Junik ( sq, Junik, sq-definite, Juniku; sr, Јуник, Junik) is a town located in Junik Municipality in the

Gjakova District The District of Gjakova is one of the seven districts of Kosovo, districts of Republic of Kosovo, with seat in the city of Gjakova. Municipalities The district of Gjakova has a total of 4 municipalities and 170 other smaller settlements. S ...

in western Kosovo. According to the 2011 census, the town of Junik has 6,053 inhabitants, while the municipality has 6,084 inhabitants. Based on the population estimates from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics in 2016, the municipality has 6,425 inhabitants. It is located between Deçan and Gjakova along Kosovo's mountainous border with Albania. It is populated with ethnic

Albanians The Albanians (; sq, Shqiptarët ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language. They primarily live in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Se ...

. Junik is the hometown of several prominent people including former heavyweight European boxing champion Luan Krasniqi, Robin Krasniqi and poet Din Mehmeti.

History

During the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans, Junik and the Municipality of Junik were part of the Nahiya of Altun-ili during the 15th century. In a 1485 defter of the region, Junik was mentioned with the name ''Lunik''. In the 15th century, around half of Junik's population had typical Albanian anthroponomy. During the early period of Ottoman occupation, Gjakova and the Gjakova Municipality were part of the Nahiya of Altun-ili. Most of the villages in the Nahiya of Altun-ili were dominated by inhabitants with Albanian anthroponomy, which indicates that during the 15th century (as supported by Ottoman defters), the lands between Junik and Gjakova were inhabited by a dominant ethnic Albanian majority.

History

Notable people

See also

Notes

References

External links