city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
in the Republic of Albania and seat of Lezhë County and Lezhë Municipality.
One of the main strongholds of the Labeatai, the earliest of the fortification walls of Lezhë are of typical Illyrian construction and are dated to the late 4th century BC. Lezhë was one of the main centres of the Illyrian kingdom. During the conflicts with Macedon, it was captured by
Philip V Philip V may refer to:
* Philip V of Macedon (221–179 BC)
* Philip V of France (1293–1322)
* Philip II of Spain
Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September ...
The city is mentioned in ancient sources as ''Lissós'' ( Ancient Greek: Λισσός) and ''Lissus'' ( Latin: ''Lissus'', ''Lissum''). It is also attested in
numismatic
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals and related objects.
Specialists, known as numismatists, are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, but the discipline also includ ...
material. The ''ethnicon'' ΛΙΣΣΙΤΑΝ /LISSITAN/ is found on coin inscriptions of the Hellenistic era. It is considered a Greek toponym, deriving from the Greek λισσός /lissós/, meaning 'smooth, smooth rock, gruff'.
The ancient name ''Lissus'' evolved into its modern form ''Lezhë'' (archaic: ''Lesh'') through
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 ...
sound changes. In
Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and mi ...
, the town is known as ''Leş'' or ''Eşim'' and in Italian as ''Alessio''. Lezhë is also known as ''Alise'', ''Alexiensis'', ''Eschenderari'', or ''Mrtav''.
History
Early history
From the early Mycenaean period (1600-1450 BC) a free exchange pattern is confirmed with the centres of
Mycenaean Greece
Mycenaean Greece (or the Mycenaean civilization) was the last phase of the Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in ...
as seen by various swords (C and D type) unearthed in Lezhë. The earliest human constructions have an Illyrian character and appear on the site from the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The settlement with its fortifications was built on a 413-metre-high mountain, the ''Mal i Shëlbuemit'', from at least the 8th century BC, and was located near the mouth of the Drin river.;
In antiquity the area was described as the territory of the
Illyrii
The Illyrians ( grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii) were a group of Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan populations, a ...
tribe (the "Illyrians proper"; grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii or ''Illyrii propriae dicti'').
Diodorus ("Library", 15.1, 1st century BC) mentions that Dionysius of Syracuse founded a "city called ''Lissos''" in the year 385 BC, as part of a strategy by Dionysius to secure Syracusan trade routes along the
Adriatic
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) ...
colony mentioned by Diodorus was in fact more likely established at Issa near the island of Pharos, not at Lissus (modern Lezhë) which was too distant for the events described by the ancient historian. Meanwhile, Issa is known from other evidence to be a Syracusan foundation. Pierre Cabanes notes that there is nothing to connect Lissos with Syracuse except Diodorus' account, and even if Diodorus' account is accepted as accurate, it is very likely that this colony had a short life.
The earliest of the fortification walls of the proto-urban settlement are of typical Illyrian construction and are dated to the late 4th century BC. The transition from the Iron Age fortification of Acrolissus (on the 413 m ''Shëlbuem'' mountain) to the proper Illyrian city of Lissus was continuous. The city was built on a lower hill (172 m) near the Iron Age fortification. It was surrounded by ramparts that faced the low valley of the Drin river and the sea coast. Its function was to guard the route inland, to ensure defense against possible attacks from the sea, and to furnish a secure anchorage for the Illyrian ships.
By the 3rd century BC, Lissus was one of the main cities of the Illyrian kingdom under the
Ardiaean
The Ardiaei were an Illyrian people who resided in the territory of present-day Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia between the Adriatic coast on the south, Konjic on the north, along the Neretva river and its right ...
and Labeatan dynasties. In the 228 BC peace treaty with Rome, the Illyrian queen Teuta promised not to sail south of Lissus at the mouth of the Drin river with more than two ''
lembi
The lemb, ''lembus'' or ''lembos'' ( grc, λέμβος, ''lembos''; la, lembus) was an ancient wide term covering a range of small ships, which were used for different purposes, both civilian and military.
It was small and light, with a low free ...
'' (Illyrian light ships), even those had to be unarmed. But when Rome was engaged in a war against the
Celtic
Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to:
Language and ethnicity
*pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia
**Celts (modern)
*Celtic languages
**Proto-Celtic language
* Celtic music
*Celtic nations
Sports Fo ...
peoples of the
Po Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain ( it, Pianura Padana , or ''Val Padana'') is a major geographical feature of Northern Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of including its Venetic ex ...
in northern Italy about the years 225–222 BC, Illyrian commander Demetrius detached the Atintani tribe from their alliance with Rome. Moreover, he sailed south of Lissus and engaged in piracy in violation of the 228 BC peace treaty. In the summer of 221 BC, tensions in Greece increased as Macedonia allied with the Achaean League against the Aetolian League, and the Illyrians attacked in their typical manner. Demetrius and Scerdilaidas sailed with 90 ''lembi'' south of Lissus. When they failed an assault on
Pylos
Pylos (, ; el, Πύλος), historically also known as Navarino, is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is th ...
(western
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
), they separated their fleets and Scerdilaidas returned north with 40 ships, while Demetrius plundered the Cyclades with 50 ships.
In Roman times Lissus was located in a territory inhabited by the Labeatae, however ancient sources never relate it with this tribe. Taking in account archaeological and historical considerations, the city of Lissus should have been founded in a Labeatan context, but perhaps by the time of Teuta's fall in the end of the 3rd century BC, on a Greek model it was organized as a '' polis'' turning away from its ethnic context. The dissociation from the ethnic to the ''polis'' coincided with Philip V of Macedon's conquest of a number of cities in Illyria. In 211 BC, Philip V captured Acrolissus, the citadel of
Lissus Lissus or Lissos ( el, Λίσσος) could be:
* Lissus (Crete), an ancient Greek city in Crete
* Lissos (Illyria), an ancient city in Illyria, the present day city of Lezhë in Albania
* Lissus, a river in Thrace
Thrace (; el, Θράκη ...
, and Lissos surrendered to him, becoming the Macedonian outlet to the Adriatic Sea. The town was later recovered by the Illyrians. It was in Lissus that Perseus of Macedon negotiated an alliance against Rome with the Illyrian king Gentius, and it was from Lissus that Gentius organized his army against the Romans. Lissus maintained a large degree of municipal autonomy under both Macedonian and Illyrian rule, as evidenced by the coins minted there. During the reign of Gentius in the first half of the 2nd century BC, Lissus minted coins for the Illyrian ruler. The city was of some importance in the Roman Civil War, being taken by Marc Antony and then remaining loyal to Caesar. In Roman times, the city was part of the province of Epirus Nova,
Middle ages
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565) the local fortress was possibly mentioned as ''Alistion'' in the Synecdemus of Hierocles. At early 590s Lissus was captured by Slavic populations. Byzantine control was re-established during the early 9th century.
Albanian lord Vladislav Jonima of the Jonima family was acknowledged by the Pope as a ruler of a territory around Lezhë in 1319. He had the title of ''Count of Dioclea and of the seaside Albania''. At the end of the 14th century, Albanian lord Dhimitër Jonima was lord of a territory between Mat and Lezhë.
In the Middle Ages, Lezha (known in Italian as Alessio) frequently changed masters until the Venetians took possession of it in 1386. It still belonged to them when Skanderbeg died, but In 1478 it fell into the hands of Turks during the siege of Shkodra, except for a short period (1501–1506) when it returned to Venetian domination.Catholic Encyclopedia, article "Alessio (Lissus, Alexiensis)" /ref> Because it was under the Venetian control, it was chosen in 1444 by Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg as a neutral place for the convention of Albanian nobles and lords of the area aiming at organizing their common defence against the Turks.
Lezha was the site of the League of Lezhë where Skanderbeg united the
Albanian princes
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 ...
in the fight against the Ottoman Empire.
Skanderbeg was buried in the cathedral of Lezhë which was dedicated to
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greeks, Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-da ...
and later used as
Selimie Mosque Selimiye may refer to:
* Selimiye Mosque (disambiguation), the name of various mosques.
* Selimiye Barracks, in Istanbul, Turkey
* Selimiye (Antalya), a village in Antalya Province, near Manavgat and Side, Turkey
* Selimiye (Marmaris), a village in ...
.
Contemporary
Today Lezhë is a growing city. Its proximity to the port of Shëngjin as well as its location on the national road between the Montenegrin border to the North and Tirana to the South makes it an attractive location for industry and business.
Majority of the people from Lezhë descend from the Zadrima,
Mirdita
Mirdita is a region of northern Albania whose territory is synonymous with the historic Albanian tribe of the same name.
Etymology
The name Mirdita derives from a legendary ancestor named Mir Diti from whom the tribe claims descent. Other ...
and Malësia/ Malësi e madhe regions of northwestern Albania. The people from Zadrima and Mirdita are native to Lezhë and the surrounding area. The Malësor clans from Malësia, such as Kelmendi, Shkreli, and Kastrati had settled Lezhë and surrounding areas around 100–300 years ago. In terms of religion, Lezha has a Catholic majority (70-80%) and a Muslim minority (30-20%).
Balldre
Balldren is a village and a former municipality in the Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Lezhë. The population at the 2011 census was 6,142.
Etymology
The name co ...
Kallmet
Kallmet is a former municipality in the Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Lezhë. The population at the 2011 census was 4,118.Kolsh, Shëngjin, Shënkoll,
Ungrej
Ungrej is a village and a former municipality in the Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Lezhë
Lezhë (, sq-definite, Lezha) is a city in the Republic of Albania ...
, Zejmen with Lezhë constituting the municipal seat. The municipality spans between the Plain of Zadrima in the north, the Pukë-Mirditë Highlands in the east, the mouth of the Mat River in the south and the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast in the west. It covers 509.1 km2.
There are urban buses throughout the city and international and national buses. Lezhe has a train station not far from the center. The line starts in Durrës and ends in
Shkodër
Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkod ...
. It is functional but not frequently.
The main highway in Lezhe is SH 1, connecting it with
Shkodër
Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkod ...
to the north and the
Durrës-Kukës Highway
The A1 ( sq, Autostrada A1 or Autostradë A1), also commonly Rruga e Kombit or SH10, is the longest and only toll motorway in Albania, stretching in the counties of Lezhë and Kukës. It consists for the most part of two traffic lanes and an e ...
(A1, intersection at Milot) to the south. The SH32 connects Lezhe with Shëngjin on the coast.
Demography
The population of the municipality of Lezhë at the 2011 census was 65,633, of which 15,510 in the city proper.
beach volleyball
Beach volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of two or more players on a sand court divided by a net. Similar to indoor volleyball, the objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's side of the ...
.
From 2004 an excavation started around the ancient Acropolis of Lissos and the Skanderbeg Memorial, which revealed Hellenistic, Roman and Early Byzantine buildings, tombs and other findings.Karl-Franzens Universitat, Lissus excavation report 2004.
Notable people
* Skanderbeg, the National Hero of Albania
* Antonio Bruti, 16th century merchant and diplomat
*
Anton Kryezezi Anton Kryezezi (c. 1710 – 1765) was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.
Life
Born in Lezhë, northern Albania around 1710 he joined the Franciscan orders and studied in the Urban College. He served as abbot in Mirditë
Mirditë ...
Jonima (Gjoni) family
The Jonima family ( sq, Gjonima) was an Albanian noble family that held a territory around Lezhë (northern Albania), as a vassal of Arbër, Serbia and Ottoman Empire, active in the 13th to 15th centuries. The Jonima, like most Albanian noble ...
noble family
* Gjergj Fishta, Catholic priest and poet
*
Ndoc Gjetja
Ndoc Gjetja (March 9, 1944 – June 7, 2010) was an Albanian poet.
He was born in Bërdicë near Shkodër in north Albania, but moved to Lezhë at a young age.
His poetry collections include ''Rrezatim'' (Radiance) of 1971, followed by ''Shqip ...
, poet
*
Henri Ndreka
Henri Ndreka (born 27 March 1983 at Lezhë) is an Albanian football defender who finished his career at Laçi.
Club career
He previously played for FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, one of 4 Albanians who played for the Ukrainian club simultaneously.
I ...
Robert Grizha
Robert Grizha (born 10 March 1982) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Club career
He played as a defender for Partizani Tirana
Futboll Klub Partizani, or FK Partizani for short, is an Albanian professio ...
, soccer player
*
Erjon Dushku
Erjon Dushku (born 25 February 1985) is an Albanian retired Association football, footballer who played in the Albanian Superliga as a central defender. He has represented Albania national under-17 football team, Albania U17, Albania national un ...
, soccer player
*
Renato Malota
Renato Malota (born 24 June 1989) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Egnatia in the Kategoria Superiore.
Club career Kukësi
On 9 August 2012, Malota completed a transfer at newly promoted Kukësi in club's fi ...
, soccer player
*
Ornel Gega
Ornel Gega (born 24 March 1990) is a retired Albanian-born Italian rugby union player. and his position was hooker.
From 2015 to 2020 he played for Benetton.
He was named in the Italian squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship. He made hi ...
, rugby union player
*
Tosol Bardhi
Tosol Bardhi (1490–1582) was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.
He was born in the area of Lezhë, modern northern Albania in 1490. His family was among the most important Albanian families of that time, and supported educatio ...