Elbasan

Elbasan(/ˌɛlbəˈsɑːn/EL-bə-SAHN,Albanian:[ɛlbaˈsan];Albaniandefinite form:Elbasani,pronounced[ɛlbaˈsani]) is thefourth most populous cityofAlbaniaand seat ofElbasan Countyand Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the riverShkumbinbetween theSkanderbeg Mountainsand theMyzeqe Plainin central Albania.
The name (in the formElbasanalso inAromanian)is derived from theOttoman Turkishil-basan("the fortress").
In August 2010 archaeologists discovered twoIllyriangraves near the walls of the castle of Elbasan.
In the second century BC, aRomantrading post recorded inLatinasMansioScampa(also inAncient Greek:Σκάμπα) near the site of modern Elbasan developed close to a junction of two branches of an important Roman road, theVia Egnatia, which connected theAdriaticcoast withByzantium. It was one of the most important routes of theRoman Empire. By the third or fourth century AD, this place had grown into a real city protected by a substantial Roman fortress with towers; the fort covered around 300 square meters.This city appears on late antique itineraries like theTabula PeutingerianaandItinerarium BurdigalenseasScampisorHiscampis.
It took part in the spread ofChristianityalong the Via, and had a bishop, cathedral and basilicas as early as the fifth century. As a town in a wide river valley it was vulnerable to attacks once the legions were withdrawn butEmperor Justinianmade an effort to improve the fortifications. The city survived attacks by theBulgarsandOstrogothsand was mentioned in the work ofProcopius of Cæsarea. Ruins of a Paleochristian basilica, built in the 5th or 6th century AD, were found in Bezistan area.
The site seems to have been abandoned until theOttoman armybuilt a military camp there, followed by urban reconstruction underSultan Mehmed the Conquerorin 1466. Mehmet constructed a massive four-sided castle with a deep moat and three gates. The name Elbasan is thought to mean 'the flat fortress' in Albanian or ‘the flat province’ in Turkish.He had built the castle in order to fightSkanderbeg, due to anongoing conflictbetween the Ottomans and Albanians.
It became the seat ofSanjak of Elbasan, a centre of Ottoman urban civilisation over the next 445 years. AlthoughHalil Inalcikexplains that the Sanjak of Elbasan was established as soon as thefortress of Elbasanwas constructed in 1466, based onTursun Beg's records there is a possibility that Elbasan initially was part of theSanjak of Ohrid.In 1467 many Christians fromSkopje, Ohrid,SerresandKastoriawere forcibly deported to Elbasan.In the late 17th century, the Ottoman travelerEvliya Çelebipassed through Elbasan and noted that "all the inhabitants speak Albanian" having knowledge of Turkish with Muslim clergy being literate in Persian, while merchants also used the Greek and "Frankish" languages.
By the end of the 17th century it had 2,000 inhabitants. The fortress was dismantled byReshit Pashain 1832.In 1864, theSanjak of Elbasanbecame a part ofMonastir Vilayet. In the late nineteenth century, Elbasan was inhabited by 3,000 Muslim families and 280 Orthodox Christian families, of which 100 were old Orthodox Albanian families living in the old Christian neighbourhood within the fortress and 180Aromanianfamilies residing in the St. Nicholas neighbourhood on the edge of town.At the beginning of the 20th century it was estimated that 15,000 people lived in Elbasan.
In 1909, after theYoung Turksrevolution inIstanbul, anAlbanian National Congresswas held in Elbasan to study educational and cultural questions. The delegates, all from central and southern Albania, endorsed the decision of theCongress of Monastir, which was held in Monastir (modernBitola,North Macedonia) to use the Latin alphabet rather than the Arabic script in writtenAlbanian. Albanians, Turks, Aromunians and Sephardic Jews were living in Elbasan.
Before the Second World War, Elbasan was a city with a mixture of eastern and medieval buildings, narrow cobbled streets and a large bazaar. There was a clearly defined Muslim settlement within the castle walls, an Aromanian district on the outskirts of the city and several fine mosques and Islamic buildings. At the time the population was about 15,000 people.
The very first teachers' training college in Albania, theShkolla Normale e Elbasanit, was established in Elbasan. DuringFirst Balkan War, it was occupied bySerbiantroops on 29 November 1912. They withdrew from Elbasan on 25 October 1913 due to United Kingdom and Austria Hungary's ultimatum. The Muslim majority of Elbasan opposed the installation ofPrince Wiedin 1914. Elbasan was occupied successively bySerbs,Bulgarians,AustriansandItaliansbetween 1915 and 1918. The Bulgarian army occupied Elbasan on January 29, 1916, duringBulgarian occupation of AlbaniaIn March 1916 the army of Austria-Hungary took over control of ElbasanFrom June 1916 to March 1917Stanislav Kostka Neumannfought with the Austrian army there and called his war memoirs about the occupation inElbasan.Industrial development began in theZogistperiod when tobacco andalcoholfactories were established.
The city was also noted for its good public buildings, advanced educational provisions, public gardens and timber-built shops. There was much wartime damage, which was followed by an intensive programme of industrial development in theCommunistperiod that boosted the city to around 75,000 inhabitants. The culmination of this process was the construction of the hugeSteel of the Party(Albanian:Celiku i Partise)metallurgicalcomplex outside the city, in theShkumbinivalley, built with Chinese assistance in the 1970s. It was emphatically called "The Second National Liberation of Albanian" byEnver Hoxha. The cost of the complex in environmental impact was high for the Shkumbin valley.Elbasan Railway Stationwas opened in 1950. In 2014, the Albanian government reconstructed former Ruzhdi Bizhuta Stadium. The renovatedElbasan Arenabecame the home stadium of theAlbania national football teamand Albania's de facto stadium meeting FIFA's criteria.
The city of Elbasan lies to the north of the riverShkumbinbetween theSkanderbeg Mountainsand theMyzeqe Plainin central Albania. The municipality of Elbasan consists of the administrative units ofBradashesh,Funarë,Gjergjan,Gjinar,Gracen,Labinot-Fushë,Labinot-Mal,Papër,Shirgjan,Shushicë,Tregan,Zavalinëand Elbasan.It covers 872.03 km.
According to theKöppen climate classification, Elbasan has ahot-summer Mediterranean climate(Csa) with an average annual temperature of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F).
Industrial development began during theZogregime with the production oftobaccoandalcoholic beverages, and culminated during thecommunistregime. The city gained prominence after theChinesebuilt asteel millin 1974. One travel writer relayed from conversation that during the communist regime, "almost everyone in the country seemed to have a gun, likely manufactured by this Chinese-financed factory in Elbasan," and the "country did not seem to have tractors, ploughs, or sewing machines."
The city also hosts aferrochromesmelter, which was commissioned in 1989 by the communist regime and now is owned by theBalfin Group.
The city was a hub for heavy industry during the communist regime, mostly metallurgic and metal processing factories. All these industries caused bigpollutionand Elbasan is considered today to be one of the most polluted cities of Albania.
In recent years Elbasan, like the rest of Albania, has had to deal not only with local pollution, but also with what environmentalists call "imported pollution", because of the waste imported from abroad for the recycling process in private companies.
The population of the municipality of Elbasan as of the 2023 census is 115,101, of which 66,834 is in the municipal unit.
Elbasan has been occupied by several different groups, including theSerbs,Bulgarians,AustriansandItalians. Elbasan remained a center ofChristianityin Albania even after theOttomanoccupation. After the 1908Congress of Monastir(in modernBitola,North Macedonia) decided to use theLatin alphabetfor the writtenAlbanian language,Muslimclerics influenced by theOttoman Empireheld various demonstrations in favor of theArabic scriptin Elbasan.
In the center of the city, is located theSaint MaryOrthodox Church. The church was built in 1830 on the foundations of an older church, which had partially burned in 1819. Paintings and frescoes ofOnufri, restored byDavid SelenicasiandKostadin Shelcanican still be seen. The church has been an important religious and cultural center for the Albanian language.Teodor Haxhifilipi,Kostandin Kristoforidhi, andAleksandër Xhuvanihave served in the church. They are the authors of translations into Albanian of many psalms. The church building served as the first Albanian school of Elbasan in modern times, which opened in 1909.
Other orthodox churches in theElbasan Districtinclude the Mameli church (built in the 17th century), the Saint Nicholas church (Albanian:Shen Kolli) inShelcan(built in 1554), the Saint Nicholas church inValesh(built in 1604), theSaints Cosmas and Damianchurch inSterstan(built in the 18th century), the Saint Michael (Albanian:Shen Mehilli) church inShalës(built in the 17th century), the Saint Mary church inDragot(built in the 18th century), the Saint Nicholas church of Elbasan (17th century), and the ElbasanSaint Athanasiuschurch of Elbasan (built in 1554).
About 7 km away from Elbasan is the location of the orthodoxSaint John Vladimir's Church(Albanian:Kisha e Shën Gjon Vlladimirit) built by Albanian monarchKarl Thopiaand his sonGjergj Thopiain 1381. Notably, SaintJovan Vladimirwas buried at the church until 1995 when his remains were transferred to the Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana, being brought back to the monastery only for his feast days.
Elbasan is home to theNational Autocephalous Albanian Church(Albanian:Kisha Autoqefale Kombetare), a relatively new Orthodox Autocephalous church that split from theAlbanian Orthodox Churchin 1995. Father Nikolle Marku is the leader of the new denomination.
Elbasan is also home to a Catholic church.
Elbasan has four museums:
Elbasan is home to theSummer Dayfestivities, apaganfeast celebrating the end of winter and the coming ofsummer.Ballokume, a kind of cookie made withbutterand cornmeal among other ingredients, is the traditional dessert served on this day. Since 2004, it has become a national holiday being celebrated nationwide, in all Albania.
Elbasan istwinnedwith:
Elbasan also has cooperation and friendship relationships with: