Mehmet Beci (born 1830 in Ulqin – died 1907 in Shkodra ) was an activist of the Ulqin branch of the League of Prizren and co-leader of the Albanian volunteer forces during the defense of Ulqin in 1880.
On June 30, 1880, he was a representative of the Ulqin branch at the Central Council Meeting of the League of Prizren in Rakoc, Gjakova , where the decision was made to defend Ulcinj. In November 1880, he fought as commander of the Albanian volunteer forces against the Ottoman army in the defense of this city during the Ulqin War.
After Dervish Pasha’s troops crushed the armed resistance of the Albanians and handed Ulqin over to Montenegro, Mehmet Beci went into exile in Shkodra , where he continued to participate in the political events of the time until his death in 1907.
The people also sang about his role during the war, dedicating two verses to him:
“Hajde, hajde o Mehmet Bec, Nepi gajret, o kti milet!”
In Ulqin, a street is named after Mehmet Beci.
References
Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar, Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë – Tiranë, 1985, p. 81
Ulqini në dritaret e kohës – Monografi: Ruzhdi Ushaku, Jusuf Lika, Ulqin 2006.
