Finiq

Municipality in Vlorë, Albania

Finiq

Φοινίκη (Foiniki)

Municipality

The highlands of Delvinë and the hill of Finiq, ancient Phoinike, in the center of the picture behind the plains.

Flag

Emblem

Finiq

Coordinates: 39°54′N 20°3′E﻿ / ﻿39.900°N 20.050°E﻿ / 39.900; 20.050
Country|  Albania
County| Vlorë
Government

• Mayor| Romeo Çakuli (MEGA)
Area

• Municipality| 444.28 km2 (171.54 sq mi)
Population

(2011)

• Municipality

| 10,529
• Municipality density| 24/km2 (61/sq mi)
• Municipal unit

| 1,333
Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code|

9716

Area Code| (0)895
Website| bfiniq.gov.al

Finiq (Albanian: Finiq, Albanian definite form: Finiqi, Greek: Φοινίκη, romanized: Foiniki) is a settlement, considered a town or village, and municipality in Vlorë County, in southern Albania located 8 km from the Ionian Sea and 20 km north of the Greek border. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former communes Aliko, Dhivër, Livadhja, Mesopotam, and Finiq itself. It is inhabited by ethnic Greeks and is one of two municipalities in Albania in which Greeks form a majority, alongside Dropull. The seat of the municipality is the village Dërmish.[1] The total population is 10,529 (2011 census),[2] in a total area of 444.28 km2.[3]

The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 1,333;[2] according to the civil offices, which count all citizens including those who live abroad, was 6,780 (2011 estimate).[4]

## Name

[edit]

The ancient name of the Greek toponym (Greek: Φοινίκη) was not preserved through literary revival. As such, the modern settlement retained in the Ottoman register of 1431 its name Finiki.[5]

## History

[edit]

In antiquity, Phoenice was the political center of the Epirot Greek tribe of the Chaonians. Early Byzantine architecture (4th-7th century) is evident in the settlement in particular that of the three aisled basilica type.[6]

The settlement retained its ancient name and is mentioned in an Ottoman record of 1431 as Finiki.[7] According to the Chronicle of Gjirokastër the first years of Ottoman rule (15th century) were peaceful but after the Fall of Constantinople (1453) Finiki (that time known as Phinikoupolis) was destroyed by the Muslims.[8] At the end of the 16th century Finiki witnessed a drastic population increase and became one of the largest settlements in the area with 359 households (compared to contemporary Gjirokastër with 302 and Delvinë with only 204 taxable households).[9]

At 1870 a secondary Greek language school was already operating in Finiq.[10]

## Demographics

[edit]

### Ottoman registries

[edit]

In the Defter of the Sanjak of Delvinë from 1431-1432, 4 villages in the area of Vurgu are recorded: Finiki (Finiqi), Vurgo, Jeromi and Krajna (Kranéja) each with very few inhabitants. Among these villages, the Ottoman register of 1520 attests typical Albanian names are attested inscribed such as: Gjin, Reçi,Leka,Gjon, Dorza, Meksh Nika and Deda.[11]

The Ottoman defter of 1582 for the Sanjak of Delvina provides records for the village of Finiq. A significant portion of the anthroponyms recorded in the register belonged to the Albanian onomastic sphere, including personal names such as Bos, Dedë, Dodë, Gjergj, Gjin, Gjokë, Gjon, Lalë, Lekë, Muzhak, and others. However, more ambiguous or general Christian anthroponyms that were historically used by both Albanian and non-Albanian groups are also attested. In Finiq, a quarter of the population recorded bore purely Albanian anthroponyms. These figures do not take into account kinship ties shared between individuals bearing typical Albanian anthroponymy and those bearing more ambiguous names, and also do not include those bearing names that can be etymologically explained through Albanian (e.g., Buzmiri, Bala, Bardhi, Burriqi, Buzuku, Çobani, Dera, Iriqi, Kuka,Marsi, Mara, Macja, Poçi, Plaku, Uk, Ylli). As such the ethnic Albanian element must have represented a larger proportion. [12]

### 19th century

[edit]

Athanasios Psalidas (1767–1829), counselor of Ali Pasha of Ioannina noted that the town was inhabited by an ethnic Greek community.[13]

### Modern demographics

[edit]

The 2015 Albanian civil registry, which counts all citizens including those who live abroad, recorded a much higher municipal population of 39,055.[4] The municipal unit of Finiq comprises the villages Finiq, Buronjë (Mavropull), Çlirim, Vrion, Karahaxhë and Bregas (Vromero).[14]

The town of Finiq and all the villages of the municipality are exclusively inhabited by Greeks, except the village of Çlirim, which is mixed.[15][16]

According to the ministry of foreign affairs of Albania, the Greek population of the commune of Finiq amounts to 5531, making it the Greeks a majority.[17] The inhabitants use the Greek language towards local government authorities and the toponyms and street addresses are written in both Albanian and Greek in official documents.[18]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Irini Qirjako, Albanian singer and actress

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6376. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
2. ^ a b "Population and housing census - Vlorë 2011" (PDF). INSTAT. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
3. ^ "Correspondence table LAU – NUTS 2016, EU-28 and EFTA / available Candidate Countries" (XLS). Eurostat. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
4. ^ a b "Vlora's communes". Retrieved 13 January 2016.
5. ^ Kyriazis, Doris (2019). "Διατοπικότητα και διαχρονικότητα των νεοελληνικών γλωσσικών ιδιωμάτων της νότιας Αλβανίας" (PDF). Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistic Theory. 8th International Conference of Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistic Theory (in Greek). Gjirokastër: University of Patras. p. 124\. ISSN 1792-3743. "Προσπαθώντας να ανακτήσουμε τα «εδάφη» της μνήμης μας, οφείλουμε στα αυθαιρετήματα να αντιτάξουμε επιχειρήματα. Στα σπλάχνα του τόπου μας διασώθηκαν λέξεις και τοπωνύμια μπροστά στα οποία καταρρέουν η αυθαιρεσία και η «αμνησία». «...οι κάτοικοι της περιοχής δεν απώλεσαν ποτέ τη μνήμη του ένδοξου παρελθόντος της ελληνικής πόλης. Η επιβίωση της αρχαίας ονομασίας, που φαίνεται ότι έχει μεταδοθεί αδιάλειπτα στον οικισμό που εξακολουθούσε να υπάρχει στους πρόποδες του λόφου μέχρι και τις μέρες μας, αποτελούσε ένα επιπλέον εχέγγυο μνήμης...» 26 . Τα λόγια αυτά ανήκουν σε ιταλό συνάδελφο και αφορούν την αρχαία Φοινίκη της Ηπείρου, αλλά και το σημερινό Φοινίκι, στο λόφο του οποίου υπάρχει το Κάστρο των Ελλήνων, όπως το ονόμασε ο ντόπιος γεροβοσκός απαντώντας σε ερώτημα του Pouqueville στα 1807. Οικισμός Finiki καταγράφεται και σε οθωμανικό κατάστιχο του 1431, που αφορά την περιοχή αυτή (Inalcık 1987: 137), άρα η ονομασία Φοινίκι δεν είναι λόγια αναβίωση του αρχαίου οικωνυμίου"
6. ^ Giakoumis, 2002, p. 123
7. ^ Kyriazis, Doris (2019). "Διατοπικότητα και διαχρονικότητα των νεοελληνικών γλωσσικών ιδιωμάτων της νότιας Αλβανίας". Proceedings of the International Conference Series of Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistic Theory. 8: 122. doi:10.26220/mgdlt.v8i1.3010. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
8. ^ Giakoumis, 2002, p. 71
9. ^ Giakoumis, 2002, p. 54
10. ^ Koltsida, Athina (2008). Η Εκπαίδευση στη Βόρειο Ήπειρο κατά την Ύστερη Περίοδο της Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας [Education in Northern Epirus during the Latter Ottoman Period] (pdf) (in Greek). Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. p. 187. Retrieved 16 December 2012. (PhD Thesis)
11. ^ Demiraj, Shaban (2008). "La situation ethnique-linguistique des habitants de Dropulli et de Vurgu au cours des siecles". Studia Albanica. 1. Academy of Sciences of Albania: 77–91\. ISSN 0585-5047. "Les noms propres de formes typiques albanaises sont rencontrés aussi dans le Defter du Sandjak de Delvinë de 1431-1432 sur Vurg, appelé ainsi par le mot du grec moderne vurkos "pays bas, marais". Dans ce registre-là ne sont enregistrés que quatre villages Finiki (Finiqi), Vurgo, Jeromi et Krajna (Kranéja) avec très peu d'habitants21. Parmi ces villages Finiqi évoque le nom de l'ancienne cité des Chaons, Phoeniks, fondée vers le Ve s. avant l'ère moderne. Concernant ces villages aussi, dans le registre ottoman ci-dessus mentionné sont inscrits des noms albanais typiques tels que : Gjin Reçi, Gjin Panariti, Gjin Zagorino, Gjin Krali (Frali), Leka Gjini (2 fois), Kozha Gjini, Gjin Vija, Zhupa Gjin, Gjini Spiri, Gjin Andrea, Kont Gjin Andrea, Gjon Dorza, Gjon Zhurmo, Meksh Gjoni, Polimer Gjoni, mais aussi Jani Jagop, Jani Katani, Jani Kosta, Jani Bogdani, Luka Jani, Jani Ispatari, Nika Jani (Finiq), Gjin Ilia, Gjin Pelegri, Gjin Kasnesi, Gjon Pelegri, Dhimo Gjini, Gjon Martini, Martin Gjoni, Deda Gjoni (Krane)22. Mais, selon Shkurti23, dans la zone de Vurgu, en 1927, ont été recensés 25 villages : Çukë, Pal, Aliko, Çaush, Tremul, Kasëmallajbej, Kaliveshush, Jermë, Halo, Kalivepasha, Krané, Ymerefend, Finiq, Vrion, Memushbej, Hajdëragas, Qenurjo, Karalibej, Vromero, Karahaxh, Mavropull, Metoq e Gjashtë, Rahullë, Shijan, Muçopolit, Mullamus qui, en 1927, comptaient en tout 3262 habitants. Donc, la majorité de ces villages ont dû être fondés après le recensement ottoman du XVe sc."77-91&rft.date=2008&rft.issn=0585-5047&rft.aulast=Demiraj&rft.aufirst=Shaban&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Finiq" class="Z3988">
12. ^ Gjergji, Andromaqi (1987). "Disa të dhëna per popullsinë e zones së delvinës në shek. XVI". Kultura Popullore (1): 195–7\. "Shumë studiutes janë të mendimit se në repertorin e emrave të shekujve XV-XVI figurojnë një varg emrash, përkatësia etnike shqiptare e të cilëve nuk mund të vihet në dyshim. Të tillë janë: Gjergj, Gjon, Gjinaku, Gjokë, Dodë, Dedë, Lekë, Mile, Nikë, Prend, Pal, Martin, Mëhill, Muzhak, Laskë, Lalë, Laloç, Lilë, Bos, Pjetër, Dukë, Shigjon, Tanush, Skura etj. Nga një llogaritje e përafërt që arrita të bëj për disa fshatra, po të numërojmë personat që kanë si emër ose si mbiemër femrat e lartpërmendur, kemi këto të dhëna: në Finiq mbajnë të tillë emra afro një e katërta e banorëve; në Nivicë më tepër se tri të katërtat; në Kakodhiq, Dragopezde, Ufnë e Izmenicë një e treta; një e dyta në Vagalat; më tepër sfe një e treta në Luvinë; tri të pestat në Sopik; pothuaj gjysma në Zishtë e në Pendelejmon; pothuaj katër të pfestat në Peoë; një e treta në Lefterohor; tri të katërtat në Likurs etj. Natyrisht, këtyre përqindjeve do të duhej t'u shtonim vëllezërit ose bijtë që janë regjistruar pranë tyre, рог që kanë të tjerë femra, lidhja e afrisë të të cilëve diiket mjaft qartë në regjistër. Gjithashtu, do të duhej t'u shtonim edhe personat që mbajnë emra kuptimorë shqip, si p.sh.: Buzmiri, Bala, Bardhi, Burriqi, Buzuku, Çobani, Dera, Iriqi, Kuka, Marsi, Mara, Macja, Poçi, Plaku, Uk, Ylli e ndonjë tjetër, që i ndeshim në fshatra të ndryshme."195-7&rft.date=1987&rft.aulast=Gjergji&rft.aufirst=Andromaqi&rft_id=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=957046&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Finiq" class="Z3988">
13. ^ Giakoumis, Konstantinos (2016). "Self-identifications by Himarriots, 16th to 19th Centuries". Erytheia. 37: 218.
14. ^ Greece – Albania Neighbourhood Programme Archived March 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ Kallivretakis, Leonidas (1995). "Η ελληνική κοινότητα της Αλβανίας υπό το πρίσμα της ιστορικής γεωγραφίας και δημογραφίας [The Greek Community of Albania in terms of historical geography and demography." In Nikolakopoulos, Ilias, Kouloubis Theodoros A. & Thanos M. Veremis (eds). Ο Ελληνισμός της Αλβανίας [The Greeks of Albania]. University of Athens. p. 52.; p. 51. "ΑΧ Αλβανοί Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί, ΤΣ Τσάμηδες"; p.54. "FINIQΙ ΦΟΙΝΙΚΙ 1953 Ε".
16. ^ Badlands-Borderland: A History of Southern Albania/Northern Epirus by T.J. Winnifrith,ISBN 0-7156-3201-9,2003,Page 69,"... 16. Greek-speaking children in modern Finiq ..."
17. ^ https://rm.coe.int/16806befc5 (page 98)
18. ^ https://rm.coe.int/16806befc5 p. 60

## Sources

[edit]

* Konstantinos, Giakoumis (2002), The monasteries of Jorgucat and Vanishte in Dropull and of Spelaio in Lunxheri as monuments and institutions during the Ottoman period in Albania (16th-19th centuries), University of Birmingham, archived from the original on 16 July 2020, retrieved 20 May 2018

## External links

[edit]

* https://web.archive.org/web/20081028140625/http://www.phoinike.com/

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities of Albania

The municipalities of Albania are the country's administrative divisions consisting of local administrative units and their inclusive villages.

Berat County|

* Berat
* Dimal
* Kuçovë
* Poliçan
* Skrapar

Dibër County|

* Bulqizë
* Dibër
* Klos
* Mat

Durrës County|

* Durrës
* Krujë
* Shijak

Elbasan County|

* Belsh
* Cërrik
* Elbasan
* Gramsh
* Librazhd
* Peqin
* Prrenjas

Fier County|

* Divjakë
* Fier
* Lushnjë
* Mallakastër
* Patos
* Roskovec

Gjirokastër County|

* Dropull
* Gjirokastër
* Këlcyrë
* Libohovë
* Memaliaj
* Përmet
* Tepelenë

Korçë County|

* Devoll
* Kolonjë
* Korçë
* Maliq
* Pogradec
* Pustec

Kukës County|

* Has
* Kukës
* Tropojë

Lezhë County|

* Kurbin
* Lezhë
* Mirditë

Shkodër County|

* Fushë-Arrëz
* Malësi e Madhe
* Pukë
* Shkodër
* Vau i Dejës

Tiranë County|

* Kamëz
* Kavajë
* Rrogozhinë
* Tiranë
* Vorë

Vlorë County|

* Delvinë
* Finiq
* Himarë
* Konispol
* Sarandë
* Selenicë
* Vlorë

* v
* t
* e

Subdivisions of Vlorë County

County seat: Vlorë

Municipality of Delvinë|

* Delvinë
* Vergo

Municipality of Finiq|

* Aliko
* Dhivër
* Finiq
* Livadhe
* Mesopotam

Municipality of Himarë|

* Himarë
* Horë-Vranisht
* Lukovë

Municipality of Konispol|

* Konispol
* Markat
* Xarrë

Municipality of Sarandë|

* Ksamil
* Sarandë

Municipality of Selenicë|

* Armen
* Brataj
* Kotë
* Selenicë
* Sevaster
* Vllahinë

Municipality of Vlorë|

* Novoselë
* Orikum
* Qendër Vlorë
* Shushicë
* Vlorë

* v
* t
* e

Subdivisions of Finiq municipality

Municipal seat: Finiq

Administrative unit of Aliko|

* Aliko
* Çaush
* Dritas
* Halo
* Jermë
* Neohor
* Pllakë
* Rahullë
* Tremul
* Vurgu i Ri

Administrative unit of Dhivër|

* Cerkovicë
* Dermish
* Dhivër
* Janicat
* Leshnicë e Poshtme
* Leshnicë e Sipërme
* Llupsat
* Maliçan
* Memoraq
* Navaricë
* Rumanxë
* Shëndre

Administrative unit of Finiq|

* Bregas
* Buronjë
* Çlirim
* Finiq
* Karahaxhë
* Vrion

Administrative unit of Livadhe|

* Gravë
* Grazhdan
* Kalcat
* Karroq
* Kodër
* Komat
* Kulluricë
* Lefter Talo
* Livadhe
* Llazat
* Pandalejmon
* Qesarat
* Sopik
* Vagalat
* Zminec

Administrative unit of Mesopotam|

* Ardhasovë
* Bistricë
* Brajlat
* Dhrovjan
* Fitore
* Kardhikaq
* Kostar
* Kranë
* Krongj
* Livinë
* Mesopotam
* Muzinë
* Pecë
* Sirakat
* Velahovë

* v
* t
* e

Greeks in Albania

History|

* Ancient Epirus
* Chaonians
* Omphales
* Dexaroi
* Despotate of Epirus
* Revolt of 1567-1572
* Revolt of 1854
* Revolt of 1878
* Himara revolt of 1912
* Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
* Northern Epirus
* Protocol of Corfu
* Greco-Italian War in southern Albania
* Morava–Ivan
* Korytsa
* Saranda
* Himara
* Klisura Pass
* Trebeshina
* Italian spring offensive
* Hill 731
* Northern Epirus Liberation Front

Society
and culture|

* Himariote dialect
* Laiko Vima
* Polyphonic song of Epirus
* Postage stamps and postal history
* Lasso fund

Education: New Academy (Moscopole)
* Zographeion College (Qestorat)
* Acroceraunian School (Himara)
* Dhuvjan Monastery (Dropull)
* Bangas Gymnasium (Korçë)

Geography|

Ancient: Chaonia, Parauaea
Medieval and modern: Dryinopolis, Kolonia

Settlements1|

* Ancient: Phoenice
* Vouthroton
* Avlon
* Apollonia
* Thronion
* Amantia
* Antigonia
* Antipatreia
* Oricon

Modern: Gjirokastër
* Korçë
* Himara
* Delvinë
* Sarandë
* Dropull
* Pogon
* Përmet
* Leskovik
* Bilisht
* Moscopole
* Zvërnec
* Vlorë
* Berat
* Durrës

Organizations|

* Omonoia
* Panepirotic Federation of America
* Panepirotic Federation of Australia
* Unity for Human Rights Party

Individuals2|

* Benefactors:  Apostol Arsache
* Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas
* Ioannis Pangas
* Georgios and Simon Sinas
* Alexandros and Michael Vasileiou
* Christakis Zografos
* Literature:  Theodore Kavalliotis
* Katina Papa
* Konstantinos Skenderis
* Takis Tsiakos
* Tasos Vidouris
* Stavrianos Vistiaris
* Andreas Zarbalas
* Politics: Fredi Beleri
* Georgios Christakis-Zografos
* Spiro Ksera
* Vangjel Dule
* Vasilis Bolanos
* Military/Resistance: Kyriakoulis Argyrokastritis
* Dimitrios Doulis
* Nikolaos Dailakis
* Konstantinos Lagoumitzis
* Zachos Milios
* Athanasios Pipis
* Ioannis Poutetsis
* Vasileios Sachinis
* Georgios Soulios
* Spyromilios
* Spyros Spyromilios
* Sports: Pyrros Dimas
* Sotiris Ninis
* Panajot Pano
* Leonidas Sabanis
* Andreas Tatos
* Clergy: Photios Kalpidis
* Vasileios of Dryinoupolis
* Panteleimon Kotokos
* Eulogios Kourilas Lauriotis

1 Includes localities with a substantial ethnic Greek population, or otherwise with any kind of cultural or other type of significance, historical or current, for the Greek minority in Albania.
2 Includes individuals not necessarily of Greek ethnicity but with important contributions to Greek civilization.
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