Kolonjë | |
|---|---|
 Landscape atErsekë | |
 Emblem | |
.svg)  Kolonjë | |
| Coordinates:40°18′N20°38′E / 40.300°N 20.633°E /40.300; 20.633 | |
| Country |  Albania |
| County | Korçë |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Erion Isai (PS) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 865 km2 (334 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 11,070 |
| • Municipality density | 13/km2 (33/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Albanian:Kolonjar (m), Kolonjare (f) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal Code | 7401 |
| Area Code | (0)812 |
| Website | www |
Kolonjë is amunicipality inKorçë County, southeasternAlbania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalitiesBarmash,Çlirim,Ersekë,Leskovik,Mollas,Novoselë,Qendër Ersekë andQendër Leskovik. The seat of the municipality is the town Ersekë.[1] The total population is 11,070 (2011 census),[2] in a total area of 865 km2 (334 sq mi).[3] It is an ethnographic region.
The area of the municipality iscoextensive with the formerKolonjë District, one of the 36districts of Albania, which were dissolved in July 2000 and replaced by 12counties.
Kolonjë is located in south-east Albania and its capital isErsekë. Other towns in this district includeLeskovik to the south. It is bounded byKorçë to the north andGreece to the east, including the regional units ofKastoria andIoannina. The town of Ersekë is located at the foot of mountGramos, Albania's fourth-highest mountain with a peak at 2,525 m above sea level.
During the Middle Ages a region under the name Koloneia (Greek: Κολωνεία) is located in the mountain region south ofKorçë (southeast Albania) and north ofKonitsa andKastoria (northwestern Greece) at the west slopes ofGrammos mountain range.[4] A Byzantine military garrison under the same name was built west of Grammos.[5][6]
According to the account ofJohn Skylitzes, inc. 1018, after theByzantine conquest of Bulgaria, emperorBasil II created newthemes at Koloneia,Dryinopolis, andDyrrhachium, and settled former Byzantine prisoners of war to secure the Byzantine positions inEpirus against future enemy attacks from central and western Macedonia.[7][8] At 1040s the theme of Koloneia was incorporated to theDuchy of Dyrrachion.[5] After theSack of Constantinople at 1204 and the followingpartition of the Byzantine Empire Koloneia was granted to theRepublic of Venice.[6] However, Koloneia came under the control of theDespotate of Epirus and formed one of the themes of the Despotate. Following theBattle of Pelagonia in 1259 Koloneia was ceded to theEmpire of Nicaea.[9]
In a text byEmperor John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347-1354) whose 'History' covers the years 1320-1356, there is mention of localAlbanians; “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.[10]
One source says that one of the two main waves of Albanian movements coming from the north entered Kolonjë in the 14th century, with the wave also affecting the neighboringDangëllia region.[11] The name Kolonja is related to theRoman period of the area.[12]
Κολώνια ωνομάσθη η περιοχή των υψωμάτων νοτίως της Κορυτσάς και μεταξύ Κορυτσάς και Κονίτσης εις τους δυτικούς πρόποδας του Γράμμου, της οποίας το σπουδαιότερον κέντρον είναι σήμερον η Ερσέκα της Αλβανίας.
One wave has filled Danglli and Kolonje (pronounced Colonia, probably a Vlach word, dating from the time when the area was occupied only by Vlachs).
The municipalities of Albania are the country's administrative divisions consisting of local administrative units and their inclusive villages. | ||
| Berat County |  | |
| Dibër County | ||
| Durrës County | ||
| Elbasan County | ||
| Fier County | ||
| Gjirokastër County | ||
| Korçë County | ||
| Kukës County | ||
| Lezhë County | ||
| Shkodër County | ||
| Tiranë County | ||
| Vlorë County | ||
Subdivisions ofKorçë County | ||
|---|---|---|
County seat:Korçë | ||
| Municipality ofDevoll |  | |
| Municipality ofKolonjë | ||
| Municipality ofKorçë | ||
| Municipality ofMaliq | ||
| Municipality ofPogradec | ||
| Municipality ofPustec | ||
Districts in Albania were geographic divisions made up of cities, towns and villages. They were abolished in 2000. | |
| (36) | |
Subdivisions ofKolonjë municipality | ||
|---|---|---|
Municipal seat:Ersekë | ||
| Administrative unit ofBarmash |  | |
| Administrative unit ofÇlirim | ||
| Administrative unit ofErsekë | ||
| Administrative unit ofLeskovik | ||
| Administrative unit ofMollas | ||
| Administrative unit ofNovoselë |
| |
| Administrative unit ofQendër Ersekë | ||
| Administrative unit ofQendër Leskovik | ||
