The Congress of Elbasan (Albanian: Kongresi i Elbasanit), also known between Albanians as the Congress of the Albanian schools (Kongresi i shkollave shqipe), was held from 2 to 8 September 1909 in Elbasan, today's Albania, back then part of the Vilayet of Monastir of the Ottoman Empire. The congress, sponsored by the local Bashkimi literary club, was attended by 35 delegates from central and southern Albania.[1]
The congress paved the way for secular education in the Albanian inhabited territories, it set the task of preparing educational staff, organized schools and provided funds for their maintenance, set the rules of school management with principals and elders and united all Albanians regardless of religion and province.
The congress aimed to address issues linked to culture and education. The delegates came to a decision that the Manastir club had to introduce the Albanian language in all schools in Albania. The Congress of Manastir had chosen the Latin script as the one to be used to write the language. In addition, the delegates decided to request all the Albanian journalists and publicists to use only the dialect of Elbasan. A very important result of the congress was the establishment of a school for teachers, known as Shkolla Normale e Elbasanit. The school was decided to be in Elbasan as well, and started with six classes on December 1, 1909.[2]
In 1908, an alphabet congress in Manastir agreed to adopt a Latin character-based Albanian alphabet and the move was considered an important step for Albanian unification.[3][4][5][6] Some conservative Albanian Muslims and clerics opposed the Latin alphabet and preferred an Arabic-based Albanian one because they were concerned that the former undermined ties with the Muslim world.[3][4][5] For the Ottoman government the situation was alarming because the Albanians were the largest Muslim community in the European part of the empire (Istanbul excluded). The Albanian national movement was a proof that not only Christians had national feelings and Islam could not keep Ottoman Muslims united. In this circumstances the Ottoman state led by the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) organised a congress in Debar in 1909 with the intention that Albanians there declare themselves as Ottomans, promise to defend its territorial sovereignty and adopt an Albanian Arabic character script.[6] However they faced a strong opposition from nationally minded Albanians and the Albanian element took total control of the proceedings.[3] While the congress was on progress people of the CUP in Tirane orchestrated a demonstration aimed at Latin alphabet and the local branch of Bashkimi club, the organizer of the Manastir congress. Talat Bey, the interior minister, claimed that the Albanian population supported use of the Turkish alphabet and stayed against the Latin one. However the Bashkimi club did not stop the activity and organized a congress with 120 attendees in Elbasan.[5]
Delegates
The main organizer of congress was the prominent patriot Lef Nosi. Different patriotic clubs authorized delegates to represent them. There were altogether 35 delegates from all over settlements with Albanian population who represented 8 clubs. The Bashkimi club had branches in sixteen settlements, the Vllazënia club in three, while the other six clubs in one each. Some delegates represented more than one club or branch. Midhat Frashëri represented five branches of Bashkimi and one of Vllazenia, while Osman Joraja represented three branches of Bashkimi and one of Vllazenia.[7][8] The delegates were Abdullah Bej Koprencka (Pellazg branch in Skrapar), Abdullah Reshidi (Bashkimi branch in Struga), Abdurrahim Kavaja (Vllazenia branch in Kocanë), Ahmet Dakli (Bashkimi branch in Struga), Andrea Ikonomi (Drita branch in Gjirokastër), Dervish Beu (Vllazenia branch in Elbasan), Nikolle Kacorri (Durrës), Emin Haxhi (Bashkimi branch in Elbasan), Grigor M. Cilka (American Mission branch in Korce), Gjergj Qiriazi (Bashkimi branch in Manastir), Hafiz Ibrahimi (Bashkimi branch in Tirane), Hamdi Beu (Bashkimi branch in Ohrid), Haxhi Bajram Beu (Bashkimi branch in Permet and Bashkimi branch in Leskovik), Idhomene Kosturi (Dituria branch in Korce), Irfan Beu (Bashkimi branch in Ohrid), Jahja Efendiu (Durrës), Josif Haxhi Mima (Aferdita branch in Elbasan), Kahreman Beu (Bashkimi branch in Berat), Kristaq Dako (American Mission branch in Tirane), Mihal Gjuraskovici (Durrës), Midhat Frashëri (Vllazenia branch in Filiates and Bashkimi branches in Thessaloniki, Skopje, Ioannina, Jenije-Vardar, Karaferia), Orhan Beu (Dituria branch in Korce and Bashkimi branch in Frasher), Osman Joraja (Vllazenia branch in Filiates, Bashkimi branches in Thessaloniki, Jenije Vardar, Karaferia), Qemal Beu (Bashkimi branch in Berat), Refik Beu (Bashkimi branch in Tirane), Sabri Beu (Bashkimi branch in Peqin), Selman Blloshmi (Bashkimi branch in Starove), Sevasti Qiriazi (American Mission branch in Korce), Simon Shuteriqi (Aferdita branch in Elbasan), Sulejman Leka (Bashkimi branch in Starove), Taqi Buda (Bashkimi branch in Elbasan), Teki Bej Reshiti (Bashkimi branches in Permet and Leskovik), Telha Beu (Bashkimi branch in Gramsh), Thoma Papapano (Drita branch in Gjirokastër), Xhemil Feza (Vllazenia branch in Elbasan).[9]
Afterwards
The opposition from the pro-Turkish fractions would continue, encouraged by the authorities.[3] In a February 6, 1910 open meeting in Monastir, organized by Rexhep Voka and Arif Hikmet, it was demanded the introduction of an Arabic-scripts based alphabet for the Muslim population. Similar meetings were organized in the cities of Elbasan and Ohrid soon after. The Albanian nationalists responded with the organization of another meeting on 27 February at Shën Ilia near Korçë in support of the Latin-script alphabet. The meeting would be known later in the Albanian historiography as the "Albanian alphabet meeting". At the point, it was decided that another follow up congress should be held in order to bring a final end to the oppositions affirming the decisions of the first congress.[9]
congress, elbasan, albanian, kongresi, elbasanit, also, known, between, albanians, congress, albanian, schools, kongresi, shkollave, shqipe, held, from, september, 1909, elbasan, today, albania, back, then, part, vilayet, monastir, ottoman, empire, congress, s. The Congress of Elbasan Albanian Kongresi i Elbasanit also known between Albanians as the Congress of the Albanian schools Kongresi i shkollave shqipe was held from 2 to 8 September 1909 in Elbasan today s Albania back then part of the Vilayet of Monastir of the Ottoman Empire The congress sponsored by the local Bashkimi literary club was attended by 35 delegates from central and southern Albania 1 Congress of ElbasanGroup photo of the participant at the congressNative nameKongresi i ElbasanitDateSeptember 2 8 1909 1909 09 02 1909 09 08 VenueGodina historike e Shkolles se KalaseLocationElbasan Ottoman AlbaniaAlso known asCongress of the Albanian schoolsCauseTo address issues linked to culture and educationOrganised byLef NosiOutcomeThe congress paved the way for secular education in the Albanian inhabited territories it set the task of preparing educational staff organized schools and provided funds for their maintenance set the rules of school management with principals and elders and united all Albanians regardless of religion and province The congress aimed to address issues linked to culture and education The delegates came to a decision that the Manastir club had to introduce the Albanian language in all schools in Albania The Congress of Manastir had chosen the Latin script as the one to be used to write the language In addition the delegates decided to request all the Albanian journalists and publicists to use only the dialect of Elbasan A very important result of the congress was the establishment of a school for teachers known as Shkolla Normale e Elbasanit The school was decided to be in Elbasan as well and started with six classes on December 1 1909 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Delegates 3 Afterwards 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 SourcesBackground Edit The building where Congress of Elbasan was held In 1908 an alphabet congress in Manastir agreed to adopt a Latin character based Albanian alphabet and the move was considered an important step for Albanian unification 3 4 5 6 Some conservative Albanian Muslims and clerics opposed the Latin alphabet and preferred an Arabic based Albanian one because they were concerned that the former undermined ties with the Muslim world 3 4 5 For the Ottoman government the situation was alarming because the Albanians were the largest Muslim community in the European part of the empire Istanbul excluded The Albanian national movement was a proof that not only Christians had national feelings and Islam could not keep Ottoman Muslims united In this circumstances the Ottoman state led by the Committee of Union and Progress CUP organised a congress in Debar in 1909 with the intention that Albanians there declare themselves as Ottomans promise to defend its territorial sovereignty and adopt an Albanian Arabic character script 6 However they faced a strong opposition from nationally minded Albanians and the Albanian element took total control of the proceedings 3 While the congress was on progress people of the CUP in Tirane orchestrated a demonstration aimed at Latin alphabet and the local branch of Bashkimi club the organizer of the Manastir congress Talat Bey the interior minister claimed that the Albanian population supported use of the Turkish alphabet and stayed against the Latin one However the Bashkimi club did not stop the activity and organized a congress with 120 attendees in Elbasan 5 Delegates EditThe main organizer of congress was the prominent patriot Lef Nosi Different patriotic clubs authorized delegates to represent them There were altogether 35 delegates from all over settlements with Albanian population who represented 8 clubs The Bashkimi club had branches in sixteen settlements the Vllazenia club in three while the other six clubs in one each Some delegates represented more than one club or branch Midhat Frasheri represented five branches of Bashkimi and one of Vllazenia while Osman Joraja represented three branches of Bashkimi and one of Vllazenia 7 8 The delegates were Abdullah Bej Koprencka Pellazg branch in Skrapar Abdullah Reshidi Bashkimi branch in Struga Abdurrahim Kavaja Vllazenia branch in Kocane Ahmet Dakli Bashkimi branch in Struga Andrea Ikonomi Drita branch in Gjirokaster Dervish Beu Vllazenia branch in Elbasan Nikolle Kacorri Durres Emin Haxhi Bashkimi branch in Elbasan Grigor M Cilka American Mission branch in Korce Gjergj Qiriazi Bashkimi branch in Manastir Hafiz Ibrahimi Bashkimi branch in Tirane Hamdi Beu Bashkimi branch in Ohrid Haxhi Bajram Beu Bashkimi branch in Permet and Bashkimi branch in Leskovik Idhomene Kosturi Dituria branch in Korce Irfan Beu Bashkimi branch in Ohrid Jahja Efendiu Durres Josif Haxhi Mima Aferdita branch in Elbasan Kahreman Beu Bashkimi branch in Berat Kristaq Dako American Mission branch in Tirane Mihal Gjuraskovici Durres Midhat Frasheri Vllazenia branch in Filiates and Bashkimi branches in Thessaloniki Skopje Ioannina Jenije Vardar Karaferia Orhan Beu Dituria branch in Korce and Bashkimi branch in Frasher Osman Joraja Vllazenia branch in Filiates Bashkimi branches in Thessaloniki Jenije Vardar Karaferia Qemal Beu Bashkimi branch in Berat Refik Beu Bashkimi branch in Tirane Sabri Beu Bashkimi branch in Peqin Selman Blloshmi Bashkimi branch in Starove Sevasti Qiriazi American Mission branch in Korce Simon Shuteriqi Aferdita branch in Elbasan Sulejman Leka Bashkimi branch in Starove Taqi Buda Bashkimi branch in Elbasan Teki Bej Reshiti Bashkimi branches in Permet and Leskovik Telha Beu Bashkimi branch in Gramsh Thoma Papapano Drita branch in Gjirokaster Xhemil Feza Vllazenia branch in Elbasan 9 Afterwards EditThe opposition from the pro Turkish fractions would continue encouraged by the authorities 3 In a February 6 1910 open meeting in Monastir organized by Rexhep Voka and Arif Hikmet it was demanded the introduction of an Arabic scripts based alphabet for the Muslim population Similar meetings were organized in the cities of Elbasan and Ohrid soon after The Albanian nationalists responded with the organization of another meeting on 27 February at Shen Ilia near Korce in support of the Latin script alphabet The meeting would be known later in the Albanian historiography as the Albanian alphabet meeting At the point it was decided that another follow up congress should be held in order to bring a final end to the oppositions affirming the decisions of the first congress 9 See also EditAlbanian National Awakening Albanian nationalism Congress of Diber Second Congress of ManastirReferences EditCitations Edit Vickers 1999 p 60 Skendi 2015 p 382 a b c d Skendi 2015 pp 370 378 a b Duijzings 2000 p 163 a b c Gawrych 2006 pp 180 182 a b Nezir Akmese 2005 pp 96 Demiraj 1968 p 53 Pollo 1983 pp 432 434 a b Lloshi 2008 pp 61 66 Sources Edit Demiraj Shaban 1968 Kongresi i Manastirit ngjarje me rendesi ne levizien kombetare Shqiptare me rastin e 60 vjetorit te tij Duijzings Gerlachlus 2000 Religion and the politics of identity in Kosovo London Hurst amp Company ISBN 9781850654315 Gawrych George 2006 The Crescent and the Eagle Ottoman rule Islam and the Albanians 1874 1913 London IB Tauris ISBN 9781845112875 Lloshi Xhevat 2008 Rreth alfabetit te shqipes me rastin e 100 vjetorit te Kongresit te Manastirit ISBN 9789989582684 Nezir Akmese Handan 2005 The Birth of Modern Turkey The Ottoman Military and the March to WWI IB Tauris ISBN 9781850437970 Pollo Stefanaq 1983 Historia e Shqiperise Vitet 30 te shek XIX 1912 Skendi Stavro 8 December 2015 1967 The Albanian National Awakening ISBN 978 1 4008 4776 1 Vickers Miranda 1999 The Albanians A Modern History ISBN 978 1 86064 541 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Congress of Elbasan amp oldid 1134483323, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
