sq, Arumunët në Shqipëri
, native_name_lang =
, image = File:Aromanians in Albania.png
, image_caption = Map of Aromanian settlements 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 ...
, population = 8,266 (2011 census)
Estimates go from 100,000
to 200,000
, popplace =
Korçë County
Korçë County ( sq, Qarku Korçë, italic=unset), officially the County of Korçë ( sq, Qarku i Korçës, italic=unset), is a county in the Southern Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the largest by area and the seventh most populous of ...
,
Fier County
Fier County (; sq, Qarku Fier, italic=unset), officially the County of Fier ( sq, Qarku i Fierit, italic=unset), is a county in the Southern Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the eighth largest by area and the third most populous of the ...
,
Gjirokastër County
Gjirokastër County ( sq, Qarku i Gjirokastrës) is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The total population in 2021 was 58,031, in an area of 2884 km². Its capital is the city Gjirokastër.
Administrative divisions
Until 2000, Gjirokastër ...
,
Elbasan County
Elbasan County () is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The population is 266,245 (2021), in an area of 3199 km². Its capital is the city Elbasan.
Administrative divisions
Until 2000, Elbasan County was subdivided into four districts: Elbas ...
,
Vlorë County
Vlorë County (; sq, Qarku i Vlorës) is one of the 12 counties of the Republic of Albania with the capital in Vlorë. The county spans and has a total population of 187,675 people as of 2021. It borders the counties of Fier and Gjirokastër, ...
,
Berat County
Berat County (; sq, Qarku Berat, italic=unset), officially the County of Berat ( sq, Qarku i Beratit, italic=unset), is a Counties of Albania, county in the Southern Albania, Southern Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the ninth largest by ...
,
Durrës County
Durrës County ( sq, Qarku i Durrësit), officially the County of Durrës ( sq, Qarku i Durrësit, italic=unset), is a county in the Northern Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the smallest by area and the second most populous of the twel ...
,
Tirana County
Tirana County ( sq, Qarku Tiranë, italic=unset), officially the County of Tirana ( sq, Qarku i Tiranës, italic=unset), is a Counties of Albania, county in the Central Albania, Central Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the tenth largest by ...
, langs =
Aromanian (native),
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:
*Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular:
**Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans
**Albanian language
**Albanian culture
**Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
,
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 ...
, rels = Predominantly
Eastern Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first m ...
, related_groups =
, related-c =
Aromanians
The Aromanians ( rup, Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are an Ethnic groups in Europe, ethnic group native to the southern Balkans who speak Aromanian language, Aromanian, an Eastern Romance language. They traditionally live in central and southern Alba ...
The Aromanians in Albania ( rup, Armãnji/Rrãmãnji tu Arbinishii; sq, Arumunët/Vllehët në Shqipëri) are an officially recognised
ethnic minority
The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number o ...
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 ...
.
Ethnonyms
The Aromanians in Albania are officially called the ''Minoriteti Arumun''. The local population often refers to them as ''Vllehë'', ''Çobenjë'' (from Turkish ''çoban'', "shepherd"), ''Xacët'' or ''Xinxarët'', ''Gogët'', and ''Llacifacët''.
History
The Aromanians were first recognized at the
London Conference of 1912–13
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major se ...
as a minority group within Albania. They fought the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
alongside the
Serbians
The term Serbians in English is a polysemic word, with two distinctive meanings, derived from morphological differences:
* Morphology 1: Serb-ian- s, derived from the noun ''Serb'' and used interchangeably to refer to ethnic Serbs, thus having ...
and
Greeks
The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...
during the
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars refers to a series of two conflicts that took place in the Balkan States in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan States of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria declared war upon the Ottoman Empire and defe ...
.
Historical settlements
Moscopole
![Voskopoje St Athanasius](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Voskopoje_St_Athanasius.JPG)
The city of
Moscopole
Moscopole or Voskopoja ( sq, Voskopojë; rup, Moscopole, with several other variants; el, Μοσχόπολις, Moschopolis) is a village in Korçë County in southeastern Albania. During the 18th century, it was the cultural and commercial ...
(Albanian: ''Voskopojë'') was once home to the largest Aromanian population in the world. It was the cultural and commercial centre of the Aromanians with a population of over 3,500 people. The city was razed to the ground by
Ali Pasha of Ioannina
Ali Pasha of Ioannina (1740 – 24 January 1822), was an Albanian ruler who served as pasha of a large part of western Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territories, which was referred to as the Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioanni ...
in 1788, causing an exodus of Aromanian people across 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 ...
. Many of them ended up in what would become
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
, Albania and
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 ...
. The largest concentration of Aromanians was in the
Pelister
Baba ( mk, Баба; or Baba Mountain, mk, Баба Планина, Baba Planina), or also known by the name of its highest peak, Pelister ( mk, Пелистер), is a mountain in North Macedonia. The Pelister peak (2601 metres, or 8533 feet) ov ...
region of North Macedonia, the city of
Kruševo
Kruševo ( mk, Крушево ; rup, Crushuva "Crușuva") is a town in North Macedonia. In Macedonian the name means the 'place of pear trees'. It is the highest town in North Macedonia and one of the highest in the Balkans, situated at an alti ...
and around the
Lake Prespa
The Lake Prespa is located on the tripoint of North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. It is a system of two lakes separated by an isthmus: the Great Prespa Lake, divided between the three countries, and the Little Prespa Lake, mostly within Greece ...
. The Moscopolitans (''Moscopoleanji'' in Aromanian), is one of the largest population of Aromanians today. They speak the Moscopolean dialect of Aromanian and are the descendants of the Moscopoleans in Krusevo (Aromanian: Crushuva, Macedonian: Крушево) are today a fully recognized minority group under the constitutional law of
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
.
Grabova
![Grabova](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Grabova.jpg)
Grabova was a medieval town created in the 10th century. Aromanians have left Grabova on several occasions, although the village has never been completely deserted. The first wave of depopulation took place in the 17th century, when Grabova shared the fate of Moscopole and during the inter-war period, starting with 1931, many of Grabovars emigrated to
Elbasan
Elbasan ( ; sq-definite, Elbasani ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in central Al ...
and
Lushnjë
Lushnjë (; in Lushnje's own dialect: ''Lushnje'' ; sq-definite, Lushnja) is a city and municipality in west-central Albania. It is located in the County of Fier. The total population is 83,659 (2011 census), in a total area of .
History
...
. In 1933, 15 families from the village emigrated to
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
; they initially settled in
Southern Dobruja
Southern Dobruja, South Dobruja or Quadrilateral (Bulgarian: Южна Добруджа, ''Yuzhna Dobrudzha'' or simply Добруджа, ''Dobrudzha''; ro, Dobrogea de Sud, or ) is an area of northeastern Bulgaria comprising Dobrich and Silistra ...
and then, in 1940, in the village of
Nisipari,
Constanța County
Constanța () is a county ( județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the Dobruja region. Its capital city is also named Constanța.
Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 684,082 and the population density was 96/km2. The deg ...
, from where they moved to the larger nearby towns (Medgidia, Ovidiu, Constanța ) Another important immigration began in 1950, when communist authorities used the craftsmen from Grabova to build the industrial units in Korçë,
Pogradec
Pogradec () is the eleventh most populous city in Albania and the capital of the eponymous municipality. It is located on a narrow plain between two mountain chains along the southwestern banks of the Lake of Ohrid. Its climate is profoundly inf ...
,
Gramsh, Elbasan, and
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
. The people of Grabova speak the Grabovar dialect of Aromanian.
Culture
Music
Religion
![Voskopojë Marienkirche - Gebäude 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Voskopoj%C3%AB_Marienkirche_-_Geb%C3%A4ude_1.jpg)
Aromanians in Albania are predominantly
Orthodox Christians
Orthodoxy (from Greek: ) is adherence to correct or accepted creeds, especially in religion.
Orthodoxy within Christianity refers to acceptance of the doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical councils in Antiquity, but different Churc ...
like the rest of Aromanians. In
Korçë
Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau some ...
( rup, Curceauã, Curciau) they have an Aromanian-language church named ''Ayiu Sutir'' (
Transfiguration of Jesus
In the New Testament, the Transfiguration of Jesus is an event where Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant in glory upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels (, , ) describe it, and the Second Epistle of Peter also refers to it ().
In these a ...
), and is the only church in Albania that is preaching in Aromanian language. Before that, they had another church also in
Korçë
Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau some ...
with the same name, built in 1925 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1931.
Demographics
The exact presence of the Aromanian community in Albania is unknown. 8,266 people declared themselves to be Aromanians in the 2011 census. On the quality of the specific data the Advisory Committee on the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) is a multilateral treaty of the Council of Europe aimed at protecting the rights of minorities. It came into effect in 1998 and by 2009 it had been ratified by 39 member ...
stated that "the results of the census should be viewed with the utmost caution and calls on the authorities not to rely exclusively on the data on nationality collected during the census in determining its policy on the protection of national minorities.". According to Tom Winnifrith in 1995, that there were about 200,000 individuals who were of Aromanian descent in Albania, regardless of proficiency in Aromanian, or spoke Aromanian without necessarily considering themselves to have a separate identity. According to Frank Kressing and Karl Kaser in 2002, there were between 30,000 and 50,000 Aromanians in Albania.
In 2004 Arno Tanner pointed out Albania as the only country where Vlachs make a relatively significant percentage of population, around 2%.
In the context of the census conducted in 2011 in Albania, representatives of the Aromanian community in the country stated that the results do not reflect the real number of the Aromanian population of Albania.
List of settlements
In Albania, Aromanian communities inhabit Moscopole, their most famous settlement, the
Kolonjë District
Kolonjë is a municipality in Korçë County, southeastern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Barmash, Çlirim, Ersekë, Leskovik, Mollas, Novoselë, Qendër Ersekë and Qendër Leskovik. The seat of ...
(where they are concentrated), a quarter of
Fier
Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri) is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in the north, the Vjos ...
(Aromanian ''Ferãcã''), while Aromanian was taught, as recorded by Tom Winnifrith, at primary schools in
Andon Poçi near
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a city in the Republic of Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino, at 300 metres above sea le ...
(Aromanian ''Ljurocastru''),
Shkallë
Shkallë is a village in the former municipality of Dajt in Tirana County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is loc ...
(Aromanian ''Scarã'') near
Sarandë
Sarandë (; sq-definite, Saranda; el, Άγιοι Σαράντα, Ágioi Saránta) is a city in the Republic of Albania and seat of Sarandë Municipality. Geographically, the city is located on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea within the Medit ...
, and
Borovë near
Korçë
Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau some ...
(Aromanian ''Curceau'') (1987). A Romanian research team concluded in the 1960s that Albanian Aromanians migrated to
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
,
Stan Karbunarë
Stan or STAN may refer to:
People
* Stan (given name), a list of people with the given name
** Stan Laurel (1890–1965), English comic actor, part of duo Laurel and Hardy
* Stan (surname), a Romanian surname
* Stan! (born 1964), American author ...
,
Skrapar
Skrapar ( sq-definite, Skrapari) is a municipality in Berat County, southern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Bogovë, Çepan, Çorovodë, Gjerbës, Leshnjë, Potom, Qendër Skrapar, Vendreshë
and Zhepë ...
,
Pojan
Pojan is a village and a former municipality in the Korçë County, southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Maliq. The population at the 2011 census was 10,864. ,
Bilisht
Bilisht ( sq, Bilisht) is a town and a former municipality in Korçë County, south-eastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision and the seat of the municipality Devoll. It was the seat of the former Devoll District ...
and Korçë, and that they inhabited Karaja,
Lushnjë
Lushnjë (; in Lushnje's own dialect: ''Lushnje'' ; sq-definite, Lushnja) is a city and municipality in west-central Albania. It is located in the County of Fier. The total population is 83,659 (2011 census), in a total area of .
History
...
, Moscopole,
Drenovë
Drenovë ( rup, Ndãrnova; Bulgarian and mk, Дреново) is a village in the former Drenovë Municipality of the Korçë County in southeastern Albania. After the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Korçë.
Hist ...
and
Boboshticë
Boboshticë ( rup, Bubushtitsa; bg, Бобощица, ''Boboshtitsa''; mk, Бобоштица, ''Boboštica'') is a village in the former Drenovë Municipality of the Korçë County in southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it ...
(Aromanian ''Bubushtitsa'').
Central Albania
The
Myzeqe
The Myzeqe (; sq-definite, Myzeqeja; rup, Muzachia) is a plain in the Western Lowlands of Albania. The Myzeqe is the largest and widest plain, measured by area, in the Lowlands.
Location
The Myzeqe plain is a large alluvial plain traversed by t ...
( rup, Muzachia) is an area in southwestern-central
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 ...
which encompasses parts of the
Fier
Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri) is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in the north, the Vjos ...
( rup, Ferãcã),
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
and
Durrës
Durrës ( , ; sq-definite, Durrësi) is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is located on a flat plain along the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast between the mouths of ...
counties. It has a large Aromanian population spread across many villages. The Aromanian inhabitants of Myzeqe are referred to as ''Muzachiars'' or ''Muzachirenji'' in Aromanian.
*
Divjakë
Divjakë (; sq-definite, Divjaka) is a municipality and town in Fier County, Albania. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Grabian, Gradishtë, Remas, Tërbuf with Divjakë constituting its seat. As of the Institute of St ...
*
Elbasan
Elbasan ( ; sq-definite, Elbasani ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in central Al ...
*
Grabovë e Sipërme
Grabovë e Sipërme (also: ''Grabova''; rup, Greãva, ) is a village in Albania inhabited by Albanians Aromanians. The village is located in the former municipality of Lenie. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipalit ...
'' () ''
*
Fier
Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri) is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in the north, the Vjos ...
'' ( rup, Ferãca, Ferãcã/Ferãche)''
Southern Albania
Berat County
*
Berat
Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and east of Fier.
Berat is located in th ...
'' ( rup, Vãryar)''
*
Ura Vajgurore
Ura Vajgurore, formerly known as Ura e Hasan Beut, is a town and a former municipality in Berat County, central Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it was merged with the former municipalities (now municipal units) Cukalat, Kutalli and P ...
*
Vanë
Vanë (also known as ''Cifliku Vana'', ''Van'', ''Vana'', or ''Vanje'') is a settlement in the Vlorë County of Albania. It is part of the municipality Delvinë. The village is inhabited by Aromanians
The Aromanians ( rup, Armãnji, Rrãmãn ...
Vlorë County
*
Selenicë
Selenicë ( rup, Selenitsã "Selițcă") is a municipality in Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Armen, Brataj, Kotë, Selenicë, Sevaster and Vllahin ...
'' ( rup, Selenitsa, Selenitsã/Selenitse) ''
*
Xarrë
Xarrë (Albanian pronunciation: or ; rup, Dzara; "Ḑara" _Dz,_Aromanian_alphabets_do_not_use_Ḑ.html" ;"title=" -> Dz, Aromanian alphabets do not use Ḑ"> -> Dz, Aromanian alphabets do not use Ḑ el, Τζάρα, Tzára) is a village an ...
'' ( rup, Dzara) ''
*
Kardhikaq
Kardhikaq ( sq-definite, Kardhikaqi; el, Γαρδικάκι; romanized: ''Gardikáki'') is a small village in Vlorë County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality of Finiq. It is inhabited by a ...
Gjirokastër Country
*
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a city in the Republic of Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino, at 300 metres above sea le ...
'' ( rup, Ljurocastru, Iurucasta/Iurucast)''
*
Humelicë'' ( rup, Umelitsa, Umelitse) ''
*
Labovë
*
Qestorat
Qestorat ( rup, Chiãsturat or ) is a community of the former Lunxhëri municipality in the Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Gjirokastër.
From 1874 to 1891 the villag ...
( rup, Chiãsturat, Chiãsturata)
*
Stegopul
Stegopul or Stegopull ( rup, Stãgopul) is a village in Lunxhëri, Gjirokastër County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Libohovë. It is home to the Orthodox Church of St. Elijah's, also declared ...
'' ( rup, Stãgopul) ''
*
Saraqinisht
Saraqinisht is a small village of the former Antigonë municipality in the Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Gjirokastër. Near the village are the remains of the ancient ...
*
Selckë
*
Zagoria ''( rup, Zaguria, Zagurii)''
*
Shkallë
Shkallë is a village in the former municipality of Dajt in Tirana County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is loc ...
'' ( rup, Scara, Scarã/Scare) ''
*
Frashër
Frashër (; sq-definite, Frashëri; rup, Farshar) is a village and a former municipality in the Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Përmet. The population at the ...
''( rup, Farshar)''
*
Përmet
Përmet (; sq-definite, Permeti) is a city and municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality of Përmet consists of the administrative units of Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë and Përmet. The total popul ...
*
Çarshovë'' ( rup, Ciarshova)''
*
Leusë
Leusë ( sq-definite, Leusa) is a village in Përmet municipality, Albania.
Name
Leusë takes its name from the Greek word "Eleusa", which means "merciful". "Virgin Eleusa" is also one of the names of the Virgin Mary in Eastern Orthodox traditi ...
Korcë County
A large portion of Aromanians can be found in Southeastern Albania.
*
Moscopole
Moscopole or Voskopoja ( sq, Voskopojë; rup, Moscopole, with several other variants; el, Μοσχόπολις, Moschopolis) is a village in Korçë County in southeastern Albania. During the 18th century, it was the cultural and commercial ...
''( rup, Moscopole, , , or ) '' once a prosperous Aromanian center and today's village of Voskopojë.
*
Korçë
Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau some ...
'' ( rup, Curceaua, Curceau, Curceao or Curciau) ''
*
Vithkuq
Vithkuq is a village and a former municipality in the Korçë County, southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Korçë. The population at the 2011 census was 1,519. The municipal unit c ...
'' ( rup, Bitcuchi) ''
*
Drenovë
Drenovë ( rup, Ndãrnova; Bulgarian and mk, Дреново) is a village in the former Drenovë Municipality of the Korçë County in southeastern Albania. After the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Korçë.
Hist ...
'' () ''
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Boboshticë
Boboshticë ( rup, Bubushtitsa; bg, Бобощица, ''Boboshtitsa''; mk, Бобоштица, ''Boboštica'') is a village in the former Drenovë Municipality of the Korçë County in southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it ...
'' ( rup, Bubushtitsa) ''
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Dardhë
Dardhë (; sq-definite, Dardha, literally "pear") is a community in the former municipality of Drenovë in Korçë County, Albania. After local government reform in 2015, it became part of the municipality Korçë. It is a well known ski area of ...
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Leskovik
Leskovik is a town and a former municipality in the Korçë County, southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Kolonjë. It is located right at the Greek-Albanian border. The population ...
Minority status
The Aromanians were first recognized at the
London Conference of 1912–1913
The London Conference of 1912–1913, also known as the London Peace Conference or the Conference of the Ambassadors, was an international summit of the six Great Powers of that time (Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Rus ...
as a minority group until the communist era (1967). From 1967 until 1992, they were known as simple
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 ...
, and from 1992 until 2017, they were known as a cultural and linguistic minority. Since 2017, the Aromanians are an officially recognized
ethnic minority
The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number o ...
in Albania.
The existing political divisions among the Aromanian population in Albania are the pro-Greek and Aromanian-only factions, which are the most numerous groups, as well as the pro-Romanian faction, the latter being less numerous. All of them promote their Aromanian ethnic background but differ on how they define their national identity. Namely, the pro-Greek group would concur with the majority of Aromanians in Greece that they are nationally Greek with Aromanian linguistic and cultural traits. On the other hand those supporting a completely distinct Aromanian identity claim that they are both nationally and ethnically Aromanians and would deny having Greek or Romanian national consciousness.
The Aromanians have their own political party in Albania. It is known as the
Alliance for Equality and European Justice
The Alliance for Equality and European Justice (ABDE; sq, Aleanca për Barazi dhe Drejtësi Europiane; rup, Ligãturea ti Egaliteati sh-Ndrept European) is a political party of Albania representing the Aromanian minority of the country. The A ...
(ABDE), it was founded in 2011 and aims for the unification of all the Albanian Aromanians. There are only two other Aromanian political parties in the world, the
Democratic Union of the Vlachs of Macedonia
The Democratic Union of the Vlachs of Macedonia (DSVM; mk, Демократски сојуз на Власите од Македонија, ; rup, Unia Democratã a Armãnjlor dit Machidunii, ) is one of the two political parties of North Mace ...
(DSVM) and the
Party of the Vlachs of Macedonia
The Party of the Vlachs of Macedonia (PVM; mk, Партија на Власите од Македонија, ; rup, Partia Armãnjilor ditu Machidunie, ), sometimes simply referred to as the Party of the Vlachs or the Vlach Party ( mk, Пар ...
(PVM), both in North Macedonia.
Education
![University of Tirana (BLGU Spring School 2013)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/University_of_Tirana_%28BLGU_Spring_School_2013%29.JPG)
In the
University of Tirana
The University of Tirana ( sq, Universiteti i Tiranës, abbreviated UT) is a public university located at the central borough of Tirana 10 in Tirana, Albania. It was established as the ''State University of Tirana'' in 1957 through merging of ...
, the Aromanian language is covered by the Faculty of Foreign Languages.
Media
Aromanian-language media in Albania are
RTSH
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (; en, "Albanian Radio and Television"; mostly called RTSH ) is an Albanian public broadcasting radio and television company. Founded in 1938, it operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmi ...
2,
RTSH
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (; en, "Albanian Radio and Television"; mostly called RTSH ) is an Albanian public broadcasting radio and television company. Founded in 1938, it operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmi ...
Gjirokastra and Korça. RTSH 2 broadcasts from Monday to Friday news and programms in Aromanian Language, while the other two only once a week. Beside TV media are also the internet radio
RTV Armakedon
RTV may refer to:
Broadcasting
* RTV (Bangladeshi TV channel), a satellite television channel
* RTV (Indonesian TV network), an Indonesian television network
* RTV-7, a Dutch television network with programming from the Dutch Caribbean
* RTV NH, ...
, newspaper ''Fratia'', magazine ''Fãrshãrotu'' and ''Arumunët/Vllehtë''
Notable people from Albania
Education:
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Daniel Moscopolites (1754–1825) - Aromanian scholar from modern-day Albania
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Aurel Plasari - Albanian intellectual
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Ilo Mitkë Qafëzezi - Albanian intellectual
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Mitrush Kuteli
Dhimitër Pasko ( ro, Dimitrie Pascu; 13 September 1907 – 4 May 1967) was a well-known Albanian writer, literary critic and translator. Along with Ernest Koliqi he is considered as the founder of modern Albanian prose; in Albanian literature his ...
- Albanian writer, literary critic and translator
Finance:
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Mocioni Family
The Mocioni family ( hu, Mocsonyi de Foen), also spelled as Mocsony, was an Austro-Hungarian family that produced barons, philanthropists and bankers. It had branches in Romania, Serbia (Belgrade) and Hungary (Pest). The family was of Aromanian or ...
- Austro-Hungarian banking and philanthropist family.
Arts/Music:
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Albert Vërria
Albert Vërria (Fier, 3 September 1936 – Vlorë, 17 August 2015) was an Albanian actor. He was a Merited Artist of Albania.
He completed his primary and secondary school in his hometown. In 1963 he completed the high school for actor "Alexan ...
(1936-2015) - Albanian actor
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Sandër Prosi
Aleksander "Sandër" Prosi (6 January 1920 – 24 March 1985; rup, Sandãr Prosi) was an Albanian film and theater actor and violin player. He was given the People's Artist of Albania award by the Albanian government. He is considered one of th ...
(1924-1985) - Albanian actor
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Nikolla Zoraqi
Nikolla Zoraqi (19281991; rup, Nicolla Zorachi) was a composer from 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 loca ...
(1928–1991) - composer
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Margarita Xhepa
Margarita Xhepa (born 2 April 1932; rup, Margarita Gepa) is an Albanian actress, best known as one of the great ladies of Albanian cinema and theater. She continues to play in recent films such as Firdus in Bolero ne vilen e pleqve, based on ...
(1932-) - actress
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Eli Fara
Eli Fara (; born 21 May 1967) is an Albanian singer. Prior to 2000, she was awarded the Merited Artist of Albania by the Government of Albania.
Life and career
Fara was born on 21 May 1968 into an Albanian family of Aromanian descent in t ...
(1968-) - Singer and songwriter
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Janaq Paço
Janaq Paço (14 March 1914,[Jakov Xoxa
Jakov Xoxa (15 April 1923 – 11 November 1979) was an author from Albania of the 20th century.
Biography
Xoxa had ethnic Aromanian origins from Korçë. He born in the town of Fier, Albania on April 15, 1923 and died on November 11, 1979. H ...](_blank)
(1923-1979) - Albanian author and writer
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Parashqevi Simaku (1966-) - Albanian former musician.
Politics:
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Dhimitër Tutulani
Dhimitër Tutulani (19 March 1857 – 1937), also known as Taq Tutulani or Dhimitraq Tutulani, was an Albanian lawyer and politician from city of Berat. He was one of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence.
Life
Dhimitër ...
(19 March 1857 – 1937),
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 ...
n lawyer and politician
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Rita Marko
Rita Marko (17 February 1920 – 15 June 2018) was an Albanian political figure of Aromanian ethnicity who served in a number of positions in Albania during its socialist period.
Biography
Marko was born in Korçë as the son of Eastern Or ...
(1920-2018) - Chairman of the Albanian Politburo.
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Liri Gero (1926-1944) - Albanian world war 2 martyr and heroine.
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Teodor Heba (1914-2001) - Albanian chairman of the Politburo from 1950 to 1951.
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Nako Spiru
Athanas Spiru, known as Nako Spiru, (4 January 1918 – 20 November 1947) was an Albanian politician and high-ranking official of the Communist Party of Albania (PKSh). He served as Minister of Economy and Industry from 1946 until his untimely de ...
(1918-1947) - Albanian communist politician
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Llazar Fundo
Llazar (Zai) Fundo (born March 20, 1899 in Görice, Manastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire died September 20, 1944 in Kukës, Albania) was an Albanian Communist, later social-democratic journalist and writer. He was a former member of the Comintern an ...
(1899-1944) - Albanian communist, former member of the Balkan communist federation, purged in 1944.
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Athanas Shundi (1892-1940) - Albanian politician, pharmacist, and early supporter of the Albanian Orthodox Church
Religion:
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Damian of Albania
Archbishop Damian ( sq, Kryepeshkopi Damian, secular name Dhimitër Kokoneshi; 26 October 1886 – 18 October 1973) was the bishop of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania from April 1966 until February 1967, when the religion was abol ...
(1886-1973) - Archbishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church from 1966 to 1967
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Nektarios Terpos
Nektarios Terpos ( rup, Nectar Tãrpo; el, Νεκτάριος Τέρπος; late 17th century–18th century) was an Orthodox Christian scholar and monk from Moscopole (today in modern Albania) of Aromanian ethnicity. He was the author of an imp ...
(end 17th–18th century) priest and author
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Theodore Kavalliotis
Theodore Anastasios Kavalliotis ( el, Θεόδωρος Αναστασίου Καβαλλιώτης; rup, Teodor Anastasie Cavalioti; sq, Theodor Kavalioti, 1718 – 11 August 1789) was a Greek Orthodox priest, teacher and a figure of the Greek E ...
(1718–1789) - Greek priest and teacher
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Ioakeim Martianos (1875-1955) - Greek priest & teacher.
Other:
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Margarita Tutulani
Margarita Tutulani (1925 – 6 July, 1943) was an Anti-fascism, anti-fascist and hero of Albania during World War II. Her brutal death inspired many to join the resistance against fascism in Albania.
Biography
Tutulani was born in Berat, to a ...
(1925 – 6 July 1943)
anti-fascist
Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were ...
Gallery
File:8.moskopole.jpg, National Aromanian festival in Moscopole, 15 August 2010
File:5.moskopole.jpg, Sign in Aromanian language in Moscopole
File:Moscopole coa.jpg, Moscopole at 1742
See also
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Aromanians in Bulgaria
bg, Арумъни в България
, image =
, population = 2,000–3,000, possibly 6,000
, popplace = Western Rhodopes, as well as Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv and Sofia provinces and in Sofia proper
, langs = Aromanian (native), ...
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Aromanians in Greece
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Aromanians in North Macedonia
The Aromanians in North Macedonia ( rup, Armãnji, mk, Аромани, ''Aromani''), also known as Vlachs ( rup, Vlahi, mk, Власи, ''Vlasi''), are an officially recognised minority group numbering some 9,695 people according to the 2002 c ...
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Aromanians in Romania
The Aromanians in Romania ( rup, armãnji or ; ro, aromâni or ) are a non-recognized ethnic minority in Romania that numbered around 26,500 people in 2006. Legally, Romania regards the Aromanians and other groups such as the Megleno-Romanians ...
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Aromanians in Serbia
sr, Аромуни у Србији /
, image =
, population = 243 ( 2011 census)5,000–15,000 (estimates)
, popplace = Belgrade, Knjaževac, Niš, Pančevo, Smederevo
, langs = Aromanian (native), Serbian
, rels = Predominantly Eastern ...
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Moscopole
Moscopole or Voskopoja ( sq, Voskopojë; rup, Moscopole, with several other variants; el, Μοσχόπολις, Moschopolis) is a village in Korçë County in southeastern Albania. During the 18th century, it was the cultural and commercial ...
References
Works cited
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External links
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{{Ethnic groups in Albania
Ethnic groups in Albania