Salë Demir Alia was born in Mustafë of Lower Dibra in 1798. He was the son of Demir Alia and grandson of Bib Alia, a family of origin from Kastrati of Shkodra, which had long been settled in Dibra.
He became known during the period of the disintegration of the feudal-military system of the Ottoman Empire. Together with Salë Marku, he managed to obtain the rank of martolobashi, distinguishing himself as one of the most capable leaders of the region.
Salë Demir Alia had under his command over 700 armed men. He was entrusted with a vast territory that stretched from Luma – Qafa e Skërtecit all the way to Marovë.
Fighting the Ottomans
In the defense of these lands, he stood out for his determination and loyalty. Before even turning 35, he distinguished himself as a warrior and leader of the highlanders of Çidhna. He is considered one of the first men from Dibra to raise arms against the Ottoman troops led by Hajredin Pasha, in Marovë, on 22 September 1844. Together with Murat Balla, he succeeded in freeing around 200 young men from Dibra, whom the Ottoman authorities had mobilized and sent toward Thessaloniki.
After this action, Salë Demir Alia withdrew to Gjorica and from there ascended to the fortress where representatives of the Nine Mountains had gathered to decide on their stance regarding the created situation.
This assembly included well-known figures such as Cen Leka, Sheh Mustafa of Zerqan, Salë Markja, Dalip Karaj, Nel Hoxha, Elez Murrja, Xhafer Kaloshi, Llan Kaloshi, Sali Nikolli, Rahman Dema, Aziz Dema, Mustafa Lleshi, Rushit Cani, Osman Musa, Mahmut Toçi, and Kalosh Hasi.
In the confrontation with the forces of Hajredin Pasha, the men of Dibra emerged victorious, inflicting a heavy blow on the Ottoman Empire. This victory was immortalized even in folk songs:
“Who made nine hundred graves?
Salë Demiri and Sheh Zerqani!”
Defending Albanian lands from the Montenegrins
The battle against Hajredin Pasha was neither the first nor the last for Salë Demir Alia. He continued to fight in defense of Albanian lands also in the years 1853 and 1862 against Montenegrin forces, as well as in 1855 against the vizier Hysni Pasha.
In the second half of the 19th century, he emerged as one of the most powerful leaders of Dibra. In 1853, he went beyond the borders of the region, leading around 1,000 men from Dibra in the defense of Tivari against the Montenegrin army. Likewise, in 1862, he marched again toward Podgorica at the head of 700 volunteers to halt Montenegrin expansion over Albanian territories.
Salë Demir Alia was part of the well-known house of Bib Alia, from which other important figures for the national cause also emerged. Among them is mentioned his son, Met Alia, who participated at the head of 300 volunteers from Dibra in the League of Prizren in 1878, as well as in the Assembly of Dibra in 1899.
(Referenced to the historian Moisi Murra)
