Editing Librazhd District (section)

==History and culture==
Evidence{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} has been found to show the area was populated during the [[Bronze Age]] and the [[Iron Age]] from the remains of settlements found at ''Spathar'', ''Rrajce'', ''Karkavec'', ''Berzeshte'' and other places. An [[Illyria]]n tribe called the [[Kandavët]] who give the region the name ''Kandavia'' populated the area in ancient times.<ref>Bashkia Librazhd. ''Welcome to Librazhd''. Bashkia Librazhd/USAID, 2010, p. 7.</ref>

The Romans moved into the area in around 220[[BCE]] and subjugated the tribes living there (see [[Illyrian Wars]]). During the Roman Occupation the [[Via Egnatia]] was constructed through the area, linking [[Rome]] with [[Constantinople]] which was of great importance for commerce. The route of this ancient road is now utilised by a modern highway connecting [[Tirana]] with [[Skopje]] via [[Lake Ohrid]]. Following the [[Fall of Rome]] in 476[[Common Era|CE]] the region fell under the power of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] centred at Constantinople until the arrival of the [[Turkish people|Turks]] in the 15th century.

The [[Ottoman Turks]] began to invade the area of the modern district from about 1415 onwards under the leadership of [[Mehmed I]]. They were opposed by the local '''Arianitas''' family who ruled the area as vassals to the [[Byzantine Emperor]] in Constantinople. The local prince [[Gjergj Arianit Komneni]] (also known as ''Gjergj Golemi'') was noted by the Ottoman chroniclers for his ferocious resistance to their advances, viz:

<blockquote>''With this uprising Arianiti accomplished great and unforgettable deeds which will last as long as life itself.'' (from Hallkokondili)</blockquote>

Gjergj Arianiti managed to resist the Ottoman advance throughout his tenure and in 1444 rose to support the revolt led by George Kastrioti, otherwise known as [[Skanderbeg]] – the Albanian national hero. He is known{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} to have taken part in the [[Albanian League]] in [[Lezhë]] which elected Skanderbeg their king. Arianiti fought alongside Skanderbeg at [[Berat]] in 1448 and his daughter, Andronika, married Skanderbeg in 1451.

Gjergj Arianiti died in 1461 and resistance to the Turks throughout the Librazhd district began to wane. Following his death the remaining members of the Arianiti family emigrated to [[Italy]]. In 1479 the Ottoman Turks succeeded in conquering the Albanians who were forced to accept the Turks as their overlords until the 20th century. The region came to achieve a significant degree of autonomy during the latter years of the Ottoman Empire due to the harshness of the terrain and the talent for diplomacy and nepotism exercised by the local [[Bey]]liks who garnered significant influence with the [[Ottoman Porte|Porte]].

During the 17th century, parts of the Librazhd district achieved a measure of self-rule.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} This process continued up until the uprising of [[Tanzimati]] in 1834 when the whole Librazhd District attempted to throw off Ottoman rule. They were unsuccessful this time, but a local leader by the name [[Halit Berzeshta]] emerged who was to lead and inspire the Albanian resistance until his death in 1909. In 1912 the population enthusiastically rose in revolt against the Ottoman Empire and took their part in the realisation of Albanian Independence that same year.

In the 1940s, some 1,100 local men formed into two battalions fought the occupying [[World War II|Germans]] and helped liberate the area. Their exploits were famous throughout Albania{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} and from their number are recognised 79 national martyrs.

[[File:FromShebeniktowardsOhrid.JPG|thumb|300px|View from [[Shebenik Mountain]], the district's highest mountain]]

Life in the Librazhd District has been badly affected by the closing of many traditional industries, in particular the mining industry due to an inability to meet modern European environmental and [[health and safety]] standards. The construction of a highway linking the town with [[Skopje]] and [[Tirana]] through [[Durrës]] has been a positive development.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}