Written first by Petrit Latifi on Wikipedia.

The Battle of Muriqi was a conflict between Albanian irregulars from Muriqi (Shkodra), Krajë (modern-day Montenegro), and Montenegrin forces led by Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš from November 15, 1861, to 1862. Montenegrin commanders Mirko Petrović and his captains, Joko Kusovac, Gjoko Pejović, and Ilia Pllamenac, aimed to expand Montenegro’s territories by attacking Muriqi.

Forces from Krajë and Selca, as well as Krricë, coordinated with Captain Ilia Pllamenac’s 200 fighters to assault northern Muriqi. Simultaneously, Savo Vujović led 400 fighters from Dupillo, Bercela, and Salca to attack the southern side. To block Albanian reinforcements from Tivari, Montenegrin priest Millo Vojvodić ordered the roads closed.

The Albanians initially resisted and achieved victories in 1861 but were ultimately defeated in 1862.

Background

Krajë, a border region with Montenegro, included the village of Çermnicë as its center. According to Marjan Bolica, the region extended to Lake Shkodra and included Pashtrovice. Çermnicë comprised two tribes, Çermica and Limnjan, which historically received assistance from Cetinje in conflicts with Albanians during the 17th century.

The Ottoman-Montenegrin border was finalized by the Technical Commission following the Conference of Ambassadors in Istanbul on October 8, 1859. The border ran through Vranina, Lake Shkodra, the Godenë and Selca mountains (on the Ottoman side), and reached Sutormani. The village of Pepiqi was assigned to Montenegro.

After the assassination of Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš on August 31, 1860, Prince Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš pursued an aggressive policy of territorial expansion into Albanian lands. Border skirmishes intensified under Commander Mirko Petrović’s leadership. Krajë, established 400 years earlier, held significant geographical, demographic, economic, and cultural importance for highlanders. Its residents, skilled artisans, sold farming tools in Shkodra’s markets.

The attack

On November 15, 1861, Ilia Pllamenac launched an attack on northern Muriqi. The Montenegrins looted, burned, and massacred villagers, but the Albanians, including women, resisted fiercely. In the village of Rrjepshi, both sides incurred heavy losses, forcing Ilia Pllamenac to retreat to Çermnicë with his wounded.

Meanwhile, Savo Vujović’s forces attacked southern Muriqi. A fierce battle ensued, with female peasants joining the Albanian resistance. Savo Vujović was killed, fulfilling his earlier declaration to Prince Danilo: “In the battle, I will either kill the Turks (Albanians) or be killed myself.” Reinforcements from Shkodra joined the Albanians, forcing the Montenegrins to retreat to Krricë and Çermnicë. In Shestani, eight Montenegrins from Orahov were killed.

The skirmishes continued into February 1862. On February 16, the Montenegrins attacked Zupçin, Tungëngjil, and neighboring villages in Krajë. The “Laibacher Zeitung” from Ljubljana reported a fierce battle in Shestan, where 50 Albanians were killed, and Montenegrins suffered minimal casualties. Around 3,000 Montenegrins stationed in Krricë and Selcë surrounded Albanian forces in Shestan until Hasan Hoti, an Albanian nobleman and patriot, arrived with reinforcements.

On February 23, 1862, a decisive battle took place in Krricë. Montenegrin records claim 1,200 casualties and injuries on both sides, with approximately 190 Albanian fatalities. Montenegrins killed 45 Albanians and wounded 150 others. The Bajraktar of Krajë, Ali Brahimi, along with Hasan Hoti, Hajdar Aga, Myrta Smajli, and Bimbash Shaban Myrta, led the Albanian resistance. Despite their efforts, the Montenegrins were victorious.

Historical notes

In 1835, traveler Louis Hyacinthe Hecquard documented 430 houses in Krajë with 3,000 Muslims and Catholics. By 1876, the region’s villages could field 600 armed men, with 250 based in Muriqi and Shestan.

• In 1692, Albanian fighters from Krajë, under Sulejman Pasha, fought Montenegrins.
• In 1788, Mahmut Pasha arranged safe passage for three Austrian delegates through Krajë. However, they were murdered in Muriqi, and their heads were sent to the Sultan.
  
• Sources
• Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar, Vol. II, Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, Tirana, 2008.
• “Laibacher Zeitung,” February 1862.
• Historical records from Kraja.us and Shkoder.net.