Dan Deroci (1898-1921) or Ramadan Maliqi was an Albanian kachak who fought with Azem Bejta, Nak Berisha and other Albanian patriots against the Kingdom of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Born and raised in 1898 in the village of Braboniq, in Drenica, Kosovo, Doroci grew up fighting the Serbian armies and paramilitaries. Being a skilled fighter, he caused massive damage to the Serb forces which caused the Serb authorities to burn down his village in Drenica.

In 1920 Doroci was offered 5000 dinars by Serb authorities if he killed Azem Bejta but he refused. His uncle, Hasan Cuta, however took the offer and decided to kill his own nephew. Cuta found out that Doroci was hiding in the mountains of Oshlani. He proceeds to lure him into Melenicë, close to the station in Vidishiq. Cuta brings three soldiers with him and surrounds Doroci who proceeds to fight until the end, killing Cuta in the end. Mihajlo Cerovic, the Serb deputy from Beograd, in charge of the bribe, was much pleased when hearing upon that Doroci had been killed. He had a coffin made in Mitrovica and ordered for his body to be dragged along the villages by a horse for the villagers to see. Ahem Bejta vowed to avenge Doroci and did so by killing Cerovic. His grave is located in Drenica and his descendants are today political activists. The story of Doroci was written by the rhapsody Dervish Goxhulli (1870-1938). He is mentioned by many Albanian folklore artists.

References

1. Perparimi (in Albanian). NGBG Rilindja. 1968. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
2. Haxhiu, Ajet (1982). Shota dhe Azem Galica (in Albanian).
3. Shtëpia Botuese “8 Nëntori”. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
4. Folklor kosovar (in Albanian). Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë, Instituti i Kulturës Popullore. 1985. Retrieved 6 September 2023.