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Intro
The small town of Tuzi is located in the southern border of Montenegro and along with Ulqin composes the two largest historical Albanian settlements in the area, having been the Malesor Albanians and Albanians in general the historical, cultural, economical and administrative center for Gheg clansmen of various clans.
Demographics
The city itself has around 5000 inhabitants, and the urban municipality that includes the surrounding areas is believed to be inhabited by some 10000 souls, the vast majority of the which are Albanians from different clans, while the other minority is made of Montenegrins, Bosnians, Roma and a few other ethnic groups.
The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, followed tightly by Islam both of these religious majorities belong to the Albania group, despite Islam is also predominant in the Bosnian minority, there are also a small number of Orthodox Montenegrins whom adhere to the Slavonic church.
The albanian inhabitants belong to several clans, the predominant ones being Malesor clans like Hoti, Koja, Trieshi, Kelmendi mostly Vuthajs , Shkreli, with a few from the Gruemira clans, followed by the Dukagjini clans like Shala being predominant and the Temali clans in lesser numbers.
Due to belonging to such clans, the most common spread surnames are Ujka, Lulgjuraj, Gjeloshi, Prifti, Camaj, Martini, Markaj, Bardhi, Marashi, Nikaj, Prekaj, Nikmarashi etc..
History
The settlement is believed to have origins in the early 13th century, when Albanian Gheg clansmen led by Llesh Tuzi settled in the area somewhere around 1280, coming down from the highlands in order to have a land base for various reasons.
When he settled here, Llesh Tuzi and his clansmen began the building of a Roman Catholic church and after his death this church was named after his name and the settlement took the settlement took his clan surname, being the predominantly stronger clan of the area.
Latier, many other Albanian clansmen began spreading in the valley around Tuzi and by the 14th century, Albanians were the most predominant group of the area.
Such as example was the village of Prifti close to Tuz, that was founded in the Early Medieval times by Albanian Shala clansmen led by Gjin Prifti whom named the village after his clan surname, whilst the slavic speaking population of the area left and headed further north in order to not enter in a conflict with the numerous Albanian clansmen.
Toponomy
Albanian toponyms are predominant in the area around Tuzi, swell as around Ulqin, Guci, Plava and other Albanian settlements in country.
Villages and areas of Tuzi municipality:
Arrez
Bardhaj
Benkaj
Budez
Cem
Delaj
Dinoshe
Mileshi i Ulte
Mileshi i Eperm
Dreshaj
Drume
Dushaj
Gurra
Helminica
Koje
Koder-Budan
Kreshe
Llofke
Lekaj
Nabome
Nenhelm
Omer-Bozhaj
Nikmarashaj
Pankal
Pikale
Prifti
Shpia e Rakise
Spija
Traboini
Vllane
Tuzi
Camaj
Triesh
Uksan-Lekaj
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