
Ilir Shaqiri - Arvanite The arvanites were mainly highlanders and farmers. Some say they came to Greece in the 6 and 7AD. But the majority probably came during the XI, XII and XIII centuries. It was a time when Greece was under a bad economic and military shape, entire regions were de-populated due to diseases, wars, starvings etc and those regions became home to rebels, thieves etc. The princes of Greece, greeks, franks and catalans invited albanian clans to settle in those regions to Greece´s situation. They settled mainly in Beotia, Attica, the Peloponnesse. Some settled also in the isles like Hydra, Specia, even Crete and Cyprus. There is even one document on colonies by albanian settlements in Cyprus, mainly mercenaries and their leaders like Aleksander Gabriera! The albanians played an important role in Greece. Many of it´s princes like Leon Sguro were arvanites. The defender of Athens, Dhimitër Rendi (the heavy) was an arvanites! Then we have prince Thedor Bohala. When the turks arrived, the arvanites defended Greece with bravery. One example is Pavlo Bua Sklepa. After beeing defeated, the turks cut of the heads of 800 arvanites making a pyramide to revenge. Then we have plenty others, Centurion Zaharia, Dhoskë the albanian, Dushi, Korkondil Kladha etc. They fought the enemies along the greeks and venetians. As a result, many of the arvanites fled to Italy due to the reprisals, they have many songs about Moréa etc. Those whom stayed continued to fight. It is even <b>...</b>
Ilir
Shaqiri
Arvanite
Arbanite
Arberesh
Souliote
Suliot
Kosova
Albania
Albanians
Shqip
Shqiptar
Shqiperia
Tsamiko
Cameri
Epirote
Epirus
Ipiros
Pirro
Madh
Alexander
Kosovo
Greece
Greek
Italy
Dioguardi