Prenk, also prënk, prek is Albanian language title of the chieftain of Catholic Mirdite clan and also a given name. In the 19th century it was hereditary position of the heads of Gjomarkaj family who had the official title of prenk paşa (English: Prince Lord). Members of this clan lived on the territory of the Sanjak of Shkoder and their chieftain was obliged to provide 5,000 troops to Ottomans upon notice.[1] It is used by Catholic Albanians of all regions.
According to one 19th-century travel account Prenk was corruption of Peter that "from time immemorial has been the first baptismal name of nearly all chiefs of this tribe".[2]
List of notable people with this title includes:
- Prenk Bib Doda, Mirdita clan leader, politician
- Prenk Doçi, Albanian Rilindas
- Prenk Pervizi, military figure of 20th century
- Prenk Cali, Kelmendi warlord
References edit
- ^ Gawrych, George (26 December 2006). The Crescent and the Eagle: Ottoman Rule, Islam and the Albanians, 1874-1913. I.B.Tauris. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-84511-287-5.
The head of Gjomarkaj family served at the same time as the hereditary prince for the Merdita with the official title of "Prince Lord" (Prenk Paşa).
- ^ Lluellyn, Raymond Maude (1887). Occasional Contributions to "The Globe". p. 247.
.... mountains, the title of "Prince," the common mistake having obviously arisen from a very natural corruption of the word "Prenk," or "Prink," meaning "Peter," which from time immemorial has been the first baptismal name of nearly all ...