The Alltuni were a wealthy and powerful Albanian feudal family at a time when the present day territory of Albania was under Ottoman rule. For almost two centuries they ruled over the entire region of Kavajë and large parts of the Myzeqe plains.

Alltuni
Current regionCentral Albania
Place of originKavajë
Founded18th Century
Members
Estate(s)25 chifliks

They self-claimed to be the descendants of an unidentified Kapudan Pasha, a beylerbey and great admiral from Ulqin, who allegedly married a daughter of Sultan Ahmed I.[1] Their great wealth was accumulated through sea trade, especially in the exports of livestock.

The Alltuni made alliances with the Bushatlliu family of Shkodër who later rebelled against the Sublime Porte. Members of this powerful family formed blood ties through marriage with other notable Albanian families such as the Taushani family of Elbasan, the Toptani family of Krujë, the Karbunara (Shehu) family of Lushnjë and later the Zogolli family of Mat.

In traditional literature, the Alltuni are mentioned in Gjergj Fishta's epic poem Lahuta e malcis (p. 227 – Te ura e sutjeskës).[2]

Alltuni family tree

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The origin of the "Alltuni" family name possibly derives from the Ottoman Turkish word altın which means golden.

Alltuni family tree

References

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  1. ^ Vlora, Eqrem bej; Von Godin, Marie Amelie von Godin (2010) [1956]. Kontribute në historinë e sundimit turk në Shqipëri: një Skicë Historike v. II (gjerm. Beiträge zur Geschichte der Türkenherrschaft in Albanien: eine historische Skizze. Tiranë: Shtëpia Botuese "55". pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-99943-56-89-8.
  2. ^ Xhihani, Xhaferr (2011). Pashallëku i Kavajës.