Finiq Φοινίκη (Foiniki) | |
|---|---|
 The highlands of Delvinë and the hill of Finiq, ancient Phoinike, in the center of the picture behind the plains. | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
.svg)  Finiq | |
| Coordinates:39°54′N20°3′E / 39.900°N 20.050°E /39.900; 20.050 | |
| Country |  Albania |
| County | Vlorë |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Romeo Çakuli (MEGA) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 444.28 km2 (171.54 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 10,529 |
| • Municipality density | 23.699/km2 (61.380/sq mi) |
| • Administrative unit | 1,333 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal Code | 9716 |
| Area Code | (0)895 |
| Website | bfiniq |
Finiq (Albanian:Finiq,Albaniandefinite form:Finiqi,Greek:Φοινίκη,romanized: Foiniki) is a settlement, considered a town or village, and municipality inVlorë County, in southern Albania located 8 km from theIonian Sea and 20 km north of theGreek border. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the formercommunesAliko,Dhivër,Livadhja,Mesopotam, and Finiq itself. It is inhabited byethnic Greeks and is one of two municipalities in Albania in which Greeks form a majority, alongsideDropull. The seat of the municipality is the village Dërmish.[1] The total population is 10,529 (2011 census),[2] in a total area of 444.28 km2.[3]
The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 1,333;[2] according to the civil offices, which count all citizens including those who live abroad, was 6,780 (2011 estimate).[4]
The ancient name of the Greek toponym (Greek:Φοινίκη) was not preserved through literary revival. As such, the modern settlement retained in the Ottoman register of 1431 its nameFiniki.[5]
In antiquity,Phoenice was the political center of the Epirot Greek tribe of theChaonians. EarlyByzantine architecture (4th-7th century) is evident in the settlement, in particular that of the three aisled basilica type.[6]
The settlement retained its ancient name and is mentioned in an Ottoman record of 1431 asFiniki.[7] According to theChronicle of Gjirokastër the first years ofOttoman rule (15th century) were peaceful but after theFall of Constantinople (1453) Finiki (that time known asPhinikoupolis) was destroyed by the Muslims.[8] At the end of the 16th century Finiki witnessed a drastic population increase and became one of the largest settlements in the area with 359 households (compared to contemporary Gjirokastër with 302 and Delvinë with only 204 taxable households).[9]
By 1870, a secondary Greek language school was already operating in Finiq.[10]
In the Defter of the Sanjak of Delvinë from 1431-1432, 4 villages in the area ofVurgu are recorded: Finiki (Finiqi), Vurgo, Jeromi and Krajna (Kranéja) each with very few inhabitants. Among these villages, the Ottoman register of 1520 attests typical Albanian names are attested inscribed such as:Gjin,Reçi,Leka,Gjon,Dorza,MekshNika andDeda.[11]
The Ottomandefter of 1582 for the Sanjak of Delvina provides records for the village of Finiq. A significant portion of the anthroponyms recorded in the register belonged to the Albanian onomastic sphere, including personal names such asBos,Dedë,Dodë,Gjergj,Gjin,Gjokë,Gjon,Lalë,Lekë,Muzhak, and others. However, more ambiguous or general Christian anthroponyms that were historically used by both Albanian and non-Albanian groups are also attested. In Finiq, a quarter of the population recorded bore purely Albanian anthroponyms. These figures do not take into account kinship ties shared between individuals bearing typical Albanian anthroponymy and those bearing more ambiguous names, and also do not include those bearing names that can be etymologically explained through Albanian (e.g.,Buzmiri,Bala,Bardhi,Burriqi,Buzuku,Çobani,Dera,Iriqi,Kuka,Marsi,Mara,Macja,Poçi,Plaku,Uk,Ylli). As such the ethnic Albanian element must have represented a larger proportion.[12]
Athanasios Psalidas (1767–1829), counselor ofAli Pasha of Ioannina noted that the town was inhabited by an ethnic Greek community.[13]
The 2015 Albanian civil registry, which counts all citizens including those who live abroad, recorded a much higher municipal population of 39,055.[4] The municipal unit of Finiq comprises the villages Finiq, Buronjë (Mavropull), Çlirim,Vrion,Karahaxhë andBregas (Vromero).[14]
The town of Finiq and all the villages of the municipality are exclusively inhabited by Greeks, except the village of Çlirim, which is mixed.[15][16]
According to the ministry of foreign affairs of Albania, the Greek population of Finiq is 5,531, making Greeks a majority.[17] Greek is used for some official purposes, and toponyms and street addresses are written in both Albanian and Greek in official documents.[18]
Προσπαθώντας να ανακτήσουμε τα «εδάφη» της μνήμης μας, οφείλουμε στα αυθαιρετήματα να αντιτάξουμε επιχειρήματα. Στα σπλάχνα του τόπου μας διασώθηκαν λέξεις και τοπωνύμια μπροστά στα οποία καταρρέουν η αυθαιρεσία και η «αμνησία». «...οι κάτοικοι της περιοχής δεν απώλεσαν ποτέ τη μνήμη του ένδοξου παρελθόντος της ελληνικής πόλης. Η επιβίωση της αρχαίας ονομασίας, που φαίνεται ότι έχει μεταδοθεί αδιάλειπτα στον οικισμό που εξακολουθούσε να υπάρχει στους πρόποδες του λόφου μέχρι και τις μέρες μας, αποτελούσε ένα επιπλέον εχέγγυο μνήμης...» 26 . Τα λόγια αυτά ανήκουν σε ιταλό συνάδελφο και αφορούν την αρχαία Φοινίκη της Ηπείρου, αλλά και το σημερινό Φοινίκι, στο λόφο του οποίου υπάρχει το Κάστρο των Ελλήνων, όπως το ονόμασε ο ντόπιος γεροβοσκός απαντώντας σε ερώτημα του Pouqueville στα 1807. Οικισμός Finiki καταγράφεται και σε οθωμανικό κατάστιχο του 1431, που αφορά την περιοχή αυτή (Inalcık 1987: 137), άρα η ονομασία Φοινίκι δεν είναι λόγια αναβίωση του αρχαίου οικωνυμίου
Les noms propres de formes typiques albanaises sont rencontrés aussi dans le Defter du Sandjak de Delvinë de 1431-1432 sur Vurg, appelé ainsi par le mot du grec moderne vurkos "pays bas, marais". Dans ce registre-là ne sont enregistrés que quatre villages Finiki (Finiqi), Vurgo, Jeromi et Krajna (Kranéja) avec très peu d'habitants21. Parmi ces villages Finiqi évoque le nom de l'ancienne cité des Chaons, Phoeniks, fondée vers le Ve s. avant l'ère moderne. Concernant ces villages aussi, dans le registre ottoman ci-dessus mentionné sont inscrits des noms albanais typiques tels que : Gjin Reçi, Gjin Panariti, Gjin Zagorino, Gjin Krali (Frali), Leka Gjini (2 fois), Kozha Gjini, Gjin Vija, Zhupa Gjin, Gjini Spiri, Gjin Andrea, Kont Gjin Andrea, Gjon Dorza, Gjon Zhurmo, Meksh Gjoni, Polimer Gjoni, mais aussi Jani Jagop, Jani Katani, Jani Kosta, Jani Bogdani, Luka Jani, Jani Ispatari, Nika Jani (Finiq), Gjin Ilia, Gjin Pelegri, Gjin Kasnesi, Gjon Pelegri, Dhimo Gjini, Gjon Martini, Martin Gjoni, Deda Gjoni (Krane)22. Mais, selon Shkurti23, dans la zone de Vurgu, en 1927, ont été recensés 25 villages : Çukë, Pal, Aliko, Çaush, Tremul, Kasëmallajbej, Kaliveshush, Jermë, Halo, Kalivepasha, Krané, Ymerefend, Finiq, Vrion, Memushbej, Hajdëragas, Qenurjo, Karalibej, Vromero, Karahaxh, Mavropull, Metoq e Gjashtë, Rahullë, Shijan, Muçopolit, Mullamus qui, en 1927, comptaient en tout 3262 habitants. Donc, la majorité de ces villages ont dû être fondés après le recensement ottoman du XVe sc.
Shumë studiutes janë të mendimit se në repertorin e emrave të shekujve XV-XVI figurojnë një varg emrash, përkatësia etnike shqiptare e të cilëve nuk mund të vihet në dyshim. Të tillë janë: Gjergj, Gjon, Gjinaku, Gjokë, Dodë, Dedë, Lekë, Mile, Nikë, Prend, Pal, Martin, Mëhill, Muzhak, Laskë, Lalë, Laloç, Lilë, Bos, Pjetër, Dukë, Shigjon, Tanush, Skura etj. Nga një llogaritje e përafërt që arrita të bëj për disa fshatra, po të numërojmë personat që kanë si emër ose si mbiemër femrat e lartpërmendur, kemi këto të dhëna: në Finiq mbajnë të tillë emra afro një e katërta e banorëve; në Nivicë më tepër se tri të katërtat; në Kakodhiq, Dragopezde, Ufnë e Izmenicë një e treta; një e dyta në Vagalat; më tepër sfe një e treta në Luvinë; tri të pestat në Sopik; pothuaj gjysma në Zishtë e në Pendelejmon; pothuaj katër të pfestat në Peoë; një e treta në Lefterohor; tri të katërtat në Likurs etj. Natyrisht, këtyre përqindjeve do të duhej t'u shtonim vëllezërit ose bijtë që janë regjistruar pranë tyre, рог që kanë të tjerë femra, lidhja e afrisë të të cilëve diiket mjaft qartë në regjistër. Gjithashtu, do të duhej t'u shtonim edhe personat që mbajnë emra kuptimorë shqip, si p.sh.: Buzmiri, Bala, Bardhi, Burriqi, Buzuku, Çobani, Dera, Iriqi, Kuka, Marsi, Mara, Macja, Poçi, Plaku, Uk, Ylli e ndonjë tjetër, që i ndeshim në fshatra të ndryshme.
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 ofVlorë County | ||
|---|---|---|
County seat:Vlorë | ||
| Municipality ofDelvinë |  | |
| Municipality ofFiniq | ||
| Municipality ofHimarë | ||
| Municipality ofKonispol | ||
| Municipality ofSarandë | ||
| Municipality ofSelenicë | ||
| Municipality ofVlorë | ||
Subdivisions ofFiniq municipality | ||
|---|---|---|
Municipal seat:Finiq | ||
| Administrative unit ofAliko |
|  |
| Administrative unit ofDhivër |
| |
| Administrative unit ofFiniq | ||
| Administrative unit ofLivadhe | ||
| Administrative unit ofMesopotam | ||