Skënder Rizaj, historian, Turkologist, and professor, was born in Peja. 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 and then as a lecturer at the University of Prishtina. He was an adviser to the General Directorate of State Archives of the Republic of Turkey. He has developed extensive scientific activity in the history of the Albanian people, theology, 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 Kosova and neighboring countries from the XV to the XVII century”) (1972); “Kosova gjatë shekujve XV, XVI dhe XVII: administrimi, ekonomia, shoqëria dhe lëvizja popullore” (“Kosova during the XV, XVI, and XVII centuries: administration, economy, society, and the people’s movement”) (1982); “Shqiptarët dhe serbët në Kosovë” (“Albanians and Serbs in Kosova”) (1991); “Kosova dhe shqiptarët dje, sot dhe nesër” (“Kosova and Albanians yesterday, today, and tomorrow”) (1992); “Kosova, shqiptarët dhe turqit, dje, sot dhe nesër” (“Kosova, 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 disintegration; 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). Skënder Rizaj has published many articles in various local and foreign magazines and has participated in historians’ conferences and congresses. (In the photo: Skënder Rizaj)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2254-2255.
Photo: © https://kosovalive.org/
Graphic processing: AHCF
