Baca Kurti

Baca Kurti Gjokaj^[a] (c. 1807–1881) was an Albanian nationalist leader who participated in the Battle of Ržanicë against the Principality of Montenegro.

Baca Kurti
Born	Baca Kurti Gjokaj ca. 1807 Fundina, Ottoman Empire (present-day Montenegro)
Died	1881 Milesh, Ottoman Empire, (present-day Montenegro)
Cause of death	Poisoned
Resting place	Saint Michel's graveyard Dinoša, Montenegro
Education	None
Occupation	Clan chief
Organization	League of Prizren
Title	Chief of the Gruda clan

Life

Baca was born around 1807 in the village of Milješ (Milesh) in the Gruda tribal region[1] near the town of Tuzi, to an Albanian highlander (Malësor) family. In 1856, he became voivode of Gruda after putting down a band of rebels in Fundna. He also killed the brother of Marko Miljanov that year.[2]

He was one of 15 Ottoman delegates from northern Albania sent during the talks of the Congress of Berlin (13 June–13 July 1878).[3] Apart from three guards from Mirditë, of the Catholic delegates included chiefs Çun Mula from Hoti, Baca Kurti from Gruda, Marash Dashi from Shkreli, Cil Vuksani from Kastrati, Mark Lula from Shala, Mark Kola from Shosha and Con Geda from Shllaku.[3]

He joined the Albanian nationalist League of Prizren after the decision of the Congress of Berlin to hand over the Albanian-inhabited regions of Hoti, Gruda, Plav, Gusinje, Kastrati, etc. to the Principality of Montenegro.[1] When Prince Nicholas I of Montenegro entered the territory which had been ceded to him by the Congress of Berlin, Baca Kurti and other chiefs of Malësia organized a resistance against Montenegro.[1] The northern Albanian highlanders defeated the Montenegrins in the Battle of Ržanica.[1] He was distinguished as one of the best commanders of Çun Mula during the battle.

Vëllazën, anmiku po na mësyen! Kush don me dekë sot për vend të vet dhe për nder të armëve të veta, të vinë pas meje!
("Brothers, the enemy is coming after us! whoever wants to die today for their own country and for the honor of their armor, shall follow me")

— Baca Kurti, during the Battle of Ržanica

He mobilized not only the members of his clan, but also the members of other towns of Malësia, to fight against the Montenegrin army and to have the Montenegrins leave Albanian territory: all males from 7 to 70 years old, united, forced the Montenegrin forces to retire. Today he is known to Albanians worldwide as many songs and poems were created in his honor.[1]

Annotations

1. ^
   His full name was Baca Kurt Gjeka or Gjokaj.[1] In Serbian, his name is spelled Baca-Kurti (Баца-Курти),[3] and Baca Kurta (Баца Курта).[4]

References

1. Gjonaj, Gjekë. "Baca Kurti - krenaria e Malësisë". Buzuku.
2. The Tribes of Albania;HIstory, Culture, Society. Robert Elsie. 2015. p. 45.
3. Istorijski zapisi. 31. Istorijski institut SR Crne Gore c. 1978. p. 54. Од укупно 15 делегата из северне Албаније, од католика, поред тројице заптија из Мирдитије, треба поменути барјактаре: Чул-Мула из Хота, Баца-Курти из Груда, Мараш-Даши из Шкреља, Ђил (тако!) Вуксани из Кастрата, Марк-Љуља из Шаље, Марк-Коља из Шоше и Ђон-Геда, војводу из Шљаку.43 Седмог јула вратили су се у Скадар депутата Скадра и бр- ђана из Призрена. Телал је објавио општи састанак на управо ...
4. Crnogorske anegdote: Antologija. Grafički zavod. 1967. p. 162. БАЦО КУРТА Во]воду Баца Курта, из Милеша, из Груде, у неко] препирци удари по образу ]едан Подгори- чанин. Шамар ]е код Арбанаса неопростива увре- да. Због удара шамаром међу њима ]е било много л>удских жртава.

Further reading

• Musa Kraja (1996). Baca Kurti dhe mbrojtja e Grudës. Shtëpia Botuese e Lidhjes së Shkrimtarëve.