Dasho Shkreli (1815-1840)

Dasho Mustafa Shkreli (born 1815, died 1840) was an Albanian patriot and freedom fighter from Shkodra who fought against Ottoman and Montenegrin forces in the Battle of Spuz and during the Tanzimat Reform. Dasho Shkreli was the son of Hasan Shkreli, from Shkreli in Malaysia and had three brothers: Kasemin, Cafin and Sefon. The brothers fought with Hamze Bey Kazazi in 1835 during the anti-Ottoman revolution.

Dasho Shkreli fell at the Battle of Spuz against Montenegrin forces. Background Shkreli was from the Shkreli tribe. During the Bushati dynasty in Albania, battles were often fought between Albanian Malesors and Montenegrin forces. Shkreli’s tribe had since the 17th century fought against Ottoman forces and from the latter half of the 19th century also against Montenegrin invasions.

Battle of Spuz

During the battle, Shkreli fought with his brothers and Nazuf Disdari (1790-1840) against Montenegrin forces. . During the march to the castle at Spuz, Shkreli’s friends fired their rifles into the air. Beqir Begu, an influential Albanian mayor, insulted Shkreli by claiming that his men only dared to shoot in the air. Shkreli vowed to fight to the death and send the Montenegrins back to Danilovgrad. Dasho fell with his brothers and was hailed as a “people’s hero”.