Dushmani (tribe)

The clan of Dushmani was one of the northern Albanian tribes, living in North Albania up to 20th century.[1] Edith Durham the person who visited them in the beginning of 20th century described them as one of the most wilder tribes among Albanians.[2]

Dushmani
Albanians bayraks as of 1918, Dushmani covers section 61.
Current region	North Albania

Origins

The term Dushmani may have been recorded in the sixth century by the early Byzantine geographer and scholar Procopius of Caesarea (ca. 500– ca. 565) as Dousmanes who uses this name to refer to a Thracian-Illyrian castle restored by the Emperor Justinian. It occurs with more certainty a millennium later in a Turkish document as Düşman in 1581, and as Dusimani on the maps of the Venetian cartographer Francesco Maria Coronelli in 1688 and 1691. One is reminded of the Turkish oriental term dushman ‘enemy, foe’, but there does not seem to be any etymological relationship to the Turkish here. Dushmani also occurs as a family name. Edith Durham records a document from 1403 which mentions ‘Goranimus, Damianus and Nenada, brothers Dusmani, Lords of Polati Minor’ who offered themselves as subjects of Venice and swore fidelity on condition that Republic of Venice guarantee them possession of their lands.[3][4][5]

Ethnography

According to Durham, Dushmani consisted in two groups, Dushmani and Temali. They were part of the district of Postripa which consisted of Mazreku, Drishti, Shlaku, and Dushmani. Ecclesiastically the tribe was wholly Christian they were included in the diocese of Pulati. Their name derived from Pal Dushmani, a 15th century Albanian lord and member of the Dushmani family. In the beginning of 20th century the group of Dushmani consisted in 160 houses.

Traditions and customs

The social life of Dushmani was organized following strictly the Code of Lekë Dukagjini. According to Durham "Dushmani believes in Lek Dukaghin as the One-that-must-be-obeyed, and that he ordered blood-vengeance. The teaching of Christ, the laws of the Church, fall on deaf ears when the law of Lek runs counter to them..". The blood vengeance was widespread among Dushmani. At the time of Edith Durham's visit, around forty houses were in blood within the tribe only, while for external bloods, they were countless.

The men of the tribe had the custom of tattooing a tiny cross upon the breast or upper arm, in case that if being found dead in a strange place, they would be certain of Christian burial.

Pagan beliefs were still active and many of the grave-slabs in Dushmani churchyard were rudely scored with mysterious patterns in which the sun and crescent moon almost invariably occurred.[6]

Dialect

The peculiarities of Dushmani dialect were analyzed by linguist Waclaw Cimochowski, in his work "Le dialecte de Dushmani" (Poznan 1951).[7]

References

1. Robert Elsie (19 March 2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
2. High Albania Virago/Beacon travelers Volume 768 of Beacon paperback Author Edith Durham Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher Beacon Press, 1987 ISBN 0-8070-7035-1, ISBN 978-0-8070-7035-2 p.164
3. Robert, Elsie. The Tribes of Albania: History, Society and Culture. p. 167. ISBN 978 1 78453 401 1.
4. "Mr. Frederic Durham". BMJ. 2 (3528): 325–325. 1928-08-18. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.3528.325. ISSN 0959-8138.
5. "Nopcsa von Felsőszilvás, Franz Frh". dx.doi.org. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
6. High Albania Virago/Beacon travelers Volume 768 of Beacon paperback Author Edith Durham Edition reprint, illustrated Publisher Beacon Press, 1987 ISBN 0-8070-7035-1, ISBN 978-0-8070-7035-2 p.164-165
7. Le dialecte de Dushmani: description de l'un des parlers de l'Albanie du nord Volume 14, Issue 1 of Prace, Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciółl Nauk Komisja Filologiczna Prace Komisji Filologicznej Volume 14 of Prace Komisji Filologicznej - Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk Author Wacław Cimochowski Publisher Nakładem poznańskiego towarzystwa pszyjaciół nauk z zasiłkiem ministerstwa szkół wyższych i nauki, 1951