The Arbëreshë (; sq, Arbëreshët e Italisë; it, Albanesi d'Italia), also known as Albanians of Italy or Italo-Albanians, are an
Albanian ethnolinguistic group
An ethnolinguistic group (or ethno-linguistic group) is a group that is unified by both a common ethnicity and language. Most ethnic groups share a first language. However, "ethnolinguistic" is often used to emphasise that language is a major ba ...
in
Southern Italy, mostly concentrated in scattered villages in the region of
Calabria and, to a lesser extent, in the regions of
Abruzzo,
Apulia,
Basilicata,
Campania
(man), it, Campana (woman)
, population_note =
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, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 =
, demog ...
,
Molise
it, Molisano (man) it, Molisana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 ...
and
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
.
They are the descendants of Albanian refugees who fled Albania, and later some from
Morea
The Morea ( el, Μορέας or ) was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The name was used for the Byzantine province known as the Despotate of the Morea, by the Ottom ...
between the 14th and the 18th centuries following the
Ottoman conquest of the
Balkans
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
.
During the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, the Arbëreshë settled in the
Kingdom of Naples in several waves of
migration
Migration, migratory, or migrate may refer to: Human migration
* Human migration, physical movement by humans from one region to another
** International migration, when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state for some minimum le ...
, following the establishment of the
Kingdom of Albania Kingdom of Albania may refer to:
*Kingdom of Albania (medieval) — from the Capetian House of Anjou
*Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939) — from the House of Zogu
*Albanian Kingdom (1939–1943) — from the House of Savoy during the Italian occupati ...
, the death of the Albanian national hero
Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu
, reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468
, predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti
, successor = Gjon Kastrioti II
, spouse = Donika Arianiti
, issue = Gjon Kastrioti II
, royal house = Kastrioti
, father ...
and the gradual conquest of the
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
by the
Ottomans.
Their culture is determined by the main features that are found in
language
Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of ...
,
Byzantine Rite Catholic religion, traditional costume, customs, art and gastronomy, still zealously preserved, with the awareness of belonging to a specific sociolinguistic group. Over the centuries, the Arbëreshë have managed to maintain and develop their identities, thanks to their cultural value exercised mainly by the two religious communities of the
Byzantine Rite based in Calabria, the Corsini College in 1732, then Sant'Adriano Italo-Albanian College of
San Benedetto Ullano in 1794, and the Italo-Albanian Seminary of
Palermo in 1735, which was then transferred to
Piana degli Albanesi in 1945.
Nowadays, most of the fifty Arbëreshë communities are adherents to the
Italo-Albanian Church, an
Eastern Catholic Church. They belong to two eparchies, the
Lungro
Lungro ( aae, Ungra) is a town and (municipality) in the Province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of Italy.
Lungro is one of the most prominent centers of the Arbëreshë people and the seat of the Eparchy of Lungro. This jurisdiction of the C ...
, for the Arbëreshë of Continental
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, the
Piana degli Albanesi, for the Arbëreshë of
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
, and the
Monastery of Grottaferrata, whose
Basilian monks
Basilian monks are Roman Catholic monks who follow the rule of Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea (330–379). The term 'Basilian' is typically used only in the Catholic Church to distinguish Greek Catholic monks from other forms of monastic li ...
come largely from the Albanian settlements of Italy. The church is the most important organization for maintaining the characteristic religious, ethnic, linguistic and traditional identity of the Arbëreshë community.
The Arbëreshë speak
Arbëresh, a
Tosk Albanian
Tosk ( sq-definite, toskërishtja) is the southern group of dialects of the Albanian language, spoken by the ethnographic group known as Tosks. The line of demarcation between Tosk and Gheg (the northern variety) is the Shkumbin River. Tosk is ...
variety involving
code-mixing
Code-mixing is the mixing of two or more languages or language varieties in speech.
Some scholars use the terms "code-mixing" and "code-switching" interchangeably, especially in studies of syntax, morphology, and other formal aspects of lang ...
with regional
Romance languages
The Romance languages, sometimes referred to as Latin languages or Neo-Latin languages, are the various modern languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin. They are the only extant subgroup of the Italic languages in the Indo-European language ...
of Italy. It is of particular interest to students of the modern
Albanian language
Albanian ( endonym: or ) is an Indo-European language and an independent branch of that family of languages. It is spoken by the Albanians in the Balkans and by the Albanian diaspora, which is generally concentrated in the Americas, Europ ...
as it retains speech sounds,
morphosyntactic
In linguistics, morphology () is the study of words, how they are formed, and their relationship to other words in the same language. It analyzes the structure of words and parts of words such as stems, root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Morph ...
and vocabulary elements of the language spoken in pre-
Ottoman Albania
Albania under the Ottoman Empire refers to a period in History of Albania, Albanian history from the Ottoman conquest in the late 15th century to the Albanian Declaration of Independence, Albanian declaration of Independence and official secessi ...
. In Italy, the Albanian language (and not specifically Arbëresh) is protected by law number 482/99, concerning the protection of the historic
linguistic minorities
A minority language is a language spoken by a minority of the population of a territory. Such people are termed linguistic minorities or language minorities. With a total number of 196 sovereign states recognized internationally (as of 2019) and ...
.
The Arbëreshë are scattered throughout southern Italy and Sicily and in small numbers also in other parts of Italy. They are in great numbers in North and South America, especially in the US,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
,
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
,
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, Mexico,
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
,
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
and Canada, and in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. It is estimated that there are about 100,000 Italo-Albanians (400,000 if including those outside of Italy); they constitute one of the oldest and largest
minorities in Italy. Being Italian and Arbëreshë are both central to Italo-Albanians' identity.
[Essays on Politics and Society Author Hasan Jashari Publisher lulu.com, 2015 , p. 64] When speaking about their "nation", Arbëresh use the term ''Arbëria'', a loose geographical term for the scattered villages in southern Italy which use
Arbëresh language. They are proud of their Albanian ethnicity, identity and culture, but also identify themselves as Italian nationals, since they have lived in Italy for hundreds of years.
In the light of historical events, the secular continuity of the Albanian presence in Italy is exceptional. In 2017, with the Republic of Albania, an official application for inclusion of the Arbëresh people has been submitted to the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
as a living human and social immaterial patrimony of humanity.
Distribution
![Pamje e Horës së Arbëreshëvet](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Pamje_e_Hor%C3%ABs_s%C3%AB_Arb%C3%ABresh%C3%ABvet.jpg)
The Arbëresh villages contains two or three names, an Italian one as well as one or two native
Arbëresh names by which villagers know the place. The Arbëreshë communities are divided into numerous ethnic islands corresponding to different areas of southern Italy. However, some places have already lost their original characteristics and the language, and others have totally disappeared. Today, Italy has 50 communities of Arbëreshë origin and culture, 41 municipalities and 9 villages, spread across seven regions of
southern Italy
Southern Italy ( it, Sud Italia or ) also known as ''Meridione'' or ''Mezzogiorno'' (), is a macroregion of the Italian Republic consisting of its southern half.
The term ''Mezzogiorno'' today refers to regions that are associated with the peop ...
, forming a population of about 100,000.
Some cultural islands survive in the metropolitan areas of
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
,
Chieri
Chieri (; pms, Cher) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont (Italy), located about southeast of Turin, by rail and by road. It borders the following municipalities: Baldissero Torinese, Pavarolo, Montaldo Torine ...
,
Turin
Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...
,
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
,
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
,
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy a ...
,
Cosenza,
Crotone and
Palermo. In the rest of the world, following the migrations of the twentieth century to countries such as
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
,
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
,
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, there are strong communities that keep Arbëreshë traditions alive.
The full list of the Arbëresh Communities in Italy is:
*
Abruzzo
**
Province of Pescara
The province of Pescara ( it, provincia di Pescara; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its provincial capital is the city Pescara, which has a population of 119,483 inhabitants. As of 2017, it has a total population of ...
***
Villa Badessa (
frazione
A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...
of
Rosciano
Rosciano is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy
References
See also
* Palazzo De Felice
Torre e Palazzo de Felice (Italian for ''Tower and Palace of the de Felice'') is a fortified baroque palace ...
): ''Badhesa''
*
Molise
it, Molisano (man) it, Molisana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
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**
Province of Campobasso
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
***
Campomarino: ''Këmarini''
***
Montecilfone
Montecilfone ( Arbërisht: ''Munxhufuni'') is an Arbëreshë ''comune'' in the Province of Campobasso, in the Italian region of Molise, located about northeast of Campobasso.
Montecilfone borders the following municipalities: Guglionesi, Montene ...
: ''Munxhufuni''
***
Portocannone: ''Portkanuni''
***
Ururi
Ururi ( Arbërisht: ''Rùri'') is an Arbëreshë ''comune'' in the Province of Campobasso, in the Italian region Molise, located about northeast of Campobasso. Ururi developed in the late 16th century settlement when Albanian military captain Te ...
: ''Rùri''
*
Campania
(man), it, Campana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 =
, demog ...
**
Province of Avellino
***
Greci: ''Katundi''
*
Apulia
**
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia ( it, Provincia di Foggia ; Foggiano: ) is a province in the Apulia (Puglia) region of southern Italy.
This province is also known as Daunia, after the Daunians, an Iapygian pre-Roman tribe living in Tavoliere plain, and ...
***
Casalvecchio di Puglia
Casalvecchio ( aae, Kazallveqi) is an Arbëreshë ''comune'' and village in the Province of Foggia, Apulia, southern Italy. Mostly originating from a 15th-century migration of Albanians, the residents have subsisted by family farming. Of those na ...
: ''Kazallveqi''
***
Chieuti
Chieuti ( aae, Qefti) is an Arbëreshë town and ''comune'' in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Euro ...
: ''Qefti''
**
Provincia di Taranto
***
San Marzano di San Giuseppe
San Marzano di San Giuseppe ( aae, Shën Marcani) is a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Taranto, in the Italian region of Apulia. Alongside Casalvecchio di Puglia and Chieuti, it is one of the Arbëreshë Arbën/Arbër, from which derived Arb ...
: ''Shën Marcani''
*
Basilicata
**
Province of Potenza
***
Barile
Barile ( aae, Barilli; Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the ''comuni'' (municipalities), of Ginestra, Rapolla, Rionero in Vulture, Ripacandida, and ...
: ''Barilli''
***
Ginestra
Ginestra ( aae, Zhura) is an Arbëreshë town and ''comune'' in the Province of Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Forenza, Maschito, Ripacandida, Venosa
Venosa ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the p ...
: ''Zhura''
***
Maschito
Maschito ( aae, Mashqiti; Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Potenza, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Like other towns in the Vulture area, Maschito was repopulated by Albanian refugees after the occupation of Alb ...
: ''Mashqiti''
***
Rionero in Vulture
Rionero in Vulture ( aae, Arrionero) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is located on the slopes of Monte Vulture in the northern part of the region. The village was founded and ...
: ''A-Rionero''
***
San Costantino Albanese
San Costantino Albanese ( aae, Shën Kostandinit i Arbëreshëvet) is an Arbëreshë town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.
Geography
San Costantino Albanese sits on a hilltop overlooking ...
: ''Shën Kostandini Arbëresh''
***
San Paolo Albanese
San Paolo Albanese ( aae, Shën Pali Arbëresheve) is an Arbëreshë village and ''comune'' of 328 people in the province of Potenza, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy.
Geography
At an elevation of and situated on the slope of Mt. C ...
: ''Shën Pali Arbëresh''
*
Calabria
**
Province of Catanzaro
The province of Catanzaro ( it, provincia di Catanzaro; Catanzarese: ) is a province of the Calabria region of Italy. The city Catanzaro is both capital of the province and capital of the region of Calabria. The province contains a total of 80 ...
***
Andali: ''Andalli''
***
Caraffa di Catanzaro: ''Garafa''
***
Marcedusa: ''Marçëdhuza''
***
Vena di Maida (frazione of
Maida): ''Vina''
***
Zagarise
Zagarise () is an Arbëreshë village and ''comune'' in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
History
The name of the settlement first appears in official documents in the 16th century. Zagarise became an indepen ...
: ''Zagari''
**
Province of Cosenza
The province of Cosenza ( it, provincia di Cosenza) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Cosenza. It contains 150 ''comuni'', listed at list of communes of the Province of Cosenza ...
***
Acquaformosa
Acquaformosa ( aae, Firmosa) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of Italy. Since the Middle Ages it is home to an Arbëresh minority, which is reflected in the presence of Skanderbeg's heraldic eagle in the ...
: ''Firmoza''
***
Cantinella (frazione of
Corigliano-Rossano
Corigliano-Rossano is a ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It was established on 31 March 2018 by the merger of Corigliano Calabro and Rossano.
Etymology
According to some interpretations, the topony ...
): ''Kantinela''
***
Cerzeto (in the commune of Cerzeto): ''Qana''
***
Castroregio
Castroregio ( aae, Kastërnexhi; Calabrian: ) is an Arbëreshë town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is ...
: ''Kastërnexhi''
***
Cavallerizzo (frazione of
Cerzeto): ''Kajverici''
***
Civita: ''Çifti''
***
Eianina (frazione of
Frascineto
Frascineto ( aae, Frasnita) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. ...
): ''Purçìll''
***
Falconara Albanese Falconara Albanese ( aae, Fallkunara) is an Arbëreshë town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in ...
: ''Fullkunara''
***
Farneta (frazione of
Castroregio
Castroregio ( aae, Kastërnexhi; Calabrian: ) is an Arbëreshë town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is ...
): ''Farneta''
***
Firmo: ''Ferma''
***
Frascineto
Frascineto ( aae, Frasnita) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. ...
: ''Frasnita''
***
Lungro
Lungro ( aae, Ungra) is a town and (municipality) in the Province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of Italy.
Lungro is one of the most prominent centers of the Arbëreshë people and the seat of the Eparchy of Lungro. This jurisdiction of the C ...
: ''Ungra''
***
Macchia Albanese (frazione of
San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone (Arbëreshë: ''Shën Mitri'') is a town and municipality in the Calabria region of Italy, at an altitude of 521 meters and with 3,387 inhabitants. The town is among the most important cultural centers of the Albanian communit ...
): ''Maqi''
***
Malito
Malito () is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
See also
* Savuto river
The Savuto is a river and valley in Calabria, Southern Italy, that lies at the intersection of the provinces of Co ...
***
Marri (frazione of
San Benedetto Ulolano): ''Allimarri''
***
Mongrassano: ''Mungrasana''
***
Plataci: ''Pllatëni''
***
San Basile: ''Shën Vasili''
***
San Benedetto Ullano: ''Shën Benedhiti''
***
Santa Caterina Albanese: ''Picilia''
***
San Cosmo Albanese ''Strihàri''
***
San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone (Arbëreshë: ''Shën Mitri'') is a town and municipality in the Calabria region of Italy, at an altitude of 521 meters and with 3,387 inhabitants. The town is among the most important cultural centers of the Albanian communit ...
: ''Shën Mitri''
***
San Giorgio Albanese: ''Mbuzati''
***
San Giacomo di Cerzeto (frazione of
Cerzeto): ''Shën Japku''
***
San Martino di Finita
San Martino di Finita ( aae, Shën Mërtiri) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
It was founded in the late 15th-early 16th centuries by Arbëreshë Arbën/Arbër, from which derived Arb ...
: ''Shën Mërtiri''
***
Santa Sofia d'Epiro
Santa Sofia d'Epiro ( aae, Shën Sofia e Epirit) is an Arbëresh town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
The town is bordered by Acri, Bisignano, San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone (Arbë ...
: ''Shën Sofia''
***
Spezzano Albanese
Spezzano Albanese ( Arbëreshë: ''Spixan'') is a municipality in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, southern Italy.
It is located on a 320 m high hill commanding the plain of Sibari and the Esaro river valley. It originated from Albani ...
: ''Spixana''
***
Vaccarizzo Albanese: ''Vakarici''
**
Province of Crotone
The province of Crotone ( it, provincia di Crotone) is a province in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It was formed in 1992 out of a section of the province of Catanzaro. The provincial capital is the city of Crotone. It borders the provinc ...
***
Carfizzi
Carfizzi ( aae, Karfici) is an Arbëreshë ''comune'' in the Province of Crotone, Calabria, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the midd ...
: ''Karfici''
***
Pallagorio: ''Puhëriu''
***
San Nicola dell'Alto ''Shën Kolli''
*
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
**
Province of Catania
The Province of Catania ( it, Provincia di Catania; scn, Pruvincia di Catania) was a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in southern Italy. Its capital was the city of Catania. It had an area of and a total population of about 1, ...
***
Biancavilla
Biancavilla () is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. It is located between the towns of Adrano and S. Maria di Licodia, northwest of Catania. The town was founded and historically inhabited by t ...
: ''Callìcari''
**
Province of Palermo
The Province of Palermo ( it, provincia di Palermo; Sicilian: ''pruvincia di Palermu'') was a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital was the city of Palermo. On 4 August 2015, it was replaced ...
***
Contessa Entellina
Contessa Entellina ( sq, Kuntisa) is a small ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy.
Is located in the "Valle del Belìce" at above sea level in the mountains called ''Brinjat'', is situated 80 km from ...
: ''Kuntisa''
***
Piana degli Albanesi: ''Hora e Arbëreshëvet''
***
Santa Cristina Gela
Santa Cristina Gela ( Arberesh: ''Sëndahstina'') is an Arbëreshë village in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in Sicily.
The village, along with Contessa Entellina and Piana degli Albanesi, is one of three Arberesh settlements in Sicily wher ...
: ''Sëndahstina''
Community of Albanian origin
There are also more than thirty ancient Albanian centers that have lost, in different historical periods and for various reasons, the use of the Albanian language and are thus characterized by a lack of historical and cultural heritage of the Arbëresh: for Emilia-Romagna they are Pievetta and Bosco Tosca, hamlets of Castel San Giovanni (PC); for Lazio it is Pianiano (VT), a hamlet of Cellere; for Molise it is Santa Croce di Magliano (CB); for Campania in the province of Caserta it is Alife; for Puglia they are Casalnuovo Monterotaro, Castelluccio dei Sauri, San Paolo di Civitate (FG), Monteparano, San Giorgio Ionico, San Crispieri, Faggiano, Roccaforzata, Monteiasi, Carosino, Montemesola (TA); for Basilicata they are Brindisi Montagna, Rionero in Vulture (PZ); for Calabria are Cervicati (Çervikat), Mongrassano (Mungrasana), Rota Greca (Rrota), San Lorenzo del Vallo (Sullarënxa '), Serra d'Aiello (Serrë, CS), Amato, Arietta (Arjèta), fraction of Petronà, Gizzeria (Jacaria) and the hamlets Mortilla (Mortilë) and Gizzeria Lido (Zalli i Jacarisë), Zagarise, Zangarona (Xingarona), fraction of Lamezia Terme, (CZ); for Sicily they are Mezzojuso (Munxifsi), Palazzo Adriano (Pallaci, PA), Sant'Angelo Muxaro (Shënt'Ëngjëlli, AG), Biancavilla (Callìcari), Bronte (Brontë), San Michele di Ganzaria (Shën Mikelli, CT).
The communities of
Mezzojuso
Mezzojuso ( Sicilian: ''Menzijusu'' or ''Menziuso'', Arbëreshë: ''Munxifsi'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a ...
and
Palazzo Adriano
Palazzo Adriano ( IPA: , aae, Pallaci, scn, U PalàzzuGasca Queirazza, Giuliano (ed.) (1990). ''Dizionario di toponomastica. Storia e significato dei nomi geografici italiani'', p. 468. UTET. ) is a town and ''comune'' of Arbëresh origin in t ...
, in the province of Palermo, are to be considered a particular case, since, despite having lost the Albanian language and the customs of origin, they have kept the Greek-Byzantine rite, a peculiar pillar - together with language and customs - of the Albanian identity of the diaspora. In this case the identity is preserved in the religious aspect and in the historical memory. The communities of
Cervicati,
Mongrassano and
Rota Greca, in the province of Cosenza, preserve the memory of the original cultural heritage.
The Albanian migrations, since the beginning of the long diaspora, led to the formation of medium-small arbëreshe communities well integrated in numerous existing cities of central-northern Italy (in particular, Venice) and in the Crown of Aragon (Naples, Bari, Altamura, Barletta, Andria, Trani, Foggia, Bovino, San Severo, Lecce, Brindisi, Potenza, Matera, Melfi, Caltagirone and Piazza Armerina), in most cases reality - again for different reasons - assimilated by the surrounding culture.
Cultural islands, migrations and the modern Albanian diaspora
Relevant cultural islands survive in the large metropolitan areas of Milan, Turin, Rome, Naples, Bari, Cosenza, Crotone and Palermo. In the rest of the world, following the migrations of the twentieth century in countries such as Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay there are strong communities that they keep the Arbëreshë language and traditions alive.
Since 1990, with the fall of the post-Bolshevik communist regime in Albania, significant communities of shqiptarë (Albanians of Albania) have entered and integrated into the social fabric of the Italian-Albanian towns. With the struggle for the independence of Kosovo (2008) a very recent group of Albanians, victims of the ethnic cleansing of the Yugoslav regime, has also integrated itself into the various Albanian communities of Italy.
History
Ethnonym
In the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, the native
Albanians
The Albanians (; sq, Shqiptarët ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language. They primarily live in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Se ...
in the area of Albania called their country ''Arbëri'' or ''Arbëni'' and referred to themselves as ''Arbëreshë'' or ''Arbëneshë''. In the sixteenth century, the toponym ''Shqipëria'' and the demonym ''Shqiptarë'' gradually replaced ''Arbëria'' and ''Arbëresh'' respectively. Nowadays, only the Albanians in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, whose ancestors immigrated from the Middle Ages, are called Arbëresh and the language
Arbërisht. The term ''Arbëreshë'' and its variants are also used as
endonym
An endonym (from Greek: , 'inner' + , 'name'; also known as autonym) is a common, ''native'' name for a geographical place, group of people, individual person, language or dialect, meaning that it is used inside that particular place, group, ...
s by the
Arbanasi in
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
and
Arvanites
Arvanites (; Arvanitika: , or , ; Greek: , ) are a bilingual population group in Greece of Albanian origin. They traditionally speak Arvanitika, an Albanian language variety, along with Greek. Their ancestors were first recorded as settl ...
in
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
.
Early migrations
![Battle of Varna (Amman)2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Battle_of_Varna_%28Amman%292.jpg)
The Arbëreshë, between the 11th and 14th centuries, moved in small groups towards the north and south of Greece (
Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
,
Corinth
Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part o ...
,
Peloponnesus
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge whi ...
,
Attica
Attica ( el, Αττική, Ancient Greek ''Attikḗ'' or , or ), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the city of Athens, the capital of Greece and its countryside. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean Se ...
) where they founded colonies. Their military skill made them favorite mercenaries of the
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...
,
Catalans
Catalans (Catalan, French and Occitan: ''catalans''; es, catalanes, Italian: ''catalani'', sc, cadelanos) are a Romance ethnic group native to Catalonia, who speak Catalan. The current official category of "Catalans" is that of the citize ...
,
Italians
, flag =
, flag_caption = The national flag of Italy
, population =
, regions = Italy 55,551,000
, region1 = Brazil
, pop1 = 25–33 million
, ref1 =
, region2 ...
and
Byzantines.
The invasion of the Balkans by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century forced many Arbëreshë to emigrate from Albania and
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
to
southern Italy
Southern Italy ( it, Sud Italia or ) also known as ''Meridione'' or ''Mezzogiorno'' (), is a macroregion of the Italian Republic consisting of its southern half.
The term ''Mezzogiorno'' today refers to regions that are associated with the peop ...
. There were several waves of migrations. In 1448, the King of Naples
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous (139627 June 1458) was King of Aragon and King of Sicily (as Alfonso V) and the ruler of the Crown of Aragon from 1416 and King of Naples (as Alfonso I) from 1442 until his death. He was involved with struggles to the t ...
appealed to
Skanderbeg
, reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468
, predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti
, successor = Gjon Kastrioti II
, spouse = Donika Arianiti
, issue = Gjon Kastrioti II
, royal house = Kastrioti
, father ...
to help suppress a revolt at
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
. Skanderbeg sent a force under the leadership of
Demetrio Reres
Demetrio Reres or Demetrius Reres ( sq, Dhimitër Reres) is considered to have been a 15th-century Albanian nobility, Albanian and Calabrian nobleman. Since he is mentioned only in a document dating from 24 September 1665, 217 years after the even ...
, and his two sons. Following a request by the Albanian soldiers, King Alfonso granted them land and they were settled in twelve villages in the mountainous area called
Catanzaro
Catanzaro (, or ; scn, label= Catanzarese, Catanzaru ; , or , ''Katastaríoi Lokrói''; ; la, Catacium), also known as the "City of the two Seas", is an Italian city of 86,183 inhabitants (2020), the capital of the Calabria region and of its p ...
in 1448. A year later the sons of Demetrio, George and Basil along with other Albanians were settled in four villages in Sicily.
In 1459, the son of Alfonso, king
Ferdinand I of Naples
Ferdinando Trastámara d'Aragona, of the Naples branch, universally known as Ferrante and also called by his contemporaries Don Ferrando and Don Ferrante (2 June 1424, in Valencia – 25 January 1494, in Kingdom of Naples, Naples), was the only so ...
again requested the help of
Skanderbeg
, reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468
, predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti
, successor = Gjon Kastrioti II
, spouse = Donika Arianiti
, issue = Gjon Kastrioti II
, royal house = Kastrioti
, father ...
. This time, the legendary leader himself came to Italy with his troops led by one of his generals,
Luca Baffa, to end a French-supported insurrection. Skanderbeg was appointed as the leader of the combined Neapolitan-Albanian army and, after winning two decisive battles, the Albanian soldiers effectively defended Naples. This time they were rewarded with land east of
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label= Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important com ...
in Apulia, populating 15 other villages.
After the death of Skanderbeg in 1468, the organized Albanian resistance against the Ottomans came to an end. Like much of the
Balkans
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
,
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
became subject to the invading Turks. Many of its people under the rule of
Luca Baffa and
Marco Becci fled to the neighboring countries and settled in a few villages in Calabria. From the time of Skanderbeg's death until 1480 there were constant migrations of Albanians to the Italian coast. Throughout the 16th century, these migrations continued and other Albanian villages were formed on Italian soil. The new immigrants often took up work as mercenaries hired by Italian armies.
Another wave of emigration, between 1500 and 1534, relates to Arbëreshë from central Greece. Employed as mercenaries by
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
, they had to evacuate the colonies of the
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
with the assistance of the troops of
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
* Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690)
* Infan ...
, as the Turks had invaded that region. Charles V established these troops in southern Italy to reinforce defenses against the threat of Turkish invasion. Established in isolated villages (which enabled them to maintain their culture until the 20th century), Arbëreshë were, traditionally, soldiers for the Kingdom of Naples and the Republic of Venice, from the Wars of Religion to the Napoleonic invasion.
Later migrations
The wave of migration from southern Italy to the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
in 1900–1910 and 1920–1940 depopulated approximately half of the Arbëreshë villages, and subjected the population to the risk of cultural disappearance, despite the beginning of a cultural and artistic revival in the 19th century.
Since the end of
communism
Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
in
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
in 1990, there has been a wave of immigration into Arbëreshë villages by Albanians.
File:Italia albania1859.jpg, Ethnographic map: 1859 depicting the Albanian population in green
File:Albanian dialects.svg, Albanian ethno-linguistic territories
Language
![Albanian-dialects](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Albanian-dialects.svg)
Arbëresh derives from the
Tosk
Tosk ( sq-definite, toskërishtja) is the southern group of dialects of the Albanian language, spoken by the ethnographic group known as Tosks. The line of demarcation between Tosk and Gheg (the northern variety) is the Shkumbin River. Tosk is t ...
dialect spoken in southern
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
, and is spoken in Southern Italy in the regions of
Calabria,
Molise
it, Molisano (man) it, Molisana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 ...
,
Apulia,
Basilicata,
Campania
(man), it, Campana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 =
, demog ...
,
Abruzzi, and
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
. All dialects of Arbëresh are closely related to each other.
![Tabelle italiano-albanese](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Tabelle_italiano-albanese.jpg)
The Arbëresh language retains many archaisms of medieval Albanian from pre-
Ottoman Albania in the 15th century. It also retains some
Greek language
Greek ( el, label=Modern Greek, Ελληνικά, Elliniká, ; grc, Ἑλληνική, Hellēnikḗ) is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, native to Greece, Cyprus, southern Italy (Calabria and Salento), southern Al ...
elements, including vocabulary and pronunciation. It has also preserved some conservative features that were lost in mainstream Albanian
Tosk
Tosk ( sq-definite, toskërishtja) is the southern group of dialects of the Albanian language, spoken by the ethnographic group known as Tosks. The line of demarcation between Tosk and Gheg (the northern variety) is the Shkumbin River. Tosk is t ...
. For example, it has preserved certain syllable-initial consonant clusters which have been simplified in Standard Albanian (cf. Arbërisht ''gluhë'' ('language/tongue'), vs. Standard Albanian ''gjuhë'' ). It sounds more archaic than Standard Albanian, but is close enough that it is written using the same
Albanian alphabet as Standard Albanian. A
Shqiptar
Shqiptar ( sq-definite, Shqip(ë)tari; aln, Shqyptar/-i; plural: ''Shqiptarë/-t'', ''Shqyptarë/-t'') is an Albanian ethnonym (endonym), by which Albanians call themselves. They call their country ''Shqipëria'' ( aln, Shqypnia, Shqipnia).
E ...
(Albanian) listening to or reading Arbërisht is similar to a modern English speaker listening to or reading
Shakespearean
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
. The Arbëresh language is of particular interest to students of the modern Albanian language as it represents the sounds, grammar, and vocabulary of pre-Ottoman Albania.
Arbërisht was commonly called ("Albanian" in Italian) in Italy until the 1990s. Until recently, Arbërisht speakers had only very imprecise notions about how related or unrelated their language was to Albanian. Until the 1980s Arbërisht was exclusively a spoken language, except for its written form used in the
Italo-Albanian Church, and Arbëreshë people had no practical affiliation with the Standard Albanian language used in Albania, as they did not use this form in writing or in media. When a large number of immigrants from Albania began to enter Italy in the 1990s, they came into contact with local Arbëreshë communities.
Since the 1980s, some efforts have been organized to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage of the language. Arbërisht has been under a slow decline in recent decades, but is currently experiencing a revival in many villages in Italy. Figures such as
Giuseppe Schirò Di Maggio have done much work on school books and other language learning tools in the language, producing two books ''Udha e Mbarë'' and ''Udhëtimi'', both used in schools in the village of
Piana degli Albanesi.
Linguists focusing on the language include (Albanian) Eda Derhemi, (diaspora born)
Martin Di Maggio as well as (Piana degli Albanesi native) Vito Matranga.
There is no official political, administrative or cultural structure which represents the Arbëresh community. Arbërësh is not one of the group of minority languages that enjoy the special protection of the State under Article 6 of the Italian Constitution. At the regional level, however, Arbërisht is accorded some degree of official recognition in the autonomy statutes of Calabria, Basilicata and Molise.
* In the case of
Calabria, the region is to provide for recognition of the historical culture and artistic heritage of the populations of Arbëresh origin and to promote the teaching of the two languages in the places where they are spoken.
* Article 5 of the autonomy statute of
Basilicata lays down that the regional authorities "shall promote renewed appreciation of the originality of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the local communities".
* Finally, the autonomy statute of the
Molise
it, Molisano (man) it, Molisana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 ...
region stipulates that the region "shall be the guardian of the linguistic and historical heritage and of the popular traditions of the ethnic communities existing in its territory and, by agreement with the interested municipalities, shall promote renewed appreciation of them".
In certain communes the local authorities support cultural and linguistic activities promoted by the Arbëresh communities and have agreed to the erection of bilingual road signs. There are associations that try to protect the culture, particularly in the Province of Cosenza. The Arbëresh language is used in some private radios and publications. The fundamental laws of the areas of Molise, Basilicata and Calabria make reference to the Arbëresh language and culture. Nevertheless, the increase in training in the use of the written language has given some hope for the continuity of this culture.
Literature
Early Arbëreshë literature
The first work of Italo-Albanian literature was that of Sicilian archpriest
Luca Matranga (1567–1619). The book was titled ''E mbsuama e krështerë'' (Christian Doctrine) and it was a simple religious translation in Arbëresh language, aiming at bringing Christianity closer to his people is Southern Italy. While during the 17th century there were no Arbëresh writers, in the 18th century there was
Giulio Variboba (1724–1788, ), regarded by many Albanians as the first genuine poet in all of Albanian literature. Born in San Giorgio Albanese (Mbuzati) and educated in Corsini Seminary in San Benedetto Ullano, after many polemics with local priest he went to exile in Rome in 1761 and there he published in 1762 his long lyric poem ''Ghiella e Shën Mëriis Virghiër'' (The life of Virgin Mary). The poem has been written entirely in dialect of San Giorgio and has about 4717 lines. Variboba is considered unique in Albanian literature for his poetic sensitivities and the variety of rhythmic expression. Another known artistic figure of that time was
Nicola Chetta
Nicola Chetta, ( Arbërisht: Nikollë Keta; 12 July 1741 – 15 December 1803) was an Arbëresh writer and priest. He was born in Contessa Entellina
Contessa Entellina ( sq, Kuntisa) is a small ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Paler ...
(1740–1803) known in Albanian as ''Nikollë Keta''. As a poet he wrote verses both in Albanian and Greek language and he has also composed the first Albanian sonnet in 1777. Being a poet, lexicographer, linguist, historian, theologian and rector of Greek seminary, his variety and universality of work distinguish him from other writers of the period.
The most prominent figure among Arbëresh writers and the foremost figure of the
Albanian nationalist movement in 19th-century Italy was that of
Girolamo de Rada
Girolamo de Rada ( Arbërisht: ''Jeronim de Rada''; 29 November 181428 February 1903) was an Arbëreshë folklorist, journalist, lawyer, playwright, poet, rilindas and writer. He is regarded as one of the most influential Albanian writers of t ...
(). Born the son of a parish priest of
Italo-Albanian Catholic Church in
Macchia Albanese () in the mountains of
Cosenza, De Rada attended the college of Saint Adrian in San Demetrio Corone. In October 1834, in accordance with his father's wishes, he registered at the Faculty of Law of the
University of Naples
The University of Naples Federico II ( it, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II) is a public university in Naples, Italy. Founded in 1224, it is the oldest public non-sectarian university in the world, and is now organized into 26 depar ...
, but the main focus of his interests remained folklore and
literature
Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...
. It was in Naples in 1836 that De Rada published the first edition of his best-known Albanian-language poem, the "Songs of Milosao", under the Italian title ''Poesie albanesi del secolo XV. Canti di Milosao, figlio del despota di Scutari'' (Albanian poetry from the 15th century. Songs of Milosao, son of the
despot of
Shkodra). His second work, ''Canti storici albanesi di Serafina Thopia, moglie del principe Nicola Ducagino'', Naples 1839 (Albanian historical songs of Serafina Thopia, wife of prince
Nicholas Dukagjini
Nicholas Dukagjini ( it, Nicolas Ducagin, sq, Nikollë Dukagjini) was a 15th-century member of the Dukagjini family.
Biography
Nicholas Dukagjini was the son of Gjergj (George) Dukagjini, who died before 1409 when Nicholas was mentioned for t ...
), was seized by the
Bourbon Bourbon may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash
* Bourbon barrel aged beer, a type of beer aged in bourbon barrels
* Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit
* A beer produced by Bras ...
authorities because of De Rada's alleged affiliation with conspiratorial groups during the Italian
Risorgimento
The unification of Italy ( it, Unità d'Italia ), also known as the ''Risorgimento'' (, ; ), was the 19th-century political and social movement that resulted in the consolidation of different states of the Italian Peninsula into a single ...
. The work was republished under the title ''Canti di Serafina Thopia, principessa di Zadrina nel secolo XV'', Naples 1843 (Songs of Serafina Thopia, princess of Zadrina in the 15th century) and in later years in a third version as ''Specchio di umano transito, vita di Serafina Thopia, Principessa di Ducagino'', Naples 1897 (Mirror of human transience, life of Serafina Thopia, princess of Dukagjin). His Italian-language historical tragedy ''I Numidi'', Naples 1846 (The Numidians), elaborated half a century later as ''Sofonisba, dramma storico'', Naples 1892 (Sofonisba, historical drama), enjoyed only modest public response. In the
revolution
In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
ary year 1848, De Rada founded the newspaper ''L'Albanese d'Italia'' (The Albanian of Italy) which included articles in Albanian. This bilingual "political, moral and literary journal" with a final circulation of 3,200 copies was the first Albanian-language periodical anywhere.
De Rada was the harbinger and first audible voice of the
Romantic movement
Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...
in Albanian literature, a movement which, inspired by his unfailing energy on behalf of national awakening among Albanians in Italy and in the
Balkans
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
, was to evolve into the romantic nationalism characteristic of the
Rilindja
The Albanian National Awakening ( sq, Rilindja or ), commonly known as the Albanian Renaissance or Albanian Revival, is a period throughout the 19th and 20th century of a cultural, political and social movement in the Albanian history where the ...
period in Albania. His journalistic, literary and political activities were instrumental not only in fostering an awareness for the Arbëresh minority in Italy but also in laying the foundations for an Albanian national literature.
The most popular of his literary works is the above-mentioned ''Canti di Milosao'' (Songs of Milosao), known in Albanian as ''Këngët e Milosaos'', a long romantic ballad portraying the love of Milosao, a fictitious young nobleman in fifteenth-century Shkodra (Scutari), who has returned home from
Thessalonica
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...
. Here, at the village fountain, he encounters and falls in love with Rina, the daughter of the shepherd Kollogre. The difference in social standing between the lovers long impedes their union until an earthquake destroys both the city and all semblance of class distinction. After their marriage abroad, a child is born. But the period of marital bliss does not last long. Milosao's son and wife soon die, and he himself, wounded in battle, perishes on a riverbank within sight of Shkodra.
19th-century Romantic poets
Contemporary literature
Protection of language
Religion
The Italo-Albanian Church
The
Italo-Albanian Catholic Church,
particular church
In metaphysics, particulars or individuals are usually contrasted with universals. Universals concern features that can be exemplified by various different particulars. Particulars are often seen as concrete, spatiotemporal entities as opposed to a ...
''sui iuris'', includes three ecclesiastical jurisdictions: the
Eparchy of Lungro degli Italo-Albanesi for the Albanians of
Southern Italy based in
Lungro
Lungro ( aae, Ungra) is a town and (municipality) in the Province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of Italy.
Lungro is one of the most prominent centers of the Arbëreshë people and the seat of the Eparchy of Lungro. This jurisdiction of the C ...
(
CS); the
Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi for Albanians of
Insular Italy
Insular Italy ( it, Italia insulare or just , meaning "islands") is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency ...
based in
Piana degli Albanesi (
PA); the
Territorial Abbacy of Santa Maria of Grottaferrata
The Territorial Abbacy of Santa Maria of Grottaferrata is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction which administers the Abbey of Saint Mary in Grottaferrata located in Grottaferrata, Rome, Lazio, Italy. The Abbacy and its territory are stauropegic, that is, ...
, with
Basilian monks
Basilian monks are Roman Catholic monks who follow the rule of Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea (330–379). The term 'Basilian' is typically used only in the Catholic Church to distinguish Greek Catholic monks from other forms of monastic li ...
(O.S.B.I.) come from the Italo-Albanian communities, located in the only abbey and abbey church in Grottaferrata (
RM).
The Italo-Albanian Catholic Church being a Byzantine enclave in the Latin West, is secularly inclined to
ecumenism
Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...
between the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
and the
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via ...
. It was the only abode of eastern Christianity from the end of the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
until the twentieth century in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
.
There are institutions and religious congregations of the
Byzantine rite
The Byzantine Rite, also known as the Greek Rite or the Rite of Constantinople, identifies the wide range of cultural, liturgical, and canonical practices that developed in the Eastern Christianity, Eastern Christian Church of Constantinople.
Th ...
in the territory of the Italo-Albanian Church: the Basilian Order of Grottaferrata, the Collegine Sisters of Sacra Famiglia, Piccole operaie dei Sacri Cuori and the congregation of the Basilian Sisters Daughters of Saint Macrina.
Culture
Traditions and folklore
Among the Arbëreshë the memory of Skanderbeg and his exploits was maintained and survived through songs, in the form of a Skanderbeg cycle.
[ "The memory of the Albanian national hero was maintained vividly among the Albanians of Italy, those who emigrated to Calabria and Sicily, following his death.... Living compactly in Christian territory, though in separate communities, the Italo-Albanians have preserved the songs about Skenderbeg and his exploits which their ancestors had brought from the mother country. Today one may even speak of the existence of a Skenderbeg cycle among them, if one takes into account also the songs on other Albanian heroes who surrounded him."]
Gjitonía
"Gjitonia" is a form of neighbourhood typical of Arbëresh communities and widespread throughout the Arbëresh people. It comes from the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
γειτονιά (geitonía). The Gjitonía functions as a microsystem around which the life of the ''horë'' (village) revolves; the Gjitonía is a smaller-scale version of the layout of the village often consisting of a small square towards which the alleys are oriented, surrounded by buildings that have openings towards a larger square (''
shesh'') on diagonal angles. The name is usually taken from the families that live there.
The social aspect of the Gjitonía is an ancient and historical structure where values of hospitality and solidarity between the families of the neighbourhood coexisted and where there was no difference of social class. Mainly for the Italian-Albanian communities, it is a world where relationships were so strong that they created real family relationships so much so that the Arbëreshe phrase ''Gjitoni gjirì'' ("neighbourhood relatives") is typical.
Costume
Cuisine
![Bukë](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Buk%C3%AB.jpg)
The
Arbëreshë cuisine is composed of the cuisines of
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
and
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. The style of cooking and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from their Albanian origins to a mixed cuisine of
Sicilian, Calabrian, and
Lucanian influences.
These traditional dishes are
Piana degli Albanesi (
Palermo,
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
):
* ''Strangujët'' – A form of
Gnocchi
Gnocchi ( , , ; singular ''gnocco'') are a varied family of dumpling in Italian cuisine. They are made of small lumps of dough most traditionally composed of a simple combination of wheat flour, egg, salt, and potato. Variations of the dish sup ...
called Strangujtë made with flour by hand, flavoured with tomato sauce (''lënk'') and basil. Traditionally this dish was consumed by families seated around a floor level table of wood (''zbrilla'') on 14 September, the ''Festa e Kryqit Shejt'' (
Exaltation of the Cross
In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. Unlike Good Friday, which is dedicated to the passion of Christ and the crucifixion, these ...
).
* ''Grurët'' – Boiled wheat dish flavored with olive oil, known as
cuccìa
Cuccìa is a traditional, primarily Sicilian dish containing boiled wheatberries and sugar, which is eaten on December 13, the feast day of Saint Lucy, the patron saint of Syracuse. The dish is consumed in Sicily and in isolated pockets of Sout ...
in the Sicilian language. The tradition is to eat it on
Festa e Sënda Lluçisë. Variations are the use of sweetened milk or
ricotta
Ricotta ( in Italian) is an Italian whey cheese made from sheep, cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo milk whey left over from the production of other cheeses. Like other whey cheeses, it is made by coagulating the proteins that remain after th ...
with flakes of chocolate, orange peel and almonds.
* ''Kanojët'' –
Cannoli
Cannoli (; scn, cannola ) are Italian pastries consisting of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling containing ricotta—a staple of Sicilian cuisine. They range in size from . In mainland Italy, they are ...
, the universally famous Pianotto sweet pastry. Its culinary secret is waffle (''shkorça'') of flour, wine, lard and salt and filled with sweetened ricotta, and lastly sprinkled with sieved chocolate.
* ''Bukë'' – Arbëresh bread (''bukë'') is prepared with local hard grain flour and manufactured to a round and mostly leavened shape with natural methods. It is cooked in antique firewood furnaces (
Tandoor
A tandoor ( or ) is a large urn-shaped oven, usually made of clay, originating from the Indian Subcontinent. Since antiquity, tandoors have been used to bake unleavened flatbreads, such as roti and naan, as well as to roast meat. The tandoo ...
). It is eaten warm flavored with olive oil (''vaj i ullirit'') and dusted with cheese or with fresh ricotta.
* ''Panaret'' – Arbëresh Easter bread shaped either into a circle or into two large braids and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It is adorned with red Easter eggs. The Easter eggs are dyed deep red to represent the blood of Christ, the eggs also represent new life and springtime. It is traditionally eaten during the Resurrection Meal. After 40 days of fasting, as per the
Byzantine Catholic The term Greek Catholic Church can refer to a number of Eastern Catholic Churches following the Byzantine (Greek) liturgy, considered collectively or individually.
The terms Greek Catholic, Greek Catholic church or Byzantine Catholic, Byzantine Ca ...
tradition, the Easter feast has to begin slowly, with a light meal after the midnight liturgy on Saturday night. The fast is generally broken with panaret.
* ''Loshkat and Petullat'' – Sweetened spherical or crushed shaped fried leavened dough. Eaten on the eve of
E Mart e Madh Carnival.
* ''Të plotit'' – A sweet cake in various shaped with
fig
The fig is the edible fruit of ''Ficus carica'', a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae. Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, it has been cultivated since ancient times and is now widely grown throughout the world ...
marmalade filling, one of the oldest Arbëresh dishes.
* ''Milanisë'' – Traditionally eaten on the
Saint Joseph's Day
Saint Joseph's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Joseph or the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, is in Western Christianity the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and legal father of Jesus Christ, celebrated on 19 March. ...
(''Festa e Shën Zefit'') and
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Hol ...
, is a pasta dish made with a sauce (''lënk'') of wild
fennel
Fennel (''Foeniculum vulgare'') is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalized ...
paste, sardines and
pine nut
Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), pignoli or chilgoza (), are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus ''Pinus''). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, only 29 species provide edible nuts, while 20 are trad ...
s.
* ''Udhose and Gjizë'' – Homemade cheese and ricotta normally dried outdoors.
* ''Likëngë'' – Pork sausages flavored with salt, pepper and seed of Fennel (farë mbrai).
* ''Llapsana'' – Forest Brussels sprout (
llapsana) fried with garlic and oil.
* ''Dorëzët'' – Very thin home-made
semolina
Semolina is coarsely milled durum wheat mainly used in making couscous, and sweet puddings. The term semolina is also used to designate coarse millings of other varieties of wheat, and sometimes other grains (such as rice or corn) as well.
Etymo ...
spaghetti, cooked in milk and eaten on
Ascension Day.
* ''Groshët'' – Soup made of
fava
''Vicia faba'', commonly known as the broad bean, fava bean, or faba bean, is a species of vetch, a flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated as a crop for human consumption, and also as a cover crop. Var ...
beans, chickpeas and
haricot beans.
* ''Verdhët'' – During Easter a kind of pie is prepared with eggs, lamb, ricotta, sheep cheese and (previously boiled) leaf stalks of
golden thistle; in some villages, the young aerial parts of wild
fennel
Fennel (''Foeniculum vulgare'') is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalized ...
are used instead.
Physical appearance
A study from 1918 included 59 Arbëreshë men from
Cosenza,
Calabria, the result showed that
fair hair was present in 27% of them. The same study also showed that the frequencies of
light eyes and
white skin
Light skin is a human skin color that has a base level of eumelanin pigmentation that has adapted to environments of low UV radiation. Light skin is most commonly found amongst the native populations of Europe and East Asia as measured through ...
, were 47% and 67% respectively. The Arbëreshë, from this survey, are found to be overall less pigmented than the Calabrians. They are also taller (m. 1.64) and less dolichocephalic (cephalic index 80.6).
Genetics
According to Sarno et al. 2015 there are many Y-DNA haplogroups present among Arbëreshë. Those haplogroups are also shared with their Italian and Balkan neighbours. Arbereshe appear as slightly differentiated from native Southern Italians, and instead overlap with the other
Southern Balkan populations of
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
and
Kosovo
Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...
.
Notable Arbëreshë people
Gallery
File:1 195.jpg, Iconostasis in a church in Piana degli Albanesi, Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
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, population_blank1 =
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File:Civita (Çifti) (CS)..jpg, Statue of Albanian hero '' Gjergji Kastrioti'' in Civita, Calabria
File:Civita (Çifti) (CS). (4).jpg, A bilingual for a piazza
A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. ...
in Civita
File:Maschito bilingual.jpg, Bilingual sign in Albanian and Italian in Maschito
Maschito ( aae, Mashqiti; Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Potenza, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Like other towns in the Vulture area, Maschito was repopulated by Albanian refugees after the occupation of Alb ...
, Basilicata
File:Papàs Kola Cuccia.jpg, Priest of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church in Contessa Entellina
Contessa Entellina ( sq, Kuntisa) is a small ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy.
Is located in the "Valle del Belìce" at above sea level in the mountains called ''Brinjat'', is situated 80 km from ...
, Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
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, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
File:Artigianato Arberesh.jpg, Arbëresh craft-workshop in Piana degli Albanesi
File:KatundiZembraJone.jpg, Albanian folk group of Katundi, in Campania
(man), it, Campana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
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, demographics_type1 =
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File:Arbereshe Dress.jpg, Traditional costume Arbëreshe of San Martino di Finita
San Martino di Finita ( aae, Shën Mërtiri) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
It was founded in the late 15th-early 16th centuries by Arbëreshë Arbën/Arbër, from which derived Arb ...
in Calabria
File:Civita (Çifti) (CS), Le Vallje 2009. (5).jpg, Albanian dance, Civita
File:Typical Arbëreshë female costumes.jpg, Typical Arbëreshë female costumes of San Basile in Calabria
See also
*
Albanians in Italy
The Albanians in Italy ( it, Albanesi in Italia; sq, Shqiptarët në Itali) refers to the Albanian migrants in Italy and their descendants. They mostly trace their origins to Albania, Greece and since recently to a lesser extent to Kosovo, Nort ...
*
Arvanites
Arvanites (; Arvanitika: , or , ; Greek: , ) are a bilingual population group in Greece of Albanian origin. They traditionally speak Arvanitika, an Albanian language variety, along with Greek. Their ancestors were first recorded as settl ...
*
Culture of Albania
Albanian culture or the culture of Albanians ( ) is a term that embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Albanians. Albanian culture has been considerably shaped by the geography ...
*
Languages of Italy
The languages of Italy include Italian, which serves as the country's national language, in its standard and regional forms, as well as numerous local and regional languages, most of which, like Italian, belong to the broader Romance group ...
*
Stradioti
References
External links
ArbitaliaShtëpia e Arbëreshëvet të Italisë / The Home of Albanians of Italy
Jemi.itthe Arbëresh web portal managed by the Eparchy of Lungro
Jeta ArbëresheBilingual magazine
Maps of the Albanians of Italy
Mondoarberesco.itWeb Jeta Arbresh
Museoetnicoarbresh.orgAlbanian Ethnic Museum of Civita
Vatrarberesh.itThe Albanian Fire
Arbelmo.itThe Italo-Albanian sociocultural blog
Scesci i Pasionatit.itKatundiyne.comMagazine Katundi Yne - Paese Nostro
E-biblíaDigital library on the faith and knowledge of the Italo-Albanian people
Unibesa.itBESA - Union of Albanian Municipalities of Sicily
Unical.itUniversità della Calabria - Laboratorio di Albanologia
Treccani.itLa comunità albanese d'Italia su Enciclopedia Treccani
Albanian, Arbëreshëin Ethnologue Languages of the World
*
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