Marin Barleti
Encyclopedia
Marin Barleti. was an Albanian
historian
and Catholic
priest. He is considered the first Albanian historian, especially because of his biography on Skanderbeg
, translated in many languages in the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Barleti lived in Shkodër
and was a scholar and a clergyman. In 1474, the Ottoman Empire
besieged Shkodër
and Barleti participated in the defense of the town, both in the first siege in 1474 and the second in 1478. When Shkodër
fell to the Ottomans, he escaped to Italy
where he became a scholar of history, classical literature and the Latin language. In Venice he wrote About the excellent Prince of the Epirots, George Castrioti's, life, character and deeds, especially against the Turks. Because of his famous exploits he was surnamed Scanderbeg, that is, Alexander the Great. Thirteen books by Marin Barleti of Shkodra (published between 1508 and 1510), The Siege of Shkodër
and A Brief History of Lives of Popes and Emperors . He was from Skodra.
Also shortly known as the Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis, the book is the biography of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg
. The book was printed in Rome between 1508 and 1510. and during the 16th century spread in several languages and eventually was translated from Latin into Portuguese four times and German seven times. It is still the foundation of Skanderbeg studies, and also established the Skanderbeg cult that was important for the formation of the Albanian national self-consciousness. The book is considered an Albanian cultural treasure.
Other known works include:
He made up spurious correspondence between Vladislav II of Wallachia
and Skanderbeg
wrongly assigning it to the year 1443 instead to the year of 1444. Barleti also invented correspondence between Skanderbeg and Sultan Mehmed II to match his interpretations of events.
The old library of Shkodër and a publishing house have been named after Marin Barleti. Recently a University in Albania
has been established under his name.
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...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest. He is considered the first Albanian historian, especially because of his biography on Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
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...
, translated in many languages in the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Life
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and was a scholar and a clergyman. In 1474, the Ottoman Empire
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...
besieged Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and Barleti participated in the defense of the town, both in the first siege in 1474 and the second in 1478. When Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
fell to the Ottomans, he escaped to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where he became a scholar of history, classical literature and the Latin language. In Venice he wrote About the excellent Prince of the Epirots, George Castrioti's, life, character and deeds, especially against the Turks. Because of his famous exploits he was surnamed Scanderbeg, that is, Alexander the Great. Thirteen books by Marin Barleti of Shkodra (published between 1508 and 1510), The Siege of Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and A Brief History of Lives of Popes and Emperors . He was from Skodra.
Also shortly known as the Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis, the book is the biography of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
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...
. The book was printed in Rome between 1508 and 1510. and during the 16th century spread in several languages and eventually was translated from Latin into Portuguese four times and German seven times. It is still the foundation of Skanderbeg studies, and also established the Skanderbeg cult that was important for the formation of the Albanian national self-consciousness. The book is considered an Albanian cultural treasure.
Other known works include:
- Expugnatione Scodrensi a Turcis, published in three volumes in Venice in 1504 and reprinted in BaselBaselBasel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
in 1556, translated in ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
as "Storia dell' origine et imperio de Turchi" and in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. - Chronicum Turcicum, (Frankfurt) 1578, in 3 volumes.
- Compendium vitarum Summorum Pontificium usque ad Marcellum II Imperatorumque Romanorum (Compendium of biographies of Popes and Roman emperors until Marcellus IIPope Marcellus IIPope Marcellus II , born Marcello Cervini degli Spannochi, was Pope from 9 April 1555 to 1 May 1555, succeeding Pope Julius III. Before his accession as Pope he had been Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. He is the most recent Pope to choose to retain his birth name as his regnal name...
), although this last work is perhaps erroneously attributed to Barleti.
He made up spurious correspondence between Vladislav II of Wallachia
Vladislav II of Wallachia
Vladislav II was a ruler of the principality of Wallachia, from 1447 to 1448, and again from 1448 to 1456.Vladislav assassinated Vlad II Dracul, ruler of Wallachia, and was subsequently placed on the throne by John Hunyadi. On July 22, 1456, Dracul's son, Vlad III Dracula killed Vladislav in...
and Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
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...
wrongly assigning it to the year 1443 instead to the year of 1444. Barleti also invented correspondence between Skanderbeg and Sultan Mehmed II to match his interpretations of events.
The old library of Shkodër and a publishing house have been named after Marin Barleti. Recently a University in Albania
Marin Barleti University
Marin Barleti University or UMB is a private institution of higher education in Albania named after the 15th century historian/humanist, Marin Barleti, author of the historic account on the Skanderbeg epics...
has been established under his name.
Sources
- Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum Principis Treasure of the National Library of Albania displayed by The European Library