Gjilan

City in Kosovo

This article is about the city in Kosovo. For other uses, see Gjilan (disambiguation).

City and municipality in Kosovo

Gjilan

Gnjilane

City and municipality

View over Gjilan

The Clocktower

Gjilan Regional Museum

City's Theatre

Statue of Idriz Seferi

Flag

Seal

Gjilan

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Gjilan

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Coordinates: 42°27′53″N 21°28′1″E﻿ / ﻿42.46472°N 21.46694°E﻿ / 42.46472; 21.46694
Country| Kosovo
District| Gjilan
Government

• Type| Mayor–council
• Mayor| Alban Hyseni (LVV)
• Council| Gjilan Municipal Council
Area

• Municipality

| 391.84 km2 (151.29 sq mi)
• Rank| 10th in Kosovo
Population

(2024)[1]

• Municipality

| 82,901
• Rank| 4th in Kosovo
• Urban

| 53,279
• Ethnicity

* 97.38% Albanians
* 2.62% Other

Demonym(s)| Albanian: Gjilanas (m), Gjilanase (f)
Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code|

60000

Area code| +383 (0) 28
Vehicle registration| 06
Website| kk.rks-gov.net/gjilan/

Gjilan (Albanian definite form: Gjilani) or Gnjilane (Serbian Cyrillic: Гњилане), is the third most populous city in Kosovo and it serves as both a municipality and the administrative center of the Gjilan District. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Gjilan has a population of 82,901 with the majority residing in the city.[2]

The city is located in the east of Kosovo, in the region of Anamorava, and is well connected with the capital city of Kosovo, Pristina, as well as other surrounding cities such as Ferizaj, Kamenica, Preševo and Bujanovac.

## Etymology

[edit]

The etymology of Gjilan is disputed. Albanian sources claim that the town (initially a village) obtained its name from Bahti Beg Gjinolli of Gjinaj clan that ruled the region of Vushtrri (Llap and Drenica), and populated this area in the 18th century (around 1750).[citation needed] However, there is no definite evidence to support this claim and in fact no one can confirm who the first real inhabitants were or when they first settled. On the other hand, Serbian sources claim that the origin of the city's name comes from the Serbo-Croatian word "gnjio" (English: rotten).[3]

## History

[edit]

In 1342, a place called Morava was visited by Serbian King Stefan Dušan (later Emperor, r. 1331–1355).[4] A fort was built nearby in the 14th century. Gornja Morava ("Upper Morava") was known simply as Morava under Ottoman rule, and it extended west of the Upper Žegra–Budriga–Cernica line, thus Gjilan stayed in the oblast (province) of Topanica, whose provincial seat was Novo Brdo.[5]

In the 1455 Ottoman defter of the District of Branković, there were 41 Christian households registered in Gjilan.[6][7] The town was served by the priest Božidar.[8] After the conquest of Kosovo by the Ottoman Empire, Islam was introduced to the region.

Haji Kalfa (first half of the 17th century) mentions Morava being 17 days from Constantinople.[4] Gornja Morava and Izmornik were organized into the Sanjak of Viçitrina up until the 18th century.[9] Gjilan became a kadiluk around 1780, and 20–25 years later a large village.[10]

The exact year of establishment of Gjilan to this day is not exactly determined. In the 17th century, Evlia Çelebija mentions Gjilan, but named Morava, as a cadillac within the Sanjak of Viçitrina. There is a tradition in the people that Gjilan as a settlement was formed around 1750, and as an urban center – in 1772. Gjilan as a town developed in addition to the extinction of Novo Brdo, which in the Middle Ages was one of the cities and the largest commercial, economic and mining centers in the Balkans. The feudal family "Gjinaj" in the second half of the nineteenth century transferred their headquarters from Novo Brdo and built their own houses in the place where Gjilani is now located.[11]

Center of Gjilan with the clock tower (1915)

### Modern history

[edit]

In 1985, Gjilan was the site of an incident involving a Serbian farmer who had a glass bottle shatter inside his rectum, before going to the local police and blaming two Kosovar Albanians. The incident served to increase and inflame ethnic tensions throughout Yugoslavia, namely between Serbs and Albanians. The farmer later admitted that he put the glass bottle inside his rectum himself.[12]

In 1999, Camp Monteith was established outside the city as a base of operations for KFOR during Operation Joint Guardian, on the site of a destroyed Yugoslav military base which was handed over to the Kosovo Protection Corps in 2007 after the U.S. military downsized their number of troops. Gjilan has also served as the regional headquarters of the UNMIK International Police task force from 1999.

KFOR peacekeeper in Gjilan in mid-1999, in the aftermath of the Kosovo War.

On April 24, 2002, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake was recorded in the municipality of Gjilan, killing one person.[13][14][15]

In 2020, the cities of Gjilan and Kumanovo, North Macedonia came closer through a new border point which was built in the village of Stançiq.[16]

## Geography

[edit]

Gjilan is located in the southeastern part of Kosovo, in the region of Anamorava.

It is 46 km (29 mi) from Pristina, 27 km (17 mi) from Kamenica, 25 km (16 mi) from Novo Brdo and 22 km (14 mi) from Vitia. The municipalities of the region are bordered in the southeast by Preševo (33 km (21 mi)) and Kumanovo (53 km (33 mi)), and in the east by Bujanovac (40 km (25 mi)).[17]

The Gjilan area is defined by the Morava e Binçës, which collects all the small rivers, with an average monthly flow rate of 6.7 cubic meters/second. In the southeast it is surrounded by the mountains of Karadak.[17]

### Climate

[edit]

Gjilan has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) as of the Köppen climate classification with an average annual temperature of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F).[18] The warmest month in Gjilan is August with an average temperature of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F), while the coldest month is January with an average temperature of −0.5 °C (31.1 °F).[18]

## Economy

[edit]

Main article: Economy of Gjilan

As of 2018 there were 4,100 registered private businesses in the municipality employing some 6,900 people.[19]

Prior to 1999, Gjilan was an important industrial centre in Kosovo. Still in operation are the radiator factory and tobacco factory, which has been recently privatized. The new city business incubator, supported by the European Agency for Reconstruction, was inaugurated in the summer of 2007.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1953| 48,748| —
1961| 52,415| +0.91%
1971| 67,893| +2.62%
1981| 84,085| +2.16%
1991| 103,675| +2.12%
2011| 90,178| −0.69%
2024| 82,901| −0.65%
Source: Division of Kosovo

According to the most recent census in 2024, Gjilan is home to 82,901 residents, making it the fourth biggest city in Kosovo.[20]

The population of Gjilan has always been mixed, but with a predominant majority of Albanians in both periods during Turkish and Serbian-Yugoslav rule.

According to the 2011 census, the municipality of Gjilan had 90,178 inhabitants. The population consisted of 87,814 Albanians (97.38%), 978 Turks (1.08%), 624 Serbs (0.69%), 121 (0.13%) Bosniaks, and 541 (0.60%) from smaller groups, including Roma, Ashkali, Gorani and Egyptians.[21] In the city live 54,239 inhabitants, while in rural areas – 35,939. Division of population by gender: male – 45,354, female – 44,824.

Albanian, Serbian and Turkish are all official languages in the municipality.[22]

## Education

[edit]

Main article: Education in Gjilan

School of Music in Gjilan

Education in Gjilan includes pre-school, primary and secondary education, and a public university (Kadri Zeka). As of 2018, there were 12,370 students in 29 primary schools, of which 12,023 were ethnic Albanians and 347 members of ethnic minorities (Serbs, Roma and Turks). There were nine secondary schools with 5,650 students of which 5,449 were Albanians and the rest minority groups.[19]

## Culture

[edit]

### Flaka e Janarit

[edit]

Main article: Flaka e Janarit

Flaka e Janarit is a cultural event that starts on 11th of January in Gjilan with a symbolic opening of the flame, to keep up with various cultural activities to 31st of January of each year. It gathers thousands of artists and art lovers from all the Albanian lands, who for three consecutive weeks transform the city into a cultural metropolis. The nation's martyrs are honored through values of art by this event, which began before the 10th anniversary of the assassination of writer, activist and patriot Jusuf Gërvalla, along with Kadri Zeka and Bardhosh Gërvalla. It was exactly the tenth anniversary without these three martyrs of freedom and from coincidence of these murders in a same date on 11 January, this event got this name "Flaka e Janarit".[23]

An Albanian traditional dance during the event of Flaka e Janarit

There are 41 mosques in Gjilan.[24]

## Sports

[edit]

Main articles: Sports in Gjilan and Kosovo Derby

Gjilan is home to the basketball club KB Drita,[25] the football clubs SC Gjilani and FC Drita,[26] and the volleyball club KV Drita.[27] It also has the KF Bashkimi Gjilan football club which competes in the Third League.[28]

The Gjilan derby is a football rivalry between fierce rivals FC Drita and SC Gjilani

Gjilan hosts the biggest derby in Kosovo, the Kosovo Derby, between FC Drita and SC Gjilani. Both of the clubs are from the city, which draw thousands of viewers inside the Gjilan City Stadium.[26]

## Transport

[edit]

Cloverleaf interchange under construction in the highway connecting Gjilan to Pristina

Gjilan is linked to its surrounding settlements mainly by a network of roads. It is connected to the capital of Kosovo, Pristina, via the national road N25.2.

A highway that connects Gjilan with Pristina is being built, as well as connecting with the city of Kamenica. The highway which is 47 kilometers long, is expected to be completed in early 2025.[29][30][31]

## Notable people

[edit]

See also: List of people of Gjilan

* Idriz Seferi (b.1847), Albanian patriot
* Mulla Idriz Gjilani (b.1901), Albanian patriot
* Zoran Antić (b. 1975), Serbian footballer
* Faton Bislimi (b. 1983), Kosovan author
* Nijazi Ramadani (b. 1964), Kosovan poetry writer
* Albert Bunjaku (b. 1983), Kosovan footballer
* Daut Dauti (b. 1960), Kosovan author
* Dragan Dimić (b. 1981), Serbian footballer
* Bajram Haliti (b. 1955), Romani writer
* Shpëtim Hasani (b. 1982), Kosovan footballer
* Lutfi Haziri (b. 1969), Kosovan politician
* Genta Ismajli (b. 1985), Kosovan singer
* Aljmir Murati (b. 1985), Swiss footballer
* Zenun Pajaziti (b. 1966), Kosovan politician
* Xherdan Shaqiri (b. 1991), Swiss footballer
* Jahi Jahiu, (b. 1959), Kosovan artist
* Mira Stupica (b. 1923), Serbian actress
* Goran Svilanović (b. 1963), Serbian politician
* Faton Toski (b. 1987), Kosovan footballer
* Agim Ramadani (b. 1963), KLA commander
* Abdullah Tahiri (1956–1999), KLA commander
* Antun Marković (b. 1992), Croatian footballer
* Lirim Hajrullahu (b. 1990), Canadian CFL kicker
* Đorđe Martinović (1929–2000), farmer

## Twin towns – sister cities

[edit]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Kosovo

Gjilan is twinned with:

* Kumanovo, North Macedonia[32]
* Nazilli, Turkey[33]
* Sarandë, Albania[34]
* Sioux City, United States[35]
* Yıldırım, Turkey[36]

## See also

[edit]

* University of Gjilan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Population and housing census in Kosovo preliminary results - July 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
2. ^ "Population and housing census in Kosovo preliminary results - July 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 21 July 2024.
3. ^ "Архивирана копија". Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
4. ^ a b Kostić 1922, p. 126

> "ГЊИЛАНЕ. ИЛИ. ГИЉАНЕ. У 14. веку помиње се неко место Морава, где се 1342. год бакио краљ Душан. Хаџи Калфа (прва половина 17. века) помиње неко место Мораву, на 17 дана од Цариграда. Јањева, Новог Брда и Кача- ..." Gnjilane or Giljane. In 14th century some place Morava was mentioned, where king Dusan rested in 1342. Haji Kalfa (first half of the 17th century) mentioned some place Morava, on 17 days (distance) from Istanbul. Janjeva, Novo Brdo and Kaca-..."

5. ^ Urošević/Macura 1987, p. 10

> "Горња Морава се под турском управом звала само Морава, а протезала се западно од линије с. Жегра–Будрига–Церница, тако да је Гњилане остајало у области Топонице, чије је обласно средиште било Ново Брдо." "Upper Morava under Ottoman rule was called just Morava. It was located Western of the line s. Žegra–Budriga–Cernica, so Gnjilane was in area of Toponica, which regional center was Novo Brdo."

6. ^ Pulaha, Selami (1984). Popullsia shqiptare e Kosovës gjatë shek. XV-XVI (in Albanian). 8 Nëntori. p. 678.
7. ^ Hamid Hadžibegić; Adem Handžić; Ešref Kovačević (1972). Oblast Brankovića – Opširni katastarski popis iz 1455. Sarajevo, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Orijentalni institut Sarajevo.
8. ^ Kalezić 2002, p. 448

> "Из турског дефтера (1455) види се да је насељено Србима и да је у њему служио свештеник Божидар. Старо Гњилане налазило се у Петиковиди (Петковици) предграђу данашњег насеља које је подигнуто на месту" "From the Ottoman Defter (1455) it is seen that it was inhabited by Serbs and that in it the priest Bozidar served. Old Gnjilane was located in Petikovida (Petkovica) suburb of today's settlement which was created in that place"

9. ^ Urošević/Macura 1987, p. 11
10. ^ Cvijić 1930, p. 38

> "Гњилане је дакле могло постати тек после овог кадије, око 1780 године, тако да је после 20–25 година, на крају 18 века, могло бити велико село – варошица. При доласку Џинића у новобрдски" "So, Gnjilane was founded only after this kadi, around the year 1780, so it was after 20–25 years, at the end of 18th century, a large village – varošica"

11. ^ "The history". Gjilan municipality. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
12. ^ Mertus, Julie A. (1999). Kosovo: How Myths and Truths Started a War. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. pp. 100–110\. ISBN 0-520-21865-5.
13. ^ Malisheva, T. V. (2020-04-27). "Pamje të dhimbshme nga tërmeti i vitit 2002 në Gjilan". MALISHEVA. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
14. ^ "Pamje të rralla nga tërmeti i vitit 2002 në Gjilan". Periskopi. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
15. ^ Musliu, Ilmi (2024-04-24). "22 vjet nga tërmeti në Gjilan". Mediafokus (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-05-26.
16. ^ "Hapet pika kufitare Bellanoc – Stançiq - RTV21" (in Albanian). 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
17. ^ a b "Geographical position". Municipality of Gjilan - Official Website. Municipality of Gjilan. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
18. ^ a b "Climate: Prizren". Climate-Data. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
19. ^ a b "Municipality Profile 2018: Gjilan/Gnjilane" (PDF). osce.org. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
20. ^ "Population and housing census in Kosovo preliminary results - July 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 21 July 2024.
21. ^ "Population Number". Gjilan. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
22. ^ OSCE Archived 2019-03-27 at the Wayback Machine Implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages by Kosovo Municipalities
23. ^ Rrustemi, Sabit (2001). Cultural Literary Magazine "Agmia". Vol. 5\. pp. 85–86. `{{cite magazine}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
24. ^ "MUNICIPAL PROFILE". OSCE. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
25. ^ "Haziri takon përfaqësuesit e KB "Drita"". rajonpress.com. 30 December 2013.
26. ^ a b "Kosovo: new nation, fresh problems". worldsoccer.com. 20 November 2016.
27. ^ "Drita can celebrate the title in Gjilan". koha.net. 2 May 2024.
28. ^ "KF Bashkimi". albinfo.ch. 29 November 2010.
29. ^ "Prezantohet Autostrada e tretë kosovare, Prishtinë-Gjilan-Konçul". Albinfo. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
30. ^ RadioStar (2023-07-21). "Hyseni: Autostrada Gjilan-Prishtinë po hapet këtë vit, 70% e punimeve kanë përfunduar!". RADIO STAR 96.4. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
31. ^ Infokus, Gazeta (2024-02-14). "Autostrada Prishtinë-Gjilan, qeveria miraton propozimin për shpronësime shtesë". Infokus. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
32. ^ "Haziri e Damianovski vlerësojnë se Gjilani e Kumanova janë shembulli më i mirë i bashkëpunimit ndërkufitar" (in Albanian). Gjilan. 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
33. ^ "Korça dhe Gjilani mund të binjakëzohen". yildirim.bel.tr (in Albanian). Albanian Post. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
34. ^ "Binjakezime". bashkiasarande.gov.al (in Albanian). Sarandë. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
35. ^ "Sister Cities". sioux-city.org. City of Sioux City. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
36. ^ "Yıldırım Belediyesi 2020–2024 Stratejik Planı" (PDF). yildirim.bel.tr (in Turkish). Yıldırım. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-04-26.

## Sources

[edit]

* Kalezić, Dimitrije M. (2002). A – Z. Savremena administracija. ISBN 9788638706716.
* Urošević, Atanasije; Macura, Miloš (1987). Etnički procesi na Kosovu tokom turske vladavine [Ethnic Processes in Kosovo during Turkish Rule]. Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti. ISBN 8670250152.

## External links

[edit]

Gjilan at Wikipedia's sister projects

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* Municipality of Gjilan – official website

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Municipalities of Kosovo

District of Ferizaj|

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District of Gjilan|

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District of Mitrovica|

* Leposavić
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* Peja
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