Kapitullim

Kapitullim is the Albanian term for capitulation, referring to the act or process of surrender in a conflict or negotiation under agreed terms. In military contexts it denotes the formal decision by a besieged or defeated party to yield to the opposing force, together with the terms of surrender, which may include safety assurances for soldiers, the transfer of weapons or fortifications, and the end of hostilities. More broadly, kapitullim can describe a negotiated surrender of rights or obligations in a legal or diplomatic setting.

Etymology and usage: The word kapitullim is a direct loan from Romance languages, typically Italian capitolazione or French capitulation, ultimately tracing back to Latin capitulum meaning a small chapter or article. In Albanian, the term is used across historical, legal, and military discourse to describe both the moment of surrender and the accompanying agreement that defines the surrender conditions. It appears in historical accounts, legal texts, and academic discussions of warfare, treaties, and concessions.

Context and scope: In modern usage, kapitullim is often encountered in discussions of historical sieges and warfare, as well as in analyses of treaties or concessions that end conflicts or grant specified rights to opposing parties. The term emphasizes the formal, negotiated nature of surrender rather than a mere act of retreat.