Historical significance and European Value of Shkodra Statutes
Abstract
The purpose of the research paper is to delve into the historical and legal significance of the Statutes of Shkodra, a set of legal codes that governed the city of Shkodra during its Venetian period until its eventual occupation by the Ottoman Empire in 1479.
The scientific novelty. The article provides a novel perspective on The Statutes of Shkodra by emphasising their unique contribution to European legal traditions and their role in shaping the foundation of positive law in Albania, particularly through the principle of personal freedom.
Conclusions. The Statutes of Shkodra hold exceptional value for understanding the civil and social dynamics of Shkodra during the Middle Ages. These statutes, primarily modelled on the legal and social structures of the Italian-Dalmatian cities along the Adriatic coast, were also influenced by the Slavic-Byzantine world. This fusion of influences shaped a unique set of laws and civic regulations that reflected both regional characteristics and broader European medieval traditions. Drafted on Albanian soil, the Statutes of Shkodra maintain a distinctly local character, preserving the authenticity of the Albanian documentary tradition while incorporating external legal and administrative norms.
The statutes demonstrate how Shkodra’s urban governance was structured in alignment with the legal frameworks of Western Europe, particularly concerning commerce, social relations, and public administration. Through these statutes, we gain access to the character and distinct medieval features of Shkodra’s civil society in the first decades of the 14th century. The city’s legal frameworks were shaped not only by local traditions but also by the currents of influence coming from Western Europe, Italy, Dalmatia, and the Byzantine-Slavic world, making Shkodra a significant hub in the exchange of legal and civic practices across the Adriatic.
The statutes reveal a society deeply integrated into the regional and European currents of the time, carrying forward values, legal practices, and modes of civic organisation that were typical of medieval European cities. Shkodra, like its counterparts across the Adriatic, embraced legal traditions that balanced local customs with the demands of a rapidly developing urban society. What makes the Statutes of Shkodra particularly important is the way they reflect both the unique local context of Albania and the broader European developments in the Middle Ages.
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