Drivast

Drisht
—  Community  —
Drisht
Coordinates: 42°7′23″N 19°35′29″E / 42.12306°N 19.59139°E / 42.12306; 19.59139Coordinates: 42°7′23″N 19°35′29″E / 42.12306°N 19.59139°E / 42.12306; 19.59139
Country	Albania
County	Shkodër County
District	Shkodër District
Time zone	Central European Time (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Car Plates	SH

Drivast (Albanian: Drisht) was an important medieval town in contemporary Albania. Today, it is located in the municipality Postribë in the Shkodër District.^[1]

History

Drivast is known to have existed before the twelfth century AD. The Diocese of Drivast, in 1089, became a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Antivari after it was transferred from the Archdiocese of Ragusa.

In 1183, Serbian Stefan Nemanja conquered Drivast and its surroundings.

The townspeople of Drivast murdered their bishop in the thirteenth century.

In 1241, the city was plundered by Tatars as they were advancing east across Zeta as they were heading home.

Scholars estimate that Drivast was taken by the Serbian Balšići ca. spring of 1362. However, it is known that by 1363, they had captured Drivast and nearby Scutari.

In 1393, Đurađ II Balšić, having negotiated his freedom from Turkish captivity, submitted to Ottoman suzerainty and surrendered Drivast, along with Sveti Srđ and Scutari. However, Đurađ soon ended his vassalage to the Ottomans and reconquered the cities he had surrendered mere months before. Knowing he could not outlast an Ottoman counter-attack, he handed these cities, including Drivast, to Venice in exchange for 1,000 ducats yearly.

In 1399, the townspeople in Drivast and Scutari started a revolt against Venice, angered at the high taxes they were paying. The revolt lasted for three years, when Venetian troops managed to control the situation. However, the areas surrounding Drivast and Scutari no longer recognized Venetian authority.

Angered by Venice's policy on his former lands and its trade monopoly policy that caused an economic stagnation in his ports, Đurađ II sent troops to his former lands, including Drivast, breaking his peace treaty with Venice. Đurađ's actions led to Venice believing that he had a major role in the uprising's initiation. Scholars are unsure whether this accusation is accurate. The Turks also decided to send raiding parties to these rebellious lands.

In 1423, Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković conquered Drivast.

In August 1442, Venice took Drivast from Đurađ Branković. In mid-1440s, Skënderbeg ordered the Venetians to give Drivast to the Albanians, along with the lands of the former Lekë Zakarija. However, the Venetians refused to accept.

In September 1478, Drivast was captured by the Ottomans.

References

1. ^ "Location of Drisht". http://www.geonames.org/search.html?q=Drisht&country=. Retrieved 6/3/2010.