Kanuni

Kanuni, or the Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, is a traditional Albanian code of customary laws that governed many aspects of social life in northern Albania and parts of Kosovo and Montenegro. It emerged from local practices in highland communities and, although attributed to the noble Lekë Dukagjini (circa 1395–1484), was transmitted orally for centuries before being compiled in written form. The code is not a centralized state statute but a collection of rules addressing family matters, marriage, inheritance, contracts, property, hospitality, oaths, and dispute resolution. A prominent and controversial feature is the regulation of blood feuds (gjakmarrja) and the system of compensations or pardons associated with them, alongside norms on honor and social conduct.

In the early 20th century, the Albanian Catholic priest Shtjefën Gjeçovi collected, organized, and annotated material from northern communities, producing versions of the Kanun that were published posthumously in the 1930s. The Kanun gained broader awareness through ethnographic study, literature, and discussions of Albanian customary law, though its authority diminished as modern state legal systems expanded in Albania, Kosovo, and surrounding areas during the 20th century.

Today, the Kanun is viewed as a historical example of customary law that shaped social behavior and cultural identity in the region. It remains a subject of scholarly study in anthropology, legal history, and Albanian studies, illustrating how customary norms interact with formal legal systems and state authority.