Lipjan

Town and municipality in District of Pristina, Kosovo

Lipjan

Town and municipality

From the top, View of Lipjan, Town Park, House Museum of Shtjefën Gjeçovi

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Coordinates: 42°32′N 21°06′E﻿ / ﻿42.533°N 21.100°E﻿ / 42.533; 21.100
Country| Kosovo
District| District of Pristina
Named after| Ulpiana[1][2][3][4]
Government

• Mayor| Imri Ahmeti (LDK)
Area

• Municipality

| 338 km2 (131 sq mi)
• Rank| 15th in Kosovo
Population

(2024)[5]

• Municipality

| 55,044
• Ethnicity

* 94.2% Albanians
* 5.8% Other

Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code|

14000

Area code| +383 38
Vehicle registration| 01
Website| kk.rks-gov.net/lipjan

Lipjan (Albanian definite form: Lipjani) or Lipljan (Serbian Cyrillic: Липљан) is a town and municipality located in the District of Pristina in Kosovo. According to the 2011 census, the town of Lipjan has 6,870 inhabitants, while the municipality has 57,605 inhabitants.

## Name

[edit]

The name of the town derives from Ulpiana,[1][2] a nearby Dardanian and Roman era settlement, possibly due to either a Ul- to Li- shift seen elsewhere in Roman toponyms.[3] Ulpiana was named in honor of Roman Emperor Marcus Ulpius Traianus. The neo-Latin form Lypenion occurs for the first time in a Byzantine text from 1018 AD .[6] The name of the town was slavicised into Lipljan and albanised into Lipjan. Albanian author Selami Pulaha states that the shift from Ulpiana to Lipjan is in accordance with early Albanian phonetic rules, and the town must therefore have been inhabited by Albanians (besides Slavs).[4]

## Geography

[edit]

Lipjan is located in the central part of the Republic of Kosovo and at the crossroads of the most important roads in the region. The town is located south of Pristina at a distance of around 17 km (11 mi). The Municipality of Lipjan contains 422 km2 (163 sq mi) of land, and it consists of 70 villages. It borders the municipalities of Drenas, Kosovo Polje and Pristina to the north, Malisheva to the west, Novo Brdo and Gjilan to the east and Ferizaj, Suva Reka and Shtime to the south.[7]

## History

[edit]

### Early Period

[edit]

Main article: Ulpiana

The ancient predecessor of Lipjan, the Roman settlement of Ulpiana, was an important town in the Illyrian and Dardanian spheres. By the 2nd century CE, it was the economic, political and culture centre of the province of Dardania.[8] It was situated on a road between ancient Naissus and Lissus, called Via de Zenta. It suffered from barbarian raids, especially the incursion of 517CE, and from a great earthquake that damaged much of Dardania. By the time Justinian I began his restoration of the Byzantine Empire, Ulpiana was in a ruinous condition - after repairing the town, Justinian labelled it Justiniana Secunda. Ulpiana also played an important ecclesiastical role, having had a local bishop present at the Council of Serdica in 347CE and at the Ecumenic Synod of 553CE. Florus and Laurus were said to have settled in Ulpiana.[9]

### Middle Ages

[edit]

In the early Middle Ages the town was part of the Bulgarian Empire and a diocese of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. In 1018 it was recaptured by the Byzantines.[6] In the period between the 13th and 15th centuries Lipjan was part of the Kingdom (later Empire) of Serbia and of the Serbian Despotate. The church of the Presentation of the Mother of God was rebuilt to its present-day form as seat of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Lipljan.[10]

According to some modern authors, Lipjan may also be the birthplace of Lekë Dukagjini (1410–1481),[11] an Albanian noble whose realm was actually located in Northern Albania (where he could also have been born). Dukagjini was a close friend of Albanian military commander Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.[12][8]

### Ottoman Era

[edit]

Since the second half of the 15th century until 1913, Lipjan was part of the Ottoman Empire.

### Kosovo War and Aftermath

[edit]

During and after the Kosovo War, Lipjan was the site of war crimes and atrocities which affected both Albanian and Serbian civilians. In July 1998, 22 Serb civilians were murdered in the nearby village of Kleçka/Klečka, allegedly by KLA members.[13] In April 1999, ethnic Albanians were forced out of the area by Serb forces, and their properties were looted and burned by said forces. Serbian paramilitary forces were alleged to have shot more than 50 Albanian civilians in 3 surrounding villages.[14] Immediately after the war, during the Staro Gracko massacre, 14 Serb farmers were slaughtered.[15] During the 2004 unrest, the majority of local Serb families were forced out of the area, with their houses and properties burned down.[16]

## Demographics

[edit]

Municipal historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1948| 29,700| —
1953| 33,132| +2.21%
1961| 38,573| +1.92%
1971| 47,526| +2.11%
1981| 57,705| +1.96%
1991| 69,451| +1.87%
2011| 57,605| −0.93%
2024| 55,044| −0.35%

The municipality of Lipjan has 55,044 inhabitants according to the 2024 census,[5] compared to 57,605 in 2011.[17] In the same year, 6,870 lived in the town, while the general age of the population was also young; 40% were aged 0-14 years, 45% 15-65 and 15% over 65. The average family size was also five people.[18]

### Ethnic groups

[edit]

The ethnic composition of the municipality of Lipjan:

Ethnic group  | 2011 census[17] | in %  | 2024 census[5] | in %

|
|
|
|

Albanians | 54,467  | 94.55  | 51,861  | 94.22
Ashkali | 1,812  | 3.15  | 1,891  | 3.44
Serbs | 513  | 0.89  | 569  | 1.03
Romani | 342  | 0.59  | 318  | 0.58
Others  | 471  | 0.82  | 405  | 0.73+
Total | 57,605  | 100.00  | 55,044  | 100.00

### Religions

[edit]

The religious composition of the municipality of Lipjan:

Religion  | 2011 census[19] | in %  | 2024 census[20] | in %

|
|
|
|

Islam | 56,384  | 97.88  | 53,635  | 97.44
Eastern Orthodoxy | 520  | 0.90  | 533  | 0.96+
Roman Catholicism | 572  | 0.99  | 455  | 0.82+
Others  | 7  | 0.01  | 75  | 0.13+
No religion  | 6  | 0.01  | 50  | 0.08+
Prefer not to answer  | 68  | 0.12  | 296  | 0.57+
Unavailable  | 48  | 0.09-  | \-  | \-
Total | 57,605  | 100.00  | 55,044  | 100.00

## Municipality

[edit]

* Akllap/Oklap
* Babush i Muhaxherëve/Muhadžer Babuš
* Baicë/Banjica
* Banullë/Bandulić
* Breg i Zi/Crni Breg
* Brus
* Bujan/Bujance
* Bukovicë/Bukovica
* Divlakë/Divljaka
* Dobrajë e Madhe/Velika Dobranja
* Dobrajë e Vogël/Mala Dobranja
* Gadime e Epërme/Gornje Gadimlje
* Gadime e Ulët/Donje Gadimlje
* Gllanicë/Glanica
* Gllavicë/Glavica
* Gllogoc/Glogovce
* Grackë e Vjetër/Staro Gracko
* Grackë e Vogël/Malo Gracko
* Gumnasellë/Guvno Selo
* Hallaç i Madh/Veliki Alaš
* Hallaç i Vogël/Mali Alaš
* Hanroc/Androvac
* Janjevo/Janjevë
* Kleçkë/Klečka
* Kojskë/Konjsko
* Konjuh
* Kraishtë/Krajište
* Krojmir/Krajmirovce
* Leletiq/Laletić
* Lipovica
* Livađe/Livagjë
* Llugaxhi/Lugadžija
* Llugë/Lug
* Magura
* Marec/Marevce
* Medvec/Medvece
* Mirenë/Mirena
* Okosnicë/Okosnica
* Plitkoviq/Plitković
* Poturoc/Poturovce
* Qellapek/Čelopek
* Qyqylagë/Čučuljaga
* Resinoc/Rusinovce
* Ribar i Madh/Veliko Ribare
* Ribar i Vogël/Malo Ribare
* Ruboc/Rabovce
* Rufc i Ri/Novo Rujce
* Rufc i Vjetër/Staro Rujce
* Shalë/Sedlare
* Shisharkë/Šišarka
* Sllovi/Slovinje
* Smallushë/Smoluša
* Teqë/Teća
* Topličane
* Torina/Torinë
* Trbovce/Tërbuc
* Varigoc/Varigovce
* Vërshec/Vrševce
* Vogaçicë/Vogačica
* Vrelo
* Vrellë e Goleshit/Goleško Vrelo
* Zlokućane

## See also

[edit]

* Municipalities of Kosovo
* Cities and towns in Kosovo
* Populated places in Kosovo
* Staro Gracko massacre
* Lekë Dukagjini

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Illyés, Elemér (1988). Ethnic Continuity in the Carpatho-Danubian Area. East European Monographs. p. 172\. ISBN 9780880331463.
2. ^ a b Du Nay, André (1977). The Early History of the Rumanian Language. Jupiter Press. p. 17\. ISBN 9780933104037.
3. ^ a b Lafe, Emil (1976). "Toponymes latino-romans sur le territoire de l'albanais". Iliria. Page 116
4. ^ a b Pulaha, Selami (1984). Popullsia shqiptare e Kosovës gjatë shek: studime dhe dokumente. XV-XVI. 8 Nëntori. p. 11.
5. ^ a b c "Regjistrimi i Popullsisë, Ekonomive Familjare dhe Banesave 2024 - Të Dhënat E Para Finale" [Population, Family Economy and Housing Census 2024 - First Final Data] (PDF). Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës (in Albanian). 19 December 2024. p. 66. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
6. ^ a b Collective (1965). Greek Sources about Bulgarian History (GIBI), volume VI (in Bulgarian and Greek). Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Press. p. 44.
7. ^ Elsie, Robert (15 Nov 2010). Historical Dictionary of Kosovo. Scarecrow Press. p. 178\. ISBN 9780810874831.
8. ^ a b Warrander, Gail; Knaus, Verena (2010). Kosovo: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 139, 144. ISBN 9781841623313.
9. ^ Evans, John (1885). "Antiquarian Researches in Illyricum". Archaeologia, or, Miscellaneous Tracts, Relating to Antiquity. 49 (1): 62–64.
10. ^ Vojvodić, Dragan (2012). "Newly discovered portraits of rulers and the dating of the oldest frescoes in Lipljan". Zograf (36): 143–155\. doi:10.2298/zog1236143d.
11. ^ Nogueira, Adeilson (31 Mar 2018). Moedas De Kosovo. Clube de Autores. p. 16.
12. ^ Sellers, Mortimer; Tomaszewski, Tadeusz (23 July 2010). The Rule of Law in Comparative Perspective. Springer. p. 207\. ISBN 9789048137497.
13. ^ "BBC News | Europe | Serbs highlight 'KLA atrocity'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
14. ^ Erasing History: Ethnic Cleansing in Kosovo. Department of State. 1999. p. 18\. ISBN 9780160500657.
15. ^ "CNN - KLA leader fails to show for Kosovo advisers meeting - August 21, 1999". 2014-05-25. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
16. ^ Failure to Protect: Anti-Monority Violence in Kosovo, March 2004. Human Rights Watch. 2004. p. 33.
17. ^ a b "Regjistrimi i Popullsisë, Ekonomive Familjare dhe Banesave në Kosovë 2011 - Rezultatet Përfundimtare - Të Dhënat Kryesore" [Census of Population, Family Economies and Housing in Kosovo 2011 - Final Results - Main Data] (PDF). Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës (in Albanian). 2013. p. 143. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
18. ^ "Plani Zhvillimor Komunal i Lipjanit 2013-2023+" [Municipal Development Plan of Lipjan 2013-2023+] (PDF). Komunat e Kosovës – Republika e Kosovës (in Albanian). July 2013. p. 79.
19. ^ "Regjistrimi i Popullsisë, Ekonomive Familjare dhe Banesave në Kosovë 2011 - Rezultatet Përfundimtare - Të Dhënat Kryesore" [Census of Population, Family Economies and Housing in Kosovo 2011 - Final Results - Main Data] (PDF). Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës (in Albanian). 2013. p. 146. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
20. ^ "Regjistrimi i Popullsisë, Ekonomive Familjare dhe Banesave 2024 - Të Dhënat E Para Finale" [Population, Family Economy and Housing Census 2024 - First Final Data] (PDF). Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës (in Albanian). 19 December 2024. p. 69. Retrieved 24 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lipljan.

* OSCE Profile of Lipjan

42°31′48″N 21°08′19″E﻿ / ﻿42.53000°N 21.13861°E﻿ / 42.53000; 21.13861

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