Gruda (tribe)

Gruda is one of the seven Albanian tribes of Malësia. Located in southern Montenegro, Gruda lies just north of Lake Scutari and includes the small city of Tuzi, the major urban center of Malësia.

Religion

Gruda is mostly Roman Catholic, but it has a sizeable Muslim minority (20-30%) who mostly live in Tuzi and the villages of Milesh and Dinosha. The Church of Gruda, known as Prifti, is the oldest church in the region; and it is not only an Albanian landmark, but (having been built in 1528) its construction provides the most concrete reference date from which ethnic Albanians in the area trace their ancestry.

The Ottoman Conquest

Along with Hoti, its brother tribe, Gruda was instrumental during the Ottoman resistance. The mountains northeast of Tuzi are remembered as the site of a major uprising against the Turks which was among the first significant steps toward Albanian independence and probably the most distinguishing moment of the northern Albanian resistance.

Having been forced to disarm, and under considerable pressure by the Ottomans to convert to Islam, (and not having staged any major revolt against Ottoman authority for nearly a half century) the Albanian highlanders launched a small guerilla campaign against the occupying armies.

In 1911, under the leadership of Ded Gjo Luli, Albanian guerillas launched a major assault against the strategic high ground of Mount Dečić (Albanian: Deçiq), taking heavy casualties, but ultimately prevailing to plant the Albanian flag at the crest of the hill .

This symbolic act represented a major sign of the Ottoman empire's crumbling yoke over the Balkans, and it cemented Gruda's reputation among the other ethnic Albanian tribes.

Geography

The city of Tuzi lies in the east end of Gruda. Of Tuzi's 3,789 residents, more than 2000 are ethnic Albanians, making it, according to the 2003 census, the heaviest concentration of ethnic Albanians in Malësia. Over the last 30 years there has been a minor influx from the surrounding villages of Albanians who are looking to take advantage of Tuzi's relatively higher standard of living and better educational system.

In the western half of Gruda lies a small range of mountains (including Dečić) as well as the river Cijevna (Albanian: Cemi), which runs through Gruda, separating Dečić and the village of Suka, as well as forming the border between the lands of the Gruda tribe and those of Koja e Kucit.

Also in Gruda is Ksheva, birthplace of local legend Smail Martini Ivezaj and his daughter Tringa (also known as "Tringa of Gruda").

Gruda is made up of the following villages: Tuzi, Ksheva, Dinosha (Dinose), Sëlisht (Seliste), Dečić, Mileshi, Vranë, Prift, Tergaja, Planica, Shipshanik, Pikalë, Lekaj, Dheu i Zi, and Suka e Grudes.

Notable People

• Baci Kurti Gjokaj
• Vuksa Gela
• Sokol Baci Ivezaj
• Tringa Smail Martini

Clans/Surnames of Gruda

• Berishaj
• Bojaj
• Gjokaj
• Gjolaj
• Ivezaj
• Kalaj
• Lulgjuraj
• Nikaj
• Sinishtaj
• Stanaj
• Vulaj
• Vuqinaj