#ulqini

Ulcinj, one of the oldest settlements of the Adriatic, is a place of very rich and intriguing history. Truth or legend, some of the occurrences even today, after so many centuries, remain under a veil of mystery. Who was the famous slave of the Ulcinj pirates and thereafter the son-in-law of the city of Ulcinj? Is the grave of the famous Jewish ‘messiah’ really in Ulcinj? The official history still cannot answer but the stories, evidence and legends reveal many secrets of the Old Town.

Image: Ulcinj Old Town at dusk

This Story begins on the Slave Square…

Long time ago Ulcinj was a popular pirate destination and a famous market for slaves. During the Ottoman rule, which lasted longer than 200 years, there was a Slave Square in front of the church-mosque of the Old City.

Today that square is called The Cervantes Square.

It sounds incredible, but a small square of the small town in a small country of the Adriatic coast truly does bear the name of the famous Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. And for a great reason!

Legends say that Cervantes in his youth was a slave of the Ulcinj pirates. Finding an important letter on him from the Spanish king during his capture, the pirates estimated that Cervantes was a valuable slave and that they could fetch a good amount of gold for him. More precisely they wanted 500 gold coins for him, which was quite a sum. As no one in Spain had or did not want to pay the huge sum, Cervantes spent 5 years in Ulcinj.

Image: Ulcinj Old Town Cervantes Square / Slave Market jail cell

The locals called him Servet, which was part of his name. At the time, a completely unknown Spaniard with his unusual behavior attracted much attention. He would sing during the day and stay up until late at night to write. The ladies liked to listen to him, one in particular. According to folklore, that Old Town lady stole Cervantes’ heart and a great love ensued.

Five years later, when his father arranged his release, Cervantes returned to Spain together with the beautiful Ulcinj lady. Upon his release, and return to Spain, Cervantes created one of the most famous novels in the world after the Bible, and the most translated peace of literature – Don Quixote.

Don Quixote and the story of Dulcinea del Toboso are closely linked by many researchers to Ulcinj. Primarly because the famous novel was written after Cervantes’ captivity in Ulcinj, but also because the name of the main heroine of the novel, Dulcinea actually means a girl from Ulcinj – the name stems from the word Dulcigno, which was the name of the city at the time.

Whether Servet was really Cervantes, and Servet’s writings were later published as Don Quixote has not yet been officially confirmed. However, it is known with certainty that Cervantes was a slave somewhere on the Mediterranean and for the people pf Ulcinj it was more than certain it was Ulcinj. This is why they proudly glorify their square and call it the Cervantes Square.

Image: Ulcinj Old Town aerial 

The Secret History of Ulcinj continues....

Who carved the Star of David in the Balsic Tower?

In Ulcinj Old Town, right next to the mosque is the famous Balsic Tower. Its mystical interior and even more intriguing history indicates that this is where Djerdj Balsa died, the most famous Prince of Balsices, as did a very important figure of the Jewish history, Shabbetai Zevi, a false messiah and a reformer of the Talmud. His controversial life as a self-proclaimed messiah and his death in exile in Ulcinj are still the subject of scientific and historical controversy and research.

Who was Shabbetai Zevi (alternative spellings Sabbatai Zevi, Shabbetai Tzvi, Shabbeṯāy Ṣeḇī, Shabsai Tzvi, Shabbetai Zvi), and why are there still discussions about him and how did he end up in Ulcinj?

Zevi lived in the 17th Century, and was born in the city of Izmir, a very important city of the then Ottoman Empire, as a son of a rich Jewish family. Zevi himself was very educated, of above-average intelligence and destined for a leader. He was a great supporter of freedom and his fellow followers saw him as a savior, a man from the future who would return Jews to Israel and Palestine.

Encouraged by the conviction that he is a great prophet of divine powers who would change the world, in his 40th year he proclaims himself the messiah – one of the whole world and all nations. He gained a large number of supporters and followers far beyond the Ottoman Empire.

On the wings of the fame he gained, he even demanded from Sultan Mehmed IV to renounce the Koran and accept the Talmud. Events followed and Zevi is imprisoned, and it is believed that the sultan put Shabbetai to a test, saying he would accept him as a messiah if the arrows shot towards him came back – which of course was impossible. In the end, the sultan spared his life but demanded Zevi convert to Islam. Shabbetai Zevi became Aziz Mehmed Effendi and sent to the ends of the empire, Ulcinj, where is stayed in the Balsic Tower officially as Sultan’s keeper of the gates, but deep inside he still believed in his messianic mission.

Did Shabbetai Zevi really live and die in the Balsic Tower, where was he truly buried (as there are some indications that his remains are located on the private property of the Manic family in Ulcinj), was he only a rabbi or a great messiah, was he a Muslim or a Jew?... These are just some of the mysteries that intrigue and interest worldwide historians to this day.

Image: Balsic Tower In Ulcinj Old Town

In one of the most beautiful coastal cities, over two centuries, two great personalities lived, and as such immortalized the city at the same time – Miguel de Cervantes with his Dulcinea and Shabbetai Zevi with his Star of David on the Balsic Tower and his secret grave. 

These two, among others, brought Ulcinj to a significant spot on the stage of the world history.