Kelmend (or Klementi, Serbian: Клименти, Klimenti) is an Albanian Region, known as the Klementi Mountain, (Albanian: Mali i Kelmenit) originating from Malësia in Albania and Montenegro, and surrounding ethnic Albanian territories. The families can be found in Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. Kelmendi is also the largest Albanian tribe within Malësia, with the largest population and land within Malësia territory. The extended regions of Vuthaj and Martinaj are located in Montenegro, and Rugova is located in Kosovo. These towns are populated by descendants of Kelmendi. The clan was once an all-Roman Catholic clan. The region properly called Kelmend is still 95% Catholic. However, the branch of Kelmendi called Rugova, is predominantly of the Muslim faith. Religion cannot be taken as a factor that defines the identity of the Kelmendi region. On the contrary, the Kelmendi region is and has always been secular.
History
In 1700, many Roman Catholic adherents of the Kelmendi began emigrating to Pešter on invitation from the Ottoman Turks. However, some immigrated back to Albania in two waves, the first in 1700 and the next in 1711. Most of the population eventually became Islamicised.
About 1,600 Catholic Kelmend Albanians joined anti-Turkish efforts, and on retreat across the river Sava, settled in the villages of Nikinci, Hrtkovci and Jarak in Srem. Overtime, they became Croatised.
Descendants
Family descendants of the Kelmendi clan from the Kelmendi Proper Region
Plavë-Gucia
- Ahmetaj - from village Vuthaj. They descend from a certain Ahmet Nikaj, son of Nika Nrrelaj and grandson of Nrrel Balaj, and are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
- Bacaj
- Balaj - from village Gërnçari. Immigrated to Plav-Gusinje in 1698 from the village of Vukël (or Selcë?) in northern Albania and converted to Islam the same year. The clan's closest relatives are the Balidemajt / Balidemići. Legend has it that the Balaj, Balidemaj and Vukel clans descended from three brothers. However, a member of the Vukel clan married a member of the Balić clan, later resulting in severed relations with the Vukel clan.
- Balidemaj - from village Martinaj'. This branch of the clan remained Catholic for three generations, until Martin's great-grandson converted to Islam, taking the name Omer. Since then, the family was known as Omeraj . Until recently was the family's name changed to Balidemaj. The clan's closest relatives are the Balajt / Balići. Legend has it that the Balaj, Balidemaj and Vukel clans descended from three brothers.
- Bruçaj - they are descendants of a Catholic Albanian named Bruç Nrrelaj, son of Nrrel Balaj, and are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
- Cakaj (?)
- Canaj - from the villages of Bogaj, Vishnjeva and Đurička Rijeka/Reka e Xhurës. Immigrated to Plav-Gusinje in 1698 from the village of Vukël in northern Albania and converted to Islam the same year.
- Çelaj - from the villages of Vuthaj and Vojno Selo. Claimed to be descendants of Nrrel Balaj. Their descendants include the Nikçi clan.
- Dedushaj - from village Vuthaj. They are descendants of a Catholic Albanian named Ded (Dedush) Balaj, son of Nrrel Balaj, and are originally from Vukel in northern Albania.
- Hakaj - from village Hakaj.
- Hasangjekaj - from village Martinaj. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.The Hasangjekajt together with the Prelvukajt are both from the Martini clan
- Hasilović - from the village of Bogaj.
- Gorçaj
- Gjonbalaj - from village Vuthaj with relatives in Vojno Selo. Their ancestor, a Catholic Albanian named Gjon Balaj, immigrated with his sons: Bala, Aslan, Tuça and Hasan; along with his brother, Nrrel, and his children: Nika, Ded (Dedush), Stanisha, Bruç and Vuk from the village of Vukël in northern Albania to the village of Vusanje / Vuthaj in the late-17th century. Upon arriving, Gjon and his descendants settled in the village Vusanje / Vuthaj and converted to Islam and were known as the Gjonbalaj. Relatives include Ahmetajt, Bruçajt, Çelajt, Goçaj, Lekajt, Selimajt, Qosajt, Ulajt, Vuçetajt.
- Kukaj - from the village of Vuthaj
- Lecaj - from the village of Martinaj. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
- Lekaj - from the villages of Rëzhnica e Epërme and Vojno Selo. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Lekë Pretashi Nikaj.
- Martini - from the village of Martinaj. Their ancestor, a Catholic Albanian named Martin, immigrated to the village of Trepçë in the late 17th century from the village of Selcë in northern Albania. His descendants became known as Martini. The Hasangjekajt and Prelvukajt descend from the Martini clan.
- Musaj - Immigrated to Plav-Gucu in 1698 from village Vukël in northern Albania and converted to Islam the same year.
- Novaj
- Pepaj - from the village of Pepaj
- Prelvukaj - from the village of Martinaj. Originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Prelë Vuka of the Martini clan.
- Rekaj - from village Bogaj, immigrated to Plav-Guci circa 1858.
- Rugova - from the village of Vishnjeva with relatives in Vojno Selo and Babino Polje. They are descendants of the Rugova section of the Kelmendi in Kosovo.
- Qosaj/Qosja from the village of Vuthaj. They are descendants of a certain Qosa Stanishaj, son of Stanisha Nrrelaj and are originally from Vukël in northern Albania.
- Salić - from the village of Skić. Relatives in Ulcinj.
- Selimaj
- Ulaj - from the village of Vuthaj. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Ulë Nikaj, son of Nika Nrrelaj. Some migrated to the area of Koja e kucit area becoming the Bajraktar family of Pretash Zeka Ulaj a very well-known Malësor leader.
- Vukel - from the village of Doli. They immigrated to Gusinje in 1675 from the village of Vukël in northern Albania. A certain bey from the Shabanagaj clan gave the Vukel clan the village of Doli, where they continue to reside present-day.
- Vuçetaj- from village Vuthaj. They are originally from Vukël in northern Albania. They are descendants of a certain Vuçetë Nikaj, son of Nika Nrrelaj.
Vërmosh
- Bujaj
- Bunjaj
- Cali
- Hasanaj
- Hysaj
- Lelçaj
- Lekutanaj
- Lumaj
- Macaj
- Mitaj
- Mrnacaj/Mernacaj
- Peraj
- Pllumaj
- Preljocaj/Tinaj
- Selmanaj
- Shqutaj
- Tinaj
- Vukaj
- Vuktilaj
- Vushaj
Vukli
- Nilaj
- Pepushaj
- Grishaj
- Bardhecaj
- Mernacaj
- Drejaj
- Smajlaj
Tamare
- Bunjaj
- Bujaj
- Rukaj
- Lekocaj
- Lelcaj
- Vukaj
- Smajlaj
Selce
- Bujaj
- Tinaj
- Vushaj
- Pllumaj
- Vukaj
Other
- There are more families that are supposed to appear on these lists, and this is near impossible for the sheer massivity of the task. Kelmendi is a huge Fis, and none of the families that are listed here are done so for any particular reason or order, other than to list a few of them to provide an example.
Notable People
- Prek Cali (Hasanaj) [Famous for fighting slavic aggression and struggle against Communist regime]
- Nora of Kelmendi (Unknown last name) [Killed the Turkish Pasha or Vezir]
- Mema Smajli (Smajli)
- Marash Vata (Lumaj) [Struggle against Communist regime]
- Dod Prek Nika (Bujaj) [Struggle against communist]
- Gjon Preci (Rexhaj) [Struggle against Communist Regime]
- Fran Lleshi (Tinaj) [Struggle against communist regime]
Legends of Kelmendi
Prek Cali
A major hero from Kelmendi was Prek Cali Hasanaj. Prek Cali was born in Vermosh, Kelmend. His mother was from the Nikaj family of Kuci (originally of Kelmendi). He was an ardent patriot that fought for his land and his country. Aside from fighting Slavic aggression in his early years (and keeping a significant portion of Northern Albania from being annexed to Serbia and Montenegro), he is also known for his struggle against the Communist forces commanded by Enver Hoxha. He had many people working for him, His secretary was Nikoll Llesh Tinaj. The Malsore forces under Prek Cali were initially successful in keeping the Communists from taking control of Northern Albania, but Enver Hoxha used a priest to lure him into a trap on Palm Sunday, and had him killed.
Nora of Kelmendi
She was an Albanian warrior from the region of Kelmendi. She killed the Bosnian Pasha of Shkoder, Vutsi Pasha in 1620. The figure is mid-historical and midlegendary. Nora is one of the heroines that has largely contributed to the legacy of the Albanian malesors.
Other places in Kelmend
There are plenty of other places in Kelmend such as Vermosh, Lepushe, Selce, Tamare, Kozhnje, Nikc, and, Vukel. Places such as Plave or Gusinje are not considered Kelmend. Or other places in Montenegro. Rugove is not in Kelmend. Kelmend in Kosovo is different from Kelmend in Albania.
References
- Vorlage:Sr icon Dedushaj, Rexhep (2003). Plavo - Gusinjska nahija vekovima, New York: Moriah Offset Corp.
- Vorlage:Sr icon Nešto iz Historije Plava iz Gusinje by Professor Rizah Gruda
- Vorlage:Sr icon Montenegrin Ethnic Association of Australia
- Vorlage:Sq icon Gjonbalaj family tree