Mark Lula (Born 1814, Pecaj, Shala, Dukagjin, Shkoder – Died 1891, Pecaj, Shala) was an Albanian bajraktar of Shala t and the Dukagjin mountains who fought Montenegrin and Ottoman invaders. He was member of the Vladi family and Pecnika brotherhood. Lula fought all his life, leaving a mark Albanian national history and died in his home village with high honors. There is a street in Shkoder named after him.

Lula grew up in a patriotic family known for honur, besa, bravery and glory for their homeland in the Malesia mountains. He was from the Shala tribe. Mark Lula grew up fighting and was a trained military commander fighting Ottoman forces. In his young days, he was the commander of the Uprising of Dukagjin where the malesors resisted Ottoman forces. After the Seven Bajraktars Of Shala defeated the Sultans forces, the Shala tribe told the Sultan that “Shala has nothing to say to you, we will speak with you through our barrels.”

Between the years of 1840-1874, the Ottomans launched three expeditions to conquer Dukagjini. Mark Lula, commanding the malesors, however defeated the Ottomans. Mark Lula was disappointed that the European powers had disregarded the national interests of theÊAlbanians. He was one of the protesters of the Congress of Berlin, in 1878, against the splitting of Albania between Montenegro and Serbia. Together with the malesors of Dukagjin, Lula vowed to defend Albanian lands. Mark Lula is mentioned in Gjergj Fishtas national epic poem The Highland Lute .

In 1878, the League of Prizren organized with the tribes of Shala, Shoshi, Shllaku, Temali, and the Sumas. Mark Lula participated in the meeting saying “we will not let go or take any land; we will defend it with our blood”. One of the delegates said “we rather fight the Shkja than the turk to which Lula replied “We have equally fought the Shkja as we have the Turk. Albania is busy, and we have fought with sabre and pistol, oh you Pasha, we do not bow to neither King or Sultan. Why fight only the Shkja when we have Anatolia in our backyard.”

The Dukagjin uprising was tolerant and open to the MuslimÊAlbanians, saying they were of the same blood and having one flag. Mark Lula combined the family of Sokol Rama from Bujani of Tropoja. Mark Lula offered his daughter to the family who gave birth to Sokol Rama, who’s son was later to be Mic Sokoli, theÊAlbanianÊhero who sacrificed himself by pressing his body against a Turkish cannon. Not one battle was fought in Northern Albania without the malesors of Dukagjin participating, with Mark Lula on the front. Alongside Mic Sokoli, Cun Mula, Sulejman Vokshi, Hodo Sokoli, Gjon Marka Gjoni, Prenk Bibe Doda and others, they fought Ottoman forces in 1874 for the defense of Plava, Gusinje and Ulcinj. Lula was always close to the house of Gjon Markaj, considering the Mirdita region as his left shoulder. Both Shala and Mirdita derived from the family of Lek Dukagjini. Mark Lula died in 1891 in his home village and was buried in high honors.