Shkodër - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Name

One knows also Shkodër in his definite form Shkodra , in conformity with the use of the Western specialists, who indicate the female toponyms Albanian by their definite form and the masculines by their indefinite form: from where Shkodr' has , and Vlor has rather than Vlor E , Pej has and not Pej E (the " ë" function like l'" e" dumb man of the French: one thus does not pronounce it with final); whereas one says Elbasan rather than Elbasan I and Prizren instead of Prizren I .

Shkodra, therefore, was found under various foreign dominations during its history, so that one also knows it by his name Italian of Scutari (as from the 16th century), Serbe of Skadar , Turkish D Iskenderia ; another Scutari is in Turkey on Eastern bank of the Bosphorus, under the name of Üsküdar (“mail”, in Turkish), old the Chrysopolis .

The name of Shkodra , for its part, comes from Latin Scodra , name of the town of Illyrie whose Tite-Live affirms that it was selected for capital by king Gentius, that the Romans besieged there in 168 av. J. - C., to bring back it captive to Rome.

History of Shkodra

Antiquity

The town of Shkodra was created about fourth century BC It is the center of a tribe of Illyriens, the Labéates. During the reign of the king pre-Roman Gentius (181 - 168 before J. - C.), it becomes the chief town of the tribes illyriennes. Found coins with Shkodër, and on which the name of the city is engraved, are the oldest trace of the name the city. At this period, the city is crossed by military and commercial ways important. In 168 before J. - C., it is conquered by the Romains.

The Middle Ages

After the fall of the Roman Empire and about the 6th century of the Slavic tribes coming from north and Bulgares coming from the east arrives in the Balkans. Several displacements of populations take place, but the basic population (illyrienne and which thereafter was called Arbëreshe and finally Shqipetare (“Albanian”), reduced even well to the wire of the centuries remains the principal population of the city. In 1040, it is taken by the Serbes and it becomes the center of the Zeta. At the 14th century, it is selected like capital by the rich person and powerful feudal Albanian, the Balshaj. In 1436, it is occupied by the Vénitiens, which are withdrawn after two popular revolutions, in 1474 and 1478 - 1479. The Venetian ones, which had been due vis-a-vis the various Othoman attempts at conquest yield it by treaty to the Ottoman Empire in 1479.

Othoman occupation

The city is enormously reduced to the point to become a village. But little by little during the centuries of Othoman occupation it increases and becomes a town of 1800 houses at the 17th century. At the 18th century, the city is chief town of the northern part of Albania (partition carried out, called “Paschallec” and managed jointly by the Othomans and the rich person Albanian families). The city is managed by the family of the Bushatllinj (1757-1831). Popular revolts have place in 1833-1836, 1854,1861-1862 and 1869.

In 1718 some foreign consulates settle there. The city knows its greater period of economic development in the middle of the 19th century. In 1870, the number of the inhabitants was of 50 000. It becomes a great shopping mall for the Western Balkan area with approximately 3500 trade. Industries of Tannery, Textile, of the Tobacco and the Gunpowder develop to with it. The main ports are Oboti and especially Ulqin and later Shengjini. With the assistance of the western powers, a school Jesuit and a monastery Franciscain are created.

With the weakening of the Ottoman Empire and its retreat, the Albanian patriotic ideas develop more and more in Shkodra. It was there even an act of signature of the city against the decisions of the Western great powers (see the Conférence of the ambassadors to London of 1913). The inhabitants of Shkodra organized in the League of Shkodra take share to the fight against the annexation of the area of Plava and Gucia (Kosovo) and of the area of Hoti and Grudes, and in the war against the Montenegrins which take again the town of Ulcinj.

Shkodra is also large an arts center during all these centuries. One speaks about the library of the rich person family of the Bushatllinj. A literary company exists there, and various organizations cultural and sporting (companies “Bashkimi” (Union) and “Agimi” (the Paddle)). The first Albanian reviews diffused inside the borders of the Albania are printed in Shkodër. In 1878 one manufactures the first musical band there, and the Albanian photographers of the family Marubi travaillient there (the Photothèque these photographers was very rich). It is as in Shkodër as the Labor Day (on May 1st) is celebrated first time in Albania.

During the Balkan Wars and the First World War Shkodra becomes an objective for the Serbia and the Montenegro. The latter try to take the city in 1912-1913 and for seven months the fight between the inhabitants of the city (Albanians) and the armies Serb and Montenegrins was hard. In 1913 thanks to a traitor (Esat Pashe Toptani) the Serb armies and Montenegrins succeed in entering the city and burn a good part of the city. But they withdraw city on May 14th, 1913 because the Conférence of the Ambassadors to London allots this city to the Albania, nevertheless under international administration.

The Lake Shkodra/Skadar

Archbishop's palace

Archdiocese of Shkodër-Pult
Cathedral Saint-Etienne de Shkodër

Personalities born in Shkodër

Roza Anagnosti, actress of cinema (1943-)
Kolë Idromeno (1860-1939), painter, pioneer of photography and the cinema

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