Ilirioni (Dobërdolani) lies about 12 km west of Theranda, in a valley, and is a compact settlement. Traces associated with old churches and burial grounds survive in the Gallapenë neighbourhood and in the centre of the village; local tradition also remembers several early churches in the area.
The settlement is mentioned in a Deçan document from 1327. An Ottoman register from 1530 records it as Dobërdolan with 47 households. Over the course of its history, residents migrated to different areas, including Albania.
Before the 1998–99 war the village had around 218 houses and approximately 1,800 Albanian residents. Serbian attacks brought burning, destruction and displacement. The damage and forced movement of residents made the end of the 20th century a severe break in the continuity of village life, while the historical identity of Dobërdolan continues to be preserved in the public name Ilirioni (Dobërdolani).
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 4 — Theranda (Suhareka), Prishtina, 2003.
Source entry: ILIRIONI (Dobërdolani)
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.