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| Arbëresh celebrating in southern Italy |
The first waves of Arbëresh emigration to southern Italy
Arbëresh and their history constitute a precious part of the history of Albanians and therefore should not be left untouched. If we were to talk about when the closeness between the two peoples began, we would definitely go back to antiquity. For the relations between the two parties and mainly the emigration of Albanians to Italy in different periods of time have tried to shed light on many scholars, although today there are still many questions on this issue. And exactly one of the issues that I will address in this paper is the history of the migration of the Arbëresh to Italy. Reasons for migration as well as time periods when their emigration to Italy took place. Neither the historians of the Kingdom of Naples nor the old and new writers who have been engaged in document research in the state archives, nor in the publication of chronicles and monographs of the provinces of Puglia, Calabria, and Sicily have provided detailed information about the founding and the historical development of the Albanian colonies. They encountered difficulties because the Albanians who emigrated did not stay in a certain place, but moved from one village to another, from one province to another to find good living conditions and at the same time to avoid assimilation. However, although information is scarce today, it is known that in southern Italy, from the territories of Abruzzo to the outskirts of Calabria and Sicily, there are a large number of Albanians who emigrated when Arberia fell under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire.
It is thought that the first major wave of migrations of Albanians to Italy was of a military nature in the years 1416-1446. Evidences are found that three teams of Albanian soldiers, led by Dhimitër Rërësi and his two sons Vasili and Gjergji, came to the aid of Alfonso of Aragon, king of Naples. For the services rendered, Dhimitër Rërësi was appointed governor of the province of Reggio Calabria. His followers repopulated some settlements on the sides of Catanzaro, such as: Andali, Amato, Arieta, Zangorana, Pellagorio, etc.… Many other followers of Rërësi settled permanently in Contessa Entellina (1450). Others settled in Taormina where to this day it is known as the neighborhood of Albanians. Another credible scholar, Petro Scaglione, tells us about the good bilateral relations between Italy and Arberia in the time of the great Skanderbeg, who gives us evidence about these mutual benevolent relations in the work "History of the Albanians of Italy". Scaglione testifies to the good relations between Alfonso D’Aragon, king of Naples, and George Kastriot. According to the evidence, a friendly relationship was established between the two, often expressed through mutual assistance between the two parties. It is proven that in times of difficulty Alfonso d’Aragona had helped Skanderbeg with military and financial aid. The same thing was done by Gjergj Kastrioti when he was asked for help from Alfonso D’Aragona to calm the insurgent movements in Calabria. In exchange for this honor, it is said that Skanderbeg was given as a gift many places in which the Albanians later set up their villages in the area of Catanzaro. The testimonies of many scholars who wrote about the waves of emigration of Albanians to Italy agree on a common point according to which the first wave of emigration of Albanians to Italy appears attached to the figure of Dhimitër He together with his soldiers was sent by Skanderbeg to the aid of Alfonso d’Aragona. Later his people populated many villages of Calabria such as: Amato, Andali, Arietta, Casalnuvola, Zangorana, etc. It is also proven that the sons of Demetrius together with his soldiers settled in Sicily and formed three Arbëresh colonies: Contessa Entelina, Palazzo Adriano - Mezzojuso. Other migrations are thought to have taken place in 1461 with the arrival of Skanderbeg in Italy. From 1461-1480 it is thought that Albanian colonies were formed in Fagiano, San Pietro di Galantina, Martigiano, Montepafano, Roccoforzata, San Martino, San Marzano, Sternazia, Corigliano, Zollino province and Lecce. The colonies of Casalnovo, Castelvecchio, San Paolo, Greci, Panni, Castelluccio de Sauri and Facta in Capitana province of Foggia, Province of Campobasso, San Demetrio, Macchia, San Cosmo, Vaccarizzo, San Giorgio Albanese, Spezzano were also established during this period. Lungo, Firmo, Aquaformosa, Castroregio, S.Costantino, Cervicato, S.Bazilio, Albanian Falconara in Calabria, etc.… But the biggest wave as accepted by many scholars came after the death of Skanderbeg. There were two other important displacements in succession caused one after the fall of Kruja by the Turks in 1478 and the second after the fall of the city of Koroni in More in 1533-1534. Albanians settled in Molise, Calabria, Puglia and Sicily. When the Albanians came to these countries, they were in a difficult situation and tired from the long wars in their country. They settled in uninhabited areas and gradually created their own villages wanting not to mix and assimilate with the local population. The Albanians settled in the uninhabited areas of Molise which was depopulated as a result of an earthquake in 1456. They settled in the regions of Campomarino, Portocanone, Ururi, Montecilfone and Santa Croce di Magliano.
The second wave of displacements is thought to have been again of a military nature. After the death of Alfonso of Aragon, Ferdinand I came to the throne. But when he came to power, he was attacked by powerful barons who did not want him to stay on the throne. For this reason, Ferdinand sought the help of Skanderbeg, who landed at Barleta, defeated the rebels at the battle of Orsara, and liberated Molfetta from the siege. As a reward, Skanderbeg was given the title "Signor" of Gargana and lord of the fiefs of Tran and San Giovanni Rotondo. On the other hand, the Aragonese helped the Albanian army with weapons that was engaged in wars against the Turks. In this period of time, the Ottoman Empire hoped to reach as far as the gates of Rome. Taking advantage of the extremely weak Balkan situation, the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula were attacked. Only Arberia managed to withstand Turkish attacks for a long period of time. But after the death of George Kastriot (January 17, 1468) began the fall of Arberia which after resisting and another 10 years, fell under the protectorate of Venice and then under the Ottoman yoke. Historical studies also show that Skanderbeg's son Gjon, together with his mother Donika after the death of George Kastriot was hosted by Ferdinand of Aragon and settled in Naples. Ferdinand of Aragon in return during this period found a way to reward Gjon. He became Count of Salento and Duke of San Pietro Galantina in 1495. This good reception of the first friends made many Albanian families decide to emigrate to Italy, after not tolerating and enduring the domination of the Muslim Turks. It was at this time that the largest influx of Arbëresh emigration to the Italian coast began, an influx that continued in several successive waves.
2. Emigration of Arbëresh during the years 1468 to 1825
Between the years 1468-1471, according to the documents, there were migrations of Albanians towards Molisa and Kapitana, in Puglia, San Demetrio, Machia, San Kosmo, some fiefs of San Severino, etc. Another influx of Arbëresh in Italy was after the fall of Kruja in 1478 and Shkodra in 1479.
Mostly this population settled in Sicily and Calabria. At this time it is proven that many provinces have been established and today bear famous names such as: Ungra, Ferma, Firmoza, Qana, Frasnita, Saint Basil, St. Benedict Ullano, St. Sophia, Mongrasano, St. Lorenzo, etc. The historian Tajan writes that the first waves of that period of Albanians in Italy belong to the years 1467-1471. Evidence which has been previously confirmed by other scholars and historians. In the years 1467-1471 were established these villages: Saint Helena, Kroce di Migliano, Saint Demetrio Korona, Macia, Vakanzzaro Albanese, Saint Kozmo Albanese, Saint Giorgio and Spezzano Albanese. The same fact is confirmed by C.Costanza in Cenno Storico Sugli Albanesi d’Italia. According to the data the uninhabited lands were repopulated: Foggiano, Martigniano, Monteperano, Roccaforzata, S.Giorgo, S.Martino, S.Marzano, Sternatia, Zollino, Chieuti, Casalnuovo, Campomarino, Castelvecchio, S.Paolo, Portocanone, S.Cro of Magliano, Ururi. In 1473-1474 were founded the villages of Fraggiano, Martiniano, Monteposano, Roca Forzata, Taranto, Saint Martino, Greci, Saint Paolo in Capitana. In 1476-1478 Lungro, Firmo, Aquaformoza, Kastroreggio, Kavalerizo, Cerzeto, Civita were founded. Falconara, Fraschineto, Saint Basilio, Saint Benedetto Ullano, Saint Catherine, Saint Lorenzo, Saint Martino, Paltani, Rora Greka, etc. There was a migration of Albanians to Italy after the fall of Morea into the hands of the Ottomans. A group of about 200 ships passes in 1543 and settles in Naples and the surrounding area, others settled in Potenza, Calabria, today Potenza Albanese, then in St. Miter. These Arbëresh of Morea to this day remember their journey to Italy, the hardships they had overcome and the love for Morea, their country they had already left far away. Even today they have left behind a heartbreaking song about their beautiful Morena:
“Mori e bukura More
Si të le e më së të pë!
Atje kam zotin tatë,
atje kam zonjën mëmë,
atje kam edhe tim vëlla:
Gjithë të mbuluar në dhe!
Translation...: Mori e bukura More
How to let you know!
I have my father there,
I have my mother there,
I also have my brother there:
All covered in sand!
The same fact is confirmed by Pietro Scaglione in the work "History of the Albanians of Italy". It is said that after the fall of Morea many Albanians settled in Italy. They settled in Barrile,
Mosques, St. Constantine Albanese, St. Paolo Albanese, Brindisi della Montaja in the Province of Basilicata, in Farneta and the Province of Cosenza. Even according to Antonio Scuras in the work "Origini, europee, religioni, viaggi, studi etnografici" it is said that the Italian-Albanians settled in Italy through several waves of emigration.
He mentions that a large wave of Albanians settled in Taranto. They settled on the lands given to their leader Gjergj Kastrioti in San Pietro in Galatina. They later established their colonies in the lands of Fagiano, Royal Roca San Crisperi, Monteparano, and San Marzano. A considerable part of the Albanians settled near Puglia. Another part settled in Sicily and Calabria. Their most important centers were Piana dei Greci, Palaco Adriano. At the same time, were formed villages such as Zangorana, Vena, Carafa, Andali, San Nicola dell’Alto and Carfizzi. About 5,000 inhabitants settled in Lungro, 3,000 in San Demetrio, and 2,000 in San Benedetto. All sources confirm that emigration to Italy occurred at different stages and not immediately. These waves of emigration have lasted from the years 1400-1500. The beginnings of the most powerful emigration waves, as most scholars quote, date from 1460-1461, the period in which Skanderbeg is in Italy, and the last phase is thought to have been recorded around 1520. The Albanians settled in Italy and later established their colonies. The largest colonies according to studies it is said that the largest colonies were formed in Sicily, Calabria and Basilicata. Regarding the settlement of Arbëresh in Italy, they give us information and archival data. "When our ancestors, among whom the victorious hero Gjergj Kastriot Skëndërbeu, together with our ancestors, but again defeated by the greatest Empire of the time, were soon forced to emigrate and settle in the holy land of Italy thousands of thousands years ago where it is said that the Pelasgian Enea was settled… ”Since then we live a quiet and respected life, we have our homes, we enjoy our rights and we feel proud to be citizens of this second homeland. However, although about four centuries have passed, we still speak our language, which is the language spoken by the Pelasgians before, we continue to maintain the same traditions, culture, and clothing of our brothers and we feel that in our veins flows whose blood which Malte-Brun has called: "Iron race, strong as the rocks of the country where they live .." Other Albanian colonies are also found in Molise, Campomarino, Monteciflone, Portocanone, Ururi in Puglia, San Marzano, Casalvecchio in Puglia etc.
Other data confirm that emigration continued even later than the 1500s but were sporadic movements and not strong waves of emigration. By the end of the 16th century it is proven that two colonies were established in Sicily: Sant Angelo Muxaro, in the Province of Agrigento, and S. Michele di Ganzaria near the city of Caltagirone. There has been a smaller influx of Albanians for some time. Ermanno Aar says that in 1674, 175 inhabitants of the village of Pressio of Morea arrived in Brindisi. They settled for a short time in Motola but were expelled by the archbishop of Taranto because of their religion and they left and settled in Tricarico where many were quickly Latinized. Other Albanian families emigrated In 1680. Some of them, led by Gjegj Sevasti, settled in Chieti, in the province of Foggia, while the rest established the colonies of Ururi, Portocannone, Campo Marino, Monteciflone, in the Province of Campobasso, and Chieti in the Province of Puglia, Castelvecchio and Casalnu in Puglia, Faeta, Panni and S. Paolo of Civitates in Capitanata. After sporadic displacements after a century in 1744, a large group of Albanian families left for Italy and settled in Villa Badesa in the province of Pescara. It is thought that the last group to emigrate to Italy is that of 39 Shkodra families with a total of 208 people, led by Anton Remani who settled in Ancona and its surroundings in 1753. However, there is evidence that the last wave of emigration belongs to the years from 1759-1825. The last invasions belong exactly to the period when at the head of Italy was Ferdinand IV, the population which settled in Brindisi in Reggio Calabria, in Messina and elsewhere. But what were the reasons for the migration of Albanians to Italy? From which areas of Albania have more Albanians emigrated in this period of time? Did the Albanians find stability in the countries where they settled or assimilated with the local population? Where did the Arbëresh settle most and what was their position on preserving the national identity?
These questions and many more will be addressed in more detail in my paper. Of in how many villages or cities in Italy did the Albanians settled in, and how many may be their number is certainly not known because there is a lack of statistics for different periods. According to documents found in the Naples archive by scholars such as Francesco Tajani, Lorenzo Giustiniani, and the archivist Manfredi Polumbo, it is said that the number of Albanians reaches 200,000 thousand people scattered in 80 countries. According to studies and data, it is said that the Arbëresh settled in many places, some of which disappeared over the years. This suggests that the number of Arbëresh may have been greater than that stated in recent studies. Many of the villages or towns have disappeared and with them, the Arbëresh population has not been able to preserve the language, customs, habits but has been assimilated with the local population. In addition to the extinct cities, there are also those villages which have changed their names. Studies on the number of the Arbëresh population have been done by different scholars in different years. Biondelli in his statistics shows that in 1848 shows that the number of Albanians who spoke Albanian reached 88,410 inhabitants. Tajani in his work "Istorie Albanezi" gives us a statistical table that divides it into three different times: in 1806 the number of Arbëresh reaches 110,955, in 1846 in 168,802 in 1886 reaches 196,708. The researcher Biondelli gives us statistical data about the three Calabrian provinces, Cosenza, Catanzaro, Reggio Calabria. According to statistics, the Albanian colonies scattered in Calabria reach 40 and a population of 42,400. For the number of Albanian colonies in 1543 in Calabria there is a lack of data, anyway it is thought there is a total of about 57775 inhabitants. Three centuries later, in 1842, the researcher Morelli counts about 32,269 inhabitants. According to data in 1881 result in the country about 85,508 inhabitants in 1894 about 98,798 inhabitants. In the census of 1901, The statistical data gives an overview of the census of 1901 and next to that of 1921. According to the statistics of 1901, the total amount of the Arbëresh population at the beginning of the XIX century reached 200,219 inhabitants. In the census of 1911, according to the study of Carla Costanza, there are registered about 20,467 Arbëresh families settled in different areas of Italy and with about 90,670 inhabitants. After the census of 1921 the number reached 20,113 families with 80,282 inhabitants. From this observation, it is clear that the Arbëresh population has disappeared in some colonies, and in some others, the number of this population has decreased. In Italy today there are 80 municipalities that have their origin in the Arbëresh displaced from Albania in different periods. These municipalities are located in Abruzzo, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria.
By Denisa Tare for ObserverKult.