Shoqnia e Bashkimit të Gjuhës Shqipe (Society for the Unity of the Albanian Language), usually known as the Shoqnia Bashkimi ( The Union Society) , or simply Bashkimi i Shkodrës (The Union of Shkodra) was a literary society founded in Shkodra , Ottoman Empire (today's Albania ) in 1899. The Bashkimi society was the union of three previously independent societies: Shpresa, Drita and Dituria. Drita , a journal was the official publication of the Bashkimi Society.
40-523: Its founder and leader was Dom Preng Doçi , Abbot of Mirdita . Other Catholic clerics who joined were Jak Serreqi, Lazër Mjeda , Ndoc Nikaj , Gjergj Fishta , Ndre Mjeda , Pashk Bardhi, Mark Shllaku, Dodë Koleci. The only non-cleric, Albanian politician Luigj Gurakuqi , joined later. Since Albanian-language groups were forbidden by the Ottoman authorities, it opened as a "religious society". Its starting objectives were: One of its main contributions
80-410: A Syracusan foundation. Except Diodorus' account there is nothing to connect Lissos with Syracuse, and according to Pierre Cabanes 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
120-638: A leader based in Leskovik of the Bashkimi Society and convinced him that Albanian support was needed for the CUP. The leader agreed to inform the headquarters at Bucharest and promised to defend an alliance of the CUP, Bashkimi Society, and additional Albanians. During the Young Turk revolution (1908), the CUP in its aims of securing Albanian support for its cause managed to reach an understanding with
160-725: A main candidate during the sessions of the Congress of Monastir , 1908, where the Albanian alphabet was unified. The Bashkimi alphabet was rejected in favor of the Istanbul alphabet ( Albanian : Alfabeti i Stambollit ) by majority vote. However, due to lack of unanimity, the Congress was unable to choose only one alphabet and opted for a compromise solution of using both the Istanbul and Bashkimi alphabets with some changes to reduce
200-410: A missionary until 1881. To Doçi goes the honor, as far as it can be ascertained, of being the first known Albanian resident of North America . After his return to Rome, he was sent to India as secretary of the apostolic delegate to India, Cardinal Antonio Agliardi . In 1888, after years of petitioning and with the intercession of the patriarch of Constantinople , Doçi finally received permission from
240-607: 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
280-520: A strategy by Dionysius to secure Syracusan trade routes along the Adriatic . Diodorus calls it a polis . It has been suggested that the Syracusan 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
320-616: 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 sound changes. In Turkish , the town is known as Leş or Eşim and in Italian as Alessio . Lezhë is also known as Alise , Alexiensis , Eschenderari , or Mrtav . From
360-730: Is functional but not frequently. The main highway in Lezhe is SH 1 , connecting it with Shkodër to the north and the Durrës-Kukës Highway (A1, intersection at Milot ) to the south. The SH32 connects Lezhe with Shëngjin on the coast. The population of the municipality of Lezhë as of the 2023 census is 51,354, of which 14,687in the city proper. The association football club is KS Besëlidhja Lezhë . Although primarily concerned with football and basketball , KS Besëlidhja also participates in sports such as wrestling and beach volleyball . From 2004 an excavation started around
400-579: 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 (western Peloponnese ), 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
440-782: The Albanian princes in the fight against the Ottoman Empire . Skanderbeg was buried in the cathedral of Lezhë which was dedicated to Saint Nicholas and later used as Selimie Mosque . 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. Lezhë Municipality lies within Lezhë County as part of
SECTION 10
#1732772815330480-456: 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
520-744: The Northern Region of Albania and consists of the adjacent administrative units of Balldren , Blinisht , Dajç , Kallmet , Kolsh , Shëngjin , Shënkoll , Ungrej , 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
560-715: The Propaganda Fide College , where he met and became a close friend of Prenk Bibë Doda . In 1871, he returned to Mirdita region in Albania, where he served as a priest in Korthpulë , Orosh , and, Kalivarja near Spaç . He was among the leaders of the Mirdita uprising against Ottoman rule in 1876–1877 under Prenk Bibë Doda. Doçi had previously traveled to Cetinje , capital of Principality of Montenegro , in order to seek financial and military assistance by
600-699: 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 , 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
640-530: 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 tribe (the "Illyrians proper"; Ancient Greek : Ἰλλυριοί , Illyrioi ; Latin : Illyrii or Illyrii propriae dicti ). Diodorus ("Library", 15.1, c. 1st century BC) mentions that Dionysius of Syracuse founded a "city called Lissos " in the year 385 BC, as part of
680-564: The Bucharest-based Bashkimi Society. In the course of the revolution a pro-government gathering held at Firzovik (modern Ferizaj) turned into a meeting calling for constitutional restoration and Ottoman authorities felt dismayed when they found out that some Albanians in the crowd were reading the Drita journal of the Bashkimi Society. Preng Do%C3%A7i Preng Doçi (1846–1917), Italian : Primus Docci ,
720-508: 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
760-631: The Montenegrins. He returned from Cetinje with a pledge of Montenegrin assistance and, equally important, a promise of noninterference. The rebellion was quelled by the Ottomans in March 1877. The bishop of Lezhë, Francesco Malčinski, an Austrian of Ukrainian origin suspended him from all religious activities. Doçi hid in Vuthaj , near Gusinje . Later Doçi was captured and exiled to Istanbul . With
800-936: The Ottoman Empire. In 1889, he founded an Albanian school in Orosh (Grykë Orosh - Orosh Gorge ), one of the earliest. In 1899, Doçi founded the Shoqnia e bashkimit të gjuhës shqipe ( Society for the Unity of the Albanian Language ) literary society, usually known as the Shoqnia Bashkimi (The Union Society), or simply Bashkimi (The Union) of Shkodra for publishing Albanian language books. Together with him there were Dom Ndoc Nikaj , Luigj Gurakuqi , Dom Gjergj Fishta , Dom Dodë Koleci, Father Pashk Bardhi, Dom Lazër Mjeda, etc. The society came out with
840-729: The Ottoman authorities to return to Albania. He arrived on 6 November 1888 and became abbot of Mirdita. In January of the following year, he was consecrated head of the Abbey nullius of St. Alexander of Orosh, Mirdita . In 1890 and later in 1894, several other regions of Lezhë and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë would be joined under his Abbey's jurisdiction. Doçi died on 22 February 1917. Doçi did not cease his political efforts. He advocated for close relations between Albanians and Austria-Hungary to advance Albanian geopolitical self determination however his political thinking
SECTION 20
#1732772815330880-568: The city was part of the province of Epirus Nova , 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
920-477: The differences between them. Usage of the alphabet of Istanbul declined rapidly and it became extinct over the following years and Albania declared its independence. Within a few years from its creation, the society published many works, the most important of which was the New Albanian Dictionary ( Albanian : Fjaluer i Ri i Shqypes ) of 1908. The dictionary included 13,482 words. It remained
960-595: The early Mycenaean period (1600-1450 BC) a free exchange pattern is confirmed with the centres of Mycenaean Greece 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
1000-749: The efforts of Nikolla Naço, the director of Drita , there were also relations by the Bashkimi society with an Aromanian (Kutzo Vlach) organisation that was fighting in Macedonia against the Greeks. In 1902 a Congress of Ottoman Opposition of Ottoman dissidents was held in Paris. As the Bashkimi Society headquarters were in Bucharest, the Young Turks (CUP) requested Ibrahim Temo's assistance in inviting
1040-602: The foundation of Bashkimi Society, he published many works, many of them anonymously. Gjergj Fishta mentioned during his speech at the Doçi's funeral that Doçi had created 32 literary works. Lezha Lezhë ( Albanian: [ˈlɛʒə] , Albanian definite form : Lezha ) is a city in the Republic of Albania and seat of Lezhë County and Lezhë Municipality. It is one of Albania's continuously inhabited cities , with roughly 2,400 years of recorded history . One of
1080-600: The hands of Turks during the siege of Shkodra , except for a short period (1501–1506) when it returned to Venetian domination. 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
1120-592: The intervention of Armenian Patriarch Stefan Azarian, he received a fake name Pére Achile and was sent to Rome with the condition of not returning to Albania. After staying few months in Antivari , with the intervention of Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni of the Propaganda Fide, Doçi was sent to the west coast of the Americas, Newsfoundland , Wayne , Pennsylvania , and New Brunswick , where he worked as
1160-515: 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 becoming the Macedonian outlet to the Adriatic Sea . The city was later recovered by the Illyrians. It
1200-621: The most detailed Albanian dictionary until 1954, when the Albanian Institute of Science (a precursor of the Academy of Sciences of Albania ) came out with its first standard dictionary, the "Dictionary of the Science Institute" ( Fjalori i Institutit të Shkencave ). The Bashkimi society was not a revolutionary committee, yet it did have connections with newly formed Albanian bands operating in Albania and Macedonia. Due to
1240-400: The organisation to the congress and through a telegram wanted to know from him in a quick response if they would participate. No response exists and overall Albanians from the organisation did not participate the CUP congress. The Young Turks contacted moderate factions of organisations that wanted Albanian cultural rights recognised by the Ottomans. Negotiations were undertaken by the CUP with
Society for the Unity of the Albanian Language - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-486: 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 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 (Illyrian light ships), even those had to be unarmed. But when Rome
1320-686: The so-called ''Bashkimi'' alphabet , which would become one of the three alphabets considered for the standard Albanian alphabet during the Congress of Monastir in 1908. Doçi supported the use of the Bashkimi alphabet and promoted its spread in Catholic Albanian schools. He contributed to the Fiamuri Arbërit (Flag of Albanians) newspaper of the Arbëreshë scholar Girolamo De Rada . He signed his articles as "Primo Docci", or "Një djalë prej Shqypnije" (A guy from Albania). After
1360-581: The west. It covers 509.1 km . As of the Köppen climate classification , Lezhë falls under the periphery of the hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) zone with an average annual temperature of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F). 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 . It
1400-676: Was an Albanian political and religious figure and poet. He was a main contributor in the Albanian Bashkimi Alphabet. Preng Doçi was born in Paraspor neighborhood of Bulgër, a village near Lezha , back then Ottoman Empire , and today's Rubik , Mirditë municipality on 25 February 1846. He finished the high school in Shkodër and in 1859 entered the recently opened Albanian Pontifical Seminary ( Albanian : Kolegjia Papnore Shqyptare ). Later he studied in Rome , in
1440-697: Was engaged in a war against the Celtic peoples of the Po Valley 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
1480-457: 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,
1520-422: Was mainly toward Albanian Catholic interests and regional concerns. In 1897 he traveled to Vienna to propose the creation of an autonomous Catholic principality in northern Albania under Mirdita leadership and would politically dominate within a wider confederation of Albanian statelets. Austria-Hungary supported his proposal however found its implementation would be unfeasible and opposed by Muslim Albanians and
1560-430: Was subjected to Rome after the Roman-Illyrian wars and the fall of Gentius ' realm. Lezhë was the site of the League of Lezhë where Skanderbeg united the Albanian lords in the fight against the Ottoman Empire . The city is mentioned in ancient sources as Lissós ( Ancient Greek : Λισσός) and Lissus ( Latin : Lissus , Lissum ). It is also attested in numismatic material. The ethnicon ΛΙΣΣΙΤΑΝ Lissitan
1600-406: Was the so-called Bashkimi alphabet , a latin script -based alphabet without diacritic letters . Due to differences of opinion on the future alphabet, brothers Lazër and Ndre Mjeda left the group to initiate their own society, called Agimi ("The dawn"), in 1901. The Bashkimi alphabet was discussed and approved in a conference of Catholic bishops held in Shkodra in 1902, and was presented as
#329670