Drangue

In Albanian mythology, the drangue is a semi-human winged warrior. The goal of the drangue is to defeat the kulshedras and the enemies of the Albanian people.

Appearance

The drangues are semi-human warriors with extraordinary strength, giving them the ability to tear trees out of the ground and throw large boulders at their enemies.^[1] They are born wearing shirts and qeleshes, with wings under their arms.^[1] Thunderstorms are conceived as battles between the drangues and the kulshedras.^[1] Drangues are believed to have slain a kulshedra, knocking her unconscious by throwing trees and boulders at her, and afterwards drowning her in Shkumbin, a river in central Albania.^[1]

Highland lute

In the Lahuta e Malcis (English: Highland Lute) -- one of the most important heroic epics of Albania—the drangues are presented as the personification of the Albanian Highlands heroes, and are the central figures of the 16th and the 17th canto.^[2] In the 16th canto a kulshedra escapes from a cave in Shalë to take revenge on Vocerr Bala, a drangue.^[2] A force of drangues gather and defeat the kulshedra. After the battle they are invited by oras, female protective spirits, to celebrate their victory.^[2]

In the 17th canto the central figures are two drangues named Rrustem Uka and Xhem Sadrija.^[2] After preparing for a wedding ceremony, they travel to Qafë Hardhi (English: Grapevine Pass) to rest. While cleaning their weapons and smoking, they discover that eight Montenegrin battalions, consisting of three hundred soldiers led by Mark Milani, are marching against Plava and Gucia.^[2] The two drangues with the help of local shepherds manage to defend Qafë Hardhi and defeat the Montenegrin troops which retreat at Sutjeska.^[2]

Modern beliefs

In Malësia, a region in northern Albania and southern Montenegro inhabited mostly by Albanians, the locals believe that the drangues exist and live among them.^[3]

See also

• Albanian mythology
• Zana e Malit
• Shurdhi

Sources

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Lowie, Robert H. (2007). An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. READ BOOKS. pp. 523. ISBN 1406717657. http://books.google.com/books?id=owA46V6fSPkC&pg=PA522&dq=drangues. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Fishta, Gjergj; Robert Elsie, Janice Mathie-Heck (2005). The highland lute: (Lahuta e malcís) : the Albanian national epic. Centre for Albanian Studies (London, England). I.B.Tauris. pp. 2, 133, 148. ISBN 1845111184. http://books.google.com/books?id=j7tLgANw8hAC. 
3. ^ Röhrich, Lutz (1964) (in German). Märchen und Wirklichkeit: eine volkskundliche Untersuchung. F. Steiner. pp. 172. ISBN 3896763806. http://books.google.com/books?id=MB7gAAAAMAAJ&q=drangues.