Popolan, treated in the volume as Pojani (Popolani), lies about 12 km southeast of Theranda, at the foot of the mountains, and is a compact settlement. Although archaeological investigation has been limited, the village is regarded as old and appears relatively early in written documentation.
Residents of Popolan are mentioned in the memorial book of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity from 1465. An Ottoman register from 1530 records the form Popoljan with 16 households. An Austrian map based on information from 1689 shows the settlement as Popovljane. After the expulsion of Albanians from the Sanjak of Niš in 1877–78, an Albanian muhajir family also settled here.
In 1999 the village had around 25 Albanian houses with approximately 240 residents and around 30 Serbian houses. During and after the war Albanian homes were destroyed, followed by many Serbian homes; the Orthodox church was also destroyed.
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 4 — Theranda (Suhareka), Prishtina, 2003.
Source entry: POJANI (Popolani)
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.