Zhegër

Zhegër (in Albanian) or Žegra (in Serbian; Жегра) is a village in the Gjilan district of Kosovo. It is located in the Karadak region on the banks of the Žegra river, a right tributary of the Binačka Morava, at the foot of Kušljevica (614 m), on both sides of the road towards Donja Budriga.

Etymology
Zhegër is mentioned for the first time as a place of residence in the charter of King Milutin when it was handed over to the Gračanica Monastery, then in the charter of  Empress Milica with her sons, in 1393. On the occasion of the appointment of the mezhds of the village of Livoç, in Mikel Lluakri's book in the 15th century, it is mentioned as Segra, while in the 1455 Ottoman register of Vëllk Vilayet, it is mentioned as Zhipa, which according to the settlements for the district, as the researcher Sherafedin Kadriu states, turns out to be Zhegër. Today's Zhegër can be found in the same cadastral register as Zhipa, also in 1477 and 1487. In the cadastral register of Kaza e Novobërda, from 1498, two settlements are mentioned: Dolna Zhegër and Gorna Zhegër. Even in the notebook of Sanxhak of Vushtrri, 1566-74, two Zhegër are also mentioned. On the Austrian map of 1689 we find it under the name Segra. The inhabitants of Zhegër are mentioned in the registry of the Devič monastery in 1772, as well as in the hall names of the Kosovo Province (1893, 1896 and 1900). Zhegër was inhabited even in antiquity, and this is evidenced by the castle (toponymy and ruins), which seems to be of the type of lookout castles, as is Resula Castle in Pidiç, which belongs to the castles built by Justinian I. The locals speak also for an old settlement in the place called Vermnica, which is located near the Castle, the traces of which settlement have not yet been completely erased.

History
Zhegër is a settlement that has been mentioned in recorded history since antiquity, around the time of the Roman Empire. The mountain in front of the Serbian church is mentioned as the site of the castle which was built in the time of the Romans. According to legends, there has always been a mine in or near Zhegër. In the 19th century, the hills and the settlement were covered with trees and dense vegetation. The first Serbo-Croatian school was opened in 1924, and in 1945, the school was also opened for lessons in Albanian. Albanians and Serbs lived in Zagreb, the latter moved from Zagreb in 1999, for the reason that most of them were involved in the last war, in different ways criminalizing themselves.

Gjilan and its surroundings (including Zhegër) during the Ottoman rule met the Sanjak of Niš, as the largest territorial unit. Later, not being functional, the Turkish government formed smaller units known as kazatas. Kazaja e Gjilan included the present territories of Kamenica, Gjilani and Vitia.

In 1912, with the expulsion of the Turkish forces from today's territory of Kosovo, the Serbs established their own power, but only for a short time because the Bulgarians immediately occupied most of Kosovo and established their own power until 1915. According to the data, during this time, Zhegër has always been the center from which the settlements of Karadak and its surroundings were administered.

In 1919, the Serb-Croat-Slovene state was formed, the Yugoslavia of Versailles was formed. As larger territorial units, the settlements were formed, which consisted of municipalities as smaller territorial units. Banovina e Vardari also included the municipality of Shurdhan, but which had its center in Zhegër. This lasted until April 4, 1941, when the settlements of the Municipality of Zhegër and some other parts of Kosovo began to be administered by the Bulgarian forces. Even during this period, Zhegër was an administrative center.

Since 1944, Zhegër continues to be an administrative center (municipality) that exercises power in the territory of the previous municipality, which included the villages of Karadak from Stançiqi to the banks of the Morava e Binçe river.

In 1947, some villages were separated from the municipality of Zhegër and attached to the municipality of Preševo (Staneci, Seferi, Caravajka, Peçena, Depca, Maxherja and Renatoci). Finally, in 1959, the municipality of Zhegër was dissolved and merged with the municipality of Gjilan, where it continues to be a part of the latter until today.

In 2005, the Civic Initiative for the re-establishment of the Municipality of Zhegër was formed. Her advocacy campaign for the purpose of re-establishing the Municipality of Zhegër is still ongoing.

Economy
As in other parts of Kosovo, Zhegër is currently facing high unemployment. The employees are mainly in the private sector such as markets, restaurants, construction companies, service companies, etc. A number of the population are also employed in the public sector such as education, health, administration, etc. The individual household sector employs a significant number of residents, mainly engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Over 1000 people live and work in the outside world and directly or indirectly mitigate the economic problems of citizens. It is worth noting that on Mondays, once a week, the green market and the animal market also operate in Zhegër.

Geography
The settlement of Zhegër is located at the foot of the Karadak Mountains. Once near the road that connected Gjilani with Kumanova, which is currently being opened. Zhegër has an elongated shape (3.7 km), along the Karadak River. Zhegër lies in the southeastern part of Kosovo, in the triangle between Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia. There are good conditions for agriculture and animal husbandry. The suitable geographical position enables a good access to other centers of Kosovo and the region. Cadastral areas within the local community in Zhegër are: Zhegër, Haxhaj, Demiraj, Selisht, Kurexhaj and Terziaj.

Demographics
The number of the population from 1948 to 1991 also includes the villages: Demiraj, Haxhaj, Kurexh, Selisht and Terziaj. The number of population in 2011 included only the settlement of Zhegër. Also, the 2011 population census did not include the diaspora. The village is majority ethnically Albanian, the Albanians of Zhegër speak the language in the Gheg dialect. The village is majority Muslim in faith.

Notable people

 * Agim Ramadani, KLA commander
 * Xherdan Shaqiri (born 1991) a Swiss professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire FC and Switzerland.