Tetovo

Tetovo (Macedonian: Тетово, [ˈtɛtɔvɔ] ^ⓘ; Albanian: Tetovë, Albanian definite form: Tetova) is a city in the northwestern part of North Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River. The municipality of Tetovo covers an area of 1,080 km² (417 sq mi) at 468 meters (1,535 ft) above sea level, with a population of 63,176, making it the country's fifth largest city. The city of Tetovo is the seat of Tetovo Municipality.

Tetovo was founded in the 14th century on the place of the ancient town of Oaeneon.

In the 15th century AD, Tetovo came under Ottoman rule for about five centuries. After its conquest by the Ottomans, most of the city's population converted to Islam and many Ottoman-style structures were built, such as the Šarena Džamija and the Arabati Baba Teḱe, which still stand as two of North Macedonia's most significant landmarks of its Ottoman period. During this period, the town belonged to the Vilayet of Kosovo, became a firearm and cannon foundry, and was renamed Kalkandelen (meaning "Shield Penetrator"); as a result, the town attracted many workers and grew into a city. Following the First and Second World Wars, Tetovo became a part of Yugoslavia and, later, the Republic of Macedonia.

The South East European University, North Macedonia's third biggest university after Skopje and Bitola, is located in Tetovo. Tetovo is also home to the State University of Tetovo. Tetovo is regarded as the de facto capital of North Macedonia's ethnic Albanian population.

The region was referred to as Htetovo in a Serbian Charter. During the Ottoman rule the name of the town was Kalkandelen.

Christianity spread to Oaeneum during the later period of Roman invasion and reached the region relatively early. St Paul preached the Gospel in the region. In the 2nd to the 4th centuries, the main language to spread the Christian religion was Latin.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Byzantine control was punctuated by periods of Bulgarian and Serbian rule. Konstantin Asen ruled as Tsar of the Bulgarian Empire from 1257 to 1277. Later the region was overrun and taken by Serbian Tsar Stefan Dušan. In a document dated between 1348 and 1353, Dušan restored the Lešok Monastery and gifted the monastery entire Albanian-populated villages, as well as the Nanov Dol highlands. Stefan Dušan also forbade agricultural and livestock activity in the Nanov Dol highlands for state pasture tax collectors, Albanians and Vlachs.

The initial Ottoman occupation did not last as Skanderbeg and his Albanian force with aid from Tetovo, took on the Ottoman forces led by Ibrahim Pasha in the Battle of Polog. Skanderbeg slayed Ibrahim Pasha, who was an old friend of his during his time with the Ottomans. After the battle, Tetovo came under Albanian control. In August 1462, after Skanderbeg defeated Ottoman forces under Hasan Bey in Mokra, Isuf Bey went to move against Skanderbeg. Isuf Bey marched out with 18,000 troops to Skopje, and from there, he marched onto Polog near Tetovo. Skanderbeg attacked and annihilated Isuf's force and the Pasha fled, leaving his army behind to be reduced.