The Kuči were famously rebellious against rule, forming the "Union of the Mountains" with other tribes in the 17th century. Their strategic position on the frontier often saw them shifting between Venetian, Ottoman, and Montenegrin spheres of influence. They played a pivotal role in the expansion and eventual consolidation of the modern Montenegrin state after the Congress of Berlin in 1878.
Border region between Montenegro and Albania , within the Dinaric Alps .
Historically associated with the Gheg Albanian tribes, specifically the Berisha brotherhood. Kući Kući
The Kuči tribe is a prominent example of the ethnic fluidity of the . First appearing in historical records in 1330 as an Albanian brotherhood ( katun ), the tribe gradually underwent a process of Slavicisation . By the 17th and 18th centuries, shifts in political alliances and the influence of the Orthodox Church led many members to transition from Roman Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy and from the Albanian language to Slavic dialects. Today, descendants of the Kuči identify as Montenegrins , Serbs , or Bosniaks (among those who converted to Islam during the Ottoman era). Geography: The Kučka Krajina
The of the "Old Kuči" versus the "Drekalovići" (New Kuči). The Kuči were famously rebellious against rule, forming
Formerly bilingual; today, most inhabitants speak Serbo-Croatian (Montenegrin/Serbian), though some Albanian-speaking enclaves remain.
Areas closer to the Podgorica valley, such as Zlatica .The terrain is characterized by "karst" topography—eroded limestone creating caves, sinkholes, and dramatic rocky peaks—making it a challenging but strategic military refuge throughout history. Honor and Custom (Čojstvo i Junaštvo) Border region between Montenegro and Albania , within
Marko Miljanov (1833–1901), a tribal leader, national hero, and writer who chronicled the tribe's customs. Thematic Overview Ethnographic Evolution & Slavicisation