university of nova gorica graduate school contested spaces and ...

The period of 15 th century is in the contemporary history of Albania known by the
acknowledged hero George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, who fought against the Ottoman leadership
between 1443 and 1468. The popularity of Skanderbeg was particularly promoted in the
period of communism when the nationalist writers provided him with a national significance
and built his image of a defender of Albania and its people (see Misha 2002: 43). “His figure
and his deeds became a mixture of historical facts, truths, half-truths, inventions and folklore”
(ibid.). By ignoring some non-Albanian historiographers (cf. Jacques 1995: 187-188) who
write about Skanderbeg’s affiliation with Islam, Christian Orthodoxy and Catholic Church in
Rome, the national historiographers promote his religious “neutrality”. They write about
Skanderbeg’s affiliation with the ideas of nationalism and “Albanianism” (see Frashëri 2005:
29-38, Malltezi 2004: 111-112, 123).
In such a way Skanderbeg’s association with Christianity and his attachment to the Venetian
Republic are eliminated from the Albanian historiography. In the period of communism the
transformation of Skanderbeg into a national hero served to build up national cohesion and
promoted the idea of Albanian independence from the “Ottoman past” (see Glenny 2002: 43).
While on the one hand this brought the affinity for Europe to the Albanian citizens, on the
other hand it served to win the sympathy and support of the European Great Powers (Glenny
2000: 43 and Winnifrith 2002: 101).
In the book edited and published by the Albanian Academy of Science, Luan Malltezi writes:
The Himariotes took an active part in the anti Ottoman war of XV century that the
Albanians did over the lead of Skenderbeg. Songs to the death of Skenderbeg and their
leaders were kept saved generation after generation by the Himariotes.
Himariotes are Albanians who kept in their popular memory that they are the
followers of the Alexander and of Pirro. The follower of Pirro calls himself also
Skenderbeg and together with him all the Albanians of XV century [sic.] (Malltezi
2004: 123).
In his description Malltezi recognizes the people of Himarë/Himara as important warriors in
the Skanderbeg’s army who fought against the Ottoman dominancy which later led to the
formation of the Albanian nation-state. While on the one hand he points out the equality
between Himarë/Himara people and Albanians (“Himariotes are Albanians who kept in their
popular memory…”), on the other hand he suggests that there are differences between them
which have to be united. In the last sentence of the paragraph, Malltezi mentions the loyalty
of the Himarë/Himara people whose “Albanianess” is being kept in their folk memory.
129