Mehmet Shpendi, also known as Sokol Shpendi (c. 1851–1915), a nationalist figure and guerrilla fighter, was one of the leading commanders of the Albanian Revolt of 1910, 1911, 1912 against Ottoman Empire and struggle for liberty against Kingdom of Montenegro in 1915.
Born in the village of Shala Pecaj, Dukagjini, to a family of the Shala tribe, he represented the general uprising of the Malsia Highlands against the Ottoman Empire and the Montenegrin forces. In 1883, in Çezmë in Koplik, Mehmet Shpendi, in the name of Dukagjin, sided with Ded Gjo Luli in order to resist the commission of Xhibalit which was formed in 1856 with the purpose of tricking the Montenegrins. In 1890 Mehmet Shpendi founded the "Shala Djelmnia", an Albanian patriotic organization. In 1910 the forces of Mehmet Shpendi fought the Ottoman general Shevket Turgut Pasha,[1] where 300 Albanian highlanders were involved in the Battle of Agri Pass against the Ottomans. The Ottoman battalions numbered 20 and were supplied with artillery cannons and modern weapons. The Ottomans were frightened by the fierce fighting of the Highlanders and they lost the battle. Shpendi later gathered his Shalë forces, joined the Highlanders of the Hoti tribe with their chieftain Ded Gjo Luli and both refused to pay Ottoman taxes and to give up their weapons.[2] Ottoman forces pursued them and the Highlanders entered Montenegro.[2] In 1911, Ded Gjo Luli and Mehmet Shpendi rose the flag Albanian flag for the first time in 400 years in the victorious battle of Decic.[3] He is regarded as a local hero.[4]
On 28 May 1911, the Highlander tribes organized a meeting at the Bridge of Shala where they decided that all of Dukagjin were to participate in an armed insurrection. The Ottoman government announced for an amnesty for the freedom fighters, seeing the risk of the spreading insurgency. The Foreign minister of the Ottomans sought to meet the leaders of the Highlanders. Ded Gjo Luli and Mehmet Shpendi is said to have told the minister that "We have nothing to speak of. We will speak with you through our barrels." After the defeat of the Ottomans, Shpendi continued to fight the Montenegrin invaders. On 15 July 1915, the Montenegrin general Radomir Vešović invited Mehmet Shpendi to a peace meeting but deceived and murdered him instead.
^ abSkendi, Stavro (1967). The Albanian national awakening. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 408. ISBN9781400847761.
^. prelemilani.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
^Fishta, Gjergj; Elsie, Robert (2005). The Highland Lute. Centre for Albanian Studies (London, England): I.B.Tauris Publishers. p. 460. ISBN1845111184.
mehmet, shpendi, also, known, sokol, shpendi, 1851, 1915, nationalist, figure, guerrilla, fighter, leading, commanders, albanian, revolt, 1910, 1911, 1912, against, ottoman, empire, struggle, liberty, against, kingdom, montenegro, 1915, nickname, ravenbornc, 1. Mehmet Shpendi also known as Sokol Shpendi c 1851 1915 a nationalist figure and guerrilla fighter was one of the leading commanders of the Albanian Revolt of 1910 1911 1912 against Ottoman Empire and struggle for liberty against Kingdom of Montenegro in 1915 Mehmet ShpendiNickname s The RavenBornc 1851Pecaj Shale Scutari Vilayet Ottoman Empire modern day Albania Died25 July 1915AlbaniaCause of deathMurdered by Radomir VesovicAllegianceLeague of PrizrenRankCommanderCommands heldDjelmnia e ShalesBattles warsAlbanian Revolt of 1910 Battle of Agri PassAlbanian Revolt of 1911 Battle of DeciqAlbanian Revolt of 1912Born in the village of Shala Pecaj Dukagjini to a family of the Shala tribe he represented the general uprising of the Malsia Highlands against the Ottoman Empire and the Montenegrin forces In 1883 in Cezme in Koplik Mehmet Shpendi in the name of Dukagjin sided with Ded Gjo Luli in order to resist the commission of Xhibalit which was formed in 1856 with the purpose of tricking the Montenegrins In 1890 Mehmet Shpendi founded the Shala Djelmnia an Albanian patriotic organization In 1910 the forces of Mehmet Shpendi fought the Ottoman general Shevket Turgut Pasha 1 where 300 Albanian highlanders were involved in the Battle of Agri Pass against the Ottomans The Ottoman battalions numbered 20 and were supplied with artillery cannons and modern weapons The Ottomans were frightened by the fierce fighting of the Highlanders and they lost the battle Shpendi later gathered his Shale forces joined the Highlanders of the Hoti tribe with their chieftain Ded Gjo Luli and both refused to pay Ottoman taxes and to give up their weapons 2 Ottoman forces pursued them and the Highlanders entered Montenegro 2 In 1911 Ded Gjo Luli and Mehmet Shpendi rose the flag Albanian flag for the first time in 400 years in the victorious battle of Decic 3 He is regarded as a local hero 4 On 28 May 1911 the Highlander tribes organized a meeting at the Bridge of Shala where they decided that all of Dukagjin were to participate in an armed insurrection The Ottoman government announced for an amnesty for the freedom fighters seeing the risk of the spreading insurgency The Foreign minister of the Ottomans sought to meet the leaders of the Highlanders Ded Gjo Luli and Mehmet Shpendi is said to have told the minister that We have nothing to speak of We will speak with you through our barrels After the defeat of the Ottomans Shpendi continued to fight the Montenegrin invaders On 15 July 1915 the Montenegrin general Radomir Vesovic invited Mehmet Shpendi to a peace meeting but deceived and murdered him instead See also editShala tribeReferences edit Skendi 1967 p 406 a b Skendi Stavro 1967 The Albanian national awakening Princeton Princeton University Press p 408 ISBN 9781400847761 MEHMET SHPENDI NJE EMER QE I BEN NDERE HISTORISE Merastin e dekorimit me Medaljen e Arte te Shqiponjes Prele Milani prelemilani com Archived from the original on 2014 06 06 Retrieved 2014 06 05 Fishta Gjergj Elsie Robert 2005 The Highland Lute Centre for Albanian Studies London England I B Tauris Publishers p 460 ISBN 1845111184 Sources edithttp www kosovarimedia com index php biblioteka atdhetar te shquar 36420 mehmet shpendi apo shaljani i tete html Mehmet Shpendi and the Eight Shala Tribes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mehmet Shpendi amp oldid 1204325839, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
