The Battle of Deçiq (Albanian: Beteja e Deçiqit; Montenegrin: Bitka kod Dušića) was a battle between Albanian tribesmen and Ottoman forces during the Malësori uprising of 1911. It was a turning point for Albania's secession from the Ottoman Empire.[4]Dedë Gjo Luli, the organiser of the Albanian tribal forces, raised the Albanian flag for the first time since 1479 on the mountain of Deçiq after the Albanians had achieved victory over the Ottoman Turks.[5]
The battle took place in Deçiq, south of the town of Tuzi (in modern-day Montenegro), within Gruda tribal territory. Tuzi is the town center of the Malësia region in Montenegro, whereas the town center of Malësia E Madhe is Koplik. Malësia is simply translated to "The Highlands", referring to the rough mountainous terrain that characterizes the region. Malësia has primarily Roman Catholic faith, although it has a sizeable Muslim population (including Koplik itself). The tribesman of Malësia is known as Malësor, meaning Highlander.
The battle occurred during the Albanian Uprising of 1911, in which the Malësor tribes undertook multiple successful military actions against the Ottoman empire. During the first days of April, there was fighting around Dinosh-Deçiq. Reports at the time indicated that this force consisted of around 2,500 Malësor Albanian tribesmen, of which 900 belonged to the Gruda, 600 to the Kelmendi, 400 to the Hoti, 250 to the Shala, a small number to the Shkreli tribe and unknown numbers from Kastrati, Triepshi and Koja e Kuçit. The Ottomans had initiated the offensive, burning Vuksan Lekaj and attacking Humi, Deçiq, Tuzi, etc. The Hoti tribesmen in Helm managed to hold off the Ottomans, killing 25 soldiers, wounding roughly the same, and capturing 20 Ottoman Turks.[6]
The Battle
The main portion of the battle took place between Tuzi and Koplik (in modern-day Albania), whereby 3,000-3,300 Malësors fought against 28,000 Ottoman soldiers.[7][8][9]Koplik is the largest town in Malësia, right across the border with Montenegro is Tuzi. As the fighting proceeded, both armies decided to move north into Tuzi, where the battle ended.
The Ottomans had initially attacked Deçiq, which was protected by 600 Albanian tribesmen, with 6 battalions, 2 artillery units, and 9 machine guns. After 12 hours of battle, and 300 casualties on the Ottoman side, the Turks retreated to the castle of Shipshanik.[10]
On the 6th of April, Dedë Gjo Luli raised the Albanian flag on the summit of Bratila in Deçiq.[11] During this offensive, the Ottomans lost around 30 soldiers, whereas the Albanian tribesmen lost 7, one of which was the flagbearer Nish Gjelosh Luli. When raising the flag, Ded Gjo Luli said "Now, brothers, you will see that which no one has seen in 450 years...".[12] This was the first time Albanians raised their Flag since the Castle of Shkodër had fallen in 1479. About a year and a half later, with the help of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Albanian Flag was officially raised in the southern town of Vlora, Albania.[13]
The Hoti and Gruda tribes continued their offensives in Dinosh on 7-8 April, resulting in the recapture of positions lost during the first days of April. On the 13th of April, the combined efforts of Kelmendi, Shala, and Shkreli tribesmen in coordination with Hoti, Gruda, and Kastrati tribesmen led to the successful conquest of strategic positions in Deçiq and close to Tuzi. An Austro-Hungarian military report at the time claimed that the Albanian tribesmen had attacked Tuzi and the hills to the east, which were called Mali i Hotit (Mountains of Hoti).[14]
Outcome
In 1913, at the Treaty of London, the powers of Europe decided to grant approximately half of Malësia to Montenegro while the rest were ceded to Albania. Tuzi, along with half of the Hoti (Traboini) tribal territory, all of Gruda, Triesh, and Koja e Kuçit went to Montenegro. Kelmendi, the other half of Hoti (Rapsha), Kastrati, Shkreli, and the town of Koplik remained in Albania, but certain parts of Kelmendi such as Vuthaj, Martinaj, Plav and Guci, went to Montenegro. Most of Kosovo was annexed to Serbia, with parts of the region of Metohija being ceded to Montenegro
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Battle of Deciq news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s notability guideline for events Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Battle of Deciq news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The Battle of Deciq Albanian Beteja e Deciqit Montenegrin Bitka kod Dusica was a battle between Albanian tribesmen and Ottoman forces during the Malesori uprising of 1911 It was a turning point for Albania s secession from the Ottoman Empire 4 Dede Gjo Luli the organiser of the Albanian tribal forces raised the Albanian flag for the first time since 1479 on the mountain of Deciq after the Albanians had achieved victory over the Ottoman Turks 5 Battle of DeciqPart of Albanian Revolt of 1911Date6 April 1911LocationDeciq Dusici near Tuzi Ottoman Empire now Montenegro Coordinates 42 20 42 N 19 18 21 E 42 34500 N 19 30583 E 42 34500 19 30583ResultAlbanian victoryBelligerentsNorthern Albanian Malesor tribes Ottoman EmpireCommanders and leadersDed Gjo Luli Sokol Baci Pretash Zeka Ulaj Luc Mark Gjeloshi Marash PaliShefqet Turgut PashaUnits involvedAlbanian TribesmenOttoman ArmyStrength3 000 1 3 300 2 28 000 3 Contents 1 Location and Background 2 The Battle 3 Outcome 4 Notable warriors 5 References 6 Further readingLocation and Background EditThe battle took place in Deciq south of the town of Tuzi in modern day Montenegro within Gruda tribal territory Tuzi is the town center of the Malesia region in Montenegro whereas the town center of Malesia E Madhe is Koplik Malesia is simply translated to The Highlands referring to the rough mountainous terrain that characterizes the region Malesia has primarily Roman Catholic faith although it has a sizeable Muslim population including Koplik itself The tribesman of Malesia is known as Malesor meaning Highlander The battle occurred during the Albanian Uprising of 1911 in which the Malesor tribes undertook multiple successful military actions against the Ottoman empire During the first days of April there was fighting around Dinosh Deciq Reports at the time indicated that this force consisted of around 2 500 Malesor Albanian tribesmen of which 900 belonged to the Gruda 600 to the Kelmendi 400 to the Hoti 250 to the Shala a small number to the Shkreli tribe and unknown numbers from Kastrati Triepshi and Koja e Kucit The Ottomans had initiated the offensive burning Vuksan Lekaj and attacking Humi Deciq Tuzi etc The Hoti tribesmen in Helm managed to hold off the Ottomans killing 25 soldiers wounding roughly the same and capturing 20 Ottoman Turks 6 The Battle EditThe main portion of the battle took place between Tuzi and Koplik in modern day Albania whereby 3 000 3 300 Malesors fought against 28 000 Ottoman soldiers 7 8 9 Koplik is the largest town in Malesia right across the border with Montenegro is Tuzi As the fighting proceeded both armies decided to move north into Tuzi where the battle ended The Ottomans had initially attacked Deciq which was protected by 600 Albanian tribesmen with 6 battalions 2 artillery units and 9 machine guns After 12 hours of battle and 300 casualties on the Ottoman side the Turks retreated to the castle of Shipshanik 10 On the 6th of April Dede Gjo Luli raised the Albanian flag on the summit of Bratila in Deciq 11 During this offensive the Ottomans lost around 30 soldiers whereas the Albanian tribesmen lost 7 one of which was the flagbearer Nish Gjelosh Luli When raising the flag Ded Gjo Luli said Now brothers you will see that which no one has seen in 450 years 12 This was the first time Albanians raised their Flag since the Castle of Shkoder had fallen in 1479 About a year and a half later with the help of the Austro Hungarian Empire the Albanian Flag was officially raised in the southern town of Vlora Albania 13 The Hoti and Gruda tribes continued their offensives in Dinosh on 7 8 April resulting in the recapture of positions lost during the first days of April On the 13th of April the combined efforts of Kelmendi Shala and Shkreli tribesmen in coordination with Hoti Gruda and Kastrati tribesmen led to the successful conquest of strategic positions in Deciq and close to Tuzi An Austro Hungarian military report at the time claimed that the Albanian tribesmen had attacked Tuzi and the hills to the east which were called Mali i Hotit Mountains of Hoti 14 Outcome EditIn 1913 at the Treaty of London the powers of Europe decided to grant approximately half of Malesia to Montenegro while the rest were ceded to Albania Tuzi along with half of the Hoti Traboini tribal territory all of Gruda Triesh and Koja e Kucit went to Montenegro Kelmendi the other half of Hoti Rapsha Kastrati Shkreli and the town of Koplik remained in Albania but certain parts of Kelmendi such as Vuthaj Martinaj Plav and Guci went to Montenegro Most of Kosovo was annexed to Serbia with parts of the region of Metohija being ceded to MontenegroNotable warriors EditDed Gjo Luli Dedvukaj of Traboin Sokol Baci of Gruda Palok Marku Lulgjuraj of Gruda Zef miliqi Lulgjuraj of Selishti Prel Marku Lulgjuraj of Lofka Pretash Zeka Ulaj of Koja Prek Cali of Kelmend Dok Preci Krcaj of Koja Gjeto Toma Kolcaj of Koja Mehmet Shpendi of Shala Tringe Smajl Martini of Gruda Palok Traboini 1888 1951 Secretary of Ded Gjo Lul teacher and owner of the Albanian Flag of Deciq which he brought from Vienna through Dalmatia References Edit Krasniqi Kole 2019 Islamist Extremism in Kosovo and the Countries of the Region Springer p 13 ISBN 9783030185695 Authors Multiple 2013 Imperial Wars 1815 1914 London ISBN 9781782741251 Krasniqi Kole 2019 Islamist Extremism in Kosovo and the Countries of the Region Springer p 13 ISBN 9783030185695 Nikprelaj Gjergj 5 January 2006 DEDE GJO LULI MBROJTESI FISNIK I TROJEVE SHQIPTARE in Albanian Koha Jone Retrieved 20 September 2010 Elsie Robert 2015 The tribes of Albania history society and culture London Bloomsbury Publishing p 57 ISBN 9780857725868 Verli Marenglen 2014 Roli I Hotit ne Kryengritjen e Malesise se Madhe Studime Historike 1 2 53 66 Krasniqi Kole 2019 Islamist Extremism in Kosovo and the Countries of the Region Springer p 13 ISBN 9783030185695 Authors Multiple 2013 Imperial Wars 1815 1914 London ISBN 9781782741251 Albanian Revolt Turkish Activity The Advertiser 31 March 1911 Retrieved 20 July 2022 via Trove Shpuza Gazmend 1999 Ne prag te pavaresise Eagle Press p 113 ISBN 9781891654046 Pepa Pjeter 2003 The Criminal File of Albania s Communist Dictator Uegen p 320 ISBN 9789992754276 Verli Marenglen 2014 Roli I Hotit ne Kryengritjen e Malesise se Madhe Studime Historike 1 2 53 66 Montenegro Mali I Zi Malsi Albanian Studies Retrieved 20 July 2022 Verli Marenglen 2014 Roli i Hotit ne Kryengritjen e Malesise se Madhe Studime Historike 1 2 53 66 Further reading EditMartini Luigj 2005 Prek Cali Kelmendi Dhe Kelmendasit ISBN 9994334077 Publisher Camaj Pipaj Tallon James The failure of Ottomanism The Albanian Rebellions of 1909 1912 url http gradworks umi com 35 26 3526980 html Retrieved from https en 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