Heads of the Malesie highlands in a rare photograph, with Ded Gjon Luli in the middle

Document: “The Heads of the Malësia Highlands Against the Montenegrin Invasion” from 1912.

The Heads of the Malësia Highlands Against the Montenegrin Invasion is the title of document found in the National Archives in London from 1912 where the heads of the Malësia Highlands signed a memorandum to the European powers requesting help to halt the Montenegrin invasion of Albania and Malesia. The document states the following:

The five regions of the Malësia of Shkoder: Hoti, Gruda, Kastrati, Shkrel and Kelmendi, who are united with blood, language, land, customs and the Kanun. The five tribes of Mali I Zi, Mirdita, Dukagjin, Puka and Kthella who are of the Catholic and Islamic faith. As or the economical aspect, they are bound to the Vilayet of Scutari, which spreads to Kavajë, where a Montenegrin invasion would be a catastrophe for Malësia. We have for 3 years spilled our blood for the freedom and progress of the Albanian state against the Turkish rule. We have fought with the Montenegrins against Turkey but when we saw the intentions of Montenegrin invading Malësia, we abandoned them. The Montenegrins, like the Slavs of the Balkans, all along, during the war with Turkey, have for centuries committed many atrocities on Albanians on both catholics and muslims where our churches have been burned, our priests murdered, our children massacred and they have stolen all the wealth of Shkoder. Therefore, the centuries-old hostility of the Balkan Slavs against the Albanians is at its height. We are getting permission to send you our prayer to the Great Powers of Europe, which have made it a duty to take care of the freedom and the development of Albania. Malësia is therefore an inseparable part of the body of Albania and any attempt to detach it from the stump of Albania will shed blood as in previous times“.

References

Londër/ Dokument nga National Archives: Krerët e Malësisë kundër pushtimit nga Mali i Zi, 1912 – “Malësia është pjesë e pandarë e trupit të Shqypnisë, dhe çdo tentim për ta shkëputur nga trungu i Shqypnisë do të derdhet gjaku sikurse në kohërat e kalume.” https://www.mekulipress.com/londer-dokument-nga-national-archives-kreret-e-malesise-kunder-pushtimit-nga-mali-i-zi-1912-malesia-eshte-pjese-e-pandare-e-trupit-te-shqypnise-dhe-cdo-tentim-per-ta-shkeputur-nga-trungu-i-s/

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning.

© All publications and posts on Balkanacademia.com are copyrighted. Author: Petrit Latifi. You may share and use the information on this blog as long as you credit “Balkan Academia” and “Petrit Latifi” and add a link to the blog.