Written by Petrit Latifi

In the chapter “Memories from Lake Shkodra” published in the book “Otadzbina” in 1890, the Serbian writer from Dalmatia, Simo Matavul, tells about two cases of conflict between the Kranjës and the Montenegrins on Lake Shkodra in 1858 (pp. 11 and 12)

In the first case, the Montenegrins with 15 companies set off for a place between Zogaj and Shiroka to stop the “Turkish” (Krajë) boats going to the Shkodra Bazaar. But near Vir they were stopped by two Turkish patrol boats, which started the clashes in which 23 Turks and 5 Montenegrins were killed…

In the second case, 10 Montenegrin companies set off for the “Shkodra meadows” there were so many sheep that they could fill “300” boats, and these filled the boats and turned back. When they arrive near Vranina, the Muriqas and Krajans block their way. They attack and break through the ambush with dozens of wounded…