Denji lies about 20 km northwest of Rahovec. It is a compact settlement. Its elevation is about 420 metres above sea level. Archaeological traces in the settlement area include roof tiles and bricks, pointing to earlier phases of habitation.
Written records trace the settlement at least to 1530, with further references in 1591, 1893. Historical forms of the name recorded in documents include Drinjani, Danjan. A register from 1530 records 7 households. Around 1879, the settlement formed part of the Bajrak of Palluzhës and had 12 households. After the expulsions of Albanians from the Sanjak of Niš in 1877–1878, Albanian muhajir families also settled in the area. During the interwar period, 12 Slavic colonist or optant families were settled here.
During the 1998–1999 war, the settlement suffered burning and destruction by Serbian forces. 16 residents were killed during the war.
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 2 — Rahovec, second edition, Prishtina, 2008.
Source entry: DEJNI
This page presents a selected summary from the published study of the settlement. For complete archival references, family histories, microtoponymy and the full treatment, consult the original volume.