirios Ellada kai tin Peloponision), Michael Lambrinidis speaks of "30,000 Albanians in arms" lead by local Albanian and Byzantine lords such as Dhimitër Muhli, Johan the Spaniard, Petro Bua, Manuel Cantacuzenus, Korkondilos Kladas etc.
The Albanians of Morea were allies with Manuel Cantacuzenus, lord of Mani, but enemies with the Palaiologoi who controlled Mystra. Thus, in 1448, the Albanians under Theodor Bohala and a certain Centurion Zaharia revolted against the Palaiologos brothers and created their own principalities. In 1453, the Albanians under Petro Bua besieged Mystra. The brothers, Thomas & Demetrios, called for help in the Ottoman empire. The Turks, taking advantage of the situation, sent an army under Turhan pasha. The Albanians were defeated, but their rebellion continued and the Palaiologos brothers' sphere of influence were restricted to the inside of the castles of Patras & Mystra. The brothers call for the Turks again, while the Albanians call for the Catalans and the Genoese (Kostas Biris; Arvanites, i doroi tou neoterou helenismou p. 126-128).
The Ottoman operations continued in the following year (1454) under the command of Turhan pasha and his sons. The Turks advanced, besieging Barbitsa where the Albanian warriors and their families had found their refuge. The Turks succeed in taking the fortress and take 10,000 locals as prisoners, sending them to Asia as slaves. The bloody encounters conitnued at the fortresses of Trifilitsa and Aetu. The consequences were not suffered by the Albanians only, but also by the local Greeks (especially those who had opposed Ottoman intervention) who were forced to pay tributes and submit themselves to Ottoman authority. (K. Biris, p. 132)
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Aug 12, 2008 15:17:02 GMT -5
But the Turks' operations were reversed by 1458; by that time most of Peloponessus was yet again out of their control. That year the Sultan (Mehmed Fatih) sent an army of 60,000 men to capture the Heksamilion (they also took Nemea, Tarsa and the lands of the Palaiologos, their former allies). The defenders of Heksamilion were two Albanians, Dusha and Dhoksa, and their men. The Turks found their water source and cutt it off, forcing the Albanians to live off the blood of slain animals. Finally they were forced to surrender under the promise of being spared. The Turks spared their lives and even honored the defenders for their courage (K. Biris p. 135).
A similiar surrender occured in the zone of Rupele, where all but 20 Albanians were spared. These 20 warriors were known as very active in the war against the Ottomans, especially in the siege of Torso. They were as a result executed with hammers which the Turks used to crush their bones. But the Albanian revolt continued. In 1459 a revolt broke out in Achaea; the Albanians besieged the castles of Kalavrita and Patras and the Turkish forces within. The revolt spreads to other parts of Morea such as Arcadia and Laconia. But this revolt is quickly surpressed by an Albanian renegade named Hamza Zenebishi, of the famous noble family Zenebishi of Gjirokastra. The Turkish garrison of Patras is saved and the revolt crushed with spead (K. Biris p. 135).
In 1460, the Turkish operations ensued. Under the command of a certain Zagano, the Turks hit Achaea, Arcadia and Laconia again that had yet again been reversed to free territories under Albanian control. The Turks conquor Muhli which was under the control of the Albanian Andrea Grica. They then head for Monemvasia and the castle of Kastritsa which was controlled by the Albanian family Bohala. The besieged are lead by the Albanian Prinokoka. The Turks (again) find the watersource and cutt it off, forcing the besieged to surrender. Prinokoka is skinned alive while 300 of his active warriors are speared. The women and children were consequently sold as slaves and the castle evened with the ground. (K. Biris p. 140)
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Post by donnie on Aug 12, 2008 15:56:58 GMT -5
That same year, the fortress of Gardhikis was besieged by the Turks; its defenders numbered 6,000 warriors, mostly Albanians. After several days resistance the defenders are left without food or water. They are forced to surrender. The Turkish retribution is severe; all but the noble Theodor Bohala and his closest, including women and children, were speared. (K. Biris p- 140) After this the Turks advance towards Vardounia and Mani where Kladas commanded the (Greek) Maniates ... he is forced to withdraw into mountainous terrains, standing no real chance against the numerically superior Turkish forces.
In Kalavrita the Turks are faced with Dusha and his Albanians again. After a while the Albanians are defeated and Dusha captured the second time. As a punishment the Turks skinned him alive. Meanwhile the Sultan personally besieged Patras and Egina, commanded by Nikolla Grica. Grica and his Albanians held out until the months of spring, 1461, when a surrender occured. The lives of Grica and his warriors were spared. Yet in 1464 we found Grica as a commander in the Venetian bases of Cephalonia under the title "spectabile Nicola Griza" (K. Biris p. 140)
Now all of the non-Venetian held stations in Greece came under Ottoman control. The Venetian stations, meanwhile, had been filled with Albanian renegades ready to take up the fight with the Ottomans yet again. These stations were among others Nauplion, Koron, Methon, Navarino and others. The Turks weren't kean on the idea of Venetian presence in the Ottoman sphere of interest, and so a new conflict ensued. In 1563 the Turks advanced towards the Venetians and especially the locals that comprised their forces. In the battle for Argos, besides the many massacred, some 30,000 were captured and sent as slaves to other corners of the empire. In Nauplion, the Albanian defenders of this Venetian base force the Turks to withdraw; the latter conducted a massacre on the formers' compatriots in Divia. (L. Chalcocondylas; 51 Chritovoulos XIV, 3)
The continuous battles forced many Albanians to flee and take refuge in the mountainous terrains as well as the Greek island world, especially Hydra and Spetsia, renown for their heavy Arvanite population. Meanwhile, in that year (1463), the Venetians sent their general Bartoldo Estini to to rally the locals in a fight against the Turks under the flag of the San Marco Republic. The rebels, under Petro Bua Holli and Michael Rali (Albanians) approved and together they defeated the Turks in Nauplion & Argos, chasing the Turks all the way to the Isthmus. But here large Ottoman forces awaited and the coalition was crushed and withdraw to Nauplion. (Lambrinidis, p. 13)
Many were the Albanians who saw in Venice a potential liberator; as a consequence they voluntarily joined Venetian forces. Examples include Theodor Bua Grica & Meksi Buziqi. But Venice saw no fruit in continuing the conflict, and in 1481 a peace treaty came to existance. But the Albanians continued to be a menace, now even towards the Venetians who saw their actions as a 'threat' towards the Venetian-Ottoman peace. Theodor Bua and Meksi Buziqi provide two examples of Albanians who continued to fight against the Turks. The Venetians decided then to send a band of stratiotes (Albanian light cavalry which in the following decades and century would be sought as skilled mercenaries throughout Europe) to capture the "rebels". But being that the stratiotes were Albanian themselves, they refused to do that against their 'brothers and compatriots' (nulla feceno, excusandose non li haver possuto prender, e questo per essere de una nation non li ha voluto prender[)/i] (Sathas, Documents inédits, vol. VI. p. 153)
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Post by ILIRI I MADH on Aug 12, 2008 16:15:49 GMT -5
What happened to the women when a town fell, were they raped and had turkish kids or what?
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