Librazhd District: Difference between revisions

The District of Librazhd (Template:Lang-sq) is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Elbasan County. It has a population of 72,000 (2004 estimate), and an area of 1,102 km². It is in the east of the country, and its capital and administrative center is Librazhd.

Librazhdi district has an administrative border of 42km. The district is characterised by a mountainous landscape with scenic valleys (including Glacial valleys above 1,500 feet in the Polisi Mountains). The mighty River Shkumbin is sourced in and traverses through the district. The average altitude is 713 feet above sea level. The highest point is at the Red Peak of Shebeniku Mountain on the border with the Republic of Macedonia.

There is a continental climate. The average temperature is 13.4 degrees centigrade. The maximum recorded temperature in 1957 was 40.7oC while the minimum recorded temperature was in 1968 at -15.7oC.

Librazhd is noted for its waters throughout Albania. A spring is utilised close to Librazhd town which is popular throughout Albania which is famous for its purity and ergonomic qualities.

The River Shkumbin has it's source in Librazhdi District at Valamra and the Guri i Topit Mountain. The river is 181km long and flows through the district for 64km. The Shkumbin is fed by the waters of the Dushna, Radicina, Bushtrica, Sheja, Hotolisht, Dragostunja streams. The Shkumbin flows through the town of Librazhd. The Rrapun River joins the Shkumbin at Murrash.

There are 1,857 species of flora in the district representing 57% of the total species of flora inhabiting Albania. Forests cover 47% of the district of which 37% are populated by oak, 20% beech and 15% pine. The remainder is made up of shrubs and other foliage. 15% of the herbacious flora in the district fall within the group known as Balkan Flora and are particular to this part of Europe. Amongst the herbacious plants the most notable species endemic to the district are Leontopodium Alpinum and Sideritis Rhoeseri. Of particular interest is a carnivorous plant species called Pinguicula Hirtflora (known locally as Luletlyni).

The forests and mountains of the district are populated with bear (Ursus arctos), wild boar, red fox, and hare. Among the birds there are eagles (Aquila chrysaetos and Gyps fulvus), buzzards (Nephron pesnopterus), falcons (Falcao tinnunculus) and the owl (bubo bubo).

Evidence has been found to show the area was populated during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age from the remains of settlements found at Spathar, Rrajce, Karkavec, Berzeshte and other places.

An Illyrian tribe called the Kandavët who give the region the name Kandavia populated the area in ancient times and are known to have inhabited the Shkumbin Valley.

The Romans moved into the area in around 220BCE and subjugated the tribes living there (see Illyrian Wars). During the Roman Occupation the Via Egnatia was constructed which linked Rome with Constantinople which was of great importance for commerce and runs through the district. The route of this ancient road is now utilised by a modern highway connecting Tirana with Skopje via Lake Ohrid. Following the Fall of Rome in 476CE the region fell under the power of the Eastern Roman Empire centred at Constantinople until the arrival of the Turks in the 15th Century.

The Ottoman Turks began to invade the area of the modern district from about 1415 onwards under the leadership of Mehmed I. They were opposed by the local Arianitas family who ruled the area as vasals to the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople but came to achieve a significant degree of independence during the latter years the Empire it was gradually crushed by the Ottomans. The local prince Gjergj Arianiti (also known as Gjergj Golemi) was noted by the Ottoman chroniclers for his ferocious resistance, viz:

With this uprising Arianiti accomplished great and unforgetable deeds which will last as long as life itself. (from Hallkokondili)

Gjergj Arianiti managed to resist the Ottoman advance throughout his tenure and in 1444 rose to support the revolt led by Gjergj Kastrioti, otherwise known as Skanderbeg - the Albanian national hero. He is known to have taken part in the Albanian League in Lezha which elected Skanderbeg their king. Arianiti fought alongside Skanderbeg at Berat in 1448 and his daughter, Andronika, married Skanderbeg in 1451.

Gjergj Arianiti died in 1461 and resistance to the Turks throughout the Librazhd district began to wane. Following his death the remaining members of the Arianiti familt emmigrated to Italy. In 1479 the Ottoman Turks succeeded in conquering the Albanians who were forced to accept the Turks as their overlords until the 20th Century.

During the 17th Century parts of the Librazhd district achieved a measure of self rule. This process continued up until the uprising of Tanzimati in 1834 when the whole Librazhd district attempted to throw off the Ottoman yoke. They were unsuccessful this time, but a local leader by the name Halit Berzeshta emerged who was to lead and inspire the Albanian resistance until his death in 1909. In 1912 the population enthusiastically rose in revolt against the Ottoman Empire and took their part in the realisation of Albanian Independence that same year.

In the 1940's some 1,100 local men formed in to two battalions fought the occupying Germans and helped liberate the area. Their exploits were famous throughout Albania and from their number are recognised 79 national martyrs.

The district of Librazhd is composed of two towns (Librazhd and Përrenjas), nine rural municipalities and 77 villages. The district consists of the following municipalities:

• Hotolisht
• Librazhd
• Lunik
• Orenjë
• Polis
• Përrenjas
• Qendër
• Qukës
• Rrajcë
• Steblevë
• Stravaj

According to the statistics taken in 1998 the district had a population of 82,411 habitants of which 29.7% of the population lived in either Librazhd and Përrenjas and the remaining 70.3% lived in villages in the countryside.

See: Librazhd

Most of the information on this page has come from Librazhdi Albania (2000), ISBN 99927-1-244-9, Shtypur në Shtypshkronjën TOENA / CIP Katelogizimi në botim - B.K. Tiranë (A. Roçi)

• Official website

Template:Albania

41°11′N 20°24′E / 41.183°N 20.400°E / 41.183; 20.400

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