Modern Illyrism

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As Modern Illyrism the linkage and recycling a is ethnic group or a State to the ancient people of the Illyrians called whose trunks between 2000 v. And 600 AD. Illyria , the western part of the Balkan Peninsula , were populated.

background

Due to their semi-legendary character, the Illyrians were well suited as a starting point for establishing national identity. Since the 19th century there have been efforts in the area of ​​the Balkan Peninsula to trace the origin of one's own people back to ancient peoples (compare with this procedure also the legend of origin and / or ripping ).

South Slavic Illyrism

The pioneers of the South Slav national movements in the 19th century claimed that their peoples were descended from the Illyrians. This thesis was particularly widespread among the Croats . The South Slavic Illyrism postulated the ethnic unity of all South Slavs who were divided only in closely related strains. At the end of the 19th century, the Illyrian thesis no longer played a role for the South Slavic nationalisms, as it was clear that the South Slavs had immigrated from the north in the 6th century . In southern Slavic countries, such as Slovenia and Croatia, there are still memories of the Illyrians who lived there at that time, such as today's Slovenian city Ilirska Bistrica and Croatian area names, such as Istria or Dalmatia , from the Illyrian tribes of the Histrians and Dalmatians who lived there at that time were derived.

Albanian Illyrism

The relationship between the ancient Illyrians and the Albanians is controversial in research. Albanian in particular, but also some non-Albanian researchers, are of the opinion that the Albanian language is the successor to Illyrian . Since there are only very few sources, only short inscriptions as well as individual names of places, peoples and people, for the Illyrian language, it is very difficult to provide evidence. It is most likely, however, that the Illyrians are indeed related to today's Albanians, but represent only one of several elements of the ethnogenesis of this people .

Some Illyrian tribal and royal names are again common among the Albanians today; most of these names have a meaning in today's Albanian language. However, the frequent use of old Illyrian personal names among the Albanians essentially goes back to the real socialist period in the second half of the 20th century and it is by no means an unbroken line of tradition that extends from antiquity to the present day. The communists of Albania propagated the Illyrian descent of the Albanians and at the same time rejected obvious Muslim or Christian names. So it came back to the old Illyrian namesake. Illyrian first names have also enjoyed growing popularity among nationally-minded Albanians in old Yugoslavia ( Kosovo , Macedonia , Serbia and Montenegro ) since the 1970s.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Jonathan Sperber : The European Revolutions, 1848-1851 . Ed .: Cambridge University Press. New York 2005, p. 99 .
  2. ↑ Joachim Matzinger: The Albanians as descendants of the Illyrians from the perspective of historical linguistics . Ed .: Jens Schmitt. Albanian History - Status and Perspectives of Research. Oldenbourg Verlag, 2009, p. 13-36 .

literature

  • Janko Draskovic: A word to Ilirien's generous daughters about the older history and the latest literary regeneration of their fatherland. Agram 1838. (A source on Croatian Illyrism.)