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57-478: Mount Tomorr is one of Albania's biggest water-collecting areas. Tomorr is situated within the Tomorr National Park , which is noted for its diverse species of deciduous and coniferous trees and a great variety of flora . Many endangered species are free to roam and live in this area such as bears ( Ursus arctos ), wolf ( Canis lupus ), and birds of prey. Tomorr is a holy mountain for Albanians , and it

114-532: A native of Krujë, who became the Prime Minister of the new regime ordered the formation of a 300-man gendarmerie force to defend the town against resistance groups. However, soon afterward, resistance leader Abaz Kupi , another native of the town, created one of the first permanent resistance forces of Albania in Krujë and gradually took control of the region. In 1943 at the assembly of Tapizë Balli Kombëtar proposed to

171-478: A new medical laboratory and a department of surgery were added and expanded. In 1970 the Directorate of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the district was established in the town. In 1977-9 a new hospital and polyclinic were built, while in 1986 the first Obstetrics and gynaecology hospital of the town was opened. In 2008 the first hospital was rebuilt and renamed after its first director Stefan Gjoni. In antiquity Krujë

228-527: A two-room stone dervishia was built some 100 metres (330 ft) below the tyrbe , but according to the account of British journalist Joseph Swire who visited the place in 1930 it was burned by Greek armed groups in spring of 1914. A new tekke ( Albanian : teqe/teqja ) was founded and built in 1916 on the Kulmaku Mountain by Dervish Iljaz Vërzhezha, on the southeastern part of the Tomorr range, just below

285-617: A wound which can be seen today as the furrows running down the mountainside. A trace of the hoof of Baba Tomor's mule can, it is said, be seen near the village of Sinja BR. Shpirag, for his part, pounded Tomor with his cudgel and left many a wound on the lofty mountain, but was overcome. The two giants ultimately slew one another and the maiden drowned in her tears, which became the Osum river." Tomorr National Park Tomorr Mountain National Park ( Albanian : Parku Kombëtar "Mali i Tomorrit" )

342-594: Is 51,191 as of the 2023 census, in a total area of 339.20 km . The population of the municipal unit is 8,921. In 1922 the Director General of Health Services appointed the first director of health services in Krujë, Ihsan Korça while the last to hold the post before the establishment of the Socialist People's Republic of Albania was Abdulla Mehmeti. The first hospital and the first polyclinic of Krujë were built in 1946 and 1948 respectively. During 1968–69

399-514: Is a national park founded in 1956 that lies in southern Albania , nestled in the central and higher portions of the Tomorr massif , spanning an area of 261.06 km (100.80 sq mi) since 2012, and expanded to include its quarry areas since 2019. The park covers a territory of 26,106 ha (64,510 acres). The area falls within the Berat County and only 1,278 ha (3,160 acres) inside

456-814: Is a sacred site to both Christians , who climb it on Assumption Day (August 15) to honor the Virgin Mary , and the Bektashi , who honor Abbas ibn Ali during an annual pilgrimage on August 20–25. According to the traditions of the Bektashi Order , a Sufi community based primarily in Albania , Abbas ibn Ali ( Albanian : Abaz Aliu ) went to Albania on a white horse to save it from the barbarians, and continues to return to Mount Tomorr in Albania for five days (August 20-25) each year, during which animal sacrifices are made and homage

513-580: Is a site where annual pilgrimages take place during the second half of August. Along with St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Laç , Mount Tomorr is the most frequented sacred place in Albania. Mount Tomorr is associated with Baba Tomor and Zojz by Albanian folk beliefs , with Abbas Ali by Bektashis and with Virgin Mary by Christians . Mount Tomorr offers various sports such as hiking, horse or donkey riding, canoeing, and skiing. The Albanian Tomor(r) derives from

570-501: Is little detail about the rebellion in primary sources. John VI Kantakouzenos mentions that the Albanians in those areas rebelled despite the privileges which Andronikos III Palaiologos had given them a few years earlier. These events marked the movement of these Albanian tribes into Epirus for the first time. Andronikos led an army mainly composed of Turkish mercenaries, and defeated the Albanians, killing many and taking prisoners. In

627-565: Is paid to Abbas ibn Ali. During these five days, Bektashi pilgrims visit the Abbas Ali Türbe , which is believed to house the remains of Abbas ibn Ali. The türbe is located on the southern peak of Mount Tomorr, which was originally constructed in 1620. The mausoleum lies adjacent to the Bektashi tekke on Mount Tomorr, which was built in 1916. In another Bektashi legend, Haji Bektash once saw Christian pilgrims ascend Mount Tomorr on August 15,

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684-600: Is the remnant of an Illyrian deity. Baba Tomor has taken the Earthly Beauty to be his bride. She spends her days with her sister, the Sea Beauty, E Bukura e Detit, but when evening comes, the wind, faithful servant of Baba Tomor, carries her back up the mountainside to him. Mount Tomor overlooks the town of Berat, which the old man jealously guards as his favourite city. Across the valley is Mount Shpirag with furrow-like torrents of water running down its slopes. While Baba Tomor

741-498: The Dexaroi , a Chaonian tribe, dwelled under this mountain. The mountain was probably located in a region that in Roman times was called Dassaretis. However, all these hypothetical connections remain uncertain. Vibius Sequester (4th or 5th century AD) records the mountain with the name Tomarus , and locates it in the Roman province of Macedonia , near Apollonia . Among Byzantine authors

798-463: The Elbasan County . The park was established in 1956 and is considered one of the most important protected areas for the maintenance of mountainous biodiversity and ecosystem integrity at the national level. The park has been recognised as an Important Plant Area of international importance by Plantlife . Tomorr is an anticline composed of limestones and karst . The mountain is one of

855-515: The Illyrian Tómaros , from Proto-Indo-European *tómh x es- , "dark". Illyrians called the mountain Tómaros . It was the most prominent mountain in southern Illyria . The mountain has been connected by modern scholars to Mount Amyron ( Greek : Άμυρον ), recorded by Stephanus of Byzantium (6th century AD) citing Hecataeus of Miletus (6th century BC). In the passage, it is reported that

912-521: The Illyrian Wars the area of Krujë was captured by the Roman Republic . Early medieval artifacts of Krujë include dress items and weaponry found in fifth- and sixth-century cemeteries, which display the high status and the wealth of the burials. Originally a middle-sized fortress like other urban centers, Krujë expanded to a town probably from the sixth to the ninth century AD. In 1190 Krujë became

969-768: The Ishëm River , the city is 20 km north of the capital of Albania, Tirana . Krujë was inhabited by the ancient Illyrian tribe of the Albani . In 1190 Krujë became the capital of the first Albanian state in the Middle Ages , the Principality of Arbër . Later it was the capital of the Kingdom of Albania , while in the early 15th century Krujë was conquered by the Ottoman Empire , but then recaptured in 1443 by Skanderbeg , leader of

1026-504: The LNÇ the creation of provisional resistance government, with Krujë as the capital city, but this proposal was rejected by the LNÇ leaders. In the end of November 1944, the last German troops stationed in the area were defeated and LNÇ battalions entered the town. Krujë is found at an altitude of 600 m (1,969 ft) on the foot of Mount Krujë ( Albanian : Mali i Krujës ), while south and west of

1083-515: The League of Lezhë , who successfully defended it against three Ottoman sieges until his death in 1468. The Ottomans took control of the town after the fourth siege in 1478, and incorporated it in their territories. A 1906 local revolt against the Ottoman Empire was followed by the 1912 Declaration of Independence of Albania . In the mid-1910s Krujë was one of the battlefields of the conflict between

1140-712: The Ottoman era it was also known as Ak Hisar or Akçahisar from the Turkish words ak (white) and hisar (castle). In ancient times the region of Krujë was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of the Albani, while the town is located near the Iron Age Illyrian site of Zgërdhesh . Some scholars have identified the site with the main settlement of the Albani , Albanopolis , while others identified Albanopolis with Krujë itself. During

1197-631: The Rilindja period of Albanian literature where authors such as Konstantin Kristoforidhi , Naim bey Frashëri , Andon Zako Çajupi , Asdreni , Hilë Mosi , and Ndre Mjeda devoted their works of prose and poetry to Father Tomor. As an example, Naim Frashëri wrote the following poem in his 1890 poetry book Luletë e verësë ("Summer Flowers"): Abas Aliu zu’ Tomorë, Erdhi afër nesh, Shqipëria s’mbet e gjorë, Se Zoti e desh. Abbas Ali took over Tomorr, He came to live with us, Albania

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1254-572: The 15th century the region of Mount Tomorr was interested in the Albanian-Ottoman Wars . All the local chieftains on both sides of the Tomorr mountain range were loyal to Skanderbeg . In 1457 the Turks appear to have occupied a number of Albanian valleys. An Ottoman army under the leadership of Firuz Bey and Mihaloglu Ali Bey was sent westward and fought against the Albanian forces under Skanderbeg in

1311-506: The Albanian troops four times against the Ottoman army, which eventually captured it in 1478 during the fourth Siege of the city . During the first siege of Krujë in 1450, the 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers of the League of Lezhë under Vrana Konti and Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman force of about 100,000 men led by Sultan Murad II , who had tried to bribe Konti to surrender the castle of the town. In

1368-582: The Albanian-Ottoman wars, during which the castle was besieged four times by the Ottoman army. The national ethnographic museum of Krujë was founded in 1989 and is located in a 15–6-room villa of the Toptani family built in 1764. The main exhibits of the museum are objects of artisanship, whose age varies from 60 to 500 years. Krujë's most important football club is KS Kastrioti , founded in 1926 and briefly renamed as Puna Krujë in 1951. The club's home ground

1425-512: The Ottoman besiegers, who retreated after the arrival of reinforcements under Francesco Contarini and Nikollë Dukagjini. The city was eventually conquered by the Ottomans in 1478 after being besieged for over a year. This success was viewed by the Ottomans as a good omen that the siege of Shkodra would also be successful. During the rise of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire Krujë became

1482-595: The Tomorri National Park are composed of diverse species of deciduous and coniferous trees and a great variety of flowers. The park's forests are abundant in species such as European beech , Bosnian pine , Turkish hazel , linaria , great yellow gentian , autumn crocus , Greek whitebeam , European mistletoe , centaury and many others. Numerous species of large mammals such as wolves , foxes , wild boars , roe deer , wild goats , rabbits , golden eagles , owles , and sparrowhawks can be found inside

1539-429: The battlefield of various anti-Ottoman rebellions also related with the imposition of new taxes. In 1906 the people of Krujë revolted once more against the Ottoman Empire. The Wāli of Shkodër , Sali Zeki Pasha sent four battalions of the Ottoman army stationed in the city against the rebels of Krujë. After prolonged confrontations the Ottoman officials offered to begin negotiations with the rebels. On 20 September 1906

1596-441: The camp with all its precious contents fell into the hands of the Albanians. The particularities, beauty and sacredness of Mount Tomorr have been documented since the 17th century. Holy haunts were associated with certain orders of Islamic mysticism helping their expansion into the region. In the early 1880s, when the Bektashi Order was still growing, the movement took on a decisive Albanian nationalist character. The edifice at

1653-687: The capital of the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, the Principality of Arbër founded by Progon of the House of Progon . During the reign of Gulam of Albania the principality was dissolved and incorporated in the newly founded Kingdom of Albania . During the late 13th and early 14th century the Byzantine and the Thopia family and in 1343 the Serbian Empire took control of the city. The Kingdom of Albania

1710-625: The creation of the Albanian Vilayet and later in the Declaration of Independence of Albania Krujë, which was captured on 14 August, was one of the major anti-Ottoman centers. In 1914 Essad Toptani , a member of the notable Toptani family of the region and officer of the Ottoman army, captured the town and incorporated it in the Republic of Central Albania making it a center of his movement, but in June of

1767-556: The environs of the Krujë Castle , and the national ethnographic museum. The name of the city is related to the Albanian word kroi , krua , meaning " fountain " or "water source", from Proto-Albanian * krana < * krasna . The city was attested for the first time as Kroai (in Medieval Greek Κροαί) in Byzantine documents of the early 9th century. In medieval Latin it was known as Croia , Croya and Croarum . During

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1824-506: The feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary . He responded by making a journey to the grave of Abbas ibn Ali in the holy city of Karbala , where he dug up an arm bone belonging to Abbas ibn Ali. Haji Bektash then threw the arm bone up onto the peak of Mount Tomorr, thus turning the mountain into the second sacred grave ( türbe ) of Abbas ibn Ali. The cult of Mount Tomorr can be found in

1881-450: The following decade Krujë was first besieged in 1466 and then in 1467 unsuccessfully by Ballaban Pasha and Sultan Mehmed II , whose total troops were about 150,000. After Skanderbeg's death in 1468, the city's garrison was supplemented by troops of the Republic of Venice . In 1476 the town was once more besieged by a ten-thousand-man army under Gedik Ahmed Pasha ; however, the local garrison led by proveditor Pietro Vetturi fended off

1938-524: The highest natural points of southern Albania, rising between the valleys of the rivers Osum and Tomorrica in the east close to Berat . The park falls within the Pindus Mountains mixed forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome . Its varied geology and topography have resulted in a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Forests of

1995-517: The leaders of Krujë and the Ottoman diplomats met at the Tallajbe quarter of Krujë to discuss the administrative status of the town, however, the Ottoman army under Şemsi Pasha ambushed the rebel leaders. During the battle that followed, which became known in history after the Tallajbe district, about 30 people died including uninvolved civilians. Throughout the Albanian Revolt of 1912 , that led to

2052-462: The mountain was known as Tmoros ( Greek : Τμόρος ) or Timoros (Greek: Τίμορος ). During the reign of Byzantine Emperor Basil II , the sons of Bulgarian Tsar Ivad Vladislav fled in Tomorr to continue the war against the Byzantines after the collapse of First Bulgarian Empire in 1018, but soon surrendered as they reached an agreement and received great privileges. The last Bulgarian governor of Berat

2109-440: The mountains of Albania in order to take possession of Kruje , Svetigrad and Berat . In Tomorr Skanderbeg won his bloodiest but also most brilliant victory on September 2, 1457. When Skanderbeg attacked Isa Bey's resting army, the Turks were taken completely by surprise and defeated. Sources report the massacre of 15,000 or, exaggerating, 30,000 soldiers of the Ottoman army. 15,000 prisoners, 24 horsetails of Ottoman commanders and

2166-488: The national park. Small mammals include forest dormouse , and wood mouse . Prominent features within the national park include the Osum canyon, Osum river and Tomorr massif, which is also a sacred site of both Christians and Bekatshis . Kruje Krujë ( Albanian definite form : Kruja ; see also the etymology section ) is a town and a municipality in north-central Albania . Located between Mount Krujë and

2223-580: The old dervishia . According to the Albanian Bektashis of the early 20th century the tekke was built on the site of an ancient pagan temple. Mount Tomorr certainly seems to have been the site of a pre-Christian cult and to have been worshiped by the locals, both Christians and Muslims, as a mountain with a supernatural force—swearing solemn oaths "By Him of Tomorr" and "By the Holy One of Tomorr", and practicing ritual sacrifices of animals—long before

2280-421: The pilgrimages stopped until the end of the regime. Under the pretext that the armed forces needed the mountain peak as a strategic military place, both the tyrbe and tekke were destroyed in 1967. After the fall of communism , the tekke was reconstructed in 1992, and the tyrbe in 2008. The tekke is presently headed by Baba Shaban. The number of participants in pilgrimages continues to grow every year. Mount Tomorr

2337-497: The same year it was reincorporated by Prênk Bibë Doda in the Principality of Albania . On 20 December 1914 the local anti-Essadists, led by Abdi Toptani and Mehmet Gjinali, formed the Union of Krujë, which quickly extended its authority in central Albania. Following the Italian invasion of Albania the country became a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy . Mustafa Merlika-Kruja ,

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2394-522: The short-lived Republic of Central Albania , founded by Essad Toptani , and the Principality of Albania . In 1914 Toptani managed to seize the town but during the same year it was reincorporated by Prênk Bibë Doda in the Principality of Albania. During World War II it was the centre of the activities of resistance leader Abaz Kupi . The museums of Krujë include the Skanderbeg Museum , located in

2451-461: The shrine of Abbas Ali was correlated with the sacred site. There is also the oral tradition about the existence of the Church of Saint Marie there; however, the site lacks concrete evidence of any ancient pre-Muslim shrine. The first head of the tekke seems to have been Baba Haxhi. In the period between 1921 and 1925 the tekke was headed by Baba Ali Tomorri. Around 1930 about five dervishes were living in

2508-733: The structure. During the Greco-Italian War (1940–1941) the Greek forces managed to advance towards the Italian positions in the region and at early April 1941 the Tomorri sector was controlled by units of the West Macedonia Army Department of the Greek Army. Informations about the tekke during the communist period are scanty. After the communist dictatorship abolished religion in 1967,

2565-450: The tekke, which was restored by Baba Husayn of Dibër in the mid-19th century. In the early 20th century, Hasluck wrote that the population of Krujë ("Croia") appeared to be almost entirely Bektashi. The museums of Krujë include the Skanderbeg Museum and the national ethnographic museum. The Skanderbeg Museum, founded in 1982, was built in the environs of the Krujë Castle . Its collection includes mostly 15th century artefacts related to

2622-401: The top of the southern peak of Tomorr—a small round twelve-sided shrine encircled by a stone wall—is said to have been built or rebuilt during these years. Bektashis associated the shrine with the second tomb ( türbe/tyrbe ) of the legendary figure of Abbas ibn Ali ( Albanian : Abaz Ali ). Unverified sources claim that his mausoleum existed on Mount Tomorr since the 17th century. In 1908-1909

2679-451: The town is found the plain of the Ishëm River . The town is located in the northern part of the outer Albanides tectonic unit, which consists of anticlines of Mesozoic carbonate platforms . The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Krujë, but it also includes the villages of Barkanesh, Brre and Picerragë. The closest cities to Krujë are Tiranë and Durrës at a distance of 20 and 37 km respectively. The municipality

2736-494: Was a site used for pagan rituals , while after the spread of Christianity a church dedicated to Saint Alexander was built near Mount Krujë. In the late 9th century David of Krujë is mentioned as one of the bishops, who participated in the Fourth Council of Constantinople . In the early 10th century Krujë had an Eastern Orthodox suffragan bishop, subject to the metropolitan bishop of Durrës. The Roman Catholic bishopric of Krujë

2793-473: Was again appointed as subaşi of Krujë until he was replaced in April 1440 by Umur Bey. On 28 November 1443 Skanderbeg gained control over Krujë by deceiving its subaşi with forged sultan's letter, and raised the first Albanian flag on the same day. In 1444 Skanderbeg incorporated it in the League of Lezhë , the confederation of the Albanian principalities . From 1450 until 1477 Krujë was defended successfully by

2850-428: Was an Elimagos. The 13th century was a series of changes in the region. Manfred of Sicily and then Angevine Albania after 1271–72 held control of the area. The fortress of Tomorr in the early 14th century is attested as Timoro(n) under Byzantine control. In 1337, the Albanian tribes which lived in the areas of Belegrita (the region of Mt. Tomorr) and Kanina rose in rebellion, and seized the fortress of Tomorr. There

2907-641: Was dallying in bed with the Earthy Beauty one day, Shpirag took advantage of the moment and advanced to take over Berat. The four guardian eagles duly awakened Baba Tomor from his dreams. When told of Shpirag's surreptitious plans, Baba Tomor arose from his bed. His first concern was for the safety of the Earthly Beauty and so he ordered the East Wind to carry her back to the home of her sister. Mounting his mule, Tomor then set off to do battle with Shpirag. With his scythe, Tomor lashed into Shpirag, inflicting upon him many

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2964-561: Was established in 1167, when its bishop was consecrated by Pope Alexander III . In 1284 the Byzantine Empire expelled the Catholic bishop of Krujë, while after Stefan Uroš II Milutin captured the town, he also expelled the Catholic bishop Andreas Croensis in 1317. In Illyricum Sacrum Daniele Farlati documented fourteen Catholics bishops of the town from 1286 to 1694, while Konrad Eubel documented four additional bishops. Bektashism

3021-504: Was eventually dissolved between 1363 and 1368, when Karl Topia captured its capital Durrës and incorporated its territories, including Krujë in 1363 in the Princedom of Albania . After 1389 the House of Thopia gradually lost control of the town, which by 1395 had come under Ottoman vassalage. The Ottomans lost control of Krujë in the early 15th century, when it was captured by Niketa Thopia and regained it in 1415. After its recapture it

3078-605: Was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Bubq , Cudhi , Fushë-Krujë , Krujë, Nikël and Kodër-Thumanë , that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Krujë. The current mayor of Krujë is Artur Bushi , who was elected in the 2015 local elections as a candidate of the Socialist Party of Albania . Krujë has an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfb ) with warm summers, cool winters, and abundant precipitation. The total population of Krujë

3135-472: Was incorporated in the Sanjak of Albania and formed an administrative unit with the status of Subaşilik as attested in the regional register of 1431. During the Albanian Revolt of 1432–1436 the city was unsuccessfully besieged by Andrea Thopia . Until 1432, the subaşi (governor) of Krujë had been Zagan Bey , then Hizir Bey, and later during 1437—1438 Skanderbeg was its governor. In November 1438 Hizir Bey

3192-520: Was introduced in the region of Krujë in the early 18th century. During the Ottoman era a tekke dedicated to the Bektashi saint Sari Saltik was built near the church of Saint Alexander. In 1789–99 the Dollma tekke was built by the Dollma family near the castle. In 1807 Sheikh Mimi , sent by Ali Pasha to Krujë founded another tekke in the town. However, Sheikh Mimi was executed by Kaplan Pasha, who destroyed

3249-440: Was no longer afflicted For God came to love it. In Albanian folklore , Mount Tomorr is considered the home of the deities. Moreover, it is anthropomorphized and considered a deity itself, envisioned in the legendary figure of Baba Tomor , an old giant with a long flowing white beard and four female eagles hovering above him and perching on his snow-covered slopes. According to German folklorist Maximilian Lambertz , Baba Tomor

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