Thebajrak (pronounced/beɪrɑːk/ or/baɪrɑːk/, meaning "banner" or "flag") was anOttomanterritorial unit, consisting of villages in mountainous frontier regions of theBalkans, from whichmilitary recruitment was based.[1] It was introduced in the late 17th century and continued its use until the end of Ottoman rule inRumelia. The bajrak included one or moreclans. It was especially implemented in northernAlbania and in parts ofKosovo (Sanjak of Prizren andSanjak of Scutari), where in the 19th century these regions constituted thefrontier with thePrincipality of Serbia andPrincipality of Montenegro. These sanjaks had notable communities ofGheg Albanians (Muslims andCatholics),Serbs andSlavic Muslims. The Albanians adopted the system into their clan structure, and bajraks endured during theKingdom of Serbia (1882–1918) andPeople's Socialist Republic of Albania (1944–1992).
The bajrak was a territorial unit of the Ottoman Empire, consisting of a group of villages,[2] from which military recruitment was organized – a "territorialized military organization."[3] The bajrak was composed of one or more clans. Several smaller clans could inhabit a single bajrak while larger clans occupied several bajrak; usually abajraktar ("standard-bearer") led a clan, while in some cases a bajraktar led several clans or a single clan had several bajraktars.[2] The Ottomans entrusted the bajraktar with providing soldiers from his bajrak in exchange for privileges, and sometimes he performed important administrative and judicial duties. The bajraktar was usuallyhereditary position, via paternal ancestry appointed by the Ottoman government.[2] Bajraks formed loose tribal confederations; for example, theShala joined theShoshi.
The bajrak system existed in many mountainous ethnographic regions, such asLumë.[4]
According to Enke (1955), theDukagjin highlands was inhabited by the "six bajraks,Shala,Shoshi,Kir, Gjaj, Plan, andToplan,"[5][6] while according to Prothero (1973), it then included "Pulati, Shala and Shoshi,Dushmani,Toplana,Nikaj, andMerturi."[7]
In Kosovo, after the conquest byKingdom of Serbia, the Albanians incorporated thebajrak into their clan system (known asfis).[8] TheYugoslav authorities tried to break up the feudal relations created through this system.[8][9]
Megjithëse deri tani nuk është shpaluar ndonjë akt zyrtar i Perandorisë Osmane që ligjëronte zëvendësimin e sistemit të timarit në malësi me atë të njësive vetëqeverisëse tradicionale dhe si njësi administrative-ushtarake osmane me emrin "bajrak", ky proces mendohet të ketë nisur para shek.XVIII
The basic unit was the clan, calledfis, which was headed by the oldest male. Associated with the fis was a territorial and political counterpart, called a bajrak (standard), which was composed of one or more clans.