
A page from ''Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis''
'Marin Barleti' (
Latin: ''Marinus Barletius'',
Italian: ''Marino Barlezio''; ca
1450,
Shkodër -
1512 or
1513, probably
Rome). Barleti was a
humanist of
Albanian descent, the first and greatest Albanian historian, and a
Catholic priest.
When Barleti lived in Shkodër he was a scholar and a clergyman. In
1474 the
Turks besieged
Shkodër. Barleti participated in the defense of the town both in the first siege in
1474 and the second time in
1478. When
Shkodër fell to the Ottomans he escaped to
Italy where he became a profound connoisseur of history, classical literature and the Latin language. In Venice he wrote the "History of
Skanderbeg (''Historia de vita et rebus gestis Scanderbegi'') (1508-1511), "The Siege of
Shkodër" (''De obsidione Scodransi'', Venice, 1504) and "A Brief History of Lives of Popes and Emperors" (''Compendium vitarum ponticum et imperatorum'', Venice, 1555).
His most well-known work is the biography of the Albanian national hero
Skanderbeg, ''Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis'' (''The story of life and deeds of
Skanderbeg, the prince of Epirotes''). It was printed in Rome between
1506 and
1510, probably between
1508 and 1510. The book rapidly spread in several languages and eventually was translated into Latin and Portuguese four times
1582 and German seven times
1533. It is still the foundation of Skanderbeg studies, and also established the Skanderbeg cult that was important for the formation of the Albanian national self-consciousness. This book is considered as an Albanian cultural treasure and today is in ''Biblioteka Kombetare'' in
Tirana,
Albania.
Barleti's last work was the collection of
popes and
emperors, ''Compendium vitarum Summorum Pontificium usque ad Marcellum II Imperatorumque Romanorum'' (''Compendium of biographies of Popes and Roman emperors until
Marcellus II'').
The old library of Shkodër and a publishing house have been named after Marin Barleti. Recently a
University in Albania has been established under his name.
See also
★
Albanian literature
★
Culture of Albania
References
★
Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum Principis Treasure of the National Library of Albania displayed by
The European Library
External links
★
Sustainable Energy Development Agency