TIRANA, February 19 – The “Center for Studies and Publications on the Arbëresh” commemorated today the 95th anniversary of the death of the Croatian historian and politician, and one of the founders of Albanology, Milan Sufflay.

Milan Sufflay was born on November 9, 1879, in Lepogllav, Croatia. He became one of the founders of Albanology. In addition, he authored the first science-fiction novel in Croatian literature. Furthermore, Sufflay published several books on the Albanian world. These works addressed the figure of Skanderbeg using objective evidence and documentary references. Some of his main works include: “Kufijtë e Shqipërisë në Mesjetë” [The Borders of Albania in the Middle Ages], “Shqipëria mesjetare” [Medieval Albania], and “Biologjia e fiseve të popullit shqiptar” [The Biology of the Clans of the Albanian People].

His work “Kostandin Balsha” [Constantine Balsha] is among the first historical novels on Albanian themes. Moreover, Sufflay’s interest in Albanians and Albania appeared early in his academic career. While researching and collecting documents in Dalmatian archives for Tadija Smiciklas’s “Codex diplomaticus,” he discovered many unpublished sources on medieval Albania. As a result, he developed a lifelong focus on this topic.

At the time, this period was completely unexplored. Consequently, Sufflay became deeply invested in his research. Over time, this work became central to his academic career. However, it also exposed him to danger. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia persecuted him. On February 19, 1931, they killed him at the doorstep of his home in Zagreb.

His murder provoked reactions in contemporary press. These included “Tribuna” (Rome), “Berliner Tagblatt”, “New York Times”, “Frankfurter Zeitung”, “Arbënia” [Albania], and “Vullneti i Popullit” [People’s Will] (Tirana). In addition, leading scholars and literary figures responded with a special memorandum. Among them were Albert Einstein, Heinrich Mann, Dr. Josef Bajza, Dr. Max Hildebert Boehm, Dr. Karl Fritzler, Dr. Zenon Kuziela, Dr. Martin Spahn, Dr. Branimir Jeliq, Josip Milkovic, Lumo Skëndo, and Faik Konica. Furthermore, the organizations that reacted included the Ligue Internationale des Droits de l’Homme [Human Rights International League] and the Fédération Universitaire Internationale [International University Federation].

/a.p./