Published for the first time on Wikipedia using a pseudonym.

Kaje Gale Selmani or Kalë Galja Shabanaj, also known as Galja of Koshutan or Kaje Galja Selmanja Bucaj (1851-c.1951) was an Albanian peasant highlander woman and resistance fighter from the village of Koshutan, Rugova, Kosovo (back then part of the Ottoman Empire). Selmani is known for having fought against the invading Montenegrin forces in Battle of Novsice in the year of 1879.^[1] 

Sadri Groshi, an 80-year old man at the time, fought along Kaje but died as the Montenegrins entered the kulla. She cut down 4 Montenengrins forces with an axe. Kaje Selmani was the daughter of the local bayraktar Shaban Smajli and brother with Zhuj Selmani. She was wounded outside the kulla and was found by her second brother, Zymeraj Selmani, who took her to the local hospital of the Albanian fighters where she survived. After she was healed, she continued to fight in numerous battles. She is mentioned in Albanian epic poetry.

Life and death

Kaje Selmani was the brother of Zhuj Selmani, who died in 1875 fighting Montenegrin forces. Kaje was married in Novsic (Nokshiq) and had two daughters. During the Battle of Novsice, Kaje Selmani headed out to help Rrustem Ukaj, whos village, the Haxhaj in Rugova, had been attacked by the Montenegrin forces led by Marko Miljanov. When the Montenegrin launched their first attack, Kaje took shelter in the kulla of Sadri Groshi, an 80-year old man at the time. They opened fire with theirs muskets killing several Montenegrins.

When she ran out of ammunition, the Montenegrins passed through and broke down the door at the bottom floor of the kulla. Sadri Groshi was shot and died. Kaje then grabbed an axe and cut down the Montenegrins one by one. After being wounded in the head, she was taken to a hospital where she recovered. In 1941, the Montenegrin forces entered her house and broke both her hands as an act of vengance for her battle more than 60 years ago. The Montenegrins planned to burn her alive but she was spared by a Montenegrin soldier, Millka, who insisted on leaving her alive. Kaje Selmani is said to have turned 100 years old before she died.^[2] Kaje is mentioned by Albanian epic folklore.^[3]

References

1.  “The Normandy of the Albanians”.
2. ↑ “Luanesha e Koshutanit – Lajme – Kosova Sot”. Kosova Sot.
3. ↑ “Nokshiqi, Normandia e shqiptarëve | Kosova për Sanxhakun”. kosovapersanxhakun.org (in shqip).