Shkodra and Rozafat Castle

Shkodra is a large city in northern Albania. It is a strategic economically important city having easy access to the Adriatic Sea. Various writers and poets like Pashko Vasa originate from this city. The city and region is known for its cultural and musical aspects. On my visit to this city I climbed up to the Rozafat Castle.

Rozafat Castle is rooted in legend and folklore. The story is that three brothers were trying to build a castle but with every effort the walls would fall and they had no success. An old man approaches them and tells them in order to successfully build the castle they must burry alive one of their wives within the castle walls or it will never be constructed. Upon hearing this the men are grieved because they do not wish that they should lose their wives. Two of the brothers told their wives of the plan so that they would not suffer the horrible fate. The youngest brother on the other hand did not tell his wife.

The next day the wives of the older brothers did not bring them lunch as to avoid the fate. The youngest wife willingly went to provide the men their food. Upon arriving the youngest son, seeing his wife screamed in agony for he knew her fate. The other brothers explained that she would be built into the walls of the castle. She bravely said, "I have only one request, leave the right side of my body outside the wall. With my right eye I will watch over my son, with my right breast I will nurse him, with my right arm I will care for him, and my right leg will rock him."

And so she was walled in. Today it is believed that the castle walls are damp with her tears. Throughout the castle there is white residue believed to be her breast milk flowing throughout the castle walls.

Albania is rich in folklore and stories of brave men and women who always put either their family or their people first.

 

It is said that in some regions of the Balkans there was a tradition that human sacrifices were required in order to construct great buildings. There are stories of bridges also with people built into them. Perhaps the Rozafat Castle is an expression of such traditions.

Story source: 

Robert Elsie

http://www.albanianliterature.net/oral_lit3/OL3-06.html

Albanian Ethnicity

To be Albanian does not necessarily mean belonging to the nation-state of Albania. It is very much an ethnicity; a nation within many states. Albanians are descendants from an Illyrian tribe that is believed to have arrived to the Illyrian Peninsula even before the Greeks. The Region of Albania has been inhabited by the Albanians throughout the Greek, Roman, and Ottoman Empires. The region of Albania, Kosovo, part of Greece, part of Macedonia, and part of Montenegro were all claimed to be part of Albania. in 1912 however the current borders were decided with its independence. Today there are many Albanians who live in these other countries but declare themselves Albanian. There are other Albanian diasporas in various countries around Europe, Egypt, and the U.S. 

Throughout History Albanians have always resisted the rule of any Empire; but in time the Byzantines would conquer the region bringing Orthodox Christianity with them. Later Catholicism would enter in the region. Then the Ottomans came and filled the region with Islam.  Soon the region would lack unity and struggle with its identity between conflicting religion, culture, and ethnicities. The communist regime in the 20th century would prove to unify Albania under one national identity.

Albania and ethnic Albanians today are extremely proud of their identity and ethnicity. When the Albanian national soccer team plays ethnic Albanians everywhere outside of the country will be seen cheering and roaring for their team. Just the other day I had the opportunity to witness some sport/patriotic spirit. After the game with Albania against Armenia with an Albanian win I heard the chants,

 "ALBANIAN ETHNICITY!"