Taken from DibraOn. Translation Petrit Latifi. Photo taken from “FISI KALOSHI”.

Murat Kaloshi. A figure of the Dibra nobility and part of Albanian national history

Murat Kaloshi was born around 1880 in the village of Kandër in Dibra and was one of the most well-known representatives of the Dibra nobility, alongside Miftar Mane Kaloshi. Rich, influential and authoritative in the area, he was noted for his political and military role in the difficult years after the Independence of Albania.

In the period 1918–1921, Murat Kaloshi participated with arms in hand in the confrontations against Serbian and Montenegrin forces that threatened Albanian lands in the north. He was engaged in the battles of Lana-Lura and in clashes in the northern areas of the country, leading volunteer forces under his command.

A staunch supporter of Ahmet Zog, Murat Kaloshi was part of the forces that accompanied him to Tirana in December 1924, during his return to power. During the Zog regime, he held the rank of reserve major and was also involved in social and educational issues, including supporting the opening of the boarding school in Kastriot.

After the Italian invasion of Albania in April 1939, Murat Kaloshi left the country together with Ahmet Zog, first to Greece and then to Turkey. According to local historical sources, he died in exile, far from his homeland, while the exact date and place of death are not documented in written sources to date.

Throughout his life, he remained anti-communist and anti-Serbian. He temporarily joined the National Liberation Front, but withdrew from active political and military activity when the Front was dominated by the Communist Party.

In 1992, for his contribution to the protection of national interests and the Albanian state formation, Murat Kaloshi was decorated with the Order of Freedom, Class II.

The name of Murat Kaloshi remains part of the historical memory of Dibra and of the generation of men who, with weapons and political stance, tried to defend the Albanian state in one of the most turbulent periods of our history.