Jean-Claude Faveyrial
Encyclopedia
Jean-Claude Faveyrial was a French
Lazarite Roman Catholic
priest and author of the first written History of Albania
. Despite never being published, the book was nevertheless the first serious endeavour to document the history of the Albanians and their country since Antiquity. A long-time teacher in Bitola
, he was also deeply involved with the Bulgarian
movement for independence and was a friend of the Vlach
people, whose schooling he extensively helped during his lifetime.
, located west of Saint-Étienne
in the south French
province of Auvergne
. Prior to joining the Congregation of the Mission in Paris
in 1843, he studied in Lyon
. Faveyrial moved to the order's Istanbul
branch in 1847, two years after he was ordained a priest by the Lazarites.
Faveyrial was strongly supportive of the Bulgarian struggle for independence, and renowned as being among the souls of that movement. From 1867 until his death, 26 years later, he served as a professor at the Vlach (Aromanian
) high school of Bitola
(Monastir), a city in west Macedonia
, where he taught French
and philosophy
. For a year before that, he had served as a priest in Thessaloniki
. In Bitola, Favyerial combined his work as a teacher with his religious duties for the Lazarite order as a local abbot
.
It was in Istanbul that, between 1858 and 1867, Faveyrial started a collection of books with the purpose of building a library that would help write the history of the Albanians, the Bulgarians, and the Vlachs. His scrutiny of the history of these peoples, he thought, would assist them to prepare for their future. Faveyrial visited the Albanian lands in 1884, and along with Apostol Mărgărit
, the general inspector of the Romania
n schools of the Ottoman Empire, he founded Romanian-financed schools for the Vlach population in Berat
, Korça
, Prizren
, and other settlements.
Faveyrial was an acquaintance of folklorist Konstantin Miladinov
and public figure Dragan Tsankov
. He even served as de facto editor-in-chief of Tsankov's Istanbul-based newspaper Balgaria for several years. Despite their ecclesiastical differences, Bulgarian patriarch
Cyril remembered Faveyrial as a "kind priest".
After a life of intense work of teaching and writings, and after having opened many new schools during his last 13 years of life, Jean-Claude Faveyrial died in Manastir on 26 November 1893.
During the time that Faveyrial was writing the History of Albania, Le istorie albanesi (The Albanian histories) (Salerno
1886), a work in four volumes by the Arbëreshë
Francesco Tajani, was published in Italy
. As Faveyrial's work was in French, the first history of Albania written in the Albanian language is considered to be T'nnollunat e Sccypniis prei gni Gheghet ci don vênnin e vet (The events in Albania from a gheg who loves his country) (Alexandria
1898) by Stefë Zurani (1865–1941).
Faveyrial is also known for several works in the Bulgarian language
, all of which now considered particularly rare, such as the Manual of Politeness (Istanbul 1858), French–Bulgarian Dialogues (Istanbul 1859), and Great Catechism for the Use of the Uniate Bulgarians (Istanbul 1862). Faveyrial also authored books and articles focused on Balkan history and the Catholic faith, as well as a description of Bitola. However, some of these were lost as the Bitola Lazarite building was torched in 1909.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Lazarite Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest and author of the first written History of Albania
History of Albania
The history of Albania emerges from the prehistoric stage from the 4th century BC, with early records of Illyria in Greco-Roman historiography. The modern territory of Albania has no counterpart in antiquity, comprising parts of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia , Macedonia , and Moesia Superior...
. Despite never being published, the book was nevertheless the first serious endeavour to document the history of the Albanians and their country since Antiquity. A long-time teacher in Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
, he was also deeply involved with the Bulgarian
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
movement for independence and was a friend of the Vlach
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
people, whose schooling he extensively helped during his lifetime.
Biography
Faveyrial was born on 25 March 1817 in the village of Usson-en-ForezUsson-en-Forez
Usson-en-Forez is a commune in the Loire department in central France.A notable native is Lazarite priest Jean-Claude Faveyrial , author of the first book on the history of Albania.-See also:*Communes of the Loire department...
, located west of Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
in the south French
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
province of Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
. Prior to joining the Congregation of the Mission in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1843, he studied in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. Faveyrial moved to the order's Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
branch in 1847, two years after he was ordained a priest by the Lazarites.
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
) high school of Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
(Monastir), a city in west Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
, where he taught French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. For a year before that, he had served as a priest in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. In Bitola, Favyerial combined his work as a teacher with his religious duties for the Lazarite order as a local abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
.
It was in Istanbul that, between 1858 and 1867, Faveyrial started a collection of books with the purpose of building a library that would help write the history of the Albanians, the Bulgarians, and the Vlachs. His scrutiny of the history of these peoples, he thought, would assist them to prepare for their future. Faveyrial visited the Albanian lands in 1884, and along with Apostol Mărgărit
Apostol Margarit
Apostol Mărgărit was an Aromanian school teacher and writer.-Life:Mărgărit was born in Macedonia, the Ottoman Empire. In 1862, Mărgărit became a school teacher in Vlaho-Clisura, near Grevena and taught the children in Aromanian, and Greek...
, the general inspector of the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n schools of the Ottoman Empire, he founded Romanian-financed schools for the Vlach population in Berat
Berat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
, Korça
Korča
Korča is a village in the municipality of Hadžići, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
, Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
, and other settlements.
Faveyrial was an acquaintance of folklorist Konstantin Miladinov
Miladinov Brothers
The Miladinov Brothers , Dimitar Miladinov and Konstantin Miladinov , were Bulgarian poets and folklorists from Macedonia, authors of an important collection of folk songs, Bulgarian Folk Songs...
and public figure Dragan Tsankov
Dragan Tsankov
Dragan Kiriakov Tsankov was a Bulgarian politician and the first Liberal Party Prime Minister of the country....
. He even served as de facto editor-in-chief of Tsankov's Istanbul-based newspaper Balgaria for several years. Despite their ecclesiastical differences, Bulgarian patriarch
Patriarch of All Bulgaria
The Patriarch of All Bulgaria is the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian patriarchate was re-established in 1953.-History:...
Cyril remembered Faveyrial as a "kind priest".
After a life of intense work of teaching and writings, and after having opened many new schools during his last 13 years of life, Jean-Claude Faveyrial died in Manastir on 26 November 1893.
History of Albania and other works
The History of Albania, written in French, was drafted between 1884 and 1889, and discovered on 20 September 1999, by Father Yves Danjou, responsible of the archives of the House of the Lazarite Missionaries in Paris. The book of 416 pages is more correctly a history of southeastern Europe, as it also details the past of other Balkan peoples. While not necessarily always factually accurate and understandably outdated in its perception, Faveyrial's work is of great historical value, partly because its inclusion of original letters by various Balkan historical figures.During the time that Faveyrial was writing the History of Albania, Le istorie albanesi (The Albanian histories) (Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
1886), a work in four volumes by the Arbëreshë
Arbëreshë
The Arbëreshë are a linguistic and ethnic Albanian minority community living in southern Italy, especially the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Molise, Calabria and Sicily...
Francesco Tajani, was published in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. As Faveyrial's work was in French, the first history of Albania written in the Albanian language is considered to be T'nnollunat e Sccypniis prei gni Gheghet ci don vênnin e vet (The events in Albania from a gheg who loves his country) (Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
1898) by Stefë Zurani (1865–1941).
Faveyrial is also known for several works in the Bulgarian language
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
, all of which now considered particularly rare, such as the Manual of Politeness (Istanbul 1858), French–Bulgarian Dialogues (Istanbul 1859), and Great Catechism for the Use of the Uniate Bulgarians (Istanbul 1862). Faveyrial also authored books and articles focused on Balkan history and the Catholic faith, as well as a description of Bitola. However, some of these were lost as the Bitola Lazarite building was torched in 1909.