In 1876, Montenegrin forces assaulted the Sutorman Fort, defended by Ottoman and Albanian forces, who were forced to surrender to the overwhelming Montenegrin troops.
Gopčević writes in 1877:
“The Invasion: Right on the border, to the right of the road on a hill, lies the Turkish fort of Sutorman. It was armed with two heavy guns and had a garrison of 100 Nizams commanded by a major. These men must have been quite astonished when they were awakened by cannon fire on the morning of November 13th. They attempted to return fire, but after 20 men had fallen and a breach had been made in the first hour, the unassuming major raised the white flag and surrendered with the guns, 80 men, 150 rifles, and other supplies.”1
The region had 8 kullas (fortified towers). Casualty report:
- 155 dead
- 250 wounded
- 7 captured
- 6 horses
- 156 rifles
- 200 cannons
- 9 flags / standards
Albanian toponyms in the region before the Ottoman cession of Albanian territory to Montenegro
“The military importance of acquiring Spizza lies in the control it will provide over the harbor of Antivari, partly through existing fortifications and partly through fortifications that can be erected at prominent points along the steep coast. Coastal surveillance will not incur any particular expenses, as the ships required for this purpose will be spared due to the elimination of patrols at Klek and Sutorina.
Furthermore, the cession of the territory occurred without any financial burden. Montenegro, however, is obligated to assume a portion of the Ottoman national debt and to dismantle the existing fortifications on its newly acquired territory between Lake Scutari and the coast. These include Fort Sutorman, the five Kulas blockhouses, Labia, Vijet, Crni, Kamen, Skalica, Selim Bey, Fort Volovizza, and finally Antivari. It is obvious that the supervision of the conscientious execution of this condition by Montenegro, which is not very reliable in such matters, is of the utmost importance to our state.”2
Sources
Balkan Academia 