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#REDIRECT [[Arvanites]]
{{ethnic group|
|group=Arvanites
|image=[[Image:FArvanites.jpg|300px]]
|poptime=est. 1,000,000-1,600,000
|popplace=[[Greece]][http://www.christusrex.org/www3/ethno/Gree.html]
|rels=[[Greek Orthodox]]
|langs=[[Arvanitic language|Arvanitic]], [[Greek language|Greek]]
|related=[[Albanians]]
}}
'''Arvanites''' (Αρbε̰ρόρε̰ ''Arbërórë'' or Σ̈κ̇ιπτάρε̰ ''Shqiptarë'' in [[Arvanitic language|Arvanitic]], Αρβανίτες ''Arvanítes'' in [[Greek language|Greek]] and Arvanitë in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]) are ethnic [[Albanians|Albanian]] minority group of [[Greece]]. They were an [[Orthodox Christian]] people that settled various lands during the [[Middle Ages]], principally between the [[13th century]] and [[15th century]]. Although the Arvanites adopted a Greek national identity at a very early stage, their [[Albanian language|Albanian]] language survived well into the 20th century. Today however, due to large migration to the cities and the contact they get with Albanin immigrants (over 700,000) things have started to change. Arvanites are going back to their roots and identity. There are even cases where an Arvanit will change his name from the greek one. Arvanit language was widely spoken in Greece up to the early '70 (''see main article [[Arvanitic language]]'').
Arvanites played a prominent role during the [[Greek War of Independence|Greek Revolution of 1821]].
==Origins==
The theories and hypotheses on the origins of the Arvanites assume that they might have been:
*[[Albanian]] clans that had adopted a [[Byzantine Greek]] ethnic conciousness, either as citizens of the [[Despotate of Epirus]] or the [[Byzantine Empire]].
*[[Albanian]] clans that had moved to the south in order to avoid religious assimilation by the [[Ottomans]].
*[[Thraco-Illyrian]] tribe, but not particularly related to the [[Albanian]] branch.
*[[Albanians|Albanized]] descendants of the [[Greek|Greek]] settlers from the [[Despotate of Epirus]] (today's southern [[Albania]] and NW [[Greece]]), who had lost their language and identity. This hypothesis is hardly supported due to the fact that the usage of [[Greek language]] in liturgy has made it more possible for foreigners to assimilate into Greeks rather than for Greeks to be absorbed into other cultures. However, Greek nationalists strongly back this idea for they can claim the presence of Greeks in Epirus since ancient times.
*[['''Albanian''']] Albanians that left Albania under turkish rule to avoid religious assimilation is the proven one. If you only hear and Arvanit speak you will not tell the difference from an Albanian. And that's what they are, Albanian.
==Demographics and language==
[[Image:Gkikas cover.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Photograph of an Arvanite.]]
Arvanites are predominantly [[Greek Orthodox]] in [[religious]] adherence. Their [[language]], [[Arvanitic language|Arvanitika]], shares a common origin with [[Albanian language| standard Albanian]] and has been heavily influenced by the [[Greek language]] with which it has come into contact. The language is in decline due to emigration from Arvanitic-speaking villages to the Greek-speaking cities. Along with [[Tsakonian language|Tsakonian]], Arvanitic has obtained the status of a "protected" languge.
Like the rest of the [[Greeks|Greek]] population, Arvanites have been emigrating from their villages to the cities and especially to the capital [[Athens]], which, incidentally, was populated by many Arvanites in the early [[19th century]].
According to Biris ([[1960]]), from [[1350]] A.D. to [[1418]] A.D., 81,200 Arvanites, mercenary soldiers and their families, settled Greek lands after invitations from [[List of Byzantine emperors|Byzantine]] emperors ([[Palaeologus]] Dynasty), the [[Catalan Company|Catalans]] and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]]. The current population of Greeks who have (or might have partially) Arvanitic ancestry, is estimated around 1,600,000 ([[1994]]), but only 30,000-150,000 Arvanites have a basic knowledge of Arvanitika.
==Arvanitic culture and history==
The Arvanites, like the Vlachs in Greece, have gradually developed a Greek national consciousness and identify themselves as Greeks. Some have argued that Arvanites are descended from early inhabitants of Greece ([[Pelasgians]]). They are linguistically related to Albanians.
===Origin and history of the name===
We first learn of the ancestors of the modern Albanians, as the ''Arbanites'' of Arbanon, in [[Anna Comnena]]'s account (Alexiad, IV). The account discusses about the troubles in the region of Arbanon caused by the [[Normans]] during the reign of her father, Emperor [[Alexius I Comnenus]] ([[1081]]-[[1118]]). In the ''History'', written in [[1079]]/[[1080]] A.D., Byzantine historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to the ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in [[1043]] A.D. and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].
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The terms ''Arvanitika'' and ''Arvanitic'' derive from the word ''Arvanitai'' (Αρβανίται); the [[etymology]] according to [[Yannis Koulakis]]' dictionary (ISBN 960-239-135-9) of the Greek adjective ''Arvanitika'' is from the root '''Arvanit-''' of the term Arvanitis.
According to one theory, the word "Arvanitis" is [[cognate]] with the word "Albanian"; the Greek consonant ''β'' has changed in pronunciation from [b] to [v]. For the "l/r" conversion ([[rhotacism]]). See also [[Albania (toponym)|the history of the toponym Albania]].
According to Kollias, some Arvanites of the northwestern Greek region of [[Epirus]] traditionally also use the word ''[[Albania_%28toponym%29#Shqiperia|Shqiptár]]'' (Σ̈κ̇ιπτάρ) to identify themselves, without claiming an Albanian national consciousness. The word Shqiptár is used as well in a few villages of [[Thrace]], where Arvanites migrated from the mountains of [[Pindos]] during the [[19th century]]. On the other hand, this word is totally unknown among the main body of the Arvanites in southern Greece.
===Trivia===
[[Image:Ouzo - plomari.jpg|thumb|Ouzo bottle from the town of Plomari in Lesvos.]]
*Arvanitissa is the feminine of Arvanitis in Greek.
**A church in [[Chios]] is dedicated to "''[[Panagia]] Arvanitissa''".
*Arvanites refer to their place of origin as ''Arvanitia'' (today southern Albania and NW Greece). Sometimes they apply this term to the whole of Albania and/or Epirus.
**''Arvanitia'' is also an alternate name for [[Akronafplia]], [[Nafplion]]'s [[Acropolis]].
*Arvanites of Epirus named the [[Wind|north wind]] ''Arvanitis''.
*[[Ouzo]] Plomari, Isidoros Arvanitis, [[1894]] (Ούζο Πλωμαρίου, Ισιδώρου Αρβανίτου, 1894) (note: Plomari is a town of [[Lesvos]]).
===Phara===
Phara (φάρα) is a [[Kinship and descent|descent model]], similar to [[Scottish clan]]s. Arvanites were organised in phares (φάρες) mostly during the reign of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The [[Apical ancestor|apex]] was a warlord and the phara was named after him (i.e. Botsaris' phara). In an Arvanitic village each phara was responsible to keep genealogical records (see also [[Births, deaths and marriages registry|registry offices]]), that are preserved until today as historical documents in local libraries. Usually there were more than one phares in an Arvanitic village and sometimes they were organised in [[Phratry|phratries]] that had conflict of interests. Those phratries didn't last long, because each leader of a phara desired to be the leader of the phratry and would not be lead by another.
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===Arvanitic songs===
Although they are almost fully assimilated into Greek society, some distinct Arvanitic cultural characteristics are still identifiable.
There are 4 [[music]] [[CD]]s featuring Arvanitic songs although the lyrics are often in Greek. There are no mass media in Arvanitic, although some local radio stations have occasionally broadcast Arvanitic songs. During the last decades there have been made some attempts to document Arvanitic songs, the most recent by Thanasis Moraitis (Thanas Moraiti).
Arvanitic songs share similarities with [[Arbëreshë|Arbëresh]], [[Music_of_Albania#Southern_Albania|Albanian]] and [[Music of Epirus|Greek Epirote music]].
===Ancient Greek inscriptions===
Two archaeological discoveries, and in particular a Corinthian chrism from the [[7th century BC]] and a clay wine-pitcher dating back to [[725 BC]], have been interpreted by the author Nikos Stylos{{ref|ArvaniticLeagueLexicon}} as Arvanitic inscriptions.
==Studies and books for Arvanites==
===Kostas Biris===
'''Biris''' was a folklorist and an architect. His book "''Arvanites, the Dorians of modern Hellenism, history of Arvanites Greeks''" ([[1960]]) is a thorough study on Arvanites and it is the most referenced work by other scholars who studied Arvanites.
===Maria Michael-Dede===
[[Image:Dede cover.jpg|thumb|Arvanitissa with a traditional dress.]]
'''Maria Michael-Dede''' is an author of literature and an ethnologist. She has written two books about Arvanitic songs ([[1978]]) and the book ''The Greeks Arvanites'' ([[1997]]).
===Aristeides Kollias (Aristidh Kola)===
'''Kollias''', a lawyer by profession, performed ethnologist studies on Arvanites. In his book "''Arvanites and the origin of the Greeks''" ([[1983]]), Kollias promotes the ''Pelasgian theory'' that identifies the [[Pelasgians]] with the Arvanites. Kollias states that Greek people and Albanian people were closer in the past than they are during the last two centuries and that they both descend from the Pelasgians. His rejection of the Indo-European theory and his theory that Arvanitika is very close (if not identical) to the [[Homeric Greek]] have been criticized, however his work on Arvanitic culture is generally accepted.
===Thanasis Moraitis (Thanas Moraiti)===
'''Moraitis''' had worked with Kollias for some time, and he did an extensive search on Arvanitic music. In his book "''Arvanitika Songs''", he documents about 150 songs, analyzes their musical structure, and also has texts by linguists and historians about Arvanitic history, culture and the Arvanitic language.
==Famous Arvanites==
[[Image:Kollias cover.jpg|thumb|Kollias' book, "Arvanites and the Origin of the Greeks" (1983).]]
*[[Greek War of Independence]]
**[[Andreas Vokos Miaoulis|Andreas Miaoulis]], admiral and later politician
**[[Markos Botsaris]], leader of [[Souliotes]], defender of [[Messolonghi]]
**[[Laskarina Bouboulina]], the only female member of [[Filiki Etaireia]]
**[[Nikolaos Krieziotis]], leader of the Greek Revolution in [[Evoia]]
**[[Xadziyiannis Mexis]], Arhontas ton Spetson]]
*[[List of Presidents of Greece|Presidents of Greece]]
**[[Pavlos Kountouriotis]], admiral and later politician
**[[Theodoros Pangalos (general)|Theodoros Pangalos]], general and briefly military dictator
*[[List of Prime Ministers of Greece|Prime Ministers of Greece]]
**[[Kitsos Tzavelas]]
**[[Georgios Kountouriotis]]
**[[Antonios Kriezis]], served in Greek navy during the revolution, later politician
**[[Dimitrios Voulgaris]]
**[[Athanasios Miaoulis]]
**[[Diomidis Kiriakos]]
**[[Theodoros Pangalos]], general and later politician
**[[Alexandros Korizis]]
**[[Petros Voulgaris]]
**[[Alexandros Diomidis]]
*Greek politicians
**[[Theodoros Pangalos]], former minister of Foreign Affairs, member of [[PASOK]]
*Artists
**[[Nikos Engonopoulos]], painter and poet
'''Sample of Arvanitika'''
arvanitika http://www.arvasynel.gr/arvanitikoi_dialogoi.html
Eni te tzem Arberiste.
Flet fare arbëriste ?
Flas shum pak.
Ku i dsure ?
I dsura në stëpí.
Flisnë tata
Edhe mëma.
Pse núku të dsun më shum ?
Pse u dúkei pse ajo gljuha nuk veljen gjifáre.
Tsë thua more, gljuha jon vlen shum.
Ishtë shumë e vjetërë, ishtë gljuha e Pelasgevet, çë rroin këtu milje vitra më përpara. Gljuha jon íst gljuha éme ne shum gljuh Evropiane franqishtes, aglishtes, italishtes…
Po njeh arbëriste tze më njora ato gljuhët
Takimi.
Çë bën je mir?
Si jam?
Shum mir.
Ti si je?
Edhé u jam shum mir.
Si ishte it at?
Edhé ai isht shum mir.
Thuai të faltura.
Gruaja jote si ishtë?
Nani edhe ajo, ishtë mir, i shkoi sëmunda çë kéi.
Ti thuash të tatë po do të vemi nestrë të presmë dru, të më mar në telefon.
Û, ti, ái, ajó, Ne, neve, ju, juve, atá, ató. Ími, íti, atía, asája, íni, júai, atíre(ve). Të kem, kesh, ket, kemi, kíni, kenë. Të jem, jesh, jet, jeshëm, jeshët, jeshënë. Të keshë, keshe, kish, keshëm, keshëtë, kishnë. Të jeshë, jeshe, ish, jeshëm, jeshët, íshnë. Kam, ke, ka, jam, je, ishtë, është. Kemi, kini, kanë, jemi, jini, janë. Keshë, keshe, kish, jeshë, jeshe, ish Keshëm, keshëtë, kishnë, jeshëm, jeshëtë, ishnë.
==See also==
*[[Arvanitic language]]
**[[Arvanitic alphabet]]
*[[Balkan peninsula]]
**[[Greece]]
**[[Albania]]
==References==
===External links===
*[http://www.arvasynel.gr/ Arvanitic League of Greece] (in Greek only)
**{{note|ArvaniticLeagueLexicon}} {{Web reference | title=Greek Arvanitic Lexicon | work=arvasynel.gr | url=http://arvasynel.gr/ellinoarv_lexiko.html | date=December 14 | year=2005}}
*[http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/english/reports/arvanites.html Report on the Arvanites] by the '''HHRW'''
===Bibliography===
* ''"Arvanites, the Dorians of modern Hellenism, history of Arvanites Greeks"'' ("Αρβανίτες, οι Δωριείς του νεότερου Ελληνισμού, η ιστορία των Ελλήνων Αρβανιτών"), [[Kostas Biris|Konstantinos Biris]], 1st edition, 1960
** (3rd edition, 1998: ISBN 9602040319 )
* ''"Arvanites and arvanitic song in Greece"'', Yannis Gkikas
* ''"Arvanites and the origins of the Greeks"'', Aristeides Kollias, 1983
* ''"The Greeks Arvanites"'', Maria Michael-Dede, 1997
* ''"Anthology of Arvanitika songs of Greece"'', Thanasis Moraitis, 2002, ISBN 9608597676
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Greece]]
[[sv:Arvaniter]]
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