The Code of Lekë Dukagjini

The Kanun or formally the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit (English: The Code of Lekë Dukagjini)is a set of laws developed by Lekë Dukagjini and used mostly in northern Albania and Kosovo from the 15th century until the 20th century.The Kanun is the best known collection of the Albanian customary law.This originall unwritten judicial system determined the most essential aspects of the social behavior in the remote areas of North Albanian tribes.The heartland of the Kanun is Dukagjin, i.e. the highland of Lezha, Mirdita,Shala, Shoshi and Nikaj-Merturi, as well as the Dukagjin plain in today's western Kosova.This set of laws is a customary one, passed down through the generations, and not codified and written down until the 19th century by Shtjefën Gjeçovi. Although Kanuni is attributed to the Albanian prince Lekë Dukagjini, the rules evolved over time as a way to bring laws and rule to these lands.When we talk about The Kanun it is meant The Code of Lekë Dukagjini, since this has been best documented and the first one recorded. However, there were various regional variations as for example Kanun of Skanderbeg (in Albanian: Kanuni i Skënderbeut), Kanun i Arbërisë, Kanun of the Labëria (Kanuni i Labërisë) and Kanun of the Malësia e Madhe (Kanuni i Malësisë së Madhe).Some of the most infamous rules specified how murder was supposed to be handled, and it often led to blood feuds that lasted until all the men of the two involved families were killed. In some parts of the country, the Kanun resembles the Italian vendetta.There are organizations that try to mediate between feuding families and try to get them to "pardon the blood" (Albanian: me e fal gjakun), but often the only resort is for men of age to stay in their homes, which are considered a safe refuge by the Kanuni, or flee the country. The Albanian name for blood feud is Gjakmarrja.The specified gender roles sometimes led to women pledging virginity and living their life as a man, allowing them to take on male responsibilities and rights.

Organization of the code: 12 books and nearly 1300 articles

1. Church;
The Church
Cemeteries
Property of the Church
The Priest
Church workers


2. Family;
The family make-up


3. Marriage;
Engagement
Wedding
The Kanun of the groom
In-laws
separation
Inheritance


4. House, Livestock and Property;
The house and its surroundings
Livestock
Property
The boundary


5. Work;
Work
Hunting
Commerce


6. Transfer of Property;
Borrowing
Gifts


7. Spoken Word;


8. Honor;
Individual honor
Social honor
'Blood' and gender; brotherhood and godparents


9. Damages;


10. Law Regarding Crimes
Criminals
Stealing
Murder (discussion of sanctioning of blood feuds)


11. The kanun of the elderly


12. Exemptions and Exceptions
Types of Exceptions
Death