Botushë (; ) is a village in the municipality of
Gjakova
Gjakova, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the seventh largest city of Kosovo and seat of Gjakova Municipality and Gjakova District. The city has 40,827 inhabitants, while the municipality has 94,556 inhabitants.
Geographicall ...
,
District of Gjakova
The District of Gjakova is one of the seven districts of Republic of Kosovo, with seat in the city of Gjakova.
Municipalities
The district of Gjakova has a total of 4 municipalities and 170 other smaller settlements.
Settlements
Gjakov ...
, southwest
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 ...
. It is located near the border with
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 part of the
Highlands of Gjakova
The Highlands of Gjakova or Gjakova Highlands ( sq, Malësia e Gjakovës) refers to the mountainous ethnographic region in the eastern Albanian Alps that sits between north-eastern Albania and western Kosovo, serving as the historical centres of ...
. It is inhabited exclusively by Albanians.
Etymology
The two forms of this toponym, 'Botushë' and 'Batushë', contain the Albanian reducing suffix ''-ushë''. Amongst the local population, 'Batushë' is favoured. The toponym with an 'a' is related to the
Illyro-
Dardani
The Dardani (; grc, Δαρδάνιοι, Δάρδανοι; la, Dardani) or Dardanians were a Paleo-Balkan people, who lived in a region that was named Dardania after their settlement there. They were among the oldest Balkan peoples, and their ...
an ''Batoni'', an anthroponym of the royal Dardanian family, whereas 'o' would suggest a link with the Albanian '' 'botë' '' which means 'earth, land'. This indicates that the toponym most likely derives from
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 ...
.
Geography
Botushë is situated north-west of
Gjakova
Gjakova, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the seventh largest city of Kosovo and seat of Gjakova Municipality and Gjakova District. The city has 40,827 inhabitants, while the municipality has 94,556 inhabitants.
Geographicall ...
in the historical ethnographic region of the
Gjakova Highlands
The Highlands of Gjakova or Gjakova Highlands ( sq, Malësia e Gjakovës) refers to the mountainous ethnographic region in the eastern Albanian Alps that sits between north-eastern Albania and western Kosovo, serving as the historical centres of ...
. It is cradled near the
Accursed Mountains
The Accursed Mountains ( sq, Bjeshkët e Nemuna; sh-Cyrl-Latn, Проклетије, Prokletije, ; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as the Albanian Alps ( sq, Alpet Shqiptare), are a mountain group in the western part of the B ...
and is positioned on both banks of the Gusha stream. It is located in the tribal territory of the
Gashi tribe – which lies in the historical region of the Highlands of Gjakova ( sq, Malësia e Gjakovës) – and is inhabited by the members of the aforementioned tribe. It is 23 km away from
Gjakova
Gjakova, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the seventh largest city of Kosovo and seat of Gjakova Municipality and Gjakova District. The city has 40,827 inhabitants, while the municipality has 94,556 inhabitants.
Geographicall ...
and 3 km away from
Junik
Junik ( sq, Junik, sq-definite, Juniku; sr, Јуник, Junik) is a town located in Junik Municipality in the Gjakova District in western Kosovo. According to the 2011 census, the town of Junik has 6,053 inhabitants, while the municipality has ...
.
History
Prehistoric findings have been found on the territory of the village, as well as findings that date back to the Roman period and the Middle Ages – they have been proposed for listing as one of the
Monuments of Kosovo Monuments of Kosovo comprise all the monuments that are located in Kosovo.
Kosovo has an abundance of multicultural and rich heritage dating back to the Bronze Age, later followed by Illyrians, Roman, Byzantine/Serbian Orthodox and Ottoman periods ...
. The
kulla Kulla may refer to:
*Kulla (god), god of builders in the Mesopotamian mythology. He is responsible for the creation of bricks and restoration of temples.
*Kulla (goddess), an alternate name of Ukulla, a goddess regarded as the wife of the Mesopot ...
of Adem Ademaj dates back to the 18th or 19th century, and is on the list. Additionally, the
kulla Kulla may refer to:
*Kulla (god), god of builders in the Mesopotamian mythology. He is responsible for the creation of bricks and restoration of temples.
*Kulla (goddess), an alternate name of Ukulla, a goddess regarded as the wife of the Mesopot ...
of Rexh Uka, which dates back to the 19th century, is proposed for classification on the same list.
Botushë itself is an old settlement with a well documented history. There are many old Albanian toponyms, such as the following: ''Fusha e Kishës'' (The Church's Field), ''Lluga e Mel Kurtit'', ''Qyteza e Poshtme'' (Lower Citadel), ''Qyteza e Epërme'' (Upper Citadel), ''Arrabregu'' (Walnut Hill), ''Kokorri'', ''Fusha e Mar (k) Bushës'' (Mark Busha's Field), ''Kalaja e Jerinës'' (Jerina Castle), ''Kalaja e Madhe'' (Great Castle), ''Kalaja e Vogël'' (Little Castle), ''Shkoza'' (hornbeam), ''Shpella e Çelisë'' (Cave of Çeli), ''Prroni i Çelisë'', ''Shpati i Valës'' (Vala's Slope), ''Arza'', ''Livadhi i Boçit'' (Boçi's Meadow), ''Koteci'', ''Kodra Tabe'' (Tabe Hill) etc. These toponyms reveal that Botushë had possibly been a historically fortified place; the prehistoric layer is seen in Jerina Castle, above Botushë, in the place called Shkozë just southwest of the village. The unexplored Cave of Celi is nearby, and the cases of Late Antiquity belong to the Great Castle and the Little Castle.
Middle ages
The inhabitants during the late 15th century were Albanian Christians of the Orthodox rite with a Catholic minority. Inhabitants of Botushë were mentioned with Albanian names in 1485, such as `''Ulku''`. According to the same Ottoman Defter of 1485, Botushë had grown to 35 homes (married household heads), and Morina asserts that the names of the inhabitants of Botushë are of Albanian-Christian and Albanian-Slavic origin. Sometimes members of the same family would have mixed Albanian-Slavic names, such as in the case of ''Nenko'', son of ''Leka''. A large part of the anthroponomy during Serbian rule shows a degree of
slavicisation
Slavicisation or Slavicization, is the acculturation of something Slavic into a non-Slavic culture, cuisine, region, or nation. To a lesser degree, it also means acculturation or adoption of something non-Slavic into Slavic culture or terms. Th ...
.
Morina asserts that a
chrysobull
A golden bull or chrysobull was a decree issued by Byzantine Emperors and later by monarchs in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, most notably by the Holy Roman Emperors. The term was originally coined for the golden seal (a ''bull ...
from the
Dečani Monastery indicates that Emperor
Stefan Dušan
Stefan Uroš IV Dušan ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Урош IV Душан, ), known as Dušan the Mighty ( sr, / ; circa 1308 – 20 December 1355), was the King of Serbia from 8 September 1331 and Tsar (or Emperor) and autocrat of the Serbs, Gr ...
had given the village of Botushë, along with the Church of St. Nicholas which was located in the village to the monastery as property. This chrysobull demonstrates the wider phenomenon of Albanian settlements and their Catholic churches within the
Dukagjini area being given to Slav Orthodox churches/monasteries as property for economic utilization. Scholars, in particular Gaspër Gjini, have asserted that many of Kosovo's Catholic churches were seized by Serbian Kings 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 a ...
and were subsequently gifted to Slav Orthodox churches. Albanian villages were gifted by Serbian kings, particularly
Stefan Dušan
Stefan Uroš IV Dušan ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Урош IV Душан, ), known as Dušan the Mighty ( sr, / ; circa 1308 – 20 December 1355), was the King of Serbia from 8 September 1331 and Tsar (or Emperor) and autocrat of the Serbs, Gr ...
, as tribute to the Serbian monastery of Deçan, as well as those of
Prizren
)
, settlement_type = Municipality and city
, image_skyline = Prizren Collage.jpg
, imagesize = 290px
, image_caption = View of Prizren
, image_alt = View of Prizren
, image_flag ...
and
Tetova
Tetovo ( mk, Тетово, , sq, Tetovë/Tetova) is a city in the northwestern part of North Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena (river), Pena River. The municipality of Tetovo covers an area of at above ...
. Following the Turkish conquest of the region,
Princess Milica of Serbia
Princess Milica Hrebeljanović née Nemanjić ( sr, Милица Немањић Хребељановић · ca. 1335 – November 11, 1405) also known as Empress (''Tsaritsa'') Milica, was a royal consort of Serbia by marriage to Prince Lazar, ...
successfully advocated for the return of Botushë and surrounding villages to the Dečani Monastery from Turkish control.
Ottoman period
According to local legend, the
Gashi tribe took its current form when the Aga of the Gashi in Botushë united the Luzha with the bajrak of Bardhi and Shipshan as a protective measure against the surrounding tribes who were bigger in number. According to legend, Botusha – along with Luzha – are the two villages in the
Highlands of Gjakova
The Highlands of Gjakova or Gjakova Highlands ( sq, Malësia e Gjakovës) refers to the mountainous ethnographic region in the eastern Albanian Alps that sits between north-eastern Albania and western Kosovo, serving as the historical centres of ...
where the Albanian population of the older Gashi tribe of
Pult
Pult or Pulat ( sq-definite, Pulti or Pulati), is a region in northern Albania. It is bordered by the Malësia Region to its north and by the Dukagjin Highlands to its east and its south. The region has traditionally been inhabited by the Plani ...
during the 17th century continues to live. Due to their constant resistance against
Ottoman rule
Ottoman is the Turkish spelling of the Arabic masculine given name Uthman ( ar, عُثْمان, ‘uthmān). It may refer to:
Governments and dynasties
* Ottoman Caliphate, an Islamic caliphate from 1517 to 1924
* Ottoman Empire, in existence fro ...
, the Gashi tribe were repeatedly punished via military expeditions, which led to the departure of the population from their initial settlements and a gradual conversion to Islam in the years 1690–1743. In Botusha and
Deçan
Deçan, or Dečani sr-cyr, Дечани ; also in use Dečane sr-cyr, Дечане is a town and municipality in Kosovo. According to the 2011 census, the town of has 3,803 inhabitants, while the municipality has 40,019 inhabitants.
Geog ...
, about 10-11 generations of ancestors with Muslim names are remembered, while the previous generations with Catholic names. Both Luzha and Botusha are mentioned by Catholic priests who visited some villages beyond the
Diocese of Pult in 1693–1694.
Local Albanian leaders, such as
Sulejman Aga of Botushë (who was a chieftain of the
Gashi and their leader in the Gjakova region in the early 20th century), organised resistance and movements for independence against the Ottomans throughout the 19th-20th centuries; in one such uprising, 5,000-6,000 Albanian fighters led by Sulejman Aga Batusha, gathered outside of
Gjakova
Gjakova, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the seventh largest city of Kosovo and seat of Gjakova Municipality and Gjakova District. The city has 40,827 inhabitants, while the municipality has 94,556 inhabitants.
Geographicall ...
and attacked the garrison in an attempt to enter the city.
In 1904, 10 Ottoman battalions accompanied by artillery were sent to Gjakova in order to quell the uprising.
Shemsi Pasha and the Ottomans were then ordered to estimate the livestock possessions and to enforce heavy taxes upon the local Albanians in response to the uprising. The hostilities were accompanied by the forcible collection of taxes from the local population and the destruction of entire villages in the Gjakova region by Ottoman forces; upon arriving to Botusha, Shemsi Pasha, with five battalions and numerous artillery pieces, began bombarding the houses. The Ottomans were met by 300 Albanian resistance fighters led by
Sulejman Aga Batusha. The resistance fighters lost 35 dead or wounded, but the Ottomans lost more than 80 soldiers. Another 300 Albanian fighters arrived and surrounded the Ottoman force but could not yet finish them as the Ottomans were numerically-superior and were positioned well with artillery. 2,000
Albanian tribes
The Albanian tribes ( sq, fiset shqiptare) form a historical mode of social organization (''farefisní'') in Albania and the southwestern Balkans characterized by a common culture, often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progen ...
men would eventually gather to fight the Turks, and the Ottoman government sent 18 more battalions accompanied by artillery to quell this new uprising;
Shkup's Vali, Shakir Pasha, also went to Gjakova. A series of ensuing battles followed in the Gjakova region, resulting in the deaths of more than 900 Ottoman soldiers as well as 2 bimbashis and a dozen officers, whereas the Albanians suffered only 170 dead or wounded. Shakir Pasha was thereby ordered to stand down.
Sulejman Aga Botusha was a prominent local leader and patriotic resistance fighter, and had worked with
Isa Boletini
Isa Boletini (; 15 January 186423 or 24 January 1916) was an Albanian revolutionary commander and politician and rilindas from Kosovo.
As a young man, he joined the Albanian nationalist League of Prizren and participated in a battle against Ottom ...
as a protector of Albanian interests and rights, as well as a leader of the local movements for independence and resistance against the Ottomans.
During the
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War ( sr, Први балкански рат, ''Prvi balkanski rat''; bg, Балканска война; el, Αʹ Βαλκανικός πόλεμος; tr, Birinci Balkan Savaşı) lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and invo ...
, Bajram Curri and his small force managed to push the
Serbs
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language.
The majority of Serbs live in their na ...
across Morina Pass (''Qafa e Morinës''), and his troops entered the villages of Botushë, Molliq and Ponoshec. They could not continue as
Radomir Vešović would reinforce the Serbs with 12,000 new troops in order to subdue the region with numeric superiority.
Azem Galica
Azem Bejta (10 December 1889 – 15 July 1924), commonly known as Azem Galica, was an Albanian nationalist and rebel who fought for the unification of Kosovo with Albania.
Biography
Early life
Azem Bejta was born in the village of Galica in ...
's band of resistance fighters passed through Botushë and Glloxhan in order to get to the
Highlands of Gjakova
The Highlands of Gjakova or Gjakova Highlands ( sq, Malësia e Gjakovës) refers to the mountainous ethnographic region in the eastern Albanian Alps that sits between north-eastern Albania and western Kosovo, serving as the historical centres of ...
. Botushë was part of the
Neutral Zone of Junik
The Neutral Zone of Junik (1921–1923) was a neutral demilitarized border area between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Principality of Albania.
History Establishment
The neutral area was established in November 1921 by the authority of the ...
.
Botushë has been the home of many Albanian resistance fighters, such as the aforementioned
Sulejman Aga Botusha,
Jashar Salihu – a
Hero of Kosovo
Hero of Kosovo ( sq, Urdhri Hero i Kosovës) is an official Orders, decorations, and medals of Kosovo, order in Kosovo. It is awarded by the President of Kosovo.
Award
"Hero of Kosovo" is a state decoration given to historical figures of Kosov ...
recipient and martyr of the
Kosovo War
The Kosovo War was an armed conflict in Kosovo that started 28 February 1998 and lasted until 11 June 1999. It was fought by the forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (i.e. Serbia and Montenegro), which controlled Kosovo before the war ...
– and
Islam Aga. Islam Aga was a noteworthy fighter of the
League of Prizren
The League of Prizren ( sq, Besëlidhja e Prizrenit), officially the League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation ( sq, Lidhja për mbrojtjen e të drejtave te kombit Shqiptar), was an Albanian political organization which was offi ...
who was one of the leaders of the force that killed
Mehmed Ali Pasha at
Abdullah Pashë Dreni's kulla. Islam Aga slew 28 Turks before being killed by cannon fire in his final battle.
Kosovo War
During the
Kosovo War
The Kosovo War was an armed conflict in Kosovo that started 28 February 1998 and lasted until 11 June 1999. It was fought by the forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (i.e. Serbia and Montenegro), which controlled Kosovo before the war ...
, the village was severely affected. 159 out of a total of 179 houses were completely destroyed by Serbian forces. The local mosque was also damaged and destroyed. There is a plaque for those who lost their lives during that period within the village, and it includes names, pictures and the date of their deaths. The inscription on the plaque reads:
File:Botush%C3%AB Monument.jpg, Botushë Plaque dedicated to those who died during the Kosovo War.
Notable figures
*
Jashar Salihu –
Hero of Kosovo
Hero of Kosovo ( sq, Urdhri Hero i Kosovës) is an official Orders, decorations, and medals of Kosovo, order in Kosovo. It is awarded by the President of Kosovo.
Award
"Hero of Kosovo" is a state decoration given to historical figures of Kosov ...
recipient, Albanian diplomat, activist and general.
*
Islam Aga –
League of Prizren
The League of Prizren ( sq, Besëlidhja e Prizrenit), officially the League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation ( sq, Lidhja për mbrojtjen e të drejtave te kombit Shqiptar), was an Albanian political organization which was offi ...
fighter, distinguished for his courage, slew 28 Turks in battle before being killed by cannon fire.
*
Sulejman Agë Botusha – Albanian patriot, renowned resistance fighter, prominent local leader. Resistance leader in the battle of February 12, 1904 between Ottoman forces and Albanian resistance fighters.
Notes
References
Sources
External links
* https://www.facebook.com/botusha.li/?ref=page_internal
* https://www.botusha.li/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botushe
Villages in Gjakova