Lunxhëri
Encyclopedia
Lunxhëri is a municipality in the district of Gjirokastër
, Gjirokastër County
, Albania
. The municipality consists of the villages Qestorat
, Dhoksat, Këllëz, Mingul, Nokovë, Erind
, Gjat, Kakoz, Karjan and Valare.
Apart from the municipality, Lunxhëri, traditionally incorporates a wider region that extends from Hormovë
west, Gryka e Suhës south, the crest of Mount Lunxhëri
east and the valley of the Drino
west. The region has some river
s and stream
s (Përroi i Dhoksatit, Përroi i Qestorat
it, and the river of Nimica). Additionally there are archeological sites near Këllez, Dhoksat, Erind
as well the ancient Greek
city of Antigonia
, today a National Park.
During World War I
and the interwar period
, many families, both of Albanian and Greek origin left the area.
Gjirokastër District
The District of Gjirokastër is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania. It has a population of 56,720 containing a large Greek minority, and an area of 1,137 km². It is in the south of the country, and its capital is Gjirokastër...
, Gjirokastër County
Gjirokastër County
Gjirokastër County is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Gjirokastër, Përmet, and Tepelenë and its capital is Gjirokastër. Its population includes a substantial Greek minority. To the southeast, Gjirokastër shares a border with Greece...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The municipality consists of the villages Qestorat
Qestorat
Qestorat is a community of Lunxhëri municipality in the district of Gjirokastër, southern Albania.From 1874 to 1891 the village was home to the Zographeion College, educational facilities that included primary and secondary male, female schools and a teacher's academy and operated with the personal...
, Dhoksat, Këllëz, Mingul, Nokovë, Erind
Erind
Erind is a small town in the district of Gjirokastër, southern Albania....
, Gjat, Kakoz, Karjan and Valare.
Apart from the municipality, Lunxhëri, traditionally incorporates a wider region that extends from Hormovë
Hormovë
Hormovë is a community in the Tepelenë District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania.When the Greek War of Independence broke up a number of locals formed armed groups and supported the Independence struggle in Peloponnese and Central Greece....
west, Gryka e Suhës south, the crest of Mount Lunxhëri
Mount Lunxhëri
Mount Lunxhëri is a mountain in southern Albania in the geographical region of Southern Mountain Range. It is part of the mountain chain Shëndelli-Lunxhëri-Bureto chain, which goes parallel to the Trebeshinë-Dhembel-Nemërçkë chain. The mount has the same name of the region of Lunxhëri....
east and the valley of the Drino
Drino
The Drin or Drinos is a river in southern Albania and northwestern Greece, tributary of the Vjosë. Its source is in the northwestern part of the Ioannina Prefecture, near the village Delvinaki. It flows initially southwest, then northwest and crosses the Albanian border near Ktismata. It continues...
west. The region has some river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s and stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s (Përroi i Dhoksatit, Përroi i Qestorat
Qestorat
Qestorat is a community of Lunxhëri municipality in the district of Gjirokastër, southern Albania.From 1874 to 1891 the village was home to the Zographeion College, educational facilities that included primary and secondary male, female schools and a teacher's academy and operated with the personal...
it, and the river of Nimica). Additionally there are archeological sites near Këllez, Dhoksat, Erind
Erind
Erind is a small town in the district of Gjirokastër, southern Albania....
as well the ancient Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
city of Antigonia
Antigonia (Chaonia)
Antigonea , also transliterated as Antigonia and Antigoneia, was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and the chief inland city of the ancient Chaonians...
, today a National Park.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, many families, both of Albanian and Greek origin left the area.
Notable people
- Koto HoxhiKoto HoxhiKoto Hoxhi was an advocate of the Albanian language. He taught this language secretly to his students in Qestorat in Southern Albania. He was imprisoned and died in prison for his beliefs.-Biography:...
, Rilindas. - Nase Jani, AlbanianAlbaniansAlbanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
poet. - Kyriakos KyritsisKyriakos KyritsisKyriakos Kyritsis was a Greek lawyer and politician from the village of Stegopoli , in modern southern Albania . He supported financially the local Greek revolt of 1878 against Ottoman rule...
lawyer and member of the Greek Parliament (1915–1917) for the Argyrokastron Prefecture. - Thanas Nano, from Nokovë, the father of Fatos NanoFatos NanoFatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
and writer . - Mihal PriftiMihal PriftiMihal Prifti was an Albanian politician. He served as Chairman of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania from 1951 to 1954. A native of Lunxhëri, he later served as Albania's first ambassador to the Soviet Union.-Reference:...
, first Albanian ambassador to the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. - Ioannis PoutetsisIoannis PoutetsisIoannis Poutetsis was a Greek revolutionary leader from the region of Epirus, in the early 20th century.Poutetsis was born in the village of Stegopuli , near Gjirokastër...
(-1912), revolutionary. - Petro PogaPetro PogaPetro Poga was one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912 and one of the most important Albanian Rilindas.He was born in Erind, Gjirokastër, Albania . He went to the Zosimea Greek language School of Ioannina, Greece and then graduated in Jurisprudence from the Istanbul...
, former Albanian Rilindas and acting Prime Minister of Albania. - Urani RumboUrani RumboUrani Rumbo was an Albanian feminist, teacher and playwright. She founded various associations promoting women's rights, the most important of which was Lidhja e Gruas , one of first prominent feminist organizations of Albania.- Biography :Urani Rumbo was born in December 1895 in Stegopuli, a...
(1895–1936), Albanian feminist, teacher and playwright. - Pandeli SotiriPandeli SotiriPandeli Sotiri was an Albanian activist that acted as director of the first Albanian school of modern times in Korçë. Sotiri was one of the most important Rilindas figures that contributed in the propagation of the Albanian language. He also worked on one of the versions of the Albanian alphabet...
, Albanain Rilindas and director of the first Albanian school of modern times. - Kristo Stoja, journalist.
- Christakis ZografosChristakis ZografosChristakis Zografos - 1896, Paris, France) was a Greek banker holding Ottoman citizenship, benefactor and one of the distinguished personalities of the Greek community of Constantinople .-Early years-Career:...
(1820–1898), benefactor and entrepreneur. Founder of a number of Greek schools (called Zografeia schools) in Qestorati, Gjirokastër and ConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. - Georgios Christakis-ZografosGeorgios Christakis-ZografosGeorgios Christakis-Zografos was a Greek politician, minister of foreign affairs and president of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus .-Studies & early career:...
(1863–1920), son of the above mentioned. Head of the Autonomous Republic of Northern EpirusAutonomous Republic of Northern EpirusThe Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was a short-lived, self-governing entity founded on February 28, 1914, in the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, by the Greeks living in southern Albania ....
.
Traditional costumes
- Women's feast and bridal costume. Regional Guide of West Macedonia.