Naum Veqilharxhi
Encyclopedia
Naum Veqilharxhi born Naum Bredhi (1797-1854) was an Albanian
lawyer and scholar. In 1844, he created a unique alphabet for the Albanian language
using characters he had created himself, the Vithkuqi script
. Veqilharxhi is one of most prominent figures of the early Albanian National Awakening.
, near Korçë
southern Albania
. His father Panajot Bredhi was a steward
of Ali Pashë Tepelena, the ruler of the Pashalik of Janina
. At an early age Veqilharxhi migrated to Romania
to study law. As a student he took part in the Wallachian uprising of 1821
. A few years later he worked in Brăila
as a lawyer, became wealthy and used his money to promote the ideas of the Albanian National Awakening. In Brăila he joined an intellectual organization of Albanians, who considered the development of Albanian language and culture necessary for the Albanian National Awakening.
In 1825, he started the creation of his alphabet of the Albanian language. The final version of his thirty-three-letter alphabet, whose characters were invented by Veqilharxhi was printed as part of primer in 1844-5 titled Evëtori Shqip Fort i Shkurtër (The most Useful and Concise Albanian Alphabet). Veqilharxhi avoided the use of Latin, Greek or Arabic alphabets and characters because of their religious associations and divisions
Veqilarxhi's Evëtor first distributed in Korçë and later westwards as far as Berat
, where it reached great success. On April 22, 1845 Athanas Paskali, one of the notable people of Korçë along with others sent him a letter requesting as many more copies as possible.
In 1845 Veqilharxhi sent a polemic open letter written in the Greek language to his nephew, who had dared call his patriotic ideas chimera: the letter is considered to be one of the first written documents to record the main ideas of the Albanian National Awakening movement.
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...
lawyer and scholar. In 1844, he created a unique alphabet for the Albanian language
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...
using characters he had created himself, the Vithkuqi script
Beitha Kukju
Vithkuqi script, also called Büthakukye or Beitha Kukju after the appellation applied to it by German Albanist Johann Georg von Hahn, was an alphabet invented for writing the Albanian language between 1825 and 1845 by Albanian scholar Naum Veqilharxhi...
. Veqilharxhi is one of most prominent figures of the early Albanian National Awakening.
Life
Naum Veqilharxhi was born Naum Bredhi in 1797 in the village of VithkuqVithkuq
Vithkuq is a municipality in the Korçë District, Korçë County, southeastern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Vithkuq, Leshnje, Gjanc, Lubonjë, Rehovë, Roshanj, Trebickë, Grabockë, Treskë, Stratobërdh, Panarit, Shtyllë and Cemericë....
, near Korçë
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
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...
. His father Panajot Bredhi was a steward
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
of Ali Pashë Tepelena, the ruler of the Pashalik of Janina
Pashalik of Janina
The Pashalik of Yanina or Janina was a subdivision in the Ottoman Empire, created in 1430. It had some degree of autonomy in the early 19th century under Ali Pasha, but it was never recognized as such by the Ottoman empire...
. At an early age Veqilharxhi migrated to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
to study law. As a student he took part in the Wallachian uprising of 1821
Wallachian uprising of 1821
The Wallachian uprising of 1821 was an uprising in Wallachia against Ottoman rule which took place during 1821.-Background:...
. A few years later he worked in Brăila
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
as a lawyer, became wealthy and used his money to promote the ideas of the Albanian National Awakening. In Brăila he joined an intellectual organization of Albanians, who considered the development of Albanian language and culture necessary for the Albanian National Awakening.
In 1825, he started the creation of his alphabet of the Albanian language. The final version of his thirty-three-letter alphabet, whose characters were invented by Veqilharxhi was printed as part of primer in 1844-5 titled Evëtori Shqip Fort i Shkurtër (The most Useful and Concise Albanian Alphabet). Veqilharxhi avoided the use of Latin, Greek or Arabic alphabets and characters because of their religious associations and divisions
Veqilarxhi's Evëtor first distributed in Korçë and later westwards as far as Berat
Berat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
, where it reached great success. On April 22, 1845 Athanas Paskali, one of the notable people of Korçë along with others sent him a letter requesting as many more copies as possible.
In 1845 Veqilharxhi sent a polemic open letter written in the Greek language to his nephew, who had dared call his patriotic ideas chimera: the letter is considered to be one of the first written documents to record the main ideas of the Albanian National Awakening movement.