Lands of the Dukagjini

The heartland of the Dukagjini family was in northern Albania. These areas were Mirdita, Zadrima, Pult and the plain of Dukagjin up to the city of Prizren along the ancient Lissus-Naissus route. The city of Lezha was the center of the Dukagjini territories.

Mirdita, between the Drin and Mat rivers, is the oldest region to be mentioned as part of the lands of the Dukagjini. Duka Gjin Tanushi was lord of Ndërfandë, where 65 years earlier Dhimitër Progoni had built the church of Ndërfandë. In medieval sources, Fandi (part of Mirdita), Malzi (Mal i Zi, northeast of Mirdita) and the valleys formed by the tributaries of Drin are listed as part of the Dukagjini domains. The lands of Dukagjini were to the north of the Kastrioti. In the same region, the forts of Dejë (Dagnum) and Shati which safeguarded trade routes, frequently changed control between the Dukagjini, the local Zaharia and Jonima families and the Republic of Venice. As Gjon Muzaka writes, the castle (known as Fleti) and town of Shati were built by the progenitors of the Dukagjini family and held by their descendants.

The toponym Mirdita first referred to Orosh and Spaç within the region for which the toponym Dukagjin was preferred. Later "Mirdita" was used interchangeably with Dukagjin and eventually became the sole name for the whole region today known as Mirdita. This area became an integral part of the Ottoman Sanjak of Dukagin, which included in the 16th century all lands of the Dukagjini under one administrative unit. Tanush (i Madh) Dukagjini was Lord of Fandi in 1387. Many microtoponyms in Mirdita attest the historical presence of his descendant Lekë III Dukagjini: Xhuri Le and Xhuri Leks (Rock of Lekë Dukagjini), Tryeza (peak) i Lekës and Ura (bridge) e Lekës. Mal i Zi lies west of the modern city of Kukës. Its settlements are: Kolsh, Kalimash, Kryemadh, Shtanë, Dukagjin, Spas, Petkaj, Mëgullë, Pistë.

Zadrima and Pult (Pulatum) are the areas south of the city of Shkodra which connect it to Lezha. Pult was a densely populated area in the middle ages with tens of settlements at the crossroads of important regional trade routes. Although its oldest toponym is Pult, today it is mostly known as the Dukagjin Highlands because of the long reign of the Dukagjini, who referred to themselves as "Dukes of Pult" (Duca di Pulato). In all major cities of the region like Shkodra (Scutari) and Ulqin (Dulcigno), the Dukagjini family owned properties under different branches of the family.

The agreement of 1387 between the Dukagjini and the City of Ragusa which guaranteed free and safe passage to Ragusan merchants from Lezhë to Prizren along Lissus-Naissus suggests that the Dukagjini in addition to controlling the cities of Lezhë and Prizren had been gaining control of the region as far north as the hinterland of modern Gjakova and Peja. After 1393, the Dukagjini lands were reduced to Zadrima as the Ottomans expanded and handed their territory to the Jonima family who were their local Christian vassals. The Jonima family disappeared after 1409 as a ruling house in northern Albania and the Dukagjini began to regain all lost lands. The process of Dukagjini restoration would be the source of many struggles.

In the defters of Prizren in the 16th century numerous properties still belonged to the Dukaginzade family under the management of the waqf of Dukaginzade Ahmed Pasha. The timar of the village Reti e Poshtme held by Dukaginzade Mehmed Bey (later known as Dukaginzade Gazi Mehmed Pasha) marks the northernmost holding of the Dukagjini in the region.

The multifaceted connections of the Dukagjini with their domains in medieval Albanian lands is a testament to the deep roots and the impact of the family on the history of Albania.