Fterrë (Albanian definite form: Fterra) is a village in the former commune of Lukovë, Vlorë County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Himarë.[1] It is located in a side valley of the Albanian Riviera, within the region of Kurvelesh and 10 km northeast of Borsh. The village is inhabited by Muslim Albanians.[2]

Fterrë
Fterrë is located in Albania
Fterrë
Fterrë
Coordinates: 40°6′51″N 19°53′36″E / 40.11417°N 19.89333°E / 40.11417; 19.89333
Country Albania
CountyVlorë
MunicipalityHimarë
Municipal unitLukovë
Area
 • Total
37 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation
225 m (738 ft)
Population
 • Total
168
 • Density4.5/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Geography

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Fterrë is located 200 to 250 m above sea level on the western slope of Mt Lajthi (1418 m). The highest peak of the village's area is that Gjeshnikoshi (1478 m) and the lowest that of Leka (315 m).[3] There are also numerous karst springs and six caves. A road from Borsh to Vlorë passes through the village.

History

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Fterrë was first mentioned in 1431, in the Sûreti defter-i sancak-i Arvanid (defter of the Albanian Sanjak). At that time, it consisted of twelve – affluent – families. In 1583, the Ottoman Defter mentioned the place as Ifteran with 24 extended families and in later years is listed with 45 extended families. During the early Ottoman era it was part of the nahiye of Sopot, while in the 16th century it was incorporated into the kaza of Kurvelesh.

In the Albanian Revolt of 1910 the çetë (military unit) from Fterrë was led by Lazo Kofina.

In 1914 the village was destroyed during the advance of army of the Kingdom of Greece. The villagers, who had fled the vicinity of Vlorë, rebuilt the village in 1916 when the Greek army retreated from Albania. In autumn 1916 the village's school was rebuilt and Selim Gjonika became its first teacher. In the Vlora War in 1920 the band of Fterra took part under the leadership of Xhafer Shehu.[4]

In World War II part of the village was destroyed by Italian artillery fire during the Greco-Italian War. In 1942 the first council of the National Liberation Movement in the village and its volunteer platoon were founded under Hiqmet Çallo. In total during World War II six volunteer soldiers from Fterrë were killed and forty houses damaged and destroyed.[4]

Demographics

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Population
Year Number of Families
1431 12
1583 24
1900 80-100
1944 116
1960 102
1980 109
1990 114
1998 61
2004 50

Notable people

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References

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Notes;

  1. ^ "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6376. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ Kallivretakis, Leonidas (1995). "Η ελληνική κοινότητα της Αλβανίας υπό το πρίσμα της ιστορικής γεωγραφίας και δημογραφίας [The Greek Community of Albania in terms of historical geography and demography." In Nikolakopoulos, Ilias, Kouloubis Theodoros A. & Thanos M. Veremis (eds). Ο Ελληνισμός της Αλβανίας [The Greeks of Albania]. University of Athens. p. 51. " AM Αλβανοί Μουσουλμάνοι”; p.53. “FTERE ΦΤΕΡΑ 378 AM"
  3. ^ Enciklopedia p.396
  4. ^ a b Enciklopedia p.100

Sources;

  • Halil İnalcik: Hicrî 835 tarihli Sûret-i defter-i sancak-i Arvanid. (= Türk Tarih Kurumu yayınlarından. 14,1a). Ankara 1987 (Albania, Sandschak Vlora)
  • Karl Kaser, Robert Pichler, und Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers (Hrsg.): Die weite Welt und das Dorf. Albanische Emigration am Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts. In: Zur Kunde Südosteuropas. Albanologische Studien, Band 3. Böhlau Verlag, Wien 2002, ISBN 3-205-99413-2
  • Meçaj, Nasip; Çelaj, Xhemil; Toçi, Fatmir (2009). Enciklopedi e Kurveleshit. TOENA. ISBN 978-99943-1-496-6.
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