Abstract

Giorgio Bozzari (Gjergj Boçari)(c. 18th–19th century) was an Albanian Suliot leader who lived duing the Ottoman-Epirote conflicts of the early 1800s. Initially a distinguished polemarch of the Suliots, Boçari’s dissatisfaction with his displacement led him to ally with Ali Pasha of Janina, promising personal advancement at the expense of his compatriots. His negotiations facilitated temporary Ottoman control over Suli, yet provoked heroic resistance from local leaders such as Foto Zavella, Samuele, and Caida Zavella. Boçari’s actions, often described as perfidious, ultimately tarnished his reputation among the Suliots, even as he maintained authority within his tribe and manipulated family allegiances to protect his kin. His life reflects a theme of dissent, treachery, and the resilience of the Suliot community amid Ottoman pressure (Pouqueville, 1826; Lucchi, 1840; Botta, 1820).

Giorgio Bozzari and the Suliot struggle

Giorgio Bozzari emerges in historical accounts as a controversial figure in the history of the Suliots, a fiercely independent Christian community in Epirus, during the late Ottoman period. Originally serving as polemarch (military commander) of the Suliots, Bozzari was displaced in favor of his cousin Cizzo Bozzari. Feeling aggrieved by this loss of authority, he defected to the service of Ali Pasha of Ioannina, who promised him the position of toparch over the Selleide in exchange for undermining his former allies (Pouqueville, 1826, pp. 203–205).

In 1802, tensions escalated as Ali Pasha prepared to subjugate Suli, gathering a force of 12,000 men against a Suliot contingent of only 1,500 warriors, organized into thirty-one tribes. Despite being outnumbered, the Suliots, led by Cizzo da Mosco da Foto Zavella, exhibited extraordinary valor, delaying Ali’s forces and inflicting significant casualties.

When direct assault failed, Ali employed treachery, sending Bozzari as his plenipotentiary to the Suliots to negotiate a peace favoring Ottoman interests. The terms included recognition of Bozzari as polemarch, the construction of a fortified castle under his command, and the exile of Foto Zavella (Lucchi, 1840, pp. 14–15; Pouqueville, 1826). Bozzari successfully persuaded some factions to accept these terms, but prominent leaders like Samuele, Caida Zavella, and Foto resisted, continuing the armed struggle (Pouqueville, 1826; Botta, 1820, pp. 452–453).

The defection of Bozzari was seen by the Suliots as a betrayal of their collective honor. Historical accounts emphasize that, despite his age and prior reputation, Bozzari prioritized personal gain over communal loyalty. He even safeguarded his extended family by relocating them under Ottoman protection, justifying his actions as prudent rather than treasonous (Pouqueville, 1826; Lucchi, 1840, pp. 14–15).

Nevertheless, the wider Suliot community condemned his conduct, drawing comparisons to ancient examples of civic duty and heroism, and contrasting Bozzari with figures like Foto Zavella and his wife Despo Bozzari, who defended Suli through courage and sacrifice, at times dying heroically rather than submitting (Pouqueville, 1826, pp. 350–352).

Bozzari’s career illustrates the intersection of personal ambition and political intrigue within the Ottoman frontier. While he retained influence over his own tribe and engaged in profitable dealings with Ali Pasha, his reputation among the Suliots remained deeply tarnished. His life underscores the fragile nature of loyalty and authority in a period when Ottoman power, Albanian martial traditions, and local resistance intertwined in complex and often tragic ways (Pouqueville, 1826; Lucchi, 1840; Botta, 1820).

Sources

1. Pouqueville, F. C. (1826). Il Lucifero: Giornale scientifico-letterario. Florence: Zavella. pp. 203–205, 350–352. Google Books
2. Lucchi, L. (1840). Gli Albanesi d’Italia. Florence: [Publisher unknown]. pp. 14–15. Google Books
3. Botta, C. (1820). Resoconto sulla amministrazione della Grecia e delle guerre dei Sulliotti. Naples: [Publisher unknown]. pp. 452–453. Google Books