In the heart of Malësia e Madhe in Albania, the Antiosmane Uprising of 1911, which preceded the Declaration of Independence, was commemorated on Saturday. The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, attended the event, honoring the patriotic and cultural traditions of the region.
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| Children with flags in their hands on the bust of the anti-Ottoman uprising in Hot, Malesi e Madhe |
"This land is the cradle of nobility and patriotism. It's a land where your hearts sing with the lute of the mountains, where you dance with your traditional attire that is now Albanian and global property. And from this land, Albania's Independence began," President Begaj remarked.
He also emphasized the significance of this event in contemporary times, stating, "April 6, 1911, is a great event for Albanians as it raised Skanderbeg's flag for the first time. It showed that Albanians were conscious of their Independence, working together to have an Albanian nation in the future. It's a clear example of how we as politicians and citizens should work together in the future."
Under the leadership of popular leader Dedë Gjo Luli, the people of Hot, Gruda, Kelmendi, Kastrati, Trieshi, Koja, Shkrel, and other areas of Malësia e Madhe, after 23 bloody battles against the Ottoman army, managed to raise the national flag for the first time after nearly 500 years of slavery. This act signaled, according to the mayor of Malësia e Madhe, Tonin Marinaj, the determination of the highlanders to break away from the Ottoman Empire.
"It wasn’t just a local war. It was a war where Dedë Gjo Luli's leadership was at the head of 3,000 fighters, and these fighters were from all regions. Many of them even gave their lives to wave the flag in Deçiç in 1911."
Representatives from Albanian territories beyond the border, in Montenegro, also participated in today's ceremonies commemorating the 1911 Malësia e Madhe Uprising. The President of the Assembly of the Municipality of Gusinje, in Montenegro, Bujar Hasangjekaj, stated that the uprising of Malësia e Madhe is celebrated everywhere in Albanian lands for its values.
"They did everything, sacrificed everything, even their lives to liberate Albanian lands. So, we have everything in common; we have history, culture, language, flag, and, above all, we also have our future in common."
The 1911 Malësia e Madhe Uprising is evidence of the resistance and determination of the highlanders for independence, the protection of lands, and national identity. For its contribution to national history, Malësia e Madhe has been honored with the "Order of the Nation's Honor."