Statutes of Scutari

The Statutes of Scutari (Italian: Statuti di Scutari, Albanian: Statutet e Shkodrës) were the highest form of expression of self-government of Scutari (Shkodër) during Venetian rule. There were other cities in Albania also who had their statutes but only the Statutes of Scutari are preserved in their fullest form. They were composed of 279 chapters written in the Venetian dialect of 15th century. They were held in two copies, one in the treasury office of the city and the other on the city court office. Although similar to other Italian and Dalmatian cities statutes, they have incorporated in it many original Albanian elements and institutions, such as Besa and Gjakmarrja.