Mat District

Mat District (Rrethi i Matit) was one of the 36 districts of Albania, which were dissolved in July 2000 and replaced by 12 newly created counties. It had a population of 61,906 in 2001, and an area of 1028 km2. It was named after the river Mat, which flows through the district. Its capital was the town of Burrel. Its territory is now part of Dibër County: the municipalities of Mat and Klos.

Administrative divisions
The district consisted of the following municipalities:


 * Baz
 * Burrel
 * Derjan
 * Gurrë
 * Klos
 * Komsi
 * Lis
 * Macukull
 * Rukaj
 * Suç
 * Ulëz
 * Xibër

History
Mat is believed to be one of the oldest Albanian settlements, most likely as old as the 2nd-5th century AD. At the beginning of the 15th century the Lord of Matja was Gjon Kastrioti, father of Skanderbeg. When Skanderbeg began his rebellion against Ottomans he also became the lord of Mat and some other territories as well. A synod of Catholic archdiocese was held in Matja in 1462 by Pal Egnelli known for his baptismal formula.

Notable locals

 * Zog of Albania, King of the Albanians
 * Tarhoncu Ahmed Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire