Albanian Blood Feuds

[Proletariat]

So, where does the Albanian tradition of blood feud come from? It's limited to Albanians, and mostly to Catholics in the north. There's no obvious cross-ethnic or cross-national cause or stimulant for it. Yet it's part of the culture. So what causes it?


I'm asking this after finishing Balkan Ghosts.

[Byzantine Prince]

I have no idea. I was born there BTW. I can only speak from experience though. I haven't notived many blood feuds since I lived in the capital but from what I know, Albanians are a very proud lot, if you as much as look at them the wrong way they would probably kill you. Especially in the old days. That's why there's so much gangsterism there right now. Blood feuds no longer exist because traditionalism is dead there at the moment. All the intelectuals from the communist era have emigrated and all that's left is a bunch of gangsters murderers and corrupt cops and politicians.

[Krusader]

I have no idea. I was born there BTW. I can only speak from experience though. I haven't notived many blood feuds since I lived in the capital but from what I know, Albanians are a very proud lot, if you as much as look at them the wrong way they would probably kill you. Especially in the old days. That's why there's so much gangsterism there right now. Blood feuds no longer exist because traditionalism is dead there at the moment. All the intelectuals from the communist era have emigrated and all that's left is a bunch of gangsters murderers and corrupt cops and politicians.

According to European media there are blood feuds in Albania still. Many Albanians, from Albania proper and Kosovo have immigrated to Scandinavia, and some of them have fled from blood feuds. Although, as I've read, blood feuds are much rarer than before.

[Proletariat]

Yes, I knew you were born there BP and I was awaiting your two cents. Thanks.



Krusader, that was my impression as well. (That they still existed.) Thank you.

Ok, I have out my Bradt travel guide and it says that the feuds were a system for resolving conflcits between clans and that they are governed by a code laid down be Leke Duakgjin in the 15th century. You are acutally obliged to kill a man who kills one of your family members or failing that, one of his male relatives. Feuds can by ended by besa or "word of honor" which can be cemented by marriage across clans, or the payment of tribute.

That still doesn't really explain why it started to begin with though.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

I think it's pretty hard to pin down blood feuds. They have existed all over
Europe for centuries but the concept is now mostly dead.

They probably just came from groups of people having perfectly natural feelings to protect or avenge members of their community. I'd guess that anyway.

Some of these bloodfeuds became ritualised and had certain rules and regulations.