KOSOVA NË KUADËR TË PRINCIPATËS DUKAGJINI HISTORIA DHE GJENEALOGJIA E DUKAGJINËVE
KOSOVO WITHIN THE DUKAGJINI PRINCIPALITY

Summary/Abstract: In the middle of the fourteenth century, after the fall of the Serbian Empire, and the weakeningof the Byzantine Empire, feudal territories states – principalities were formed in the Arbëresh territories: Principality of the Dukagjini. Their landslay in Upper Arberia. The Dukagjini found their strengh after the weakening of the Balshajve principalities who sufferedde feat against the Ottomans in the Battle of Savra in year 1385. After this battle, the Dukagjini, like many other Arber feudal lords, came under the Ottoman vassalage. The Dukagjini emerge as independent masters in Lezha, thuse mergingon the coast or in the seafront. In the 1387 the headof the dynastic family Leke Dukagjini (Leak I) in his own name and hisbrother Palit granted the Raguzans, by special act, permission to move freely in his territories without having fearof the Ottomans, after he had made peace with them, with one condition, they pay the same liabilities they paid before. This proves that the provinces along the important Lezha - Prizren road were under the control of the Dukagjinie, as well as both of these cities. These statements clearly tellus that the area of Dukagjini begins to expand in the direction of Prizren, Gjakova and Peja. After the year 1430, when Gjon Kastrioti was forced to submit to the Ottomans, the Dukagjini expanded to the detriment (damage) of the Kastrioti territories in Kosovo. So they claimed the roadf rom Lezha and then went to the river Drin before Prizren. This land through which the roadcrosses belonged to Pulatit, in the early Middle Ages; in the century XIV a considerable part was under the leadership of Gjon Kastrioti. Then these territories belonged to the Dukagjini, whose name is still used today. There are many well-known Dukagjinas ruler sand the mostprominentone’s are Nikollë Dukagjini and Pal Dukagjini, participant’s in the Assemblyof Lezha, in the year 1444. In the year 1447, Nikollë Dukagjini joined Skanderbeg in the battle against Venice on the issue of the cityof Deja. Until the year 1462, the Dukagjin etruled in their territories, as vassals of the Ottoman sand some times vassals of the Venetians. Upon the conquest of Peja in the year 1462 by the Ottomans, the Dukagjini Sandzak was formed, which covers a wide area, from Peja to Lezha and mat. After Skanderbeg's death, Leke Dukagjini becomes the most prominent leader in the war against the Ottomans.

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