# Tërbaç

(English)
Tërbaç is a village in Hore-Vranisht municipal area, Himarë and it is in Vlorë County, in southwestern Albania. Tërbaç is on the face of mount Çika and it is close to the river of Shushicë/river of Vlorë. Tërbaç is near the villages of Brataj, Vranisht, Lepenicë, Dukat, Gjorm and Mesaplik. Tërbaç and Vranisht are the highest villages in altitude in the area.
(Albanian)
Tërbaçi është një fshat i ndodhur në zonën administrative të Horë-Vranisht te Himarës dhe ndodhet në qarkun e Vlorës. Tërbaçi shtrihet ne rrëzë të malit të Çikës dhe është disa metra larg lumit të Vlorës (lumit te Shushicës).Tërbaçi është pranë fshatrava Brataj, Vranisht, Lepenicë, Dukat, Gjorm dhe Mesaplik. Tërbaçi bashkë me Vranishtin janë fshatrat më të lart te zonës.

## Location

The village is located at the foothills of the Ceraunian Mountains and is adjacent to the village of Dukat, Brataj, Mesaplik, Vranisht, Palasë, Dhërmi. The area is rugged and mountainous, and is host to many streams and passes.

## History

(English)
The origins of the village are tied to the Qafa e Shengjergjit, which was used in ancient times as a caravan route between the ancient city of Orikum and more inland cities, where we can mention Hora, Cerje, Amantia, etc. In the Tërbaç river, there are found the legs of the ancient bridge 2500–3000 years old of Bogdan. But there are also toponyms in Tërbaç like "Pellazg Tomb" or "Elim's Neck", which shed light on the idea that it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Between the two mountain ranges, Akrokeraune and Lungarë, where the Akrokeraune are hit by the Karaburun mountain range, lies the divine village of Tërbaç. From the data found in the village of Tërbaç, from some excavations from 1969, they showed a settlement of the 4th century BC and earlier. There were earthenware vessels, a bronze atelier figure, bronze coins with Zeus-bolt and Zeus-snake. This Information was taken by An archaeological look at the Shushica valley (Damian Komata). The coins found in Tërbaç are unique and together with the coins found in Amantia, are the main and only coins of the period of Amants. The bronze atelier found in Tërbaç means that the inhabitants of this great place were civilised since the beginnings of civilization. Tërbaç is also known about its unique kind of dog in the world, the strongest dog "Molos", ore Tërbaç dog. This kind of dog was used by Aleksandër the Great. It is also known for its fauna and flora and for the many contrasts of weather, relief, geology, etc. This territory is known from prehistoric dates till nowadays for bravery, wisdom, hospitality, trust and a lot of other virtues. In the Middle Ages, in Shengjergj, there was a great civilization, verified by ceramics in every corner of the village, by toponyms and other archaeological evidence. Eventually the trail of Qafa e Shengjergjit was forgotten by merchants and now it is only used by sheepherders in contemporary times and by tourists sometimes. In 1537, in the anti-Ottoman uprising of Labëria, a discourse was recorded, expressing the bravery of the people of this village and their victory over the forces of the Great Empire. Turkish dominance over the area was minuscule, but taxes in the form of herds and other commodities were taken by the local Ottoman administration. Villagers often ignored the taxes that the local Sanjak in Vlorë requested, thus in around the 1820s an Ottoman expeditionary force skirmished with the villagers and stole their goods as compensation for neglect of taxes. Another rare act of bravery is that of the brave Miro Strati Tërbaçi, an orphaned girl, who, in revenge for her brother who was treacherously killed by the Ottomans, got up and went to the barber and told him to shave her like a boy. After that, she took a horse and went to the Pasha of Berat and gave him two bullets, one in the chest and one in the forehead, and fought with those who followed her to save herself. The event took place in 1828. She died many years later. Tërbaç was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy. During World War II the German army was still very active in the area, even as the allies pushed up into northern Italy. Meanwhile, Partisans also were fighting against the Germans and Balli Kombëtar.
In Bramyshnjë-Tërbaç is the Olympian monolith of "Brigada e V-të Sulmuese", the bravest and most accomplished brigade of the Second World War, in terms of Albania, which fought from Tërbaçi to Novisad and back to Saranda. The eventual Communist victory led to the village being part of the Albanian Communist state for over fifty years, however after the fall of Hoxhaism, the village has seen a massive drop in population as people emigrate to different areas of the world, and migrate in Albania itself. Tërbaç is also known for its unique mountain of Çikë, the highest point in the seaside and for its unique Akrokeraunian ridge, where the phenomenon of lightning occurs. Nowadays, Tërbaç has a perspective on tourism and livestock and more work has to be done, to promote the values of this noble village.

## Notable people

* Hysni Kapo (1915–1979[1]) was an Albanian military commander and leading member of the Party of Labour of Albania. A member of the Communist Youth group, Kapo was first distinguished as an artillery commander in the Battle of Drashovica. In 1941 he was elected as a representative of the Youth group in the provisional central committee of the party and from 1956 until his death in 1979, he served as secretary of the central committee of the labour party. Hysni Kapo served in many ministerial positions and was a member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania from 1948 to his death. In the 1960s he played an important role in the emancipation of women in Albania during the cultural revolution of the era, and is remembered as a trusted man of the Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha.
* Miro Kosta Strati or more commonly known as "Miro Tërbaçe" was a semi-legendary Albanian hero who slew the local Sanjak of Avlona out of revenge for the death of her brother.[1]

## 102 officers of Tërbaç

1. Adem Islam Hoxhaj 2. Agim Qazim Nanaj 3. Agron Haki Bylyshaj 4. Agron Hysni Berdoj 5. Agim Rrahman Haxhiabazaj 6. Ago Daut Haxhiaj 7. Alem Dulo Rrokaj 8. Ali Beqir Xhakaj 9. Albert Rexhep Abazaj 10. Albert Malo Gjondedaj 11. Albert Arshi Gjikaj 12. Florant Nazif Haskaj 13. Arjan Hysen Hodaj 14. Artur Lavdi Selimaj 15. Astrit Bejo Gjondedaj 16. Avdul Miftar Novruzaj 17. Avni Nazer Novruzaj 18. Azbi Ramadan Gjondedaj 19. Azbi Ibrahim Hoxhaj 20. Baki Muco Balilaj 21. Bastri Mydei Barjamaj 22. Bashkim Imer Selmaj 23. Bardhosh Haxhi Gjikaj 24. Bardhosh Ramo Gjondedaj 25. Bardhyl Sali Rrokaj 26. Barjam Prenjo Xhakaj 27. Barjam Halo Memushaj 28. Baxhul Elmas Rrokaj 29. Bego Isa Hoxha 30. Bledar Veli Bufaj 31. Besnik Tofik Dedaj 32. Besnik Muco Gjokaj 33. Bexhet Hyso Rrapoj 34. Bexhet Rustem Xhelilaj 35. Bilbil Sali Resulaj 36. Deli Qerim Salataj 37. Deli Fejzo Habilaj 38. Delo Mehmet Canaj 39. Durim Sadik Dervishaj 40. Elham Mehmet Cacaj 41. Enver Qamil Kicaj 42. Enver Riza Sinanaj 43. Elham Bazo Gjika 44. Erjon Myedi Hodaj 45. Eqerem Bendo Hoxhaj 46. Eqerem Jonuz Sinanaj 47. Esat Selim Lushoj 48. Esat Murat Celaj 49. Esat Ahmet Demaj 50. Engjell Mitat Gjondedaj 51. Evgjeni Elmas Kicaj (Lelaj) 52. Faik Hito Canaj 53. Fatmir Ismail Gjondedaj 54. Fejzi Sali Rrokaj 55. Fejzi Haxhi Memaj 56. Fejzi Hasan Licoj 57. Fejzi Selim Gjokaj 58. Feti Jazo Licoj 59. Feti Sherif Gjikaj 60. Festim Rrazi Gjikaj 61. Florat Hamdi Kapoj 62. Ferik Qerim Burhanaj 63. Fuat Qerim Berdoj 64. Gentian Arif Kicaj 65. Gezim Ismail Berdoj 66. Guri Dervish Gacaj 67. Gjergji Bilbil Gjika 68. Gjergji Dajlan Muco 69. Gjoni Shezai Abazaj 70. Hajro Cobo Novruzaj 71. Haki Mete Licoj 72. Halim Shefit Habazaj 73. Hamdi Mehmet Veraj 74. Hamdi Sejdi Gjikaj 75. Hate Qamil Goxhaj 76. Hateme Ibrahim Abilekaj (Baka) 77. Hasan Ibrahim Hoxhaj 78. Hasan Meto Gjikaj 79. Haxhi Fejzo Habilaj 80. Hazis Adem Boxhekaj 81. Hysen Sali Hodaj 82. Hysni Dervish Berdoj 83. Ilir Fejzi Rrokaj 84. Ilir Qamil Burhanaj 85. Ilir Sazan Xhelo 86. Ilir Bejo Gjondedaj 87. Ilir Qatip Beqiraj 88. Ilmi Kapo Abazaj 89. Imer Elmaz Dervishaj 90. Ismail Hasim Beqiraj 91. Islam Zace Gacaj 92. Islam Sinan Skendaj 93. Ismet Shako Xhakaj 94. Isuf rustem Xhakaj 95. Idajet Bullo Hoxhaj 96. Jano Sefer Kapoj 97. Jazo Hasan Dautaj 98. Jolanda Novruz Salataj 99. Jemin Refat Nanaj 100. Juana Hysen Hodaj 101. Kadri Aredin Gjinaj 102. Veledin Bilbil Hodaj

## Sources

* ↑ "Location of Tërbaç". Retrieved 22 April 2010.
* ↑ "Dukat to Terbac "The Forgotten Caravan Route"".
* ↑ Pearson, Owen (2006). Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism 1940-1945. I.B.Tauris. p. 230. ISBN 1-84511-104-4.
* ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick K. (2014-10-28). Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs: The Unknown Story of the Men and Women of World War II's OSS. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743235747.
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