Imer Shabi or Ymer Shaba (c. 1825 – 1938) was an Albanian highlander warrior from Kuči who moved to Gusinje during the Albanian national awakening.[1] In 1878, he fought in the Battle of Novsice. In an interview with the Albanian paper Hylli I Drites in 1938, Shabi, at the time 113 years old, explains how he was related through his mother to Marko Miljanov. Shabi had been killing Montenegrins during the night in the Kuç area and as a result Marko Miljanov had been searching to kill him.[2] In the Battle of Novsice, Shabi witnessed how he and many other fighters arrived on the battlefield to find Jakup Ferri killed with his nose, lips and mustache cut off.[3] A new fight began afterwards with yatagans and buttstrokes. After the battle, they carried with them 300 severed heads of the Montenegrin soldiers and put them on the fences in Gusinje.[4] The following day mourning and ”vajtim” could be heard from the women in Gusinje as many men had not returned home.

References

1. Indogermanisches Jahrbuch. University of California. 1940. p. 248.

2. ^ Frasheri, Kristo (1938). Interview with 113-year old Imer Shabi, participant
   of the Battle of Novsice (PDF) (No. 6 ed.). Albania: Shtypshkroja
   Franceskane, Hylli i Drites. pp. 304, 305, 308. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
3. ^ “LIDHJA SHQIPTARE E PRIZRENIT: ORGANIZIMI USHTARAK DHE
   SHEMBUJ TË LUFTËS SË SAJ (The Albanian movement of Prizren: the
   organizing military and the battles fought)”. http://www.albaniapress.com (LIDHJA
   SHQIPTARE E PRIZRENIT: ORGANIZIMI USHTARAK DHE SHEMBUJ TË
   LUFTËS SË SAJ). Albaniapress.com. Albaniapress.com. 2007. Retrieved 24
   July 2019.
4. ^ Ahmeti, Arbër (2008). “Në kujtim të luftës heroike për mbrojtjen e Plavës
   dhe Gucisë (A remembrance of the heroic defence of Plava and
   Gusinje)”. pashtriku.beepworld.de (Ymer Shaba states: After we arrived on
   the battlefield, we found many dead Montenegrins and many dead Albanians.
   We also found Jakup Ferri with his nose, lips and mustache cut. Afterwards,
   an intense battle began. We fought mostly with yataghans and rifles as we
   were close to the enemy. Afterwards, we cut 300 heads from the
   Montenegrins and put them on fences near Gusinje. Afterwards, wailing could
   be heard from Gusinje as many men had not returned.). Retrieved 24
   July 2019