Summary:

This article compiles and contextualizes a set of 19th-century newspaper reports on the violent encounters between Albanians and Montenegrins during the period 1861–1877. The primary theaters of conflict—Bojana, Virpazar, Milojevice, and Spič—lay within a contested frontier zone where Ottoman administrative control, local Albanian interests, and Montenegrin territorial ambitions overlapped. The Battle of Bojana in 1877 is presented through Austrian news reports describing a surprise Montenegrin counterattack that routed Ottoman-Albanian forces. The telegrams from Virpazar and Milojevice outline continued skirmishes and reflect the strained atmosphere in Scutari, where Ottoman officials feared an uprising from the heavily armed Albanian population. The 1861 report on Spič shows how religiously distinct coastal communities were caught between the competing pressures of Ottoman authority and Montenegrin expansionism, with foreign naval forces maintaining purported neutrality. Collectively, the reports shed light on the political mood, military tactics, strategic vulnerabilities, and ethnic complexities that characterized the Albanian–Montenegrin borderlands in the late Ottoman era.

This article presents 19th century newspaper articles of the Albanian-Montenegrin battles of Bojana, Vipazar, Milojevice and Spic in the years 1861 to 1877.

The Battle of Bojana of 1877

Cited from the Gratzer Zeitung. Steiermark. 1877:

“Albania: Regarding the Montenegrin campaign in Albania, the Pol Corr under November 20th. Wounded soldiers who arrived here yesterday tell of a significant battle that took place between Montenegrins and Albanian soldiers on the right bank of the Bojana River. A Turkish troop detachment moved from Scutari across the Bojana Bridge on the road to either launch an attack or at least cause as much difficulty as possible for the Montenegrin besieging army.

However, the Montenegrins had been prepared for such an attack from the first day of the Albanian action, and the Wojdode plamenag was always present at the crossing of the bridges leading over the Bojana to be ready for any possible Turkish attempts. When the Turkish troops arrived at the right bank of the Bojana, the Montenegrins immediately engaged in battle, and a fierce fighting ensued that lasted several hours.

However, only three Montenegrin battalions participated, which eventually withdrew. The Turks, considering this retreat a flight, ventured into the rocks. Suddenly, the three Montenegrin battalions appeared and attacked the enemy with such force that the enemy retreated in wild disarray across the Bojana and could only partially escape to Scutari. They destroyed the Bojana bridges within themselves. Besides numerous dead and wounded, the Turks lost over 30 prisoners.”

The Battle of Virpazar and Milojevice

Cited from the same newspaper article:

“Today, a telegram was received via Virpazar reporting a skirmish that allegedly took place the day before yesterday near Milojevice, ending with the Turks complete defeat. Milojevice is one of the largest Albanian villages between Scutari and Antivari, and the reported incident appears to be identical with the effect that the wounded Albanians personally reported.

Letters arriving from Scutari describe the current mood there. As soon as the Montenegrin diversion against Antivari was announced, Balda departed with several battalions. Podgorizza arrived in Scutari and took command. He found the local population in a state of deep despair, to the point that he was forced to employ desperate measures in order to restore some degree of confidence.

Above all, he spread the news that the Dibrani were prepared to support Scutari against Montenegro with 20,000 men — although, in reality, Dibra could provide no more than about 3,000, and many there were in understanding with Montenegro. Despite all these efforts, Commandant Dodo was nevertheless forced to have the streets of Scutari patrolled day and night by large battalions, as he feared an uprising of the Albanians, who make up the majority of the population and are armed to the teeth. Gendarmerie posts were also stationed throughout the city to signal any possible Montenegrin attempt to provoke unrest in Scutari.

A further disadvantage for the Ottoman troops was the fact that Bodgorizza could not be completely sealed off, since there were forty-six Montenegrin defensive positions in the surrounding area; thus the command had to remain constantly alert for a feint similar to the unexpected diversion against Antivari.

A few days ago, a shipment of ammunition destined for Montenegro was discovered within one of the battalions.

Battle of Spič in 1861 between Albanians and Montenegrins

Cited from the “Ilirske narodne Novine” from 1861

“Battle of Spič on June 28 there was only one Montenegrin, and that he was killed by a cannon from the Austrian war. Now they refute the statement that the ship Archduke Friderik, which sailed between Budva and Bar on June 29 and 30, was strictly ordered to rule completely neutrally”.

Background

Turkey: About the latest events around Cerna and in general about the state of things there, Don Ztg reports from Kotor from 6 tm and from Bar from prm And in one and the other it is described by Spich that Spičani who are of Roman faith are stated several times in the report from Kotor by Abdi Pasha in Shkodër that the Montenegrins are forcing them to secede from the Turks and threatening them that the port and the surrounding land should join Montenegro”

References

Gratzer Zeitung. Steiermark. 1877

Ilirske narodne Novine 1861