Shas ( Ana Malit ), Montenegro
Encyclopedia
Šas is a village
in Montenegro
. According to the 2003 census, the village has a population of 268 people. It is located within the Ana Malit
region, east of Ulcinj
.
In the vicinity of the village is its eponymous lake, Lake Šas.
Vladimir Hill, near Šas, has an unknown fortification with a church, and is believed to be the location of Oblik
, a significant fortification mentioned in the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
.
The Latin form of the Šas / Svač is Suacia, and is formed from the abbreviation of sanctus (saint) - Su. and the Astius. The combination Su+Astius forms Suastius, and through the phoneme shift st → c, Suastius becomes Suacius, which in the feminine form is Suacia.
The Albanian and Montenegrin forms of Šas / Svač are not formed via translation from the Latin form. Instead, however, they are formed based on localised translations of Saint Astius.
The most numerous findings were of Iron Age
pottery, found in several trenches, in the upper part of town and a great part of the suburbium. Such findings provides evidence for the existence of an Iron Age fort. This idea is also supplemented by constructed dry walls built of certain large stones. This type of stone was also found in some walls of medieval Svač.
Fragments of some Hellenistic
pottery was found in the waterfalls east of Svač, suggesting that a Hellenistic layer could exist in the northern outskirts. Fragments of thin-walled pottery in red and yellow colors, possibly Roman, were discovered in the upper fort and in the outskirts by the northern waterfalls beneath the city.
as "Svacia Civitas" (literally "city-state of Suacia"). However, it is believed to have been founded in the 6th century during the reign of Justinian I
.
In 1183, Rascian
ruler Stefan Nemanja
conquered the town and annexed it to his state. However, in 1242, following their failed invasion of Ulcinium
, the Mongols
, led by Batu Khan
(grandson of Genghis Khan
), destroyed Svač and slaughtered its inhabitants. The ruins remaining from the Mongol invasion are today known by the locals as kishat, Albanian for churches.
Historical sources indicate that Queen Jelena of Serbia
ordered its reconstruction in the late 13th century. Jelena was residing at Ulcinj
at the time. However, the town's structures were starting to collapse in ca. early 15th century as evidenced by a letter to Venice
in 1406 written by the Archbishop of Svač, pleading for monetary funding to renovate the town's walls.
The town was destroyed by the Ottoman Turks
in 1571 and the ancient See of Suacium was forever suppressed.
In 1533, Genoese
Francisco Giustiniani wrote that in Svač were the ruins of 360 churches and chapels. In 1610, Archbishop of Antivari Marin Bici
similarly wrote that Svač contained the same number of churches as there were days in a year.
The largest churches in Svač are:
Based on archeological studies, certain Slavic rituals, such as "trizna
" (funerary rite), were recorded in Svač. It is known that vessels were placed into graves in Svač, which is also seen in the Albania
n town of Lezhë
. This is thought to represent the stressing of the Orthodox Christianity
by observing of ritual under iconoclastic rule.
The use of a bread-baking pan found in Svač further characterises the presence of Slavs within the region.
Pottery shards decorated by wavy and upright lines drawn by a comb found in Svač suggest a Slavic migration from the Danube
to Scutari
. This style of pottery appears ca. early 7th century, originating from the regions around Vienna
and Bratislava
.
Byzantine style pots dating from the latter half of the 12th century appear in Svač, similar to those found in modern-day Bulgaria
. However, nearly all kitchen pottery in Svač adhere to a Roman Catholic cultural foundation. However, toward the end of the town's existence, a notable presence of imported pots of possible Venetian origin occurs. These pots bear a striking resemblance to those found in Istria and Dalmatia.
All findings of amphora are of Byzantine origin and span between the 6th and 12th centuries.
and Scutari
. About thirty coins were found in the town. Two are of Nemanyid origin, several Byzantine dating from the last quarter of the 14th century, of which three were minted Bar
and Kotor
, two in Scutari and in an unknown city, possibly Ulcinj. Two Venetian coins dating from mid-16th century, one of which was minted in Kotor, and two other coins dating between 18th and 19th centuries. The other coins were unable to be classified. Composition-wise, of the thirty coins found, one coin was gold, two in silver and the rest either bronze or copper.
It is known that Svač minted its own coins in the 15th century. On its coins, the fortress of Svač is shown with Renaissance figures, its three stories with colonnades and keep.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. According to the 2003 census, the village has a population of 268 people. It is located within the Ana Malit
Ana Malit
Ana Malit is a municipality of the city Ulqin, Montenegro. Ana Malit has many towns such as Katërkolla ,Krytha, Kllezna, Milla, Shasi, Amulli, Dragina, Brajsha, Sukubina, Selita, Shtodra, Rashtisha, etc...
region, east of Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
.
In the vicinity of the village is its eponymous lake, Lake Šas.
Vladimir Hill, near Šas, has an unknown fortification with a church, and is believed to be the location of Oblik
Oblik
Oblik can refer to:*Oblik in southern Serbia*Oblik , medieval city in Montenegro*Stage name of British DJ Jake Williams...
, a significant fortification mentioned in the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic monk of the Cistercian order by the name of Roger for the Croatian Ban Paul Šubić because an order form by Ban Šubić and a quote of Catholic monk have been discovered...
.
Etymology
It is believed that Šas / Svač is named after Saint Astius.The Latin form of the Šas / Svač is Suacia, and is formed from the abbreviation of sanctus (saint) - Su. and the Astius. The combination Su+Astius forms Suastius, and through the phoneme shift st → c, Suastius becomes Suacius, which in the feminine form is Suacia.
The Albanian and Montenegrin forms of Šas / Svač are not formed via translation from the Latin form. Instead, however, they are formed based on localised translations of Saint Astius.
- The Albanian form of Šas / Svač is Shas, and is formed similarly to the Latin form. Saint Astius in Albanian is Shën Asti. The first two letters of both words form Shas. The modern-day term Šas in Montenegrin is a borrowing from Albanian.
- The Montenegrin form of Šas / Svač is Svač, and is also formed similarly to the Latin form. Saint Astius in Montenegrin is Sveti Astije. Like in Latin, a phoneme shift also occurs, st → č. After the phoneme shift, the first two letters of both words form Svač.
Pre-history
In 1985, fragments of prehistoric pottery were found lowest layer in ruddy soil lying between the grooves and holes in the rocks. Even if the prehistoric pottery was from various epochs, it was not separated by layers in the rocks. On the eastern end, several pottery fragments were found decorated with fingernails, which possibly indicates early neolithic origin. These fragments also show trace amounts of quartz and silex. Chalcolithic pottery was also found in the same area, with findings from a ditch in the upper part of the town dating from the same era, or slightly younger, from the Bronze Age.The most numerous findings were of Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
pottery, found in several trenches, in the upper part of town and a great part of the suburbium. Such findings provides evidence for the existence of an Iron Age fort. This idea is also supplemented by constructed dry walls built of certain large stones. This type of stone was also found in some walls of medieval Svač.
Fragments of some Hellenistic
Hellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
pottery was found in the waterfalls east of Svač, suggesting that a Hellenistic layer could exist in the northern outskirts. Fragments of thin-walled pottery in red and yellow colors, possibly Roman, were discovered in the upper fort and in the outskirts by the northern waterfalls beneath the city.
Middle Ages
Svač, as Šas was known in the Middle Ages, was first mentioned in the 1067 in a papal bull by Pope Alexander IIPope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II , born Anselmo da Baggio, was Pope from 1061 to 1073.He was born in Milan. As bishop of Lucca he had been an energetic coadjutor with Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress simony, and to enforce the celibacy of the clergy...
as "Svacia Civitas" (literally "city-state of Suacia"). However, it is believed to have been founded in the 6th century during the reign of Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
.
In 1183, Rascian
Raška (state)
Principality of Serbia or Serbian Principality was an early medieval state of the Serbs ruled by the Vlastimirović dynasty, that existed from ca 768 to 969 in Southeastern Europe. It was established through an unification of several provincial chiefs under the supreme rule of a certain Višeslav,...
ruler Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
conquered the town and annexed it to his state. However, in 1242, following their failed invasion of Ulcinium
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
, the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
, led by Batu Khan
Batu Khan
Batu Khan was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Ulus of Jochi , the sub-khanate of the Mongol Empire. Batu was a son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. His ulus was the chief state of the Golden Horde , which ruled Rus and the Caucasus for around 250 years, after also destroying the armies...
(grandson of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
), destroyed Svač and slaughtered its inhabitants. The ruins remaining from the Mongol invasion are today known by the locals as kishat, Albanian for churches.
Historical sources indicate that Queen Jelena of Serbia
Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou or Hélène d'Anjou was the queen consort of the Serbian Kingdom, wife of Stephen Uroš I and mother of kings Dragutin and Milutin.-Life:Helen was a Catholic and was born in ca 1236. Her origins are not known for certain...
ordered its reconstruction in the late 13th century. Jelena was residing at Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
at the time. However, the town's structures were starting to collapse in ca. early 15th century as evidenced by a letter to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1406 written by the Archbishop of Svač, pleading for monetary funding to renovate the town's walls.
The town was destroyed by the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
in 1571 and the ancient See of Suacium was forever suppressed.
Demographics
Population of Šas:- 1948 - 207
- 1953 - 226
- 1961 - 249
- 1971 - 277
- 1981 - 329
- 1991 - 355
- 2003 - 268
| Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Albanians Albanians Albanians 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... |
268 | 100.00% |
| Others | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 268 | 100% |
Culture
According to legend, Svač once had as many churches as there were days, however, much of these churches lay in ruin, with only eight remaining.In 1533, Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
Francisco Giustiniani wrote that in Svač were the ruins of 360 churches and chapels. In 1610, Archbishop of Antivari Marin Bici
Marin Bici
Marino Bizzi was a Dalmatian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Bizzi was Archbishop of Antivari.-Life:...
similarly wrote that Svač contained the same number of churches as there were days in a year.
The largest churches in Svač are:
- Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist (Katedrala sv. Jovana Krstitelja) - A Romanesque cathedral located at the highest point of the town. It was built in 1300 based on the inscription found on its façade. Based on the fragments remaining on its western wall, it is assumed that the church was built on an older church that was demolished by the Mongols.
- Church of St. Mary (Crkva sv. Marije) - A Gothic-styled Franciscan church located on a plateau in the lower part of town. It is believed to have been built after 1300.
Based on archeological studies, certain Slavic rituals, such as "trizna
Trizna
Trizna was a funeral feast which, as a part of Slavic religion, was made for distinguished members of society before their cremation. In villages in Bosnia, name trzan or trzna is used for a place in the middle of a village used for gatherings, which is considered to be derived from trizna....
" (funerary rite), were recorded in Svač. It is known that vessels were placed into graves in Svač, which is also seen in the 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...
n town of Lezhë
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
. This is thought to represent the stressing of the Orthodox Christianity
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
by observing of ritual under iconoclastic rule.
The use of a bread-baking pan found in Svač further characterises the presence of Slavs within the region.
Pottery shards decorated by wavy and upright lines drawn by a comb found in Svač suggest a Slavic migration from the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
to Scutari
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
. This style of pottery appears ca. early 7th century, originating from the regions around Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
.
Byzantine style pots dating from the latter half of the 12th century appear in Svač, similar to those found in modern-day Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. However, nearly all kitchen pottery in Svač adhere to a Roman Catholic cultural foundation. However, toward the end of the town's existence, a notable presence of imported pots of possible Venetian origin occurs. These pots bear a striking resemblance to those found in Istria and Dalmatia.
All findings of amphora are of Byzantine origin and span between the 6th and 12th centuries.
Economy
Svač was once located on an important trade route between UlcinjUlcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
and Scutari
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
. About thirty coins were found in the town. Two are of Nemanyid origin, several Byzantine dating from the last quarter of the 14th century, of which three were minted Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
and Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
, two in Scutari and in an unknown city, possibly Ulcinj. Two Venetian coins dating from mid-16th century, one of which was minted in Kotor, and two other coins dating between 18th and 19th centuries. The other coins were unable to be classified. Composition-wise, of the thirty coins found, one coin was gold, two in silver and the rest either bronze or copper.
It is known that Svač minted its own coins in the 15th century. On its coins, the fortress of Svač is shown with Renaissance figures, its three stories with colonnades and keep.