KASTRIOTËT NË DARDANI
THE KASRIOTIS IN DARDANIA

Summary/Abstract: Historical resources have not many information (data) about the presence of Kastriotis in Dardania. They are not directly, most of them are only indirectly (deviously), the data that are not evaluated in historical studies. The first document was a letter by John Kastrioti from February 25th, 1420. In it is said (shown) that starting from west to east, possessions of John Kastrioti extended from Shufadaja, which was a port and custom’s centre of John Kastrioti at the embouchure (mouth) of the river Mat, and it reached to Prizren. In another document, from 1426, by John Kastrioti again is proved that the province of Reka, thus even from the southern side of the Sharr, was in his possession. A document of September 13th, 1430 shows approximately to where on the east extended Kastriotis’ possessions on the road Prizren – Prishtina. The document was written after John Kastrioti’s uprising was put down by Ottoman army, and when parts of his possession in Dardania fell in the invaders’ hands. Through indirect data an historical source it is reached to the conclusion that parallel to the territory of Prizren, John Kastrioti also possessed the hilly territory which divided the western plain of Dardania from its eastern plain, and also the road that connected Prizren with Tetova. Scanderbeg while returning from Nish (1443), the way naturally brought him to the Plain – Dardani. The Ottoman forces left Kosova after their defeat in Nish. Scanderbeg continued his way towards his family possessions under very severe winter conditions and in the town of Prizren he had to stay very long in order to do reorganisation of the rule and defence the country. From Prizren he followed the way to Tetova to reach to Lower Dibra (Pollog of nowadays and he reinforced its mouths (ravines) in order to prevent passage of Ottoman troops towards the plain). In the eastern part of family possessions Scanderbeg stayed for two-three weeks. Afterwards he continued to the western territories and he liberated Kruja and other close castles. After this, he returned to the eastern territories to liberate Upper Dibra and its most important castle, Stefigrad. Scanderbeg was always present in Dardania. At the beginning of September of 1464 he sent his troops towards Sjenicë and he came across with the Ottoman troops, which he crushed them. On the way to Sjenicë (on the northwest of Pazar i Ri) you had to pass through Rrafshi i Dukagjinit of nowadays. Therefore, even during 1464 the Western Dardania was under control of Scanderbeg. A deepened study of historical sources would bring more and more data which would put much more light on close connections of the Kastriotis with Dardania.

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