Metohija Метохија Dukagjini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Districts | Gjakova Peja Prizren |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,891 km2 (1,502 sq mi) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 570,147 |
| • Density | 146.5/km2 (379.5/sq mi) |
Metohija (Serbian:Метохија), also known in Albanian asDukagjin,[a] (Albanian:Rrafshi i Dukagjinit,pronounced[ˈrafʃiidukaˈɟinit]) is a largebasin and the name of the region covering the southwestern part ofKosovo. The region covers 35% (3,891 km2) of Kosovo's total area. According to the 2024 census, the population of the region is 570,147.[1]
The nameMetohija derives from theGreek wordμετόχια (metóchia; singularμετόχιον,metóchion), meaning "monastic estates" – a reference to the large number of villages and estates in the region that were owned by theSerbian Orthodox monasteries andMount Athos during theMiddle Ages.[2]
InAlbanian the area is calledRrafshi i Dukagjinit[3] and means "the plateau of Dukagjin", as the toponym (in Albanian) took the name of theDukagjini family[4] who ruled a large part of Dukagjini during the 14th-15th centuries.[5] According to Jahja Drançolli, a professor at theUniversity of Pristina, the oldest name for the region isDukagjin Plain[b] (Albanian:Rrafshi i Dukagjinit) or simply Dukagjin and the region was under theSanjak of Dukagjin in the 15th–16th century with its capital inPeja. Drançolli also states that the name 'Metohija' does not appear as a geographic notion in the Medieval and Ottoman period which would have the meaning of the territory of Peja, Gjakova and Prizren. The denomination Metohija only appears as an ecclesiastic property.[6] The name Metohija came first to be used as a geographic notion by Serbian scholars in the 19th-20th century.[6] A similar name is found in Northern Albania, theDukagjin highlands.
The term "Kosovo and Metohija" (Serbian Cyrillic:Косово и Метохија) was in official use for theAutonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija (1945–1963), and also for theAutonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1963–1968).[7] The term "Metohija" was dropped from the official name of the province in 1968, and thus the term Kosovo was simply used to refer to theSocialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, the official name of the provinceas a whole.[7][8] The change was not welcomed by Serbs, who continued to use the old name (for example in the 1986Draft Memorandum of SANU). In September 1990, the newConstitution of the Republic of Serbia was adopted, changing the official name of the province back to theAutonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.[9] This time, the change was not welcomed by ethnic Albanians, who protested against the official use of the term "Metohija". In 2008, after theKosovo declaration of independence, Serbia included the term "Metohija" into the official name of the newly formedMinistry for Kosovo and Metohija, which was transformed in 2012 into theOffice for Kosovo and Metohija.
Metohija is 23 km (14 mi) wide at its broadest point and about 60 km (37 mi) long, at an averagealtitude of 450 m (1,476 ft) abovesea level.[10] Its principal river is theWhite Drin. It is bordered by the mountain rangesMokra Gora in the north and northwest, theAccursed Mountains in the west,Pashtrik in the southwest, theŠar Mountains (Albanian:Malet e Sharrit) in the south and southeast, andDrenica in the east and northeast, which distinguishes it from the rest of Kosovo in the east and northeast.
It encompasses threedistricts of Kosovo:Gjakova,Peja andPrizren.[11]
The geographic division between Metohija and the rest of Kosovo causes differences between the two areas'flora andfauna. Metohija has the characteristic influences of theMediterranean.[12]
Metohija consists of fertile arable land with many small rivers which provide water for irrigation and, in combination with the Mediterranean climate, give excellent fields except forcereals. This area is well known for its high-qualityvineyards, fruit orchards, and for the growing ofchestnut andalmond trees.
The geographical region of Metohija is further divided into four parts:Prizrenski Podgor,Llapusha, Reka andRugova.[13]
| Districts | Population(2024)[1] | Area(km2) | Density(per km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gjakova | 152,311 | 1,129 | 134,9 |
| Peja | 146,301 | 1,365 | 107.2 |
| Prizren | 271,535 | 1,397 | 194.4 |
| Metohija | 570,147 | 3,891 | 146.5 |
Based on archaeology, the region of Kosovo and Metohija and theMorava Valley were interconnected in the Neolithic (Starčevo andVinča) and Eneolithic.[14] TheTriballi of Morava entered Kosovo in two waves in the 8th and 7th centuries BC, then took part in the genesis of theDardani.[14] Necropolises nearZhur suggest that the southwestern-most part of Metohija at the end of 6th century BC was subject toIllyrian influx.[14] After the Roman conquests, the Metohija region was divided intoDardania andPraevalitana.
Coinciding with the decline of the Roman Empire, many "barbarian" tribes passed through the Balkans, most of whom did not leave any lasting state. The Slavs, however, overwhelmed the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries. The region was conquered by Bulgaria in the early 10th century, after which Byzantine rule was restored, briefly ca. 970–975, and again after 1018. In terms of ecclesiastical administration, the region of Metohija belonged to theEparchy of Prizren, created in 1019.[15] During the 11th and the 12th century, the region was contested between theGrand Principality of Serbia and the Byzantine Empire.[16] Serbian Grand PrinceStefan Nemanja was recognized as independent in 1190, keeping northern parts of the Metohija (region ofHvosno), while southern parts were incorporated into theKingdom of Serbia by the beginning of the 13th century. After theFall of the Serbian Empire in 1371, the region of Metohija was controlled by theBalšić family of Zeta, and since 1378 by theBranković family. The region was also controlled by thePrincipality of Dukagjini.[17][18] It was part of theSerbian Despotate until 1455, when it was conquered by theOttoman Empire.[19]
The Ottoman registers from the 16th century suggest the plains were inhabited by a majority Albanian population. This Albanian population mainly devoted itself to agriculture and consisted of Christians. Albanian anthroponomy and onomastics could be found next to Slavic ones, and there are many cases of mixed Slav-Albanian anthroponomy. The Slavic element in the region during this period was mainly located in pockets in the Nahiya ofPeja and in the Nahiya ofPrizren.[20]
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Metohija was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1455 and incorporated into theSanjak of Prizren (southern part of Metohija) andSanjak of Peć (northern part of Metohija). In 1878, after several administrative reforms, the region was included into OttomanVilayet of Kosovo.
The area was taken by theKingdom of Montenegro in the 1912First Balkan War except for thePrizren area, conquered by Kingdom of Serbia. During theFirst World War, Montenegro was conquered by theAustro-Hungarian forces in 1915. TheCentral Powers were pushed out of Metohija by theSerbian Army in 1918. Montenegro subsequently joined theKingdom of Serbia, which was followed by the formation of theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The Kingdom was reformed into theKingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. The Kingdom suffered anAxis invasion duringWorld War II in 1941, and the region of Metohija was incorporated intoItalian-controlled Albania, with the Italians employing the "Vulnetari", an Albanian volunteer militia, to control the villages. After Italy's treaty with theAllies in 1943, theGermans took direct control over the region, supported by the localAlbanian collaborationists (Balli Kombëtar). After numerous rebellions ofSerbChetniks andYugoslav Partisans, Metohija was captured by Serb forces in 1944. In 1946, it became part of Serbia'sAutonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, within the transitionalDemocratic Federal Yugoslavia.[21]
On 17 February 2008,representatives ofKosovoAlbanians,[22]declared Kosovo's independence and subsequently adopted theConstitution of Republic of Kosovo, which came into effect on 15 June 2008.Serbia still considers Metohija part of its territory.
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