Skender Rizaj, historian, Turkologist, professor, passed away. He was born in Pejë, in 1930. He received his first lessons in his hometown, finished high school in Prizren, higher studies in Skopje and Belgrade, postgraduate studies in Sarajevo. Skënder Rizaj worked for several years in general education, then a lecturer at the University of Pristina. He was an adviser to the General Directorate of State Archives of the Republic of Turkey. He has developed extensive scientific activity in the field of the history of the Albanian people, Turkology and Balkanology. Skënder Rizaj is the author of several monographs: “Zejtaria e Kosovës dhe e viseve fqinje nga shekulli XV deri në shekullin XVII” (“Craftsmanship of Kosovo and neighbouring areas from the 15th to the 17th century”) (1972); “Kosova gjatë shekujve XV, XVI dhe XVII: administrimi, ekonomia, shoqëria dhe lëvizja popullore” (“Kosovo during the 15th, 16th and 17th century: the administration, economy, society and popular movement”) (1982); “Shqiptarët dhe serbët në Kosovë” (“Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo”) (1991); “Kosova dhe shqiptarët dje, sot dhe nesër” (“Kosovo and Albanians yesterday, today and tomorrow”)(1992); “Kosova, shqiptarët dhe turqit, dje, sot dhe nesër” (“Kosovo, Albanians and Turks, yesterday, today and tomorrow”)(Istanbul, 1993). He has published volumes of documents, such as: “Dokumente angleze mbi Lidhjen Shqiptare të Prizrenit dhe fillimin e copëtimit të Ballkanit; 1877–1885” (“English Documents on the League of Prizren and the Beginning of the Balkan Partition; 1877–1885”), (1978); “Burimet turke (osmane) mbi luftën e shqiptarëve për pavarësi dhe humbja e Ballkanit; 1908–1912” (“Turkish (Ottoman) Sources on the Albanian Struggle for Independence and the Loss of the Balkans; 1908–1912”)(1993). Skender Rizaj has published a large number of articles in various local and foreign magazines and has participated in historians’ conferences and congresses. (In the photo: Skender Rizaj)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2254-2255.
Photo: © https://klankosova.tv/vdes-historiani-1skender-rizaj/
Graphic processing: AHCF
