Delvina

Quick Facts: Who was Delvina?

Subject:

Delvina

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A historic municipality in Vlorë County, Albania, with deep cultural and political layers.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Delvinë (Albanian: Delvinë or Delvina, Greek: Δέλβινο, romanized: Delvino) is a town and a municipality in Vlorë County, southern Albania, 16 kilometres (10 miles) northeast of Sarandë. It was formed in the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Delvinë and Vergo, which became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Delvinë. The population of the municipal unit Delvinë at the 2023 census was 4,952 and of the municipality was 6,166. The town is built on a mountain slope.

Career & Major Achievements

It has a mosque, a Catholic church, a Protestant church, and an Orthodox church. Nearby are the remainders of a medieval castle. The town's population consists of a majority of Albanians and a substantial Greek minority. Other communities include Balkan Egyptians and until WWII, Jews. There is little local employment apart from that provided by the state, and Delvinë benefits little from the tourist boom in Sarandë.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Albanian toponym Delvinë (Albanian definite form: Delvina) is connected to the Albanian dele, delmë, meaning 'sheep'. Linguist Xhelal Ylli translates Delvinë as 'white sheep'. In Greek it is known as Δέλβινο, Delvino and in Turkish as Delvine. Delvinë was ruled by the First Bulgarian Empire from the end of the 9th century to 1119, when it came under Norman control. In the 13th century, it belonged to the Despotate of Epirus.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1119: 1119 Milestone — Delvinë was ruled by the First Bulgarian Empire from the end of the 9th century to 1119, when it came under Norman control.
2. 2015: 2015 Milestone — It was formed in the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Delvinë and Vergo, which became municipal units.
3. 2023: 2023 Milestone — The population of the municipal unit Delvinë at the 2023 census was 4,952 and of the municipality was 6,166.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Delvina

True or False: “Did the Ottoman Empire establish a permanent garrison in Delvinë immediately after its initial control starting in 1431?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Ottoman Empire definitively took possession of the region after 1492, when a garrison was placed in the castle, not immediately upon taking control in 1431.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Delvina