In the Middle Ages, as Tzernikon or Tzernikos it was an episcopal see of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, as a suffragan see of the Archbishopric of Dyrrhachium.
[2] The Roman-Catholic church then erected an episcopal see, which is today the Titular See of Tzernicus and which was a suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Achrida (Ohrid).
In the mid-15th century, the region was ruled by Gjergj Arianiti, one of the main leaders of the Albanian resistance to the Ottoman Empire.
[3] In the late Ottoman period it is reported that the region had 12 villages and 3000 Bektashi inhabitants.
[4] In World War II, the area was a centre of the Albanian Resistance to the German occupation.