Authored by Petrit Latifi
During the battles of Farmaci, Jelenski and Zdrebanik, many thousands of Albanian malesori fighters participated during the Montenegron-Ottoman fighting. In the book “Stogodišnjica crnogorsko-turskog rata 1876-1978 radovi sa naučnog skupa, Cetinje, 27. i 28. maja 1977” we read:
“… Malisor , in which 4,000 of them died. In the battle at Farmaci (July 16/28), there were also Arbanasi , even from Debar and southern Albania. In the battles near Jelenski and Zdrebanik (June 19-20 / July 1-2), 7,000 Malisors were brought in …
… Arbanasa from Malesia. On the southeastern side of Montenegro, in all the conflicts with the Montenegrin army, almost only Arbanasi were on the Turkish side. They provided the bulk of Turkish defense during the second war. While holding outposts on Rasa’s Head, the Malisors also suffered a lot in the battle on June 4/16. Allegedly, 300 fighters from Hoth and Kastrato died and 200 were wounded; one hotski and one lost their lives…
Saib Pasha also had five battalions of the Bashiboz from Albania. When, in December, the same commander moved to defend the Bojana line, more than 700 loyal Arbanas from Shkodra participated in the fighting.”
Unrest in Beranë, Plav and Gucia
“Hence, there was a general unrest in Berane and Plav-Gucia region. Due to all these circumstances, from the fall of 1874 to the spring of 1875, a process that inevitably led to a general conflict with the Turks, to an uprising, simmered in almost all villages inhabited by Montenegrin and Serbian people.”
Battle of Doljani in Podgorica
“Describing the battle above Podgorica, on Doljani (June 27/July 9), Glas Crnogorac recorded that 5-6,000 Malisors attacked at dawn from the south, according to an agreement with the Nizam from Podgorica. On that occasion, the Catholic malesori were routed and driven to Kakaricka Gora, on the other side of Podgorica, towards Hoti. Losses were many, 200 dead and twice as many wounded. In the description of the battle in Kuči on 16/28. the ears are no longer moving…”
Battle of Shpuz
“Malisori fighting on the side of the asker (Turkish forces) was also recorded on 8/20. June on Ždrebanik, near Spuž, Visočica, Maljat, Kukoševina and over Velje brdo to Podgorica. Catholics from Kopljik, Shkrel, Reča-Selca, Riol, Postorab and Kelmendi participated there.
Reference
Balkan Academia 