Maps of Power

Zindel et al. 2018

Properties

ID 122948
System Class Bibliography
Bibliography Book
Case Study Beyond East and West: Sacred Landscapes Duklja and Raška

Description

Christian Zindel et al., Albanien. EIn Archäologie- und Kunstführer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (Wien/Köln/Weimar 2018).

Relations

Places (57)
Name Class Begin End Description
Amantia Place The Upper Town of Amantia was probably founded in the 5th century BCE and refortified during the reign of Justinian in the 6th century CE. At the end of the 5th century or at the beginning of the 6th century CE, an early Christian Basilica was built.
Apollonija, Shën Mëri Monastery Place In the 9th century the Shën Mëri Monastery was founded on the territory of the now deserted town of Apollonia. In the late 13th century the monastery got a church.
Apolonija Place The Town of Apollonia was founded in the year 588 B.C. by Greek settlers from Korfu and Korinth. After an earthquake altered the river Vjosë in the 4th century and the repeated invasions of the 4th and 5th century the town got ruined. The extenisve privileges the town received during Roman rule allowed the development of many development and a bishop's see. In the 9th century the Shën Meri Monastery was founded on the territory of the now deserted town. (AA I, 14 (3); AA I, 528 (156-157); JG LT DIPL., 671 - episcopus civitatis Appoloniae, De la Polina, Apud Apolloniam).
Arapaj, Basilica of Shën Mëhill Place The Basilica of Shën Mëhill was one of the oldest Christian churches in modern Albania. The Basilica was probably built during the reign of Emperor Anastasios I (491-518). Unfortunately only the foundation walls are preserved. The chapell of the basilica was used as burial site for a man and a women and served as a place of pilgrimage from the 5th to the 12thz century. Anna Komnena writes that Robert Guiscard destroyed Arapaj and the basilica on the 18th of October 1081.
Ardenica Monastery Place The Ardenica Monastery was founded in the 13th or 14th century during the Epirote Depostate. The monastery was renovated in the 18th century and it is suggested that Ardenica Monastery was built on an earlier christianised Artemis temple. The monastery had a very rich library which unfortunately was destroyed in a fire in the year 1932.
Balldre, Church of St Veneranda Place The Church of St Veneranda in Balldre was built in the second half of the 13th century. Like other Northern Albanian churches, this church too shows a mix of Catholic and Orthodox iconography in its frescoes. The inscriptions of the Church of St Veneranda are in Latin.
Ballsh, Unknown Basilica Place This unknown Basilica was built in the center of an late antique town (Zindel et al. assume it was Glavinica). Many of the surrounding buildings include spolia of the church. In the ruins of the church, a inscription praising the christening of Tsar Boris and the Bulgarians and the annexation of Albania into the Bulgarian Empire.
Bashtovë Fortress Place The Bashtovë Fortress was built between the years 1456 and 1478 by the Venetians in great haste. The Datin into the 15th century is heavily debated, because of similarities to other fortresses in e.g. Elbasan, some researchers suggest a construction during the Justinian Dynasty. Many Byzantine spolia were used during the construction. The Fortress lies far away of towns. Its purpose was probably to secure the Shkumbin river or a nearby market place.
Bejkova, Tower Place The Tower near Bejkova was built in the Late Antiquity. During the Medieval Age the fortification was renovated. It is possible that this fortification is the remain of the ancient town of Kolonja. Kolonja was the administrative centre of a Byzantine Thema during the 11th century and also during the Normano-Byzantine War at the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th century. In 1259 the region was recaptured by the Emperors of Nicea and again in 1328 by Andronikos II Palaiologos.
Berat Place Berat was probably founded by king Kassander of Macedonia and named after his father Antipatros. Theodosias II renamed the city to Pulcheropolis. The walls of the town were renovated by Justinian and extended with towers. After the Bulgarian conquest in the year 860, the town was named Beligrad/Belograd from which the name Berat derived. Berat was reintegrated into the Byzantine Empire in the year 1018. The lower towns were fortified in the medieval age. After the Fourth Crusade in 1204 Berat became a part of the Despotate of Epirus and it's capital. Michael II gave Berat to Manfred of Hohenstaufen; after his death it formed part of the Regnum Albaniae. In 1280-81 the region and Berat became again part of the Byzantine Empire and lost in 1345 to Stefan IV Dušan. In the year 1417 Berat was conquered by the Ottomans, who then built the citadel, the lower town and a bazar. During his rebellion, Skanderbeg unsuccessfully besieged Berat (AAI, 55 (13-14) - ad episcopatum Belogradensem; GČ KNS, 87 (48-49) - de Belgrado).
Boboshticë, Church of Shen Jovani Place The church of Shen Jovani near Boboshticë was built in the 13th century. The church was heavily damaged by an earthquake but renovated and an Narthex was added under Ottoman rule.
Byllis Place The town of Byllis was founded in the 4th century BCE. Before becoming part of the Roman Empire, Byllis was part of the Macedonian and Illyrian Kingdom and of the Byllian Koinon. In the year 30 BCE Byllis became a Roman colonia and florished until the Attacks of the Visigoth in the late 4th century destroyed the town and it emerged only in the 5th century. In 458 Byllis was a bishop's see and became one of the eight most important cities of Epirus accordikg to Hierokles. The town was destroyed and abandoned after an Slavic attack in 586. Findings of coins of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan allow to assume that soldiers and farmers still have trespassed the towns area. Byllis was home to five basilicas.
Daula Fortress Place The Daula Fortress, in the region also known as Fortress of Skanderbeg, was built in the year 1451 by the Albanian prince Skanderbeg. Archeological excavations only show one Stratum of the 15th century. The fortress was destroyed by the Ottomans in the year 1466.
Drisht Place The fortified settlement of Drisht was first mentioned in the reign of John I Tzimiskes (969-976) but can be traced back to the Roman town of Drivastum; it probably even was an earlier Illyrian fortification. In 1184 the Serbian king Stefan Nemanja of Rashka conquered Drisht, after the fall of the Serbian Empire in the second half of the 14th century the town became independent and minted their own coins. From 1369 to the 14th of April 1396 the Albanian noble family of Balsha ruled Drisht until they had to cede to Venice. During the Venetian rule (1396-1404) an cistern was added to the fortress. In 1476 the Ottomans conquered the fortification and the Christian population fled to other Venetian territories, resulting in Drisht loosing its importance and diminished.
Dyrrhachion Place The town of Dyrrhachion was one of the most important Byzantine strongholds in the Adria from the 6th century to the 12th century. The importance of Dyrrhachion lied in the fact, that it was one of two adriatic heads (the other one was Apollonia) of the Via Egnatia. According to Šufflay, Dyrrhachion is the nucleus of the other fortresses in Northern Albania. The emperors Anastasios, Justin and Justinian issued many building and also the refortification and renovation of the fortifications after the retreat of the Ostrogoths and an earthquake in 518. From the 12th century on until 1501 the town was under changing Byzantine, Norman, Epirotes, Anjou Sicilly, Albanian and Venetian rule. In the year 1394, the Venetians again renewed the fortifications and built a canal to dry the swamps of Balta and transform the peninsula of Dyrrhachion into an island similar to Zara and Trau. The Ottomans conquered the town in 1501. (AA I, 80 (27) - Dalmatia et Dyrrhachio; LjS PP., I, 113 (109) - Duka Drački).
Elbasan, Lower Town Place (H. Ruvarac, Stadt Konuch in der Serb. Annalen, Archiv für Slavische Philologie XVII, 1895, 568-572, ĆT TSSp., 142 - gradь rekomi Konjuhь, i sьzida Novi Gradь; una colonia, chiamata Valnia; del sangiaco di Elbasan).
Elbasan, Upper Town Place Elbasan was probably founded during the 1st or 2nd century on the Via Egnatia. It was fortified in the 4th century and pillaged by the Goths during the 5th century. Also some churches were built during the time. After 519, when Scampis was mentioned as a bishopric, the town fades from sources. It was rebuilt in the year 1466 by Sultan Mehmed II., while the siege of Kruja, and called Il-basan.
Fortifications on Trajan Mountain and Mok Hill Place The fortifications on Trajan Mountain and Mok Hill were probably built in the early iron age and continously used during ancient and medieval periods. It probably could be identified with the town Diabolis which was an important base for the wars of Basileus IV the Bulgar Slayer in his wars against the Greater Bulgarian Empire. Maybe Alexios I Komnenos also used it in his wars agains the Normans of Robert Guiscard in 1108. The fortification was probably abandoned in the late medieval age in favour of the newly founded town of Voskopoja.
Grazhdan Fortress Place The Grazhdan Fortress was a late antique fortified settlement which probably can be identified as the town of Dober. In the 11th and 12th century, one of the fortresses towers was reused as a church.
Kanina Place The fortified settlement of Kanina was first mentioned in Procopius' De Aedificiis as Kionin. However, archeological excavation suggest a settlement already in the 3rd century BCE. The fortification had been renovated under the rule of Justinian. Kanina became an ecclesiastical and regional center in the Gulf of Valon in the 9th or 10th century and was designated a bishopric around 1019. The settlement was as part of the Thema of Jericho also the site of battles between the Norman and Byzantine armies, as described by Anna Comnena. The settlement was conquered by the Normans. After the dismantling of the Bishopric of Vlora Kanina became its successor. Kanina became part of the Kingdom of Sicily during the reign of King Manfred of Hohenstaufen (*1232; † 26th of February 1266), and after his death it became part of the realm of Charles of Anjou. In 1284 Kanina again became a part of the Byzantine Empire. In 1345 the Serbian king Stefan Uroš IV Dušan conquered the region, followed by the Albanian prince Balsha II († 18th of September 1385) in 1372. 1395 the successor of Balsha II tried to sell Kanina to the Venetians for 7000 ducats, this endevour was only successful in 1400. But already in 1417 Kanina became part of the Ottoman Empire. Kanina is economical and political closely connected to Vlora (AA I, 71 (23); KJ Sp., XI, 33 (47); HI SDSArv., 33 - ad partes Canninae; u kulě Kaninьskom; vilayet-i Kaina).
Kavaja Place The town of Kavaja was an Ottoman foundation on the place of the former village of Karye, which was first mentioned in 1431/1432. The town of Kavaja was first mentioned on 1520.
Koman Place The village of Koman does not show up in written sources. Archeology suggests a foundation in the 2nd or 3rd century and abandonment in the 15th century.
Korça Place The town of Korça was founded in 1494 by Ilyas Bey, an Ottoman courtier of Albanien origin, on the place of the villages of Piskopiye and Emporion.
Kruja Place The town of Kruja was first mentioned as bishopric see in the year 879 by Gjon Kastrioti. Kastrioti stated that the bishopric already existed in the 7th century. In 1165 Emperor Manuel I Komnenos grans several Privileges to the town, which were confirmed in 1253 by Emperor John III Dukas Vatatzes of Nikaia, in 1255 by Emperor Theodoros II Laskaris of Nikaia, in 1288 by Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos and in 130 by Ohilipp of Tarent.
Kurjan, Church of Shën Koll Place The church of Shën Koll was built in the 13th or 14th century and rebuilt in the 16th century after a catastrophe (maybe an earthquake). Only small remnants of the 16th centuries frescoes have survived, telling the story of the renovation.
Laç, St Anthony Monastery Place The St Anthony Monastery in Laç is a very important Catholic pilgrimage site in Albania. The Monastery was built by Franciscans in the second haf of the 13th century and expanded and co-consecrated to St Mary in the 16th century. The Monastery was demolished by the Albanian Communist party and rebuilt in 1992.
Leš Place The town of Leš was a very important town of the Illyrians, sitting between the Kingdom of Macedonia and the Roman Republic. In the 6th century the Bishop of Leš fled from Leš to Calabria after the town was conquered by Avars. In the 9th century Leš became part of the Thema of Dyrrhachion. Anna Comnena praises the strength of the fortress of the town. In the 13th century, Leš was part of the Principality of Albanon and became part of the Serbian Kingdom in 1340. After the death of Emperor Dušan (1355) the Region became independent and was ruled by the Serbian noble family of the Balšić and in 1387 Leš became the capital of the Dukajin Principality. Also in 1436 Cyriacus of Ancona praises the strong walls of Leš. In 1440 the town was hit by a great fire. Leš was ruled by Venice from 1393 until the Ottoman conquest in 1478. After the Venetians were able to reconquest the town for a short time in 1501 they demolished the defensive buildings before they ceded Leš back to the Ottomans. (AA I, 374 (111) - usque ad flumen Lesii).
Lin, Early Christian Church Place Below the Church of Saint Athansius, which was demolished in 1967, the fundaments of an early Christian church has been found. The unnamed church has a cross shape and is oriented to the East. It is disputed if the church is a three naved church.
Maligrad, Church of Shën Mëri Place The church of Shën Mëri was extended and renovated by Caesar Novak in the years1368/1369. The church served as burial site for the Novak family.
Mashkjeza Castle Place At the end of the 13th century, Mashkjeza Castle was built as a Western European style castle on top of the ancient foundations. The castle was inhabited by a noble family related to the Anjou rulers of Albania. Coins of the Duchy of Athens, the Principate of Achaia, and the County of Tripolis have all been found within the castle and allow an datin between 1274 and 1301. Following the defeat of the Latins at the hand of the Byzantines, the castle was abandoned.
Mborje, Church of Shën Ristoz Place The church of Shën Ristoz was built around the year 1300, the frescoes are dated to the 14th century. The church of Christ in Mborje name a certain Amirali and his Brother Sebastokrator Joanes as rulers.
Mborje, Fortress Place The fortification near Mbjore was first mentioned in 1432 as an Ottoman garrison. It is suggested that the fortress was built between the 12th and 14th century and served as fortified home of a noble family, as the fortress is also known as "Qytet", town, by the people. The church of Christ in Mborje name a certain Amirali and his Brother Sebastokrator Joanes as rulers.
Orikos Place The fortified settlement of Orikos was refortified between the 4th an 6th century. The latest findings were coins minted during the reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenetos (913-959).
Pecë Place The Fortress on Pecë was build around the year 300. A church was added in the 5th or 6th century to the Fortress and the sam church was renovated between the 9th and 11th century.
Peqin Place The lower town of Peqin was the indirect succesor to the Roman town of Clodiana, which was located at the Via Egnatia and was first mentioned in 1431/32 as "Biklinet" in the Ottoman Tahrir Defter.
Perondi, Church of Shën Koll Place The Church of Shën Koll in Perondi was built in the 10th century on the fundament of a 5th century church. In the 13th century a bell tower was added and the whole church was renovated in the 14th century. The frescoes of the church are currently in miserable shape.
Petralba Place The Petralba fortress was built in the 14th or 15th century and was conquered by Skanderbeg in 1443. The fortress guarded the road from Durres to Prizren and was an important part of Skanderbegs defensive system of Albania. After the death of Skanderbeg the fortress fell into ruin and only the village of Guri Bardhë was mentioned as successor settlement to the fortresses lower town.
Petrela Place The fortified settlement of Petrela was first mentioned by Anna Komnena in the 12th century, but findings suggest a foundation by the Illyrians in Antiquity. In 1153 Petrela was mentioned by Al-Idrisi as Betrula as an important regional marketplace. Petrula was again mentioned in the 15th century during the war of Skanderbeg against the Ottomans. After the Ottomans conquered Petrela and founded Elbasan the fortress lost its importance, both as a fortress and a marketplace. Four archaeological phases were found, the first in the 5th century, probably during the reign of Anastasios I, the second phase was during the early medieval age, the third probably in the 12th or 13th century, the last phase was in the 15th century.
Pllana, Church of Shën Barbullës Place The church of Shën Barbullës in Pllana was built in the 13th or 14th century. Postbyzantine frescoes also show Saint George and Archangel Michael.
Preza Fortress Place The Preza Fortress was probably built in the early 15th century or around 1500. Who exactly founded the Preza fortress was debated, suggestions were the Ottoman, the Albanian noble Family of Topia or Skanderbeg. The fortress was expanded by an mosque in the 16th century.
Qafa Fortress Place The fortress of Qafa was built as part of the defensive ring around Scampis which was built by Justinian to protect the region of attacs and raids of Avars and Slavs. It was probably already abandoned in the second half of the 6th century.
Reç Fortress Place The Reç Fortress probably can be identified with Skanderbegs castle Balessium. The fortification was first mentioned as the town of Ballac in 1062 in a letter by Alexander II to the Archbishop of Bar. Ballac then was mentioned in 1347 as bishopric. In 1416 the Venetian cadastre mentioned the place only as a vilalge with 25 houses. Skanderbeg renovated in 1448 the Walls in preparation of his attempts to conquer the Danja fortress. Reç is also mentioned as a bishopric in the 14th and 15th century.
Rodon Fortress Place Rodon fortress at Cape Rodon was a well known adriatic pirate centre in 1324. Near the fortress three monasteries existed in the 14th and 15th century. Skanderbeg heavily fortified Rodon fortress. He planned to make it his main fortress in his wars against the Ottomans. After the conquest of Durres in the year 1501 Rodon fortress and its port lost its importance and was abandoned. According to Barletius Rodon was destroyed by Sultan Mehmet II after the third siege of Kruja.
Rubik, Saviour's Church Place The Saviour's Church in Rubik was probably built in the 12th century. A fresco of the year 1272 mentions the Benidictine abbot Innocence. The abbot is shown in his Latin ornat, but the fresco is painted in a Byzantine style.
Sardoniki Place The ancient Roman fort, Sarda was founded in the late 4th century. In the 5th century it also served as a bishopric, later being abandoned in the 6th century after the invasion of the Avars and Slavs. Sardoniki was resettled and refortified in the 10th century. Sardoniki was resettled and refortified in the 10th century, in 1189 Sardoniki again became a bishopric and was a suffragan bishopric of the archbishop of Tivari. Until 1460 Sarda was ruled by the noble families of the Dukagjini and Zaharia (VĐ ŽSN., 31 - Sar'donikii gradь). The town of Sardoniki was ruined by the building of the dam of Vau i Dejes.
Skadar Place The town of Skadar was founded in the 4th century BCE. Skodra was in hellenistic times part of a Koinon and also the residence of the last Illyrian king. Under Roman rule Skadar became an oppida and an administrative center for the region. In the 3rd or 4th century and also in the 5th century under Justinian the walls of Skadar were rebuilt. During the medieval age the medieval town separated itself somewhat from the ancient town core, which became the town quarter of Ajasma. In 1040 Skadar became part of the Serbian realm. Manuel I Comnenos integrated Skadar in the year 1160 into the Byzantine Empire and made it the capital of the Thema of Dalmatia. 1184 Skadar became again part of the Serbian Kingdom and in 1215 of the Despotate of Epirus. In 1355 Albanian nobles declared their independence, but fell in 1396 under Venetian sovereignty. The Venetians built in 1416 the three walled defensives around the town and renovated the fortifications between 1461 and 1474. In 1479 Skadar was conquered by the Ottoman. (FŠ LPD., 310; VM Lj.,58; VĐ ŽSN., 31 - civitatem Scodarim; Rosafь grad' rekomyi Skьdrь).
Skadar, Church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus Place The Church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus, a Benedictine Monastery, is situated at the Bojana River in the vicinity of Skadar. According to the Chronicle of Bar, the church was the mausoleum of the Vojislavljević dynasty in the 11th century. Two inscriptions in Latin have remained that mention the name of the Serbian Queen Jelena Anžujska (ca. 1230-1314) dated to 1290 and 1318 respectively, which highlight her and her son, the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), as ktetors probably in the time of the renewal of the church. It is a three nave edifice and each nave ends with a semicircular apse in the East. Unfortunately, the church has been gradually ruined by the Bojana River.
Spiten, Monastery of Saint Alexander Place The Monastery of Saint Alexander and its church was first mentioned in a papal bull in 1405. Both have fallen to ruins at an unknown point in time.
Stelush Fortress Place The Stelush Fortress was probably built in the 15th century on ancient fundaments. The fortress was built and used by Skanderbeg in his wars against the Ottomans.
Tirana Place The town of Tirana was first mentioned in 1372 in Venetian sources. still in 1510 Tirana was described by Marinus Barletius as a small settlement. Only in 1614, when Sulejman Pasha Bargjini began to build a Mosque, Hamam (a bathhouse) and a Imaret (a soup kitchen for the poor and travellers).
Valona Place Valona was the southern border of the Byzantine Thema of Durres. In Summer 1081 the Normans invaded the region and conquered Valona together with Kanina and Orikos. After 1204 Vlora became Byzantine again. It shortly was part of the Realm of Manfred of Hohenstaufen as part of his spouse's, Helena, daughter of the Epirote despote Mihail II, dowry. In the year 1272 Vlora was ruled by Charles of Anjou who became King of Albania. 1340 Stefan Uroš IV Dušan conquered and ruled the region. Aftewards Balsha II became the ruler before the Venetians. In 1417 Valon was conquered by the Ottomans as their first harbour in the Adriatic sea. After the natural harbour was hardly usable the town center relocated during Ottoman rule to the current place (AA I, 23, 255 (4, 73); LjS PP I, 62 (57) - Nazarius episcopus Aulonae; ōd trga Vavlokьskga; castellanum castri Aveloni).
Vau i Dejës Place The medieval town of Danja was first mentioned in 1189 and became a royal palace of the Serbian kings. In 1361 Danja also became a bishopric. Since 1396 the town was ruled by the Albanian noble family of the Zaharia. In 1426 Danja was conquered by the Ottomans and in 1447 ceded to the Venetians after it was conquered by Skanderbeg. In 1474 the Ottomans conquered and partly destroyed the town of Danja and its fortifications.
Vig, Roman Castrum Place The Roman castrum near Vig was built between 313 and 320 to protect the Roman road from Lissus to Ratiaria. The castrum was home to a cohort of 500 soldiers. Some historians suggest an identification of Vig with Ad Picaria of the Tabula Peutingeriana. Vig was abandoned after in the second half of the 4th century, when the road from Lissus to Ratiaria lost its importance.
Voskopoja Place The town of Voskopoja was founded around the year 1300 and was called in Greek Moschopolis. The town was probably inhabited mainly by Vlachs and became an important regional centre during Ottoman rule.
Zejmen, Church of Shën Koll Place The Church of Shën Koll in Zejmen is not preserved.
Zvërnec, Church of Shën Mëri Place The monastery church of Shën Mëri was built during the 13th century in a late byzantine style, but only the fundaments have survived.
Çetë, Church of St Paraskevi Place The church of St Paraskevi in Çetë was built in the second half of the 13th century as a Catholic church, but was first mentioned in documents of the archbishopric of Ohrid in 1691.