The Question of the Relative Autochthony of the Albanians in Epiros

and the Albanian Immigration Movements of the Fourtheenth entury!

the case of the region of "#iro$ast%r&
by Konstantinos Giakoumis
The issue of the Albanian presence in the lands of Epiros
1
became repeatedly a
subject of nationalistic conflict between Greek and Albanian scholarship. The general
ideological scheme was on the one hand that it was only in the 13th and especially the
1th !entury that Albanians originating from Elbasan region migrated to Epiros"
#acedonia and Thessaly and from there to farther distant districts" including $oumeli
%central Greece& and the 'eloponnese" regions inhabited by Greek populations" and on
the other hand that the Albanians ha(e been the indigenous population in Epiros. )t is
needless to analyse how this scheme ser(ed the idea of national purity in *ones claimed
by both Greece and Albania in the beginning of the +,th century.
The first (iewpoint was upheld chiefly by -older. Greek scholarship" which either
disregarded much of the e(idence presented in support of the second (iewpoint or e(en
manipulated them to fit into its ideological patterns. '. Karolidis" at the beginning of
+,th century" wrote/ -)f #r. 0aut*er" as many other Europeans" call Epiros 1ow Albania" this must
be understood from an ethnological point of (iew only in the sense that in Epiros there are Greeks who
speak Albanian and that the word Albanian in Epiros must mean Greek2Epirote.
+
. The e3istence of
an Albanian2speaking population in Epiros was attributed by Apostolos 4akalopoulos to
a process of -Albani*ation of the Greek population.
3
. 5uch (iews were mechanically
maintained in more recent popular books on the Greek2Albanian relations

. 6owe(er" it
is a well2documented fact that in the 13th and 1th centuries there was an Albanian
infiltration into Epiros
7
" which was part of a wider immigration mo(ement of 0alkan
people at the end of the #iddle Ages and has been attributed to disintegration of the
target territories.
The second (iewpoint was mostly supported by Albanian historiography" which"
in contrast" alleged that Epiros was solely inhabited by Albanians. 8or e3ample"
according to the Albanian historian '9llumb :hufi who misinterpreted ;ttoman
1
The term -Epiros. is used for historic reasons and in strictly geographic and cultural conte3ts %the
northernmost limit being $i(er 4ijos9&. As will be shown" Epiros was inhabited both by Greeks and
Albanians %)llyrians&< hence" there is no relation here with the political implications gi(en to this term
from the end of 1=
th
!entury onwards. >owadays parts of Epiros belong to both Greece and Albania.
+
Karolidis '. %1=,+&" -?9@ABCA DAE ?9@ABFC." " (. 7" p. G3G.
3
4akalopoulos A. %1=G1&" (. 1" pp. 3323.

'apadopoulos A. %1==+&" . "

Athens/ 1i(anis 2 >ea 5ynora Ed." pp. +=23,.
7
;n the subject of the Albanian immigration of the 1
th
and 17
th
centuries" see Hucellier A. %1=I1&" pp.
3GG" 1721G" 771277+< Hucellier A. %1=IG&" -JKLFMNAOCA" LPQABARQPSRPET DAE UF9EQERLEDV RSBFNA AUW
QA QX9K QFY ZPRAC[BA RQK BP\QPNK PUF]^." " (. 3_7" p. 31< 'oulos ). %1=7,&" -` PUFCDKRET
Q[B ?9@AB\B PET aFNEBbCAB." !"# " (. 3" pp. 327< 5tojko( $. 2 Kacori
Th. %1=GG&< cochalas T. %1=d1&" -Vber die Einwanderung der Albaner in Griechenland %Eine
*usammenfassende 0etrachtung&." $%&&'()*)%+,'& -./*,%0*'1 2, 3+,+('4 5+&'67% 8*.',)%,% ') 9(,'&)%
:+.%;% <'6)=*>',*(%+(=4" #Wnchen" p. 1,7< 'anagiotopoulos 4. %1=I7&" pp. GI2I7< 'uto A. 2 'ollo 5.
%1=d=&" p. G3< eakythinos H. %1==&" -1a population de la #orEe by*antine." ?@ 3'..,%&4'
A+,)'46+(*%," (. 3" pp. 11d211=< >ysta*opoulou2'elekidou #. %1==1&" pp. 33+2333< Ara(antinos '.
%1=I&" (. +" pp. 1,21+G and (. 3" pp. +d2+d+ and 3d237,< ;ikonomou 'h. %1=I,&" - ZPRAE[BED^
fUPENFT %3=7 L.g.213, L.g.&. %hSBQFLFT ERQFNED^ PUERDWUKRET&." B" BC" (. G" p. 3+I<
$ontogiannis '. %1=I,&" D EF" (. 1" Athens" pp. 3+,23+I< 4agiakakos H.
%1=I&" -` QFU[BYLED^ bP\NKRET QFY bPRRA9EDFS ]\NFY." " (. d=" p. 3,< Kordosis #. %1=I1&"
GD CH D I J " Athens" p. 13d<
:hufi '. %1==1&" pp. 121d.
registers and a Greek chronicle" Hropull was coloni*ed by Greeks not earlier than the
beginning of the 1dth century
G
. 6owe(er" some scholars ha(e indicated that there is
sufficient e(idence" based on toponymy" to argue that Albanians had already been in
Epiros by the 1+
th
and 13
th
centuries
d
. Among them" the work of the leading Albanian
linguist of the +,
th
century" the late Eierem `abej who taking into consideration
toponymic data concluded that the Albanians were descendants of the ancient )llyrians
and should" therefore" be considered among the autochthonous inhabitants of Epiros
stands out as one of the most serious works" iuite distant from nationalistic enthusiasm<
it was this particular scholar who coined the term -relati(e autochthony. referring to the
Albanians in Epiros
I
.
The aforementioned scheme was only recently studied both by historical and
linguistic literature. The purpose of this article is to put together all of these recent
studies" in order to challenge the (iews of -older. Greek and Albanian scholarship with
respect to the presence of solely Greek or Albanian populations in the regions of
Epiros" with specific reference to the district of Hropull in the light of primary sources
dealing with the Albanian immigrations of the 1th century.
8rom a historical point of (iew" someone has to distinguish the recent work of
'rof. Allain Hucellier. At a recent congress held in the )nstitute of 0y*antine 5tudies"
The >ational 8oundation for $esearch" Athens" the eminent 8rench scholar dealing with
sources referring either to )llyrians or Albanians demonstrated that there are reliable
historical data that the latter were descendents of the former and therefore should be
considered as indigenous inhabitants of Epiros. The recent publication of the acts of the
congress makes this important contribution accessible to the scientific community"
conseiuently" there is no need to further e3tend on the author.s (iews
=
.
8rom a linguistic point of (iew" toponymy" as well as other acknowledged
linguistic features" such as the archaic elements in the Greek and Albanian idioms of
Epiros" re(eal not only the -relati(e autochthony. of the Albanians" but also of the
Greeks themsel(es in the same lands. )n connection with the Albanian studies on
linguistics" it is important to mention a recent and impressi(e doctoral thesis by the
Albanologist linguist Aristotelis 5pyrou on the Greek linguistic idiom of the regions of
Hel(in9 and 5arand9
1,
. 5ince this doctoral thesis is still unpublished" it is worth
G
:hufi '. %1==1&" pp. 72d" note +3 and :hufi '. %1==&" p. 7. 8or a critiiue of these
misinterpretations" see Giakoumis K. %+,,1&" K+&)LMNO*,)%,' 4+,*&)'(%'& *& 4+,=4',)& *,P
%,&)%)=)%+,&. Q7' 0*&' +R )7' 4+,*&)'(%'& +R 5+(>=0*)1 8*,%&7)S *,P <6'.*%+ %, TU%(+V*&)S( ('>%+,
W<+=)7'(, -./*,%*X1 YZ)7LY[)7 A',)=(%'&\ -(07%)'0)=('1 K*%,)%,>1 <+0%*. ]+.'& *,P K*'P*>+>%0*.
^=,0)%+,&1 _*)'(%*. M*&%& *,P ^%&0*. ?%R'" 'h.H. thesis submitted in the !.0.;.#.G.5." The
jni(ersity of 0irmingham" 0irmingham" critical commentary on the bibliography" hereafter cited as
Giakoumis K. %+,,1&.
d
Hucellier A. %1=Id&" -1es Albanais du :)e au :)))e sibcle/ >omades ou sEdentairesk." in Hucellier A.
%1=Id&" ?@ -./*,%' ',)(' MNO*,0' ') 8',%&'" 1ondon/ 4ariorum $eprints" te3t >o. G" pp. 3237<
Hucellier A. %1==&" F WY`

LYa

X. B "
Athens" pp. 1217" 1=< 0iris K. %1==G&" . b" #" (. 1" Athens/
#elissa Ed." p. 73< 4akalopoulos A. %1=G1&" (. 1" pp. +72+G< eiangos >. %1=d&" pp. +1d2+1I< HranKolli
c. %1=Id&< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" pp. +d27d" G32d1 and Komis K. %1===&" pp. 1I2+1" where the case of
're(e*a is dealt with.
I
`abej E. %1=7=&" -'roblemi i autoktonis9 s9 shiiptar9(e n9 drit9n e emra(e t9 (ende(e." M=.')%, %
c,%d'(&%)')%) <7))'(+( ) Q%(*,&" (. 1" p. 7< for the English (ersion of this important article see `abej
E. %1=I7&" -The 'roblem of the Autochthony of the Albanians in the 1ight of 'lace2names." in Q7'
-./*,%*,& *,P )7'%( Q'((%)+(%'&" Tirana" p. 3l. The relati(e autochthony of the Albanian populations
in Epiros was naturally accepted with great enthusiasm by Albanian scholarship m:hufi '. %1==1&" pp.
72d< :hufi '. %1==&" pp. 127I and 8rash9ri K. %1==I&l.
=
Hucellier A. %1==I&" where most of the rele(ant literature.
1,
5pyrou A. %+,,,&" with e3tensi(e references to the older literature in rele(ant linguistic research.
mentioning basic components of some interest to this article. The author confirms that
the idiom in iuestion" together with those of Hropull" 'ogon and Thesprotia" constitute
a clear continuum between the idiomatic con(entions of )oannina on the one hand"
those of 6imarr9" !orfu and the other )onian islands on the other
11
. 5pyrou has also
disco(ered certain genititi(e singular nouns which are (ery close to ancient Greek
forms
1+
. Additionally" he not only traced the influences of the Albanian language in this
idiom
13
" but also influences of Greek in Albanian idioms of the same region
1
which he
attributed to the perennial co2e3istence of Greek2speaking and Albanian2speaking
populations in the same region
17
. 8urthermore" he has located certain ancient Greek
words in the Hel(in925arand9 Greek idiomatic (ocabulary
1G
" which had not been
preser(ed in any other Greek dialect or idiom" apart occasional appearances in the
neighbouring idioms of Hropull and 'ogon
1d
. )mportant work of this kind" undertaken
by serious scholars who distance themsel(es from the old clichEs of the nationalistic
ideologies constitute the most stable foundation not only for the promotion of related
studies" but also for the peaceful co2e3istence of both nations in regions of Epiros and
Albania where they ha(e li(ed for centuries.
The presence of Albanians in the Epirote lands from the beginning of the 13
th
century is also attested by two documentary sources/ the first is a 4enetian document of
1+1," which states that the continent facing the island of !orfu is inhabited by
Albanians
1I
< and the second is letters of the #etropolitan of >aupaktos cohn
Apokaukos to a certain George Hysipati" who was considered to be an ancestor of the
famous 5hpata family
1=
. 8urthermore" ) suggest that names that appear in two acts of
the Anje(ins of >aples dated 13,
+,
using the forms" Albos" 5patos" !atarucos"
0ischesini" Aranitos" 1ecenis" Turbaceos" #archaseos" 5curas" eeneuias" 0ucceseos"
1ogoresc et #ateseos are either well2known" less2known or totally unknown names of
Albanian clan leaders at that time. Are we obliged to see in this a possible earlier
Albanian immigration in the Epirote lands" as Kostas Komis did in the case of the
etymology of the toponym -'re(e*a.
+1
k ) belie(e that the use of hypothetical
immigrations as a basis to interpret sources as indicating the presence of Albanians in
the Epirote lands prior to the 13
th
21
th
century somewhat arbitrarily ser(e the concept
of national purity in *ones with clear lines of communication" mutual relations %as
linguistic research has pro(ed
++
& and common traditions" religion as well as principal
language of communication< and in a period when co2e3istence and understanding
among people of different nations %in the modern sense of the term& were far better they
are today. >e(ertheless" the immigration mo(ements of the 1
th
century are
documented facts" as ) shall point out below.
11
2/%P." pp. +,d2+,I.
1+
2/%P." pp. =72=G.
13
2/%P." pp. 1I721II" 1," note +++ and pp. 11G" 17G" 1G1" 1dd.
1
2/%P." p. 1I7" note 3,7" pp. 1II21I= and note 31," p. 1=,.
17
2/%P." p. 1I7.
1G
2/%P." p. 1I1.
1d
8or these words" see 2/%P." pp. 1I121I+< for (iews on the close pro3imity of the Greek idioms of
Hropull and 'ogon to that of Hel(in9 2 5arand9" see 2/%P." pp. 1I+21I3" +,d2+,I.
1I
Tafel G. 2 Tomas G. %1I7G&" p. 1++.
1=
0ees >. 2 5eferli E. %1=d&" -jnedierte 5chriftstWche aus des Kan*lei des cohannes Apokaukos."
MNO*,)%,%&07Le'=>(%'07%&07 5*7(/07'(" (. +1" document >o. G+. 8or (iews on this name as being
ancestral to the name -5hpata." see :hufi '. %1==&" p. d and note 13+.
+,
Thalloc*y 1. 2 cirecek K. 2 5ufflay #. %1=13&" pp. 1GGa" document >o. 7G3 and 1Gd21GI" document
>o. 7G=.
+1
Komis K. %1===&" pp. 1I2+1.
++
5ee notes 1,21G %on 5pyrou and his work&.
Testimonies from the 1
th
century narrati(e sources not only confirm the
population mo(ements" but also describe the nature and character of the Albanian social
immigrant groups. 0y*antine sources present the Albanians as nomads" poor and
autonomous" who attempted predatory raids against fortified cities
+3
. The first
appearance of the Albanians -en masse. is recorded in a letter of #arino 5anudo
Torcelo who mentions the presence of large Albanian crowds in Thessaly" who" mo(ing
from place to place" had destroyed the lands outside the castles
+
. This kind of Albanian
presence within the territories of the Hespotate is not recorded before 133d" when the
Albanians around 0erat and Kanina re(olted and carried out raids and plunderings
against cities and castles. After the death of Andronicus ))) in 131" the Albanians
around 'ogoniani and 1i(isda staged re(olts at the same time as those in Thessaly
attacking and pillaging 0erat and other cities of the despotate.
)t is known that the Albanians" continuously on the lookout for new pastureland"
mo(ed out of Arbanon and the region of Elbasan. They descended in two major
immigrant2groups to the 5outh following the a3is of the (alleys and the ri(ers. The first
group" with a great number of interim stops of uneiual duration reached Thessaly (ia
the regions around Kastoria. The second" again with many incremental stops of di(erse
length" arri(ed in >orthern Epiros
+7
. The chief preoccupations of the immigrant clans
were cattle2breeding" robbery and war2making. The chronicle of the Toccos
characterised them as -swineherds.
+G
" implying hea(y cattle2breeding
+d
. 1acking e(en
essential pro(isions" they har(ested the lands and mo(ed on. Apart from the clan2
leaders" who held the castles together with a number of soldiers" the rest of the
population li(ed in scattered" temporary" small settlements %-katund.&
+I
< when the
security of the castle was threatened" the Albanian shepherds ran to its defence
+=
. The
different clans acted independently one from the other.
After the death of 5tefan Hunan and the battle of Acheloous" the Albanian clans
established themsel(es in Epiros. The indigenous population" decimated by the
demographic crisis of the 1
th
century and especially by the 0lack Heath
3,
probably did
not react negati(ely to the new comers" from whom neither linguistically nor culturally
was it alienated. Thus" at the beginning of the 17
th
century the Albanians were
consolidated in Epiros. Apart from the clan of 5hpata" who took control of Arta" the
!hronicles also mentioned the clans of the #alakash" #a*arai" eenebis and eulan.
1aonikos !halkokondyles is e3plicit when it comes to iuestions concerning
Albanian immigration to the pro(ince of Gjirokast9r and the character of the Albanian
immigrant themsel(es
31
/ [ ` ` ] [` [ ` `
` ] ] `
! ` " [ # ` $%
[& ` [` ' #( ]#
" ` ` & [&" ` [
+3
'anagiotopoulos 4. %1=I7&" pp. GI2d3.
+
Tafel G. 2 Tomas G. %1I7G&" p. 7,,. 5ee also 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. 3, and note 1G.
+7
8or a definition of this particular" see note 1.
+G
5chirT G. %1=d7&" (erse 1+G.
+d
0y hea(y cattle2breeding ) mean the breeding of hea(y animals" such as swine" cows" cal(es" o3en"
etc. in contrast to light cattle2breeding" meaning the breeding of light animals" such as sheep and
goats.
+I
5chirT G. %1=d7&" (erses 1d1" +,d7" +++7.
+=
2/%P." (erses =,= and ff.
3,
Giakoumis %+,,1&" chapter 1" section on the demographic history of the regions of Gjirokast or< see
also Giakoumis K." -A Hemographic 6istory of Gjirokast or and )ts 'ro(inces %1th2+,th !entury
AH&." Q=(0%0*" forthcoming.
31
HarkR E. med.l %1=++&" (. 1" chapter " p. 1=G" (erses 172++.
` #(" [& ` [) [
[ ` [ * %-The Albanians" originating in Hurr9s and
marching towards the south" subdued Thessaly" most parts of central #acedonia"
Gjirokast9r and Kastoria for themsel(es. After arri(ing at Thessaly" they set their hands
on the land and ra(aged the cities< they e3ploited the land for their our purposes" for
they were nomads and did not yet settle permanently in any place.&. As noted earlier"
the Albanians left the regions of the triangle ;hrid2Hurr9s2Kruj9 and mo(ed
southwards. According to the sources" there were two migrant groups" the one which
tra(elled (ia ;hrid and ended in Thessaly while the other" mo(ing through K9lcyr9"
reached Gjirokast9r and the despotate. The purpose of their occupation was to search
for new pasturelands The combination of fertile plains and mountains rich in grasslands
in the region of Gjirokast9r was ideal for the poor nomadic Albanians who did not
hesitate to ra(age cities when they lacked pro(isions. jpon arri(al" these nomads did
not normally settle permanently in one place" but rather li(ed in temporary" impromptu
settlements" the -katunds." perhaps following the e3ample of the antagonist nomadic
4lachs" who must ha(e had already consolidated themsel(es in the region as did the
4lachs of Thessaly
3+
.
)t is known that the clan of eenebis arri(ed and settled in the pro(ince of
Gjirokast9r. As noted abo(e" the eenebis family is first mentioned in two Anje(in
documents of 13,
33
" where they are mentioned as land holders in regions controlled by
the Anje(ins" a territory which e3tended" according to :hufi" along the coastal *one
among 6imarr9" Gjirokast9r and 're(e*a
3
. The eenebis clan was possibly included
among the -Albanians around 'ogoniani and 1i(isda." who" according to cohn
!antacu*enus" ha(ing penetrated as far as K9lcyr9 in 133d" sacked 0erat and other
cities of Epiros" after the death of Andronicus ))) 'alaeologus %17 cune 131&
37
. The
first notification in the !hronicle of )oannina concerning the eenebis as rulers of the
pro(inces of Gjirokast9r and Hropull is in the last iuarter of the 1
th
century
3G
. )n 13I,
they are mentioned together with the #a*arai as participants in the battle of 'olit*es
against the allied forces of the despot Thomas and )sayim" the head of the ;ttoman
frontier forces %WK bey&" in which the Albanians were defeated. )n 13I+ Thomas
'reliubos with the help of the ;ttoman forces subordinated the Albanian clans of eulan
and eenebis in the north of )oannina and recaptured the pro(inces of 4ella" Hropull and
4agenitia
3d
. Two years later" )sayim %later called 5hahin 'asha& occupied Hropull
%13I&
3I
. 5hortly thereafter" the eenebis regained control" probably contingent upon a
small tribute due to the ;ttomans as a token of (assalage. )t seems" howe(er" that a
3+
There is e(idence of the presence of 4lachs at least from 13G1" when the 4lachs of the (illage 5uh9
are mentioned in a chrysobull of the Hespot 5ymeon 'aleologus mAra(antinos '. %1I7G&" (. +" pp. 3112
31< cf. 5tergiopoulos K. %1=3d&" fD g"J h"CH B" Athens"
p. 3d< 'apadopoulos >. %1=dG&" pp. +12++" +G2+dl. )n the 4=R*&&*. P'R)'( of 17+, an entire ,*7%N' of
4lachs was registered mHuka 8. %1==1&l. 4lachs were also mentioned in the (illages of 4odhino and
1u(in9 m:hufi '. %1==&" p. 7l. ;n the 4lachs of Thessaly" see $i*os A. %1==,&" -The 4lachs of 1arissa
in the 1,
th
century." MNO*,)%,,+&.*d%0*" (. 1)" fasc. +" pp. +,+2+,d.
33
Thalloc*y 1. 2 cirecek K. 2 5ufflay #. %1=13&" pp. 1GGa" document >o. 7G3 and 1Gd21GI" document
>o. 7G=.
3
:hufi '. %1==&" pp. d2I and note 133.
37
)oannis !antacu*eni e3imperatoris %1I3,&" 3%&)+(%*(=4 ?%/(% 28 T(*'0' ') ?*)%,'" 0onn/ peber Ed."
(. +" p. I1. cohn !antecu*enus located the sacks in the cities of Acarnania< for a sur(ey of the use of
the term in cohn !antecu*enus see/ 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. 37< for the penetration of the Albanians in
K9lcyr9 see 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. 3.
3G
'simouli 4. %1==I&" pp. 7127+.
3d
8or these e(ents see 4ranousis 1. %1=G7&" pp. =,2=+< Ara(antinos '. %1I7G&" (. 1" p. 1G" 'simouli 4.
%1==I&" pp. 71" G,.
3I
4ranousis 1. %1=G7&" pp. =+2=3< >icol H. %1=7d&" pp. 17,2171< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. G1.
gradual slackening in performing the obligations of (assalage pro(ided incenti(e for a
new ;ttoman attack under E(reno* bey against Gjin eenebis at the end of 13=72
beginning of 13=G
3=
. )n 13== the despot of )oannina" )sa[ 0uontelmonti" whilst at peace
with 5hpata" mo(ed against Gjin eenebis. 6is army consisted of men from the
#alakash and #a*arak clans" as well as from eagor2Hropull and great eagori. At the
battle of #esopotamon in the region of 4agenitia %today the Hel(in9 region& )sa[ was
defeated outright and held in capti(ity
,
. As a conseiuence of the (ictory" Gjin eenebis
e3tended his territory to the entire northern part of 4agenitia. )n accordance with
negotiations for the release of the capti(e despot )sa[" the 4enetians addressed Gjin
eenebis as -albanensem cahannem se(astokratora." while in 1,, they pleaded for
peace to -Geomi eenebissi iui tenet terram de la 5ayata.
1
. Thus" the turn of the
century found the eenebis well established in the pro(inces of Gjirokast9r.
The eenebis dominated these lands until 11I" when the ;ttomans entered to the
second stage of coniuest and occupied the castle of Gjirokast9r e3pelling the clan
+
.
The conseiuences of the resistance of eenebis against the transformation of (assal
tributes into complete anne3ation were o(erwhelming/ the !hronicle of Tocco describe
them as the complete e3termination and displacement of the Albanians from the regions
of Gjirokast9r
3
. >e(ertheless" it is my opinion that the chronicle.s description is
e3aggerated" since" according to 'simouli" the poor branches of the eenebis family
must ha(e responded positi(ely to the in(itation of the ;ttomans to re2settle these
regions

. #y opinion is supported by a passage in 1aonikos !halkokondyles" who" in

describing the attitude of the Albanians who remained in the rebellion of Hepa eenebis
%13+&
7
referred to them as ] ` ` [ #
[* [ ] %-the rest of the Albanians li(ing around
Gjirokast9r.&
G
. The more powerful branches of the eenebis clan" after wandering
through the Epirote pro(inces" in which they were not allowed to settle by the despot
!harles Tocco" finally passed to 'eloponnese
d
. eenebis. branch of the family" being
citi*ens of 4enice found refuge in !orfu
I
.
There is insufficient e(idence for reliable conclusions about the sort of reception
that the Albanian immigrants recei(ed. 5canty and highly limited e(idence" such as the
presence of Albanian2speaking populations in the regions in iuestion prior to the
immigrations of the 13
th
21
th
century" cannot" as ) ha(e shown abo(e" offer secure
conclusions. )t is possible that some of the 4lachs" pre(iously settled in the region" the
local intelligentsia and" certainly" the old" ruling class" all of whom were affected by the
presence of immigrants and their powerful rulers" must ha(e resisted in some way the
ambitions of the new2comers to rule these lands. )t is the same circles" who in 13==
allied themsel(es to the despot )sa[ in the latter.s campaign against Gjin eenebis. The
narrati(e sources" though" do not describe the social influence of this class.
3=
4ranousis 1. %1=G7&" pp. =I2==< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. G+.
,
Ara(antinos '. %1I7G&" (. +" pp. " 1,7< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. 71.
1
4ranousis 1. %1=G7&" p. 1,," >icol H. %1=7d&" p. 1G" note +1< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" pp. 7+" G,.
+
8or the ;ttoman ad(ance and consolidation in Epiros duing the 17th century" see Giakoumis K."
-The ;ttoman Ad(ance and !onsolidation in Epiros during the 8ifteenth !entury." in Q7' Q=(V&"
possibly (. I %The ;ttomans/ The !lassical Age&" Ankara" forthcoming.
3
5chirT G. %1=d7&" pp. d=2I+ and (erses 31d23++3" 3+d233,3.

'simouli 4. %1==I&" pp. 7G27d.

7
;n this rebellion" as well as other rebellions around that year" see Giakoumis K. %+,,1&" chapter 1"
where the rele(ant literature is cited.
G
HarkR E. med.l %1=++&" (. +" chapter " p. +=" RQ. 123.
d
5chirT G. %1=d7&" pp. d=2I+ and (erses 31d23++3" 3+d233,3< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" pp. 7127+ and
7G27d< HranKolli c. %1=Id&" pp. 177217G< :hufi '. %1==1&" pp. 1G21d and note I1 on p. 1G.
I
5chirT G. %1=d7&" pp. d=2I+ and (erses 31d23++3" 3+d233,3< 'simouli 4. %1==I&" p. 7d.
)n the present study ) attempted to challenge the opinions of -older. Greek and
Albanian historiography that the regions of Gjirokast9r were inhabited solely either by
Greek or Albanian populations by piecing together historical and linguistic e(idence. )
maintained that Greek2speaking and Albanian2speaking populations had all along been
li(ing together in Epiros in the period in iuestion. 8urthermore" ) presented e(idence
that in 1th century immigrant Albanians taking ad(antage of the decimation of the
local Epirote population owing to the 0lack Heath also migrated in the regions of
Gjirokast9r and suggested that the reactions of local milieu3 against the new settlers"
as e3pressed by their participation in the campaign of )sa[ against Gjin eenebis %13==&
should be attributed to the disintegration of the pre(ious local elites rather than to
resistance against a -foreign. in(asion. 8urther linguistic research of the thoroughness
of A. 5pyrou.s work is a P'&%P'(*)=4 for the ad(ance of our knowledge on the subject
dealt in this article.
0irmingham" ;ctober +,,1
'iterature
Ara(antinos '. %1I7G" reprint/ 1=G=&" ijklkmjnopn qrs tuvpjkw qxl qv kyzjxl
{||rl}~l ~n} ||wj}~l xjl S}nqjkwn ~nq v}jl qn vl nwqnps
wylqn nuz qkw xqrjpkw qkws yj} qkw Ya" (. 1 2 +" Athens/ reprint by
Elias $i*os.
Ara(antinos '. %1IGG" reprint/ 1=I&" vj}mjno qrs tuvpjkw v}s qjpn yjr"
introduction of the reprint by K. Th. Himaras" (. 123" )oannina/ q.r.s. Ed.
Harkt E. med.l %1=++&" ?*+,%0% A7*.0+0*,PN.*' 3%&)+(%*(=4 $'4+,&)(*)%+,'& *P
R%P'4 0+P%0=4 ('0',&=%)1 '4',P*d%) *,,+)*)%+,%/=&;=' 0(%)%0%& %,&)(=%)
9=>',%=& $*(V" 0udapest.
Hranuolli c. %1=Id&" -Hiaspora shiiptare no Greii gjato shekullit :)4 %1a diaspore
albanaise en Grvce au cours du :)4 sivcle&." <)=P%4' 3%&)+(%V'" (. 3" pp. 1=2
1GG< 8rench synopsis" on pp. 1GG21Gd.
Hucellier A. %1=I1&" ?* R*r*P' 4*(%)%4' P' .@ -./*,%' *= _+N', ->' W$=(*OO+ ')
8*.+,* P= 2' *= 8' &%0.'X" Thessaloniki/ )nstitute of 0alkan 5tudies.
Hucellier A. %1==I&" -1es Albanais dans l. Empire by*antine/ de la communautE w l.
e3pansion." in Gasparis !h. med.l %1==I&" Q7' _'P%'d*. -./*,%*,&" Athens/
)nstitute for 0y*antine $esearch" pp. 1d27.
Huka 8. %1==1&" -$ealiteti etnik i Hropullit n9 burimet historike t9 shek. :4) %Hefteri
osman i regjistrimit t9 prona(e dhe t9 popullsis9 t9 san3hakut t9 4lor9s i (itit
17+,&." <)=P%4' 3%&)+(%V'" (. 32" Tiran9 1==" pp. 1Gd21==.
8rashori K. %1==I&" -1es Albanais et 0y*ance au3 4)e2:) sivcles." in Gasparis !h. med.l
%1==I&" Q7' _'P%'d*. -./*,%*,&" Athens/ )nstitute for 0y*antine $esearch" pp.
d27d.
Komis K. %1===&" rykmjno}~s zv}s qrs jvns\ YZksLYks n}lns" )oannina/
xyz{|}t~} yzzzz 2 q|}t~uz} q|{~uy }ot} o"
r/ |y~uy y}v. 7I.
>icol H. %1=7d&" Q7' $'&6+)*)' +R 96%(+&" ;3ford.
>ysta*opoulou 2 'elekidou #. %1==1&" } n|~nl}~kp |nkp. uz qrl qkwj~}~
~nq~qrr qrl vl}~ nuk~nqqnr WYksLY[ks n}.X" Thessaloniki/ 4anias Ed.
'anagiotopoulos 4. %1=Id&" |rwyzs ~n} k}~}ykp qrs v|kukllkw\ Y`ksLYks
n}lns" reprint" Athens/ t~} { q|} |{y ~u qoo.
'apadopoulos >. %1=dG&" t jzuk|}s qrs kjvpkw tuvpjkw ~nq qrl kwj~k~jnqpnl
WY`LY[Y`X" Athens.
'simouli 4. %1==I&" k|} ~n} kw|}qvs" Athens/ !entre of #odern Greek 5tudies 2
>ational 8oundation of $esearch.
'uto A. 2 'ollo 5. %1=d=&" qkjpn qrs |nlpns" Thessaloniki.
5chir G. %1=d7&" A(+,*0* P'% Q+00+ P' A'R*.+,%* P% *,+,%4+" !orpus 8ontium
6istoriae 0y*antinae" (. 1," $oma/ Accademia >a*ionale dei 1incei.
5pyrou A. %+,,,&" k v||rl}~z m|x}~z }Spxyn qrs uvj}ks v|plkw ~n} mpxl
njlqn" 'h.H. thesis submitted in the 8aculty of 'hilology 2 5ector of
1inguistics" jni(ersity of Athens" Athens.
5tojko( $. 2 Kacori Th. %1=GG&" ->jo regjistor osmano2turk i shek. :4 por shiptarot e
'elopone*it." <)=P%4' 3%&)+(%V'" (. 3" pp. 1=21G3.
Tafel G. 2 Tomas G. %1I7G&" c(V=,P', O=( *.)'(', 3*,P'.& =,P <)**)& >'&07%07)' P'(
]'6=/.%V 8','P%>" (. ))" pien.
Thalloc*y 1. 2 cirecek K. 2 5ufflay #. %1=13&" -0)* ') $%6.+4*)* ]'& -./*,%*' _'P%*'
-')*)%& 2..=&)(*,)%*" (. 1 %32133&" 4indbonae.
4akalopoulos A. %1=G121=d3&" qkjpn qkw kw {||rl}yk" (. 12" Thessaloniki.
4ranousis 1. %1=G7&" - z}z ~z yzzzz y~. yz~z uu
{|}~z." {uvqrjps qkw vn}xl}~k jvpkw" (. 1+" Athens 1=G7" pp. 7d2117.
:hufi '. %1==1&" -#igrimet shiiptare n9 Greii n9 shek. :)4 %Albanian migrations to
Greece in the 1th !entury&." <)=P%4' 3%&)+(%V'" (. 32" Tiran9 1==" pp. 323,<
English synopsis in pp. 3123+.
:hufi '. %1==&" -The Ethnic 5ituation in Epirus during the #iddle Ages." <)=P%*
-./*,%0*" (. 12+" pp. 127I.
eiangos >. %1=d&" kwj~k~jnqkyvlr uv}jks\ q}ynj}xq}yzs1 nq}yzs1
lvkv||rl}~ nlnmllrr WYZLYX" Athens.