# Malonšići

Part of a series on :
Tribes of Montenegro :
Tribes and regions
Old Montenegro
Bjelice
Ceklin
Cuce
Ozrinići (Čevo)
Pješivci
Brda
Bjelopavlići
Bratonožići
Kuči
Morača
Piperi
Rovčani
Vasojevići
Old Herzegovina
Banjani
Drobnjaci
Piva
Grahovljani
Littoral
Mrkojevići
Paštrovići
Former Tribes
Kriči
Macure
Malonšići
Mataguži
Mataruge
Mugoše
Riđani
Nikšići :
vte :
Malonšići (in older forms: Malončići and Malonjšiki, Cyrillic: Малоншићи) was a historical tribe (pleme) of Albanian origin and area in the Brda region of Montenegro. Malonšići were located between modern Danilovgrad and Podgorica. By the late 15th century they were slavicized and later assimilated into Bjelopavlići.

## Etymology

Part of a series on :
Albanian tribes :
Tribes and regions
Malësia e Madhe
Hoti
Gruda
Kelmendi
Shkreli
Rrjolli
Kastrati
Trieshi
Koja
Marsheni
Tuzi
Gruemiri
Reçi
Lohja
Lepuroshi
Boga
Dukagjin highlands
Bobi
Shala
Shoshi
Shllaku
Dushmani
Toplana
Mavriqi
Mazreku
Prekali
Pult
Kiri
Plani
Xhani
Suma
Highlands of Gjakova
Krasniqi
Nikaj
Mërturi
Gashi
Bytyçi
Morina
Puka-Mirdita
Berisha
Mirdita
Puka
Malziu
Thaçi
Qerreti
Kabashi
Selita
Dukagjini
Upper Drin
Luma
Lura
Arrëni
Dibra
Sopa
Kastrioti
Zadrimë - Lezha highlands
Zadrima
Bushati
Renesi
Vela
Bulgëri
Kryezezi
Manatia
Mati - Kruja highlands
Progani
Gjonima
Myzeqe
Lalë
Muzaka
Albania Veneta
Pamalioti
Mahine
Kryethi
Kakarriqi
Brda-Zeta
Bukumiri
Bratonishi
Bytadosi
Kuçi
Macure
Malonšići
Mataguzi
Mugoša
Pipri
Palabardhi
Rogami
Vasaj
Old Montenegro
Goljemadi
Herzegovina - Ragusan hinterland
Burmazi
Mataruga
Španji
Kriči
Epirus/Chameria
Bua
Kurveleshi
Losha
Malakasioi
Mazaraki
Spata
Zenevisi
Souliotes :
Law code
Kanun (Albanian customary law) :
Concepts
Zjarri
Vatër
Muranë
Ora/Fatia
Besa
Gjakmarrja
Hospitality
Bukë, Kripë e Zemër
Honour :
History
Bajrak
Albanian National Awakening
Malissori uprising
Kachak movement
Reconciliation Movement in 1990 :
Culture
Paganism
Dheu
Qielli
Dielli
Hëna
Prende
Zjarri
Vatër
Vitore
Drangue vs Kulshedra
Ora/Fatia
Zana
Gjamë/Vajtim
Muranë
Epic poetry (Lahutë · Çifteli · Fyelli · Kângë Kreshnikësh)
Kângë majekrahi
Dances
war dances
Sworn virgins
Kulla
Oda
Clothing (Brez · Fustanella · Opinga · Qeleshe · Xhamadan · Xhubleta.·Çorape)
Traditional tattooing :
vte :
The Malonšići were of Albanian origin. Their name is related to the Albanian word mal (mountain), a toponym and anthroponym which is very frequent among Albanian communities in modern Montenegro. The locality of Malenza in their home territory has been connected by P. Šobajić to their name and has been interpreted as a compound mal and zi (black). Expanding on this, Ivan Božić considered this to be an indication that the tribe originated in the region of Mali i Zi, northern Albania.

## Geography

The tribe encompassed parts of what was later Zagarač, Komani and Bjelopavlići. The area of the Malonšići is located in southern Danilovgrad Municipality and northern Podgorica municipality. The tribe lived in the basin of the Zeta, Sušica and Mareza rivers.

## History

The first reference to the Malonšići comes from a letter issued by the Serbian Chancellery in Dubrovnik in 1411. The document, a complaint from Ragusan people addressed to Jelena Balšić, is about the looting committed by the Malonšići, together with the Bjelopavlići, Ozrinići and Maznice, on Ragusan merchants on their way through Zeta while they were returning from Serbia.
In 1452 they were one of the tribes which supported Stefan Crnojević against Đurađ Branković and in 1455 along with Crnojević they swore fealty to Venice in the Vranjina Monastery. Some of them after the conquest of the region by the Ottoman Empire fled their homeland and settled in Venetian territories, Kotor in particular. The tribe appears as part of the communities who paid taxes to Đurađ Crnojević who was an Ottoman vassal. In the defters of the Sanjak of Montenegro from 1521 to 1582/3 under Skender Bey Crnojević, they are listed as a distinct nahiya. In the 1521 defter, their settlements were Vranići, Kosići, Bjeločani, Spuž, Bogišići, Radonjići, Grlov Kuk, Pavlovići, Vladovići, Lješevići, Jednoši, Lužnica Zur, Kalođurđevići and Zagreda and had a total of 150 households. In the 1523 defter Malonšići was one of seven nahiye of the sanjak of Montenegro. In the 1570 defter of the Montenegro Vilayet they were still a distinct community as a nahiya and had a total of 175 households and 12 baština which paid a 5,610 akçe in taxes. Over time they were slavicized. After 1582-83 they were no more a distinct community and became part of Bjelopavlići. Šobajić considered the Malonšići to have been related to, or a branch of, the Španje (Shpani) and notes that they inhabited Zagarač and Kosovi Lug in Bjelopavlić.