Gruda

Gruda is one of the seven Albanian clans of Malësia. Located in southern Montenegro, Gruda lies just north of Lake Scutari and includes the small city of Tuzi, the major urban center of Malësia.

Religion

Gruda is mostly Roman Catholic, but it has a sizeable Muslim minority (20-30%) who mostly live in Tuzi and the villages of Milesh and Dinosha. The Church of Gruda, known as Prifti, is the oldest church in the region; and it is not only an Albanian landmark, but (having been built in 1528) its construction provides the most concrete reference date from which ethnic Albanians in the area trace their ancestry [Durham, Edith. High Albania. London: Edward Arnold, 1909. (Chapter III).] .

The Ottoman Conquest

Along with Hoti, its brother tribe, Gruda was instrumental during the Ottoman resistance. The mountains northeast of Tuzi are remembered as the site of a major uprising against the Turks which was among the first significant steps toward Albanian independence and probably the most distinguishing moment of the northern Albanian resistance.

Gruda and Dinoshi proved to be a focus of conflict between Ottoman Empire and Montenegro during 1880. The Porte insisted that in upcoming treaty to cede Dulcigno Ulqin to Montenegro, Gruda and Dinosh be left to Albanians. During the same time, Porte's representative, Riza Pasha was turning a blind eye to the preparations of Albanian League for resistance against the upcoming Montenegrian occupation.#REDIRECT [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9806E1DB153BE033A25755C2A96E9C94619FD7CF&scp=4&sq=gruda&st=p]

Having been forced to disarm, and under considerable pressure by the Ottomans to convert to Islam, (and not having staged any major revolt against Ottoman authority for nearly a half century) the Albanian highlanders launched a small guerilla campaign against the occupying armies.

In 1911, under the leadership of Ded Gjo Luli and Sokol Baci Ivezaj, Albanian guerillas launched a major assault against the strategic high ground of Mount "Deçiq". The force is said to have taken about eighty casualties, but they ultimately prevailed, and planted the Albanian flag at the crest of the hill (the first time the flag had been raised in the counrty since 1469) [ [http://www.dedgjoluli.org/history.html 404-not found ] ] [ [http://www.shkoder.net/al/dedgjoluli.htm Shkodra ] ] .

This symbolic act represented a major sign of the Ottoman empire's crumbling yoke over the Balkans, and it cemented Gruda's reputation among the other ethnic Albanian tribes.

Geography

The city of Tuzi lies in the east end of Gruda. Of Tuzi's 3,789 residents, more than 2000 are ethnic Albanians, making it, according to the 2003 census, the heaviest concentration of ethnic Albanians in Malësia. Over the last 30 years there has been a minor influx from the surrounding villages of Albanians who are looking to take advantage of Tuzi's relatively higher standard of living and better educational system.

In the western half of Gruda lies a small range of mountains "Male te Deciqit" as well as the river "Cemi", which runs through Gruda, separating Dečić and the village of Suka, as well as forming the border between the lands of the Gruda tribe and those of Koja e Kucit. Deciq and Suka being the largest mountains in Gruda.

Also in Gruda is Ksheva, birthplace of local legend Smail Martini Ivezaj and his daughter Tringa Smail/Martini (also known as "Tringa of Gruda"). And, the town of Milesh, birthplace of Baca Kurti Gjokaj, another legend of Gruda.

Gruda is made up of the following villages: Tuzi, Ksheva, Milesh, Dinosha, Sëlisht, Deciq, Vranë, Vlane, Prift, Tergaja, Shipcanik, Lofka, Pikalë, Lekaj, Dheu i Zi, and Suka e Grudes.

Notable People

*Vucin Gela
*Vuksan Gela
*Zef Martini Ivezaj
*Baca Kurti Gjokaj (Milesh)
*Kol Zefi Ivezaj (Kshev)
*Zef Miliqi Lulgjuraj
*Sokol Baci Ivezaj (Kshev)
*Ded Nika Ivezaj
*Halil Haka Nikaj
*Tringa Smail Martini Ivezaj
*Palok Gjoka Vulaj (Vulaj)
*Maxha Grishi Bojaj
*Flamur Gruda
*Martin Prensh Gjoni Ivezaj
*Fran Llesh Leke Vulaj
*Prel Toma Ivezaj

urnames of Gruda

*Ivezaj
*Lulgjuraj
*Gjokaj
*Frluckaj
*Nikaj
*Gjolaj
*Sinishtaj
*Berishaj
*Bojaj
*Kalaj
*Pali
*Sukaj
*Stanaj
*Lulanaj
*Pepaj
*Vulaj
*Vucinaj