Gjergj Elez Alia or Đerzelez Alija is a legendary character found in the epic poetry and literature of

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

, Gora,

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

and northern

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

. The legendary character is believed to have been a popular

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

epic hero of the

Bosnian Krajina Bosanska Krajina ( sr-Cyrl, Босанска Крајина, , ) is a geographical region, a subregion of Bosnia, in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is enclosed by several rivers, namely the Sava (north), Glina (northwest), Vrbanja and Vrba ...

(frontier region) from the end of the 15th century. He is one of the well known legendary heroes and a symbol of brotherly loyalty to both the Bosniaks and Albanians.

Name

The name of the legendary character is spelled in , in Bosnian ''Đerzelez Alija, Đerđelez Alija or Djerdjelez Alija'', in , in sh-Cyrl-Latn, Ђерзелез Алија, Đerzelez Alija, in . The name ''Gürz'' is derived from the Turkish word ''gürzi'' ( mace) and means warrior with the mace. The name ''Gjergj'' is the Albanian rendering of ''George'', which is pronounced by Bosniaks the same way as in Albanian, but spelled as ''Đerđ/Djerdj'' in Bosnian. The name ''Gjergjelez'' have been explained as a compound of ''Gjergj'' and ''Elez'', the latter corresponding to the name of the prophet ''Iliaz'' (

Elias Elias ( ; ) is the hellenized version for the name of Elijah (; ; , or ), a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century BC, mentioned in several holy books. Due to Elias' role in the scriptures and to many later associated tradit ...

). The tripartite-compound names such as the case of ''Gjergj Elez Alia'' are typically found in northern

Albanian tribes The Albanian tribes () form a historical mode of social organization (''farefisní'') in Albania and the southwestern Balkans characterized by a common culture, often common patrilineal kinship ties and shared social ties. The ''fis'' ( sq-defi ...

as well as in some southern Albanian mountain peoples. The third part of the compound name, ''

Ali Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib an ...

'', is an

Ottoman Turkish Ottoman Turkish (, ; ) was the standardized register of the Turkish language in the Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries CE). It borrowed extensively, in all aspects, from Arabic and Persian. It was written in the Ottoman Turkish alphabet. ...

name of

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

origin, meaning "high, noble", which is used to highlight a peculiar trait of this legendary character.

Historical background

It is believed that epic figure of Đerzelez Alija was inspired by

Ali Bey Mihaloglu Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib and ...

or Gürz Ilyas, an Ottoman military commander in 15th century and the first

sanjakbey ''Sanjak-bey'', ''sanjaq-bey'' or ''-beg'' () was the title given in the Ottoman Empire to a bey (a high-ranking officer, but usually not a pasha) appointed to the military and administrative command of a district (''sanjak'', in Arabic '' liwa’' ...

of the

Sanjak of Smederevo The Sanjak of Smederevo (, ), also known in historiography as the Pashalik of Belgrade (, ), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman administrative unit (sanjak) centered on Smederevo, that existed between the 15th and the outset of the 19th centuries. It ...

. According to Ottoman census of 1485 he was in charge for

nahiya A nāḥiyah ( , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiyeh, nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of villages or sometimes smaller towns. In Tajikistan, it is a second-level divisi ...

of Dobrun near

Višegrad Višegrad ( sr-cyrl, Вишеград, ) is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It rests at the confluence of the Drina and the Rzav (Drina), Rzav river. As of 2013, the municipality has a population of 10,668 in ...

as his ''

timar A timar was a land grant by the sultans of the Ottoman Empire between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, with an annual tax revenue of less than 20,000 akçes. The revenues produced from the land acted as compensation for military service. A ...

'' (land grant). There is a '' turbe'' (mausoleum) in the village of Gerzovo (near

Mrkonjić Grad Mrkonjić Grad ( sr-cyrl, Мркоњић Град, ) is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Bosanska Krajina region, between Banja Luka and Jajce. As of 2013, the municipality has a populatio ...

) which according to legend is his burial place. The first written record of the epic figure of Đerzelez (in the form of "Ali-beg") was a form of South Slavic ''

bugarštica Bugarštica ( or ), originally known as Bugaršćica, is a form of epic and ballad oral poetry, which was popular among South Slavs mainly in Dalmatia and Bay of Kotor from 15th until the 18th century, sung in long verses of mostly fifteen and six ...

'' (long form epic and ballad poem), ''The Marriage of

Vuk the Dragon-Despot VUK or Vuk may refer to: *Vuk (name), South Slavic given name ** Vuk, Ban of Bosnia (), a member of the Kotromanić dynasty ** Vuk Karadžić (1787–1864), Serbian language reformer and folklorist, often referred to simply as Vuk * ''Vuk'' (film) ...

'', recorded by Đuro Matei at the end of 17th or beginning of 18th century. In songs recorded in the

Erlangen Manuscript Erlangen Manuscript () is a Serbian Cyrillic manuscript dated between 1716 and 1733 that contains one of the earliest written collections (217 songs) of epic poetry written in the Serbian language. The unnamed author wrote the manuscript for the Aus ...

, Đerzelez is mentioned in the form of "Turk elder Balibeg". The legendary character is believed to have been a popular Muslim epic hero of the

(frontier region) from the end of 15th century. The myth of Gjergj Elez Ali / Đerzelez Alija has its roots in the origins of common beliefs and a set of interests linked to the preservation of the lineage. This was accomplished by the Bosniaks through religion, and by the Albanians through language. He is one of the well known legendary heroes and a symbol of brotherly loyalty to both the Bosniaks and Albanians.

In Bosniak tradition

According to Rašid Durić, Ottoman historian and chronicler Ibn Kemal (1468–1534) wrote about the popularity of in folk songs in Bosnia. Đerzelez Alija was most popular in the

(Frontier) region, where he, as opposed to Albanian tradition, is mostly seen as a Muslim fighting against Christians. Many stories of him fighting Christians or mythological beings exist. The most prominent ones where he fights important Christian figures are "Gjerzelez Alija i Car od Stambola" ''(Gjerzelez Alija and the Tsar from Istanbul)'' where a duel between Đerzelez and

John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (; ; ; ; ; – 11 August 1456) was a leading Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian military and political figure during the 15th century, who served as Regent of Hungary, regent of the Kingdom of Hungary (1301–1526), Kingdom of Hungary ...

, known as "Sibinjanin Janko" in South Slavic epic poetry, occurs. There are instances of Đerzelez being portrayed as a dragon, the Dragon in South Slavic mythology is usually considered to be benevolent. Some of the poems which include the name of Đerzelez in their titles are: , width="50%" align="left" valign="top" style="border:0", * Đerđelez Alija, the Emperor's Champion * Đerđelez Alija i Vuk Despotović * Marko Kraljević i Đerzelez Alija (Marko Kralyević and Djerzelez Aliya) * Banović Sekul i Đerđelez Alija * Oblačić Rade i Đerđelez Alija * Đerđelez Alija i Starina Novak * Đerđelez Alija deli mejdan sa Sibinjanin Jankom * Ženidba Đerđelez Alije * Sedam kralja traže glavu Đerđelez Alije * Junaštvo Đerđelez Alije , width="50%" align="left" valign="top" style="border:0", * Đerđelez Alija i tri gorska hajduka * Vuk Jajčanin i Đerđelez Alija * Komlen kapetan traži glavu Đerđelez Alije * Đerđelez Alija i ban od Karlova * Zadarski ban i Đerđelez Alija * Smrt Đerđelez Alije * Đerđelez Alija ide u Toku * Tokalija kralj traži glavu Đerđelez Alije * Đerzelezovo bolovanje * Otkud je Đerđelez Đerzelez is one of the main characters of many other poems without his name in their title, like: * Porča of Avala and Vuk the Fiery Dragon * The Marriage of Vuk the Dragon-Despot According to the legend, Đerzelez also has an epic horse (sometimes called Šarac, as the horse of

Prince Marko Marko Mrnjavčević ( sr-Cyrl, Марко Мрњавчевић, ; – 17 May 1395) was the ''de jure'' Serbia in the Middle Ages, Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while he was the ''de facto'' ruler of territory in western Macedonia (region) ...

) and he is a good friend of

fairies A fairy (also called fay, fae, fae folk, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, generally described as anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic, found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Cel ...

who help him when he is in danger. Legend says that he was killed during his prayer (

salat ''Salah'' (, also spelled ''salat'') is the practice of formal ibadah, worship in Islam, consisting of a series of ritual prayers performed at prescribed times daily. These prayers, which consist of units known as rak'a, ''rak'ah'', include ...

) because he did not want to interrupt it despite being aware that he would be killed. Another legend mentions Đerzelez and

as being bloodbrothers, and Marko considering Đerzelez to be a fierce warrior equal to him. One of many similarities between the

epic poetry In poetry, an epic is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants. With regard t ...

of the

Bosniaks The Bosniaks (, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia (region), Bosnia, today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who sha ...

and

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...

In Albanian tradition

Albanian folklore Albanian folklore is the folk tradition of the Albanian people. Albanian traditions have been orally transmitted – through memory systems that have survived intact into modern times – down the generations and are still very much alive in the mo ...

, Gjergj Elez Alia is regarded as a great warrior and his legend is one of the most popular. A song of ''Gjergj Elez Alia'' was recorded by

Bernardin Palaj Bernardin Palaj (20 October 1894 — 8 December 1947) was an Albanian Franciscan friar, folklorist and poet. Life Born as Zef Palaj in Shkodër, to Gjon and Marta Dedaj, originally from the mountains of Shllak. Bernardin Palaj went to Francisca ...

and Donat Kurti in

Nikaj The Nikaj are an historical Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in the Highlands of Gjakova of north Albania. The Nikaj tribe is a traditional ''fis'' in the sense of being a community that claims paternal descent from one common ancestor, consis ...

(

Tropojë District Tropojë District (, ''pronunciation'': /tropɔɪə/) was one of the 36 districts of Albania, which were dissolved in July 2000 and replaced by 12 newly created counties. It had a population of 28,154 in 2001, and an area of . It was in the north ...

) and published in Tirana in 1937. The song is usually sung accompanied by the ''lahuta'' (

gusle The gusle () or lahuta (; related to English ''lute'') is a bowed single- stringed musical instrument (and musical style) traditionally used in the Dinarides region of Southeastern Europe (in the Balkans). The instrument is always accompanie ...

), or occasionally with ''

çifteli The çifteli (also çiftelia, qifteli, Albanian for "doubled" or "double stringed") is a plucked string instrument, with only two strings, played mainly by the Albanians of northern and central Albania, southern Montenegro and parts of North Mace ...

'', by the ''rapsod'' (performer of epic poetry). The song of ''Gjergj Elez Alia'' is part of the heroic non-historical cycle of Albanian epic poetry, the ''

Kângë Kreshnikësh The ''Kângë Kreshnikësh'' ("''Songs of Heroes''") are the traditional songs of the heroic legendary cycle of Albanian epic poetry ( or ''Eposi i Kreshnikëve''). They are the product of Albanian culture and folklore orally transmitted down th ...

'' ("Songs of Heroes"), however it is not related to the epic cycle of the pair of heroic brothers Muji and Halili.

Legacy

Ivo Andrić Ivo Andrić ( sr-Cyrl, Иво Андрић, ; born Ivan Andrić; 9 October 1892 – 13 March 1975) was a Yugoslav novelist, poet and short story writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961 Nobel Prize in Literature, 1961. His writ ...

, the 1961 winner of the

Nobel Prize in Literature The Nobel Prize in Literature, here meaning ''for'' Literature (), is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, "in ...

, wrote ''Put Alije Đerzeleza'' (), published in 1920, after two fragments (''Djerzelez at the Inn'' and ''Djerzelez on the Road'') were published in 1918 and 1919. In Sarajevo, there is "The House of Alija Đerzelez," one of the oldest houses in the city, located on the Street of Alija Đerzelez. The Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared it a

national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina The National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina include: *sites, places, immovable and movable heritage of historical and cultural importance, as designated by the Commission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis o ...

in 2005 due to its architectural significance as a residential complex. There are streets in several towns in

(

Bihać Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated on the banks of river Una (Sava), Una in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, in th ...

, Gračanica,

Zenica Zenica ( ; ) is a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and an administrative and economic center of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Zenica-Doboj Canton. It is located in the Bosna (river), Bosna river valley, about north of Sarajevo. The ...

, etc.) named after him.

References

Sources

* * * * *