Oso Kuka, the Albanian hero who resisted the Montenegrin invasion of Vranina in the summer of 1862, may have been inspired by other Albanians from Zogaj (denoted Zergalina) who blew up the tower in 1861 defending the area from Montenegrin attacks.

Cited:

“Ein türkischer Bericht meldet: Vorgestern überschritten 5–6000 Montenegriner die Grenze, besetzten die Insel Vranina und den Hauptort am Skutari-See. Die Bewohner dieses letzteren vereinigten sich mit den Montenegrinern, und die aus Zergalina bestehende Garnison, welche keinen Widerstand leisten konnte, hat, um sich nicht ergeben zu müssen, den Thurm in die Luft gesprengt und unter dessen Trümmern sich begraben. Gestern besetzten die Türken Subi.”

Translation:

“A Turkish report states: The day before yesterday, 5–6,000 Montenegrins crossed the border, occupied the island of Vranina and the main settlement on Lake Scutari. The inhabitants of the latter joined the Montenegrins, and the garrison composed of men from Zergalina (Zogaj), being unable to offer resistance, blew up the tower so as not to have to surrender, and buried themselves under its ruins. Yesterday the Turks occupied Subi.”

We know that Zergalina means the Albanian village of Zogaj, as the distorted version of the village appears in many 19th century publications: Zergalina, Zergalina, Zergaline, Zergalina (Zergalina-Dorf).

This suggests that Oso Kukas bravery was inspired from this sacrifice one year earlier.

Source

Brünner Zeitung der k.k. priv. mährischen Lehenbank – page 1668. Joseph Cölestin Lauer, 1861. Link.