Jani Vreto
Encyclopedia
Jani Vreto was an Albanian
writer, publisher and important figure of the Albanian National Awakening.
, a village near Leskovik
, southern Albania
in 1822. He went to the local school where he took his first lessons from Nikolla Ikonomi, who would teach him both Greek
and Albanian
.
In 1879 he became one of the founders of Shoqëri e të shtypuri shkronja shqip (Sociey for the Publication of Albanian Writing), an organization responsible for publishing Albanian textbooks and opening Albanian schools. Vreto transferred its headquarters from Istanbul
to Bucharest
after the organization was banned by the Ottoman
authorities. As a member of this society Vreto set up and operated the Albanian printing house of Bucharest playing an important role in the advancement of the Albanian movement.
At the same time he was excommunicated by the Orthodox metropolitan of Gjirokastër
, who accused him of having committed heresy by "creating an Albanian question". Many of the works of Naim Frashëri
, national poet of Albania were published by this organization. Vreto was also a member of the Central Committee the defence of the rights of the Albanian people
along with Pandeli Sotiri
, Hasan Tahsini
, Pashko Vasa
, Koto Hoxhi
, Sami Frashëri and Abdyl Frasheri
.
. In 1888 he edited and published the poem Erveheja of Muhamet Kyçyku transliterating it into Latin script completely removing all Turkish or Arabic words Kyçyku had used. Part of Vreto's own work was published in Spiro Dine
's work Valët e Detit (Waves at the Sea), a collection of Albanian history and literature.
Vreto together with Sami Frashëri supported the idea that the Albanian alphabet
should be based on the Greek alphabet
, since according to them, Albanians and Greeks have the same ancestors, the Pelasgians
.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
writer, publisher and important figure of the Albanian National Awakening.
Life
Jani Vreto was born in PostenanPostenan
Postenan is a community in the Kolonjë District, Korçë County, southern Albania.-Notable people:*Athanas Sina, writer and activist of the Albanian National Awakening.*Jani Vreto, writer and activist of the Albanian National Awakening....
, a village near Leskovik
Leskovik
Leskovik is a municipality in the Kolonjë District, Korçë County, southeastern Albania. Leskovik came under Ottoman rule in 15th century and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina.-Notable people:*Ibrahim Sirri Leskoviku, Albanian politician....
, southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
in 1822. He went to the local school where he took his first lessons from Nikolla Ikonomi, who would teach him both Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
.
In 1879 he became one of the founders of Shoqëri e të shtypuri shkronja shqip (Sociey for the Publication of Albanian Writing), an organization responsible for publishing Albanian textbooks and opening Albanian schools. Vreto transferred its headquarters from Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
after the organization was banned by the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
authorities. As a member of this society Vreto set up and operated the Albanian printing house of Bucharest playing an important role in the advancement of the Albanian movement.
At the same time he was excommunicated by the Orthodox metropolitan of Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
, who accused him of having committed heresy by "creating an Albanian question". Many of the works of Naim Frashëri
Naim Frashëri
Naim Frashëri was an Albanian poet and writer. He was one of the most prominent figures of the Albanian National Awakening of the 19th century, together with his two brothers Sami and Abdyl...
, national poet of Albania were published by this organization. Vreto was also a member of the Central Committee the defence of the rights of the Albanian people
Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights
The Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights was formed in the city of Istanbul, Turkey, then Ottoman Empire in 1877 by an influential group of Albanian intellectuals, patriots, and politicians, such as Sami Frashëri, Pashko Vasa, Abdyl Frashëri, Jani Vreto, Ymer Prizreni, Zija Prishtina,...
along with Pandeli Sotiri
Pandeli Sotiri
Pandeli Sotiri was an Albanian activist that acted as director of the first Albanian school of modern times in Korçë. Sotiri was one of the most important Rilindas figures that contributed in the propagation of the Albanian language. He also worked on one of the versions of the Albanian alphabet...
, Hasan Tahsini
Hasan Tahsini
Hasan Tahsini also known as Hoxha Tahsin was an Albanian astronomer, mathematician and philosopher. He was the first rector of Istanbul University and one of the founders of the Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights...
, Pashko Vasa
Pashko Vasa
Pashko Vasa also known as Vaso Pasha or Vaso Pashë Shkodrani, was an Albanian writer, poet and publicist of the Albanian National Awakening, and Governor of Lebanon from 1882 until his death.-Secretary in the British Consulate:From 1842 to 1847 he worked as a secretary for the...
, Koto Hoxhi
Koto Hoxhi
Koto Hoxhi was an advocate of the Albanian language. He taught this language secretly to his students in Qestorat in Southern Albania. He was imprisoned and died in prison for his beliefs.-Biography:...
, Sami Frashëri and Abdyl Frasheri
Abdyl Frashëri
Abdyl Frashëri People's Hero of Albania was an Albanian diplomat, politician, writer, and a first political ideologue of the Albanian National Awakening through the League of Prizren...
.
Works
Jani Vreto's most known work is an epic poem titled Histori e Skënderbeut (History of Skanderbeg), dedicated to national hero of Albania SkanderbegSkanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
. In 1888 he edited and published the poem Erveheja of Muhamet Kyçyku transliterating it into Latin script completely removing all Turkish or Arabic words Kyçyku had used. Part of Vreto's own work was published in Spiro Dine
Spiro Dine
Spiro Risto Dine was an Albanian rilindas, writer and playwright. His most known work "Waves of the Sea" was at the time of its publication the longest book printed in Albanian.- Life :...
's work Valët e Detit (Waves at the Sea), a collection of Albanian history and literature.
Vreto together with Sami Frashëri supported the idea that the Albanian alphabet
Albanian alphabet
The modern Albanian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet, and consists of 36 letters:Note: The vowels are shown in bold. to the pronunciation of the letters.-History:...
should be based on the Greek alphabet
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
, since according to them, Albanians and Greeks have the same ancestors, the Pelasgians
Pelasgians
The name Pelasgians was used by some ancient Greek writers to refer to populations that were either the ancestors of the Greeks or who preceded the Greeks in Greece, "a hold-all term for any ancient, primitive and presumably indigenous people in the Greek world." In general, "Pelasgian" has come...
.