Cited from various European newspaper articles from the 19th century. Here, we can read of a Montenegrin raid on the Turkish (Albanian) village of Vitalizza (Vitalica/Vitalitza), somewhere near the region of Čevo and Zabljak (Zhablak).
“In May 1852, a band of about 300 Montenegrins from Chewo attacked the Turkish village of Vitalizza, pillaged it, and carried off all the livestock into the mountains. Another band, bursting into the Albanian canton of Zabljak (Zhablak), killed an Arnaut chief. This was the signal for bloody reprisals.
The Divan, then led by the Ottoman party and eager to assert its rights to a constantly contested sovereignty, launched an expedition against Montenegro. At the beginning of 1853, 56,000 troops of the Nizam and Albanian Bashi-bazouks under the command of Omer Pasha crossed the border.
On January 19, the village of Grahovo was taken by Ottoman troops; the house of the wujido Jacob Wujatitch (Vujacic) was burned, and he himself was taken captive along with forty of his principal supporters. It was in vain that Omer Pasha, through his proclamation of January 23, attempted all means to pacify the country. Hostilities continued; an Ottoman fleet blockaded the Albanian coast, and Selim Bey attacked Antivari with 4,000 men.”
Source: L’ illustration. journal universel. Volume 25. 1855. p.87
“In 1846, when Prince Peter embarked on a journey to Europe, the Turks incited the population of the Piperi district against him. After a long and bloody struggle fueled by the rivalry of the Koprivizza and Merkowitch families—a rivalry that led to concentrations of Turkish troops on the border of Montenegro—internal peace was restored, and Prince Peter resumed his rule.
This prince died on October 31, 1851. His nephew, who was to succeed him, was then in Vienna; he returned to the principality and returned to Saint Petersburg where he received investiture from the Tsar. During his absence, and despite the Senate, 300 Montenegrins, departing from Tschwo, attacked the Turkish village of Vitalizza and returned from this expedition bringing with them many herds.”
Source: Exploration revue des conquêtes de la civilisation sur tous les points du globe. Volumes 1–2. 1877
“In May, despite the severe measures taken by the Senate to avoid any disturbance of public order and any violation of borders, 300 Montenegrins departing from Tschewo surprised the Turkish village of Vitalizza, committed several murders, and returned from this raiding expedition carrying numerous herds of livestock.”
Source: Dictionnaire de la conversation et de la lecture inventaire raisonné des notions générales les plus indispensables à tous. Volume by Duckett. 1863.
