Podujeva, or Besiana ( or Besianë),Podujevo () is a city and municipality in Kosovo's Pristina District. According to the 2011 census, the city of Podujevo has 23,453 inhabitants, while the municipality has 88,499 inhabitants. The population of the city may be higher, as these figures include only the population of the cadastral zone of Podujeva, but not some urban neighborhoods of the city that are outside the cadastral zone. Podujeva is located along a regional motorway and has railroad passing through it, which links the area to surrounding regions. Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is located some to the south. History Middle Ages The region includes many Medieval Serbian monuments. In 1355, Emperor Stefan Dušan gave the village of Braina to Mount Athos. In 1381, Prince Lazar gave Orlane (a village in Podujeva) to his endowment, the Ravanica monastery. Ruins of old Serbian monasteries and churches exist at Orlane, Murgula (destroyed in the 15th century), Palatna, Slatina, Svetlje, Rakinica, Metohija (2), Donje Ljupce (destroyed in the 15th century), Gornja Pakastica (destroyed in the 15th century), Brevnik, Braina (3) and graveyards exist in most of these villages. The village of Brevnik had a notable medieval mine, and a fort with a church. Albanians are cited in the middle of the 14th century as miners and farmers while Albanian toponyms have been recorded in the area since the 15th century. Ottoman period Podujevo remained under Ottoman Rule from 1455 to 1912. Podujevo was initially organized as a Nahije, and it was the largest one of Vushtrria. During the 15th to 18th centuries, Ottomans attempted to develop agriculture, farming, vineyards, beekeeping and handicrafts within the region. Mining activities were also present, especially in Bellasica, which was recognized as one of the most important mining areas in the Balkans. In the defter of jizya in 1485, Llapi had 5,952 Christian families, while in 1488-1489 Llapi had 7,399 households. In the 18th century the Nahije of Llapi was part of Pristina's Sanjak. At this time, Llapi lost many residents due to two plagues that struck the place. During the Austro-Ottoman war, the Austrian army destroyed and robbed the town twice. Later, the region fought against the Ottomans. During the first Serbian Revolt, the Serbian army got into the village of Reçica and killed 30 people, including Demë Ahmeti, an Albanian national hero who is later mentioned in songs. This happened on 28 June 1811, during