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Ceklin (
Montenegrin/Serbian Cyrillic: Цеклин; ) is a historical
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
(''pleme'') and region in
Montenegro
)
, image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Podgorica
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, official_languages = M ...
.
Ceklin is a tribal community whose folk tradition maintains that was formed through matrilineal descent as its matriarch was married and had offspring with a man from the area of later
Piperi and then her second husband came from the area of
Kelmendi
Kelmendi is a historical Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in Malësia ( Kelmend municipality) and eastern Montenegro (parts of Gusinje Municipality). It is located in the upper valley of the Cem river and its tributaries in the Accursed Mo ...
. The brotherhoods which claim descent from them, the Gornjaci (via the second marriage) and Donjaci (via the first) are the core of Old Ceklin. Many brotherhoods of different origins were eventually incorporated in the community and came to consider themselves to be part of the same lineages. In the 17th and 18th centuries the tribe expanded its region and numerous other villages and families fell within its territory. Ceklin is one of the very few tribes in the Western Balkans that was created through matrilineality, instead of patriarchal bonds.
Name
It has been linguistically connected to
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 ...
ceklinë or cektinë which means ''shallow ground''. A. Jovićević recorded in the oral tradition of the local brotherhood of Mihaljevići that ''Ceklin'' derives from ''Tekla'' (St.
Thecla
Thecla ( grc, Θέκλα, ) was a saint of the early Christian Church, and a reported follower of Paul the Apostle. The earliest record of her life comes from the ancient apocryphal ''Acts of Paul and Thecla''.
Church tradition
The ''Acts of ...
), to whom a church is dedicated to.
In the Ottoman defters of 1521 and 1523, Ceklin (Cjetlin) and Donje Dobro are mentioned parallelly, and according to order, Donje Dobro was used for Donji Ceklin (Mihaljeviće and Strugare). Its people are called ''Ceklinjani'' )
Geography
The tribe seat is at the village of Ceklin, which comprises thirteen clans. Other villages in the tribal region are: Strugari, Ulići, Bokovo, Jankovići, Đalci, Drušići, Rvaši, Zagora, Bobija, Vranjina, Dujeva (with smaller hamlets: Mihaljevići, Trnovi Do and Riječani), town of
Žabljak Crnojevića
Žabljak Crnojevića ( sr-cyrl, Жабљак Црнојевића, ), commonly referred to as Žabljak, is an abandoned medieval fortified town (fortress) in Montenegro. The fortress is located on the confluence of the Morača river in Lake Skada ...
and at the end of the territory known as Riječka Okolina and Varošica Rijeka in which there are other tribes present.
Origins
The brotherhoods of Ceklin proper (''pravi Ceklin'') are divided in the Gornjaci and Donjaci brotherhoods. The Gornjaci are most numerous brotherhood of Ceklin today. They share the same matrilineal origin from
Piperi, but have different patrilineal descent from
Kelmendi
Kelmendi is a historical Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in Malësia ( Kelmend municipality) and eastern Montenegro (parts of Gusinje Municipality). It is located in the upper valley of the Cem river and its tributaries in the Accursed Mo ...
(Gornjaci) and
Piperi (Donjaci). Thus, Ceklin became a tribe (''pleme'') on the basis of matrilineal descent, although it follows patrilineal inheritance customs. It follows taboos of endogamy in the same way as a community based on patrilineal descent and no intermarriage takes place between the Donjaci and the Gornjaci.
The ''Gornjaci'' brotherhoods, according to their folklore, trace their origin to a Leka, who migrated from
Kelmendi
Kelmendi is a historical Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in Malësia ( Kelmend municipality) and eastern Montenegro (parts of Gusinje Municipality). It is located in the upper valley of the Cem river and its tributaries in the Accursed Mo ...
(in northern Albania) first in Piperi and then in Ceklin at the end of 15th century.
Leka had married the widow of chieftain Radivoj Liješević in Piperi, with whom he had a son, Krstić, whose two sons Lješ and Vulić are the direct ancestors of Gornjaci today. The widow's son from her first marriage, Vukosav, was adopted by Leka and given part of Ceklin. A possibly related oral tradition exists in Kelmendi itself. There, a Leka is considered the fifth son of the progenitor of Kelmendi who first settled in their home territory. According to the story he left from Kelmendi towards an unknown destination - likely Piperi - possibly because of a
blood feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one pa ...
. He was already married and had a son when he left. His descendants in Kelmendi are the brotherhoods of Vrataj and Gjonaj.
Like the Kelmendi of
Selcë, the Gornjaci have St. Nicholas as their patron saint.
According to Donjaci folklore, Liješ, ancestor of Radivoj Liješević was from
Drobnjaci
Drobnjaci (, ) are historical tribe and region, Drobnjak, in Old Herzegovina in Montenegro (municipalities from Nikšić to Šavnik, Žabljak and Pljevlja). Its unofficial centre is in Šavnik. The Serb Orthodox families have St. George ('' ...
. He settled in Piperi in ca. 1385 because of a murder he had committed in his home region. The Donjaci clans originate from two of Vukosav's sons, Bajo and Grujica and they have
St. George
Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...
(''
Đurđevdan
George's Day in Spring, or Saint George's Day ( sr, Ђурђевдан, Đurđevdan, ; bg, Гергьовден, Gergovden; mk, Ѓурѓовден, Ǵurǵovden; russian: Егорий Вешний, Yegoriy Veshniy, or russian: Юрьев ден ...
'') as their patron saint (''
slava
Slava may refer to:
Ships
* ''Slava'' class cruiser, a modern Russian warship
** Soviet cruiser Slava (1979), now Russian cruiser ''Moskva'', a ''Slava'' class guided missile cruiser sunk during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
* Russian ba ...
'').
The "old" Ceklinjani (Gornjaci and Donjaci) did not allow the immigrant families in Ceklin to take part in the settlement of new territory. As the Gornjaci were the bigger brotherhood they took most of the new territory as their property. In the brotherhoods of the expanded territory of Ceklin in the 18th as new families came, more than 50 families and brotherhoods traced their origin outside of ''pravi Ceklin'' or the brotherhoods of Bokovo and Ulji.
History
In the area of modern Ceklin the settlement of ''
Arbanas'' is mentioned in 1296 in a letter by King
Milutin Milutin ( sr, Милутин) is a Serbian masculine given name of Slavic origin. The name may refer to:
*Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia (1253–1321), king of Serbia
*Milutin Bojić (1892–1917), poet
*Milutin Ivković (1906–1943), football ...
. During the reign of the
Crnojević family in Zeta, old Ceklin was named ''Donje Dobro'', while neighbouring Gornje Dobro later received the name ''Dobrsko Selo''. These names are attested in Ottoman ''
defter
A ''defter'' (plural: ''defterler'') was a type of tax register and land cadastre in the Ottoman Empire.
Description
The information collected could vary, but ''tahrir defterleri'' typically included details of villages, dwellings, household ...
s'' from the beginning of the 16th century and in
Mariano Bolizza
Mariano Bolizza or Marin Bolica (1603 – 27 November 1643) was a nobleman and writer from Cattaro.
Biography
Bolizza was born in Kotor, at the time part of the Republic of Venice (now Montenegro). He studied at the University of Padua and, ha ...
's 1614 report. At the time of
Ivan Crnojević
Ivan Crnojević ( sr-Cyrl, Иван Црнојевић, italics=no, lit=Ivan the Black) was the lord of Zeta and Serbian leader from 1465 to 1490. Having formed an alliance with the Republic of Venice, he led the Serb resistance against the expandi ...
, Ceklin was only the name of one single settlement. In the charters of Ivan Crnojević from 1485 and 1489, the village of Ceklin is named Cvetlin (Цвѣтлин) and Cetlin (Цѣтлин), which are the first mentions of the village with this name. The 1489 charters mentions the "nobility of Cetlin", Radič Rašković, Radelja Mirujević, Sćepan Nikolić and Vuk Piperović.
Ceklin belonged to
Riječka nahija (River district), one of the four areas that comprised
Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro ( sr, Стара Црна Гора, Stara Crna Gora), also known as Montenegro proper ( sr, Права Црна Гора, Prava Crna Gora), or True Montenegro ( sr, Истинска Црна Гора, Istinska Crna Gora), is a ...
. The ''pravi'' (proper) Ceklinjani inhabited old (''stari'') Ceklin, a small area beneath the Ceklinštak mountain, divided into Gornji kraj (Upper area) and Donji kraj (Lower area), after which the main communities of Ceklin take their names: Gornjaci and Donjaci. All older clans of the tribe were formed in this area. The tribe expanded its borders in the 17th century, pushing the
Bjelice
Bjelice ( sr, Бјелице/Bjelice) is a historical region and tribe of the Katunska nahija region of Old Montenegro. The tribe was one of the largest traditional tribes of Old Montenegro and one of nine tribes of the Katunska nahija, along w ...
tribe out from what is now Ceklin.
[ ] Some communities like Bokovo and Ulji became part of Ceklin on the basis of a defense pact between them. The region expanded in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Ceklin was involved in the one of the most long-standing blood feuds in Montenegro against the tribe of
Njeguši
Njeguši ( cnr, Његуши) is a village in the Cetinje Municipality of southern Montenegro, located on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, within the Lovćen national park. It is part of the territory of Njeguši tribe.
Demographics
According to th ...
to which the later ruling dynasty of Montenegro the
Petrović-Njegoš belonged. The feud lasted for 32 years and ended in 1797 in a joint meeting of all tribes of Old Montenegro under vladika
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар I Петровић Његош; 1748 – 31 October 1830) was the ruler of the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro as the Metropolitan (''vladika'') of Cetinje, and Exarch (legate) of the Serbi ...
. The pacification of the feud between two of strongest tribes of the region is considered as an important step in Petar Petrović's strategy of uniting Old Montenegro.
The vojvodas and serdars of the tribe were up to mid-19th century members of the Đurašković clan. During the reign of
Prince Danilo, the title of ''vojvoda'' was passed to the Strugari clan, and the title of ''serdar'' to the Jovićević clan.
Brotherhoods
*The ''Gornjaci'' all have the
''slava'' (feast day) of ''Nikoljdan'' (St. Nicholas), and include the local clans of Đurašković, Janković, Kostić, Tatar (earlier Radovanović and Vodičanin), Zarlija, Jovićević, Pejović, Šofranac, Ražnatović.
*The ''Donjaci'' all have the ''slava'' of ''Đurđevdan'' (St. George), and include the local clans of Vujanović (Vujanović, Kovač, Marković, Mašanović and Petričević), Strugar (Mihailović, Pavićević, Ćiraković, Petrović, Nikolić, Todorović and Dragićević), Vukmirović, Kraljević, Dragojević and Lopičić.
*The brotherhoods of Bokovo (''Bokovljani'') and Ulji (''Ulići'') choose to become part of Ceklin in the 17th century to better defend their villages. The brotherhoods of Bukovo include the Mudreše-Margetići (''slava'' of ''Spasovdan''), Radivojević or Borozan-Lompar (''slava'' of ''Spasovdan'') and Bušković (''slava'' of ''Nikoljdan'').
*Brotherhoods that settled or became part of Ceklin as it expanded since the 18th century.
Families
;Gornjaci
*Đurašković, descending from Đuraš Lješević
**Adrović, descending from Andro Đurašković(emigrated from Ceklin)
*Janković, descending from Janko Lješević
*Kostić, descending from Kosta Lješević
*Tatar (earlier Radovanovići and Vodičani), descending from Radovan Lješević
*Zarlija, descending from Novak Lješević
*Jovićević, descending from Jović Vuković
*Pejović, descending from Pejo Vuković
*Šofranac, descending from Šako Vuković
*Ražnatović, descending from Ražnat Vuličević
;Donjaci
*Vujanović, descending from Vujan Bajović
**Vujanović
**Kovač
**Marković
**Mašanović
**Petričević
*Strugar, descending from Mijat Bajović
**Mihailović
**Pavićević
**Ćiraković
**Petrović
**Nikolić
**Todorović
**Dragićević
*Vukmirović, descending from Vukmir Grujičić
**Vukmirović
**Kraljević
**Dragojević
*Lopičić, descending from Boriša Grujičić
;Bokovljani
*Mudreša and Maretić, in Bokovo: hailing from Spuž, ''slava'' of ''Spasovdan'' (earlier ''Đurđic''; ''Sv. Stefan'')
*Radivojević, divided into Borozan and Lompar families, in Bokovo: descending from Radivoje from Crmnica, ''slava'' of ''Spasovdan'' (earlier ''Đurđic'')
*Bušković, in Vranjina: descending from Bojović family from Nikšić
;Later immigrants
*Ulić, divided into Đikanović and Vuksanović families, in Gornji Ulići: descending from Mrke from Piperi, ''slava'' of ''Aranđelovdan'' (earlier ''Petrovdan'')
*Gazivoda: descending from Drugović family from
Njeguši
Njeguši ( cnr, Његуши) is a village in the Cetinje Municipality of southern Montenegro, located on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, within the Lovćen national park. It is part of the territory of Njeguši tribe.
Demographics
According to th ...
, ''slava'' of ''Nikoljdan''
*Pavišić, in Rijeka Crnojevića: descending from Paviša Gvozdenović from Ćeklići, ''slava'' of ''Đurđevdan'' (earlier ''Ilindan'')
*Cijanović, in Rijeka Crnojevića: settled from Žabljak in ca. 1750.
*Various smaller clans, settled since the 18th century mostly in conquered territory.
There are also many families in other tribes that emigrated from Ceklin.
Notable people
*
Kenjo Janković
Kenjo Stankov Janković (Serbian cyrillic: Кењо Станков Јанковић; 1797 in Ceklin – 12 May 1861 in Ceklin) was a Montenegrin warrior and military leader. Janković is most notable for leading a small band of Montenegrin rebels ...
, Montenegrin rebel and military leader
*
Srđan Lopičić
Srđan Lopičić (born 20 November 1983) is a Montenegrin former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is currently an assistant manager in Borneo.
Club career
Lopičić played for several clubs in his native Mon ...
, Montenegrin footballer
*
Filip Vujanović
Filip Vujanović (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Филип Вујановић, ; born 1 September 1954) is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Montenegro from 2003 to 2018.
Early life and career
Born and raised in Belgrade, Vujanov ...
, Montenegrin president
*
Andrija Lompar
Andrija Lompar (Serbian Cyrillic: Андрија Ломпар; born 26 November 1956 in Cetinje, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, SR Montenegro, Yugoslavia) is a Montenegrins (citizens), Montenegrin politician and the former Minister of Maritime ...
, Montenegrin politician
*
Branko Kostić, Montenegin Serb politician
*
Vlado Strugar, Serbian historian and academic
*
Pavle Strugar, Montenegrin general charged for war crimes
*
Ivan Strugar, Montenegrin kickboxer
*
Veljko Ražnatović
Veljko Ražnatović (; 1920–1986) was a Colonel in the Yugoslav Air Force.Milikić, Miloš Mido. ''Za naše nebo — Monografija prve klase letača Vazduhoplovnog učilišta 1945-1947''. Belgrade 1995.
He is perhaps most remembered as the father ...
, a Colonel in the Yugoslav Air Force
*
Željko Ražnatović
Željko Ražnatović (, ; 17 April 1952 – 15 January 2000), better known as Arkan (), was a Serbian mobster, politician, sports administrator, paramilitary commander and head of the Serb paramilitary force called the Serb Volunteer Guard du ...
Arkan, Serbian paramilitary leader and criminal
*
Radovan Jovićević
Radovan Jovićević ( sr-Cyrl, Радован Јовићевић) is a Serbian pop-rock/ folk music composer, producer and band leader. Born in Belgrade on 31 January 1956, he has lived in New York City since 1999.
Balkan Years
Radovan’s career ...
, Serbian pop rock\folk music composer
*
Joanikije Lipovac
Metropolitan Joanikije Lipovac (16 February 1890 – 18 June 1945) was the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral. He was executed by the Communist-led Yugoslav Partisans for his collaboration with occupying Axis powers duri ...
, Metropolitan of Montenegro
*
Ranko Borozan
Ranko Borozan (25 July 1933 – 2 April 2020) was a Yugoslav footballer.
Club career
Born in Mostar, he played as a defender in the Yugoslav First League for FK Velež Mostar, FK Partizan, Red Star Belgrade and OFK Belgrade during the 1950s. He ...
, Yugoslav footballer
*
Marko Baša, Montenegrin footballer
*
Miloš Karadaglić, Montenegrin classical guitarist
*
Petar Mudreša
Petar Mudreša (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар Мудреша; born 1 January 1985) is a Serbian footballer who currently plays for Icelandic third-tier side Höttur/Huginn.
Club career
Despite never having played in the Serbian SuperLiga, he pla ...
, Serbian footballer
*
Aleksandar Šofranac, Montenegrin football player
*
Marko Mašanović, Montenegrin revolutionary
*
Petar Strugar
Petar "Pero" Strugar ( sr, Петар "Перо" Стругар; born 23 May 1988) is a Serbian actor and presenter.
Personal life
Strugar is a close friend to fellow actor and ''Montevideo, God Bless You!
''Montevideo, God Bless You!'' ( sr, М ...
, Montenegrin and Serbian actor and presenter
*
Milo Lompar
Milo Lompar (; born 19 April 1962) is a Serbian literary historian, professor at the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, writer, president of the Miloš Crnjanski Endowment and former director general of Politika.
Biography
Lompar wa ...
, Montenegrin and Serbian, literary historian
Annotations
References
Sources
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{{Geographical regions of Montenegro
Cetinje Municipality
Tribes of Montenegro