Kuci
Encyclopedia
Kuči is one of the Highland clans
of Montenegro
, and is also a name of geographical region in eastern Montenegro which the clan populates. The region is located north-east of Podgorica
, and extends along the border with Albania, with the Kelmend region on the other side of the border. The geographic region took the name of the tribe, historically being called Zatrijebač. Marko Miljanov Popović
, writer and warrior from Kuči, is arguably the most prominent member of the tribe.
The Kuči region can be divided into three major groups:
The majority of inhabitants are Christian while a minority is Muslim.
with a minority of Catholic
Albanians
.
Mariano Bolizza of Kotor
, a servant of the Republic of Venice, wrote a report in 1614, initially for describing Sanjak of Shkodra
's land routes which could best be utilized by local couriers conveying official correspondence from Venice to Constantinople and back, and to survey the military potential of the territory. He also provided a very detailed overview of towns and villages in Montenegro and northern Albania; their respective chiefs and men in arms, as well as demographics. Kuči, Bratonožići and part of Plava were under the soldiers of Medun
, the spahee, but the commander was not named; and the highlanders would pay the Ottoman officials a portion of their income.
The Islamization of Kuči has made a minority of inhabitants declaring as simply Montenegrins or Muslims by nationality
and Bosniaks
although they thrace the same origin with that of their Christian brethren.
In 1694 the Kuči were allied together with the Albanian Hoti
in an uprising against the Turks
. Throughout the 18th century, the Kuči fight together with the Vasojevići
and the Albanians Hoti and Klimente
in resistance against the Ottoman Empire
.
A famous story about the Kuči is one from the 18th century; the Turks advanced in Zeta towards Kuči and the troops organized themselves at the village of Begović. The Vezir of Shkodër sat in the Begović tower. Soldiers where standing outside when the Vezir shouted to two Serbs from Oraovac who were in Ottoman service, Đulja Jovanov from Podgrađe and Iveza Vukov from Kuđani: ”Đulja, I will give you the Sultan's barjak (war flag) and you will carry it towards Kuci!", the Vezir ordered the flag to be taken by Djula. Djulja answered "My Pasha, my honour does not permit me carrying your flag towards my brothers" in which the Vezir lowered a rope from his window "Either you take the flag and carry it in front of the army, or you take this rope around your neck!". Djulja replied "God help me, for I will take the rope instead of the flag against Kuči!" and he went up on the gallows
, pushed the flag to the side and took the rope, tightening it around his neck and stood himself on the batten. The Vezir warned "I will tell you this only once again, take the flag or we will remove the batten that you stand on", Djulja "I will remove it myself so that you won't need to exert your Turks, I stand by my relatives and would proudly die for them." Then a Muslim Slav named Punan Dedin, himself from the same tribe, said "At whos house is the Crow shrieking today
?" Djulja replied "At mine today and yours tomorrow!" and kicked the batten, hanging himself. The Vezir turned to Iveza: "What will you take, the flag or rope?" Iveza answered: "the same as Djulja, never the flag" and walked up towards the gallows, another Muslim Slav, Sulejman Kut, a close relative of Iveza, turns to a Ali-paša Osmanagić and begs "If you are a good Turk, don't let him die!", Ali-paša stops Iveza and asks the Vezir "Honorable Pasha, can I pay for his life?" - "No" - "Can I give my son instead of him?" - "No" - "Then I will give money, my son, myself, everything for his sake, I will not let him die!". The Vezir looked carefully "Okay, I will give him to you", the soldiers cheered at the honorable gesture.
The center of resistance against the Ottomans came with Duke Marko Miljanov Popović in the 19th century, who contributed greatly to the struggle for Serb national unification and liberation
.
Marko Drekalović, who with his tribe, the New Kuči, after harrying the Turks for many years, sick of Turkish rule, joined forces with Prince Nikola
when a war against the Turks was proclaimed. Kuči was later included politically within the Montenegrin
border after the war of 1876–1878.
The history of the Old Kuči starts with a Gojko Mrnjavčević
, the brother of Serbian King Vukašin Mrnjavčević
and Despot Jovan Uglješa
, who, after the Battle of Maritsa
against the Turks in 1371 (his brothers died at the battle), fled with his family and settled in the Kuči mountains to avoid persecution by the Turks.
Gojko had a son, Nenad, which in turn had Grča (Gavrilo) and Gojko. Grča had a son, Panto Grčin (or Grčić), and his sons: Petar, Đurađ, Tiho(mir), Mara (Marin/Marko) and L(j)eš (Aleksa). Gojko had a son named Đuro.
Panto, after gaining control of the governance of Orahovo and other nearby villages, had decided to relocate his sons to key places to which he would soon control. Panto and his youngest son, Tihomir, had settled in Berovo. Đurađ, first Duke of present-day Upper Kuči, had settled in the Dučići or Liješti village. Mara has settled in Bezjovo, Lješ in Krivi Do and Petar in Ubli. However, Tihomir soon left his father in Berovo and set out somewhere along the Cijevna River and was never mentioned in history from then on. After Tihomir left Berovo, Petar returned to his father in Orahovo.
According to folk telling, Petar Pantin (or Pantović) had four sons, Marko, Andrija, Vuko (Vukašin) and Nikač. Vuko and Andrija were, however, never mentioned in any family tree in Orahovo, possibly because either they probably never bore any male offspring or had left Orahovo early in their lives. Vuko did indeed leave Orahovo and immigrated somewhere toward Malësia. Marko and Nikač, however, lived during the mid-15th century. According to folk telling, Nikač had two sons, Petar and Andrija. Petar's descendants were never mentioned, however, it is known that Andrija has a son named Nikola. Nikola had one son, named Stojan. Stojan had, according to folk telling, three sons, Vuko, Stefo and Periša. Vuko and Stefo had died of a siniter disease, called "čume" by the locals, which had caused an epidemic within the region. Soon, Stojan, and Periša's son, Stefan, had died and Periša, fearing the death of his remaining son, Vuk, left Berovo and settled in Lazorce, a village far north of Berovo, believing that "čume" will not reach the village. Periša was quickly accepted by the population in Lazorce. Periša's descendants would later become known as the Perići, a clan still existing today in Lazorce.
It is also believed through folk telling that Grča had two brothers, Krsto and Šako, who were the founding fathers of the Kastrati
and Shaljani tribes. Many Mrnjavčevićs crossed over to Islam, among the most notable the Ganići in Rožaje and Radonjičići (today Radončić) in Gusinje.
There are sources that point that the Kelmendi clan of Malesia
are of Serb origin, that the founder came from the Morača
i.e. Piperi
i.e. Herzegovina
. A certain Klmen (or Amati) from Kuči settled first in Hoti then re-settled in the present clan area. Among some Kelmends, Nikola Oštroumni Kolmendija (Nikola "Sharp-minded" Kolmendija) is the founding father.
, literally "the screamer"), the name for a mythological creature in Serbian folklore
, a bogeyman
(registered in Serbia
, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro
).
There are various legends about a certain Drekale Panjković, who, if not descending of the Old Kuči, according to Montenegrin traditions had settled in Kuči with his mother (named Gruba or Irena) in the mid-16th century. The two main legends are: Drekale was a descendant of Serbian Emperor
Dušan the Mighty through his mother, alternatively Gruba had been married to a Nikeza (Nikač, Nikola
, possibly father/stepfather of Drekale) of the Mrnjavčević family (Old Kuči), great-great-grandson of Gojko, a brother of Vukašin Mrnjavčević
, a 14th-century King of Serbia.
According to Albanian national tellings, Drekale was a grandson of George Kastrioti Scanderbey himself, through his son John. Another popular telling suggests that the Drekalovići descend from the Albanian-Malësor Kastrati
tribe possibly from the remaining enclave of Albanians in the town of Koja e Kuçit
.
Drekale's son Lale Drekalov is the true founder of the Drekalović Kuči brotherhood, from him sprang over 800 houses. Serbian Patriarch John II Kantul wanted to raise initiatives in an attempt to raise a general national rebellion against the Ottoman Empire, it organized meetings of Serb chiefs. In 1608 Lale attended one such in the Morača
monastery and in 1613 the second one in the Kuči.
Lale Drekalov had married twice, he had Vuk from his first marriage and four sons in his second, the most important being Iliko. In 1658 Iliko became Duke of the Kuči. In the following 30 years Iliko's son Ivan came to prominence as also Duke. From then onwards sprang Iliković brotherhood, which made up to half of all Drekalovics. Vuk crossed over to Islam
and became the forefather of the Turkovići in Podgorica
. These all Kucis hence became known as "the New Kuči".
The ethnic Albanian Banjkani clan claims descent from the House of Crnojević
.
and Montenegrin Albanians
live together in Kuči. The first two groups may be regarded as one, as some families may politically be split between the two, with one brother being a Montenegrin and another being a Serb. Most of the Montenegrins/Serbs are followers of the Serbian Orthodox Church
, while a minority are Muslims
. Most of the Albanians are followers of the Roman Catholic Church
living in the town of Koja e Kuçit
.
Christian Orthodox residents used to be split into two distinct groups: Old Kuči ("Starokuči") and Drekalovićs/New Kuči. The Old Kuči is generally seen as being of Serb descent and are native or have settled in the area at the time of the Serbian Empire
in the 14th century. The New Kuči (generally referred to as "Drekalovići") are a large group of clans (bratstva) that share a common legendary ancestor - a certain Drekale. The Drekalovics are dated to the 17th century.
village, which has about 1,500 residents. In Ubli are situated major institutions of Kuči like Culture Hall, Elementary School 'Đoko Prelević', Hospital, police station, and a former fabric factory. Ubli is situated in central Kuči with the center and villages of Prelevići, Pavićevići, Živkovići, Kostrovići, etc. Other villages are: Medun
, Orahovo, Fundina, Koći, Kržanja, Kosor, Vrbica, Stravče, Zagreda, Raći in Gornji Kuči and Doljani, Murtovina, Stara Zlatica, Zlatica in Donji Kuči. There is still a remaining enclave of Albanians in the village of Koći (Koja in Albanian), making the clan of Koja e Kuçit
.
Serb clans
Serb clans is a general term referring to what are known as plemena and bratstva , traditional geo-political units of the Western Balkans that now richly attest social anthropology and family history . The descendants of the clans are divided by regional and lately, national affiliation...
of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, and is also a name of geographical region in eastern Montenegro which the clan populates. The region is located north-east of Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
, and extends along the border with Albania, with the Kelmend region on the other side of the border. The geographic region took the name of the tribe, historically being called Zatrijebač. Marko Miljanov Popović
Marko Miljanov
Marko Miljanov Popović was a warrior and writer from Montenegro. He led the Kuči clan against the Turks in 1862 and distinguished himself in the War of 1876-78...
, writer and warrior from Kuči, is arguably the most prominent member of the tribe.
The Kuči region can be divided into three major groups:
- Old Kuči, Orthodox Serbs who celebrate the slava of Mitrovdan (Saint Demetrius)
- Drekalovići, Orthodox Serbs who celebrate the slava of Nikoljdan (Saint NicholasSaint NicholasSaint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
) - Zatrijebač (TrieshTrieshTriesh is one of the seven Albanian tribes of Malësi e Madhe. Today, around 400 descendants of the tribe live in the small but active tribal sub-region. Trieshi, as well as Hot, derive from a single ancestor named Keq Preka...
or Triepsh in AlbanianAlbanian languageAlbanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
), Catholic Albanians who celebrate the Nativity of the TheotokosNativity of the TheotokosThe Nativity of the Theotokos, celebrating the birth of Mary, is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Eastern Orthodox liturgical year. It is celebrated on September 8 on the liturgical calendar .According to the sacred tradition of the Orthodox Church,...
The majority of inhabitants are Christian while a minority is Muslim.
History
In a 1582/83 defter of the Ottoman Empire, Kuči had 13 villages. The majority is SerbSerbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
with a minority of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
.
Mariano Bolizza of Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
, a servant of the Republic of Venice, wrote a report in 1614, initially for describing Sanjak of Shkodra
Sanjak of Shkodra
The Sanjak of Scutari or Sanjak of Shkodra was one of the sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire. It was established after Ottoman Empire captured Shkodër in 1479. It was part of Rumelia Eyalet until 1867, when it became a part, together with Sanjak of Skopje, of newly-established Scutari Vilayet...
's land routes which could best be utilized by local couriers conveying official correspondence from Venice to Constantinople and back, and to survey the military potential of the territory. He also provided a very detailed overview of towns and villages in Montenegro and northern Albania; their respective chiefs and men in arms, as well as demographics. Kuči, Bratonožići and part of Plava were under the soldiers of Medun
Medun
Medun is a settlement located 13 km northeast of the capital Podgorica, Montenegro. The village houses the archaeological site of the ancient fortified city of Medeon, which was used throughout history until the end of the middle ages. It is situated in the clan area of the Gornji Kuči, one of the...
, the spahee, but the commander was not named; and the highlanders would pay the Ottoman officials a portion of their income.
The Islamization of Kuči has made a minority of inhabitants declaring as simply Montenegrins or Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
and Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
although they thrace the same origin with that of their Christian brethren.
In 1694 the Kuči were allied together with the Albanian Hoti
Hoti (tribe)
Hoti is an Albanian clan of the region of Malësia in northern Albania and southern Montenegro.-History:The clan of Hoti was first recorded in 1330, while in 1474 their region was mentioned in Latin sources as montanea ottanorum . In 1412-3 during a dispute over pasture lands with the neighboring...
in an uprising against the Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. Throughout the 18th century, the Kuči fight together with the Vasojevići
Vasojevici
The Vasojevići tribe is the largest Serb clan in Montenegro. It occupies the area between Vjetarnih Lijeva Rijeka in the South and Bihor under Bijelo Polje in the North, Mateševo in the West to Plav in the East. The clan is one of seven "highland clans"...
and the Albanians Hoti and Klimente
Kelmendi
Kelmend, or Kelmendi mountains is a region and clan in the mountainous borderlands of Albania and Montenegro, of the wider Malësia-region . Part of the region lies within the Kelmend municipality, and is composed of a Roman Catholic majority and Muslim minority...
in resistance against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
A famous story about the Kuči is one from the 18th century; the Turks advanced in Zeta towards Kuči and the troops organized themselves at the village of Begović. The Vezir of Shkodër sat in the Begović tower. Soldiers where standing outside when the Vezir shouted to two Serbs from Oraovac who were in Ottoman service, Đulja Jovanov from Podgrađe and Iveza Vukov from Kuđani: ”Đulja, I will give you the Sultan's barjak (war flag) and you will carry it towards Kuci!", the Vezir ordered the flag to be taken by Djula. Djulja answered "My Pasha, my honour does not permit me carrying your flag towards my brothers" in which the Vezir lowered a rope from his window "Either you take the flag and carry it in front of the army, or you take this rope around your neck!". Djulja replied "God help me, for I will take the rope instead of the flag against Kuči!" and he went up on the gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
, pushed the flag to the side and took the rope, tightening it around his neck and stood himself on the batten. The Vezir warned "I will tell you this only once again, take the flag or we will remove the batten that you stand on", Djulja "I will remove it myself so that you won't need to exert your Turks, I stand by my relatives and would proudly die for them." Then a Muslim Slav named Punan Dedin, himself from the same tribe, said "At whos house is the Crow shrieking today
Cultural depictions of ravens
There are many references to ravens in legends and literature. Most of these refer to the widespread common raven. Because of its black plumage, croaking call, and diet of carrion, the raven has long been considered a bird of ill omen and of interest to creators of myths and legends.-Symbolism:The...
?" Djulja replied "At mine today and yours tomorrow!" and kicked the batten, hanging himself. The Vezir turned to Iveza: "What will you take, the flag or rope?" Iveza answered: "the same as Djulja, never the flag" and walked up towards the gallows, another Muslim Slav, Sulejman Kut, a close relative of Iveza, turns to a Ali-paša Osmanagić and begs "If you are a good Turk, don't let him die!", Ali-paša stops Iveza and asks the Vezir "Honorable Pasha, can I pay for his life?" - "No" - "Can I give my son instead of him?" - "No" - "Then I will give money, my son, myself, everything for his sake, I will not let him die!". The Vezir looked carefully "Okay, I will give him to you", the soldiers cheered at the honorable gesture.
The center of resistance against the Ottomans came with Duke Marko Miljanov Popović in the 19th century, who contributed greatly to the struggle for Serb national unification and liberation
Greater Serbia
The term Greater Serbia or Great Serbia applies to the Serbian nationalist and irredentist ideology directed towards the creation of a Serbian land which would incorporate all regions of traditional significance to the Serbian nation...
.
Marko Drekalović, who with his tribe, the New Kuči, after harrying the Turks for many years, sick of Turkish rule, joined forces with Prince Nikola
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
when a war against the Turks was proclaimed. Kuči was later included politically within the Montenegrin
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
border after the war of 1876–1878.
Old Kuči
The Old Kuči (Starokuči) are the founders of the Kuči clan.The history of the Old Kuči starts with a Gojko Mrnjavčević
Gojko Mrnjavčević
Gojko Mrnjavčević was a 14th-century noble that held the title of logothete in the Serbian Empire. He is mentioned in Serb epic poetry as Vojvoda Gojko, commanding the Serbian army in the Battle of Maritsa against the Ottoman Empire alongside his two brothers...
, the brother of Serbian King Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Vukašin Mrnjavcevic
Vukašin Mrnjavčević was a Serbian ruler in modern-day central and northwestern Macedonia, who ruled from 1365 to 1371. According to 17th-century Ragusan historian Mavro Orbin, his father was a minor noble named Mrnjava from Zachlumia, whose sons Vukašin and Uglješa were born in Livno in western...
and Despot Jovan Uglješa
Jovan Ugljesa
Jovan Uglješa Mrnjavčević was a 14th-century Serbian noble and brother of Serbian ruler Vukašin Mrnjavčević.-Life:Uglješa was the son of Mrnjava, a treasurer of Helen of Anjou, the queen consort of Stephen Uroš I of Serbia....
, who, after the Battle of Maritsa
Battle of Maritsa
The Battle of Maritsa, or Battle of Chernomen, took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen on September 26, 1371 between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Murad I's lieutenant Lala Şâhin Paşa and the...
against the Turks in 1371 (his brothers died at the battle), fled with his family and settled in the Kuči mountains to avoid persecution by the Turks.
Gojko had a son, Nenad, which in turn had Grča (Gavrilo) and Gojko. Grča had a son, Panto Grčin (or Grčić), and his sons: Petar, Đurađ, Tiho(mir), Mara (Marin/Marko) and L(j)eš (Aleksa). Gojko had a son named Đuro.
Panto, after gaining control of the governance of Orahovo and other nearby villages, had decided to relocate his sons to key places to which he would soon control. Panto and his youngest son, Tihomir, had settled in Berovo. Đurađ, first Duke of present-day Upper Kuči, had settled in the Dučići or Liješti village. Mara has settled in Bezjovo, Lješ in Krivi Do and Petar in Ubli. However, Tihomir soon left his father in Berovo and set out somewhere along the Cijevna River and was never mentioned in history from then on. After Tihomir left Berovo, Petar returned to his father in Orahovo.
According to folk telling, Petar Pantin (or Pantović) had four sons, Marko, Andrija, Vuko (Vukašin) and Nikač. Vuko and Andrija were, however, never mentioned in any family tree in Orahovo, possibly because either they probably never bore any male offspring or had left Orahovo early in their lives. Vuko did indeed leave Orahovo and immigrated somewhere toward Malësia. Marko and Nikač, however, lived during the mid-15th century. According to folk telling, Nikač had two sons, Petar and Andrija. Petar's descendants were never mentioned, however, it is known that Andrija has a son named Nikola. Nikola had one son, named Stojan. Stojan had, according to folk telling, three sons, Vuko, Stefo and Periša. Vuko and Stefo had died of a siniter disease, called "čume" by the locals, which had caused an epidemic within the region. Soon, Stojan, and Periša's son, Stefan, had died and Periša, fearing the death of his remaining son, Vuk, left Berovo and settled in Lazorce, a village far north of Berovo, believing that "čume" will not reach the village. Periša was quickly accepted by the population in Lazorce. Periša's descendants would later become known as the Perići, a clan still existing today in Lazorce.
It is also believed through folk telling that Grča had two brothers, Krsto and Šako, who were the founding fathers of the Kastrati
Kastrati
Kastrati is an Albanian surname. It is derived from the name of a tribe of the Malësi e Madhe District district in Northern Albania.People called Kastrati include*Bekim Kastrati , football player*Flamur Kastrati , football player...
and Shaljani tribes. Many Mrnjavčevićs crossed over to Islam, among the most notable the Ganići in Rožaje and Radonjičići (today Radončić) in Gusinje.
There are sources that point that the Kelmendi clan of Malesia
Malesia
Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the boundaries of the Indomalaya ecozone and Australasia ecozone, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom.-Floristic province:...
are of Serb origin, that the founder came from the Morača
Morača
Morača is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzača mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Skadar....
i.e. Piperi
Piperi
Piperi can mean:* Piperi, Greece, an island in Greece* Piperi clan, a clan in Montenegro* Piperi , a village in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
i.e. Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
. A certain Klmen (or Amati) from Kuči settled first in Hoti then re-settled in the present clan area. Among some Kelmends, Nikola Oštroumni Kolmendija (Nikola "Sharp-minded" Kolmendija) is the founding father.
- Dedići
- Đurđevići - Mrnjavčevići
- Vujoševići
- Krivodoljani
- Bojovići (Baljušići)
- Gošovići
- Milići
- Mitrovići
- Nikići
- Pekovići
- Perkovići
- Mrnjavčići (descendants of Panta)
- Milići
- Nikezići (descendants of Nikeza Marov)
- Muratagići (descendants of Nikola Nikezić)
- Nikčevići (descendants of Nikač)
- Nikići
- Živkovići
- Oručevići
Drekalovići (New Kuči)
The founding of the New Kuči starts with the Drekalovići. The etymology of the surname is rooted in the personal name Drekale which is in turn derived from the archaic Slavic name Drek from the Verb Dreka (derati se) "to scream, shout, outcry", also connected to the word Drekalo (DrekavacDrekavac
Drekavac , also called drek and drekalo 'дрекавац' in Serbian is a mythical creature in south Slavic mythology.-Original beliefs:Drekavac come from the souls of children who have died unbaptised....
, literally "the screamer"), the name for a mythological creature in Serbian folklore
Serbian folklore
Serbian folklore is the folk traditions among ethnic Serbs. The earliest examples of Serbian folklore are seen in the pre-Christian Slavic customs transformed into Christianity.-Folklore:...
, a bogeyman
Bogeyman
A bogeyman is an amorphous imaginary being used by adults to frighten children into compliant behaviour...
(registered in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
).
There are various legends about a certain Drekale Panjković, who, if not descending of the Old Kuči, according to Montenegrin traditions had settled in Kuči with his mother (named Gruba or Irena) in the mid-16th century. The two main legends are: Drekale was a descendant of Serbian Emperor
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
Dušan the Mighty through his mother, alternatively Gruba had been married to a Nikeza (Nikač, Nikola
Nikola
Nikola is a male given name, derived from Greek Nikolaos , common in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Czechia and Slovenia...
, possibly father/stepfather of Drekale) of the Mrnjavčević family (Old Kuči), great-great-grandson of Gojko, a brother of Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Vukašin Mrnjavcevic
Vukašin Mrnjavčević was a Serbian ruler in modern-day central and northwestern Macedonia, who ruled from 1365 to 1371. According to 17th-century Ragusan historian Mavro Orbin, his father was a minor noble named Mrnjava from Zachlumia, whose sons Vukašin and Uglješa were born in Livno in western...
, a 14th-century King of Serbia.
According to Albanian national tellings, Drekale was a grandson of George Kastrioti Scanderbey himself, through his son John. Another popular telling suggests that the Drekalovići descend from the Albanian-Malësor Kastrati
Kastrati
Kastrati is an Albanian surname. It is derived from the name of a tribe of the Malësi e Madhe District district in Northern Albania.People called Kastrati include*Bekim Kastrati , football player*Flamur Kastrati , football player...
tribe possibly from the remaining enclave of Albanians in the town of Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit is considered one of the seven Northern Albanian tribes of Malësia. Koja is the Albanian Catholic tribe of Koja e Kuçit, the name derived from a combination of the Albanian Koja clan, within the Kuči mountain. The people of this tribe are said to be descendants of the tribe of Kelmend....
.
Drekale's son Lale Drekalov is the true founder of the Drekalović Kuči brotherhood, from him sprang over 800 houses. Serbian Patriarch John II Kantul wanted to raise initiatives in an attempt to raise a general national rebellion against the Ottoman Empire, it organized meetings of Serb chiefs. In 1608 Lale attended one such in the Morača
Morača
Morača is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzača mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Skadar....
monastery and in 1613 the second one in the Kuči.
Lale Drekalov had married twice, he had Vuk from his first marriage and four sons in his second, the most important being Iliko. In 1658 Iliko became Duke of the Kuči. In the following 30 years Iliko's son Ivan came to prominence as also Duke. From then onwards sprang Iliković brotherhood, which made up to half of all Drekalovics. Vuk crossed over to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and became the forefather of the Turkovići in Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
. These all Kucis hence became known as "the New Kuči".
The ethnic Albanian Banjkani clan claims descent from the House of Crnojević
House of Crnojevic
The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble house that held Zeta, or parts of it; a region corresponding to north of Lake Skadar , from 1326 to 1362, then 1403 until 1515. The progenitor, Đuraš Ilijić, was head of Upper Zeta in the Serbian Kingdom and Empire The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble...
.
- Bulajići (descendants of Boroje Dragojev Drekalović)
- Ćetkovići
- Covic
- Milinići (descendants of knez Milin Borojev Bulajić)
- Pašajlići
- Popovići
- Prndići
- Radani (descendants of Radan Škeranov Bulajić)
- Stanići
- Todorovići (descendants of Todor Borojev Bulajić)
- Vukajlovići (descendants of Vukajlo Škeranov Bulajić)
- Čejovići (descendants of Čejo Lalev Drekalović)
- Božovići (descendants of Božo Popov Čejović)
- Mićkovići (descendants of Mićko Božov Čejović)
- Camovići (descendants of Camo Vujov Čejović)
- Barići
- Pavićevići (descendants of Pavić Popov Čejović)
- Božovići
- Prelevići (descendants of Prele Popov Čejović)
- Radevići (descendants of Rade Popov Čejović)
- Radonjići (descendants of Radonja Popov Čejović)
- Božovići (descendants of Božo Popov Čejović)
- Ivanovići (descendants of Ivan Ilikov Drekalović)
- Baković
- Ljakovići (descendants of Ljaka Ilikov Drekalović)
- Mijovići (descendants of Mijo Lalev Drekalović)
- Begovići
- Kolovići
- Milačići (descendants of Milač Ilikov Drekalović)
- Kalači (descendants of Vušo (Mušo) Perov Milačić)
- Begovići
- Šabanovići
- Došovići
- Ljabovići
- Nešovići
- Turkovići
- Kalači (descendants of Vušo (Mušo) Perov Milačić)
- Popovići (descendants of pop (priest) Mirčeta Ilikov Drekalović)
- Barjaktarovići
- Petrovići (descendants of Petar Ilikov Drekalović)
- Rašovići
- Radonjići (descendants of Radonja Petrov Drekalović)
- Turkovići (descendants of Vujaš (Vuk) Lalev Drekalović)
- Vučetići (descendants of Luka Radojev Drekalović)
- Vujačići (descendants of Šoroje Dragojev Drekalović)
- Dakovići
- Jakšići
- Luburići
- Stevanovići
- Vujoševići (descendants of Vujoš Lalev Drekalović)
- Božovići
- Veskovići
- Rašovići
- Božovići
- Vukoslavčevići (descendants of Vukoslav Ilikov Drekalović)
- Vuksanovići (descendants of Vuksan Ilikov Drekalović)
Zatrijebač
Zatrijebač (Triesh), though located in the historical Kuči region in Montenegro, is not part of the Kuči clan but is one of the seven Albanian highland clans. Families that make up Zatrijebač are:- Bankeći
- Bardačari
- Bunjkanji
- Gašovići
- Ibričevići
- Bisići
- Milići (originally from Bjelica in CetinjeCetinjeCetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
)- Bankanji
- Bekteši or Bekteševići (descendants of Bekteš)
- Kobilići
- Lončarevići
- Mulići
- Bećiragići
- Ademović
- Topalović
- Bekteši or Bekteševići (descendants of Bekteš)
- Memčevići
- Benjkanji
- Bankanji
- Mrnjavčevići
- Beriša
- Bokeći
- Bokići
- Ganići
- Radončići
- Šćepali
- Bardakići
Other
- Bašići
- Nelevići
- Perovići
- Bardnji
- Bardonji
- Bašovići
- Bećirovići
- Beganovići
- Berovljanini
- Bešići
- Beškovići
- Bišević
- Milićevići i Savici
- Vladimiri
- Bjeladinovići
- Humc
- Humac
- Umce
- Humc
- Bracanovići
- Bracovići
- Braunovići
- Mihailovići (descendants of Mihailo Braunović)
- Đerđelovići
- Brunčevići
- Bubarići
- Bulatovići (originally from the Nikšić tribe)
- Bolandžići
- Budinići
- Bojanovići
- Bojanići
- Tadići
- Tomaševići
- Bunci
- Grujići
- Barać
- Raćeh
Demographics
There are over 15,000 residents in Kuči, with over 3,000 homes. Three ethnic groups, ethnic Montenegrins, Montenegrin SerbsSerbs of Montenegro
Montenegrin Serbs is a regional, ethnographic group of ethnic Serbs. They compose the second largest ethnic group in Montenegro after the Montenegrins....
and Montenegrin Albanians
Albanians in Montenegro
Albanians in Montenegro constitute 4.91% of the county's total population. They mainly live in South-Eastern Montenegro, in the region commonly known as Malesija as well as in the municipality of Ulcinj .-Geography:...
live together in Kuči. The first two groups may be regarded as one, as some families may politically be split between the two, with one brother being a Montenegrin and another being a Serb. Most of the Montenegrins/Serbs are followers of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
, while a minority are Muslims
Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. Most of the Albanians are followers of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
living in the town of Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit is considered one of the seven Northern Albanian tribes of Malësia. Koja is the Albanian Catholic tribe of Koja e Kuçit, the name derived from a combination of the Albanian Koja clan, within the Kuči mountain. The people of this tribe are said to be descendants of the tribe of Kelmend....
.
Christian Orthodox residents used to be split into two distinct groups: Old Kuči ("Starokuči") and Drekalovićs/New Kuči. The Old Kuči is generally seen as being of Serb descent and are native or have settled in the area at the time of the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
in the 14th century. The New Kuči (generally referred to as "Drekalovići") are a large group of clans (bratstva) that share a common legendary ancestor - a certain Drekale. The Drekalovics are dated to the 17th century.
Places
Major place of Kuči is UbliUbli
Ubli is a place in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, and the major place of Montenegrin tribe Kuči. The exact location of Ubli is . Its place with te biggest autonomy in Kuči , and administrative, educative, sport and culture centre of that highland region.-Population:According to the last...
village, which has about 1,500 residents. In Ubli are situated major institutions of Kuči like Culture Hall, Elementary School 'Đoko Prelević', Hospital, police station, and a former fabric factory. Ubli is situated in central Kuči with the center and villages of Prelevići, Pavićevići, Živkovići, Kostrovići, etc. Other villages are: Medun
Medun
Medun is a settlement located 13 km northeast of the capital Podgorica, Montenegro. The village houses the archaeological site of the ancient fortified city of Medeon, which was used throughout history until the end of the middle ages. It is situated in the clan area of the Gornji Kuči, one of the...
, Orahovo, Fundina, Koći, Kržanja, Kosor, Vrbica, Stravče, Zagreda, Raći in Gornji Kuči and Doljani, Murtovina, Stara Zlatica, Zlatica in Donji Kuči. There is still a remaining enclave of Albanians in the village of Koći (Koja in Albanian), making the clan of Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit is considered one of the seven Northern Albanian tribes of Malësia. Koja is the Albanian Catholic tribe of Koja e Kuçit, the name derived from a combination of the Albanian Koja clan, within the Kuči mountain. The people of this tribe are said to be descendants of the tribe of Kelmend....
.
Notable members
- Marko Miljanov PopovićMarko MiljanovMarko Miljanov Popović was a warrior and writer from Montenegro. He led the Kuči clan against the Turks in 1862 and distinguished himself in the War of 1876-78...
- Đoko Prelević, national hero
- Momir BulatovićMomir BulatovicMomir Bulatović , formerly served as a Yugoslavian and Montenegrin politician. Bulatović became federal President of Montenegro while Montenegro was part of a Yugoslav federation, and also Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
, former President of MontenegroPresident of Montenegro-Presidents of Montenegro:-See also:*President of Serbia and Montenegro*President of Yugoslavia*List of Presidents of Montenegro*Prime Minister of Montenegro-External links:*... - Branimir Popović, actor
- Mladen Nelević, actor
- Branislav Milačić, football coach
- Dušan Perović, Assistant of finance ministry
- Duško VujoševićDuško VujoševicDuško "Dule" Vujošević is a Montenegrin basketball coach. During his career, his greatest results were achieved with KK Partizan...
, a basketball coach - Aleksandar Vujosevic ex Basketball player * and member of Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro