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Overview of Devoll Municipality, Albania

Devoll is a municipality in southeastern Albania, consisting of several administrative units and has a population of approximately 26,716 as of the 2011 census. The area has historical significance, including the medieval Devol fortress and archaeological findings from the Late Bronze Age. In recent times, Devoll has experienced significant emigration, particularly among the local Muslim population.

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20 views2 pages

Overview of Devoll Municipality, Albania

Devoll is a municipality in southeastern Albania, consisting of several administrative units and has a population of approximately 26,716 as of the 2011 census. The area has historical significance, including the medieval Devol fortress and archaeological findings from the Late Bronze Age. In recent times, Devoll has experienced significant emigration, particularly among the local Muslim population.

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Devoll (Albanian: [ˈdɛˈvɔɫ]; Albanian definite form: Devolli) is a municipality in Korçë County,

southeastern Albania. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Hoçisht, Miras, Progër and
Qendër Bilisht with Bilisht constituting its seat.[1][2][3] As of the Institute of Statistics estimate from the
2011 census, there were 26.716 in Devoll Municipality.[1][4] It derives its name from the Devoll River
flowing through the valley. The border point Kapshticë/Krystallopigi connects Devoll with the Greek
regional units of Florina and Kastoria to the east and southeast. Devoll borders the municipalities of
Kolonjë to the southwest, Korçë to the west, Maliq to the northwest and Pustec to the north. The area
of the municipality is 453.27 km2 (175.01 sq mi).[1][5]

History

Excavations at Tren cave unearthed Mycenaean pottery of the Late Bronze Age. This appears to be of
possible local manufacture.[6]

The medieval era Devol fortress, then known as Deabolis (Greek: Δέαβολις), was the location where the
Treaty of Devol between Bohemond I of Antioch and Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos was signed
in 1108. Its site became forgotten in modern times, however it has been tentatively identified with the
site Zvezdë[7] (located at 40°43′N 020°51′E[8]), a conjecture already proposed by the 19th century
British traveller William Martin Leake in 1835.[9] Devol fortress was reconquered by the Bulgarian
Empire in the beginning of the 13th century, but taken back by the Byzantines in 1259.[10] The fortress
continued to play an important role until the 14th century. Its site became forgotten in modern times.

In a text by Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347-1354) whose 'History' covers the years 1320-1356,
there is mention of local Albanians; “While the emperor was spending about eight days in Achrida
(Ohrid), the Albanian nomads living in the region of Deabolis (Devoll) appeared before him, as well as
those from Koloneia (Kolonja) and those from the vicinity of Ohrid.” This meeting was estimated to have
taken place at around February 1328.[11]

During the World War I, the Greek army burned several Muslim villages in the region, including Sinicë
(Miras).[12] In the events of 1914, one of those killed by the Greek troops was Bektashi Baba Hafiz of
the tekke of Kuç.[13] His bloodstained ritual cap was portrayed as a symbol in the tekke for many years
after his death.[13]

The chapel in the Blashtonjë cave on the edge of the Small Prespa Lake dates to the 13th century AD.
The cave paintings are the oldest artworks which have been found in Albania and the icons in the chapel
are among the oldest of their kind in the country.
In late Ottoman times and early Independence era, much of the Christian population emigrated abroad
and then returned, and later a part of the Muslim population did the same.

Before the World War II, the Devoll valley was an autonomous district. In the Communist period, it
belonged to the Korçë region, which it was separated from in 1990 as part of the reform of
administrative divisions. In the territorial reforms of 2015, the municipalities of Devoll region were
transformed into the new municipality of Devoll, which was placed within Korçë County.

Today, there is again mass emigration, although this time the local Muslim population is emigrating in
larger numbers and higher proportions than the Christian population, a reverse of the "Kurbet" of the
previous century.

Common questions

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During the Communist period, the incorporation of Devoll into the Korçë region centralized governance, reducing local administrative autonomy and aligning regional structures with national policies. This shift reflected broader efforts to establish centralized control, unifying administrative processes and facilitating state oversight in accordance with communist governance principles .

The Tren cave excavations, uncovering Mycenaean pottery of the Late Bronze Age, suggest significant historical inhabitance and interaction in the Devoll area. This context highlights the municipality's role as a cultural and trade crossroads in ancient times, reflecting early advanced societies in southeastern Albania .

The Tren cave findings, particularly the Mycenaean pottery from the Late Bronze Age, hold significant archaeological value as they imply possible local manufacture, suggesting the presence of advanced craftsmanship and cultural exchange in ancient times. These findings contribute to understanding Albania’s historical linkages and societal development .

World War I left a profound cultural impact on the Devoll region, particularly through actions of the Greek army which burned several Muslim villages, including Sinicë. Such events fueled sectarian tensions and cultural shifts, exemplified by the lasting symbol of Bektashi Baba Hafiz's bloodstained ritual cap, embedding a narrative of resistance and martyrdom within local culture .

The Devol fortress, historically known as Deabolis, played a significant role in the medieval period as the site of the Treaty of Devol between Bohemond I of Antioch and Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos in 1108. It was a strategically important location reconquered by various empires, including the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires. Over time, its significance waned, and its exact location became forgotten, although tentatively identified with Zvezdë .

Devoll's status as an autonomous district before World War II underscores its historical socio-political significance, offering a degree of local governance. However, post-war reorganization into Korçë region and eventual administrative reforms, like the 2015 restructuring, indicate shifts towards centralized control and efforts for administrative efficiency, impacting local identity and governance .

Several factors led to the forgetting of Devol fortress' exact location, including the decline in its strategic importance after the 14th century, lack of continuous historical records, and shifting political boundaries that diverted focus from the site. Modern rediscovery efforts rely on historical conjectures, like those by William Martin Leake, drawing connections based on limited archaeological evidence .

The 2015 territorial reform transformed the Devoll region's administrative structure by consolidating previously separate municipalities into the new municipality of Devoll, placing it within Korçë County. This unification reflected broader trends in administrative optimization and governance .

The Treaty of Devol, signed between Bohemond I and Emperor Alexios I, aimed to establish Byzantine dominance over the Normans and ensure vassalage of Antioch to the Byzantine Empire. This strategic move was part of Byzantine efforts to stabilize its frontiers and assert control over territories lost in the Byzantine-Norman conflicts .

Migration significantly impacted Devoll's demographic composition. In late Ottoman times and the early Independence era, many Christians emigrated and then returned, followed by Muslim emigration. During the 20th century, population shifts continued, with a major Kurdish exodus prior to World War II. In recent decades, mass emigration resumed, now prominently involving the Muslim population emigrating more than Christians, marking a demographic reversal from previous trends .

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