Syl Rezalla (b. 1800 – d. 1857) was an Albanian known for having shot and killed Çavuş “or Chaush”, an Ottoman title meaning “soldier”, in some time during the 1850s. Rezalla is mentioned in Albanian folklore and according to oral history, he killed the Çavuş and 8 other “Seymen” (Ottoman soldiers) in a gun battle. The event is considered to be important to Albanian folklore. The song of Syl Rezalla is popular among Albanian folklorists.
The event
According to Bedri Tahiri, the event may have happened in 1883, but that cannot be right as Syl Rezalla died in 1857. Tahiri writes:
“Sylë Rezalla was with cousin Ramë Hakolli and they were traveling to a friend living in the region of Hade. However, according to the stories of Syla’s descendants, he had been with his older sister, Sherifja, married in Pristina, to Haxhi Mehmeti. In any case, Sylë Rezalla emerges as a warrior who surprised Tahir Shurdhiqi of Llapi, whom he had kept and protected as his best friend in his guest house for several years.
However, the Chaush Tahir Shurdhiqi and Syl Rezalla got into a conflict, where the Chaush violated Rezallas hospitality, generosity, honor and friendship. Syl Rezalla then challenged the chaush to a duel. Syl Rezalla was with his friend Ramë Hakolli, against the Cavush and 8 other Ottoman soldiers.”
References
Balkan Academia 