Battle of Deçiq

Battle of Deçiq
Part of Albanian Revolt of 1911
Date6 April 1911
LocationDeçiq near Tuzi, Ottoman Empire (now Montenegro)
Coordinates: 42°20′42″N 19°18′21″E / 42.34500°N 19.30583°E / 42.34500; 19.30583
Result Albanian tribes victory
Belligerents
Northern Albanian (Malesor) tribes  Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ded Gjo Luli
Sokol Baci
Pretash Zeka
Shefket Turgut Pasha
Strength
3.280 soldiers 27.000 soldiers (34 infantry battalions)
20 heavy machine guns
24 mountain cannons

The Battle of Deçiq (Albanian: Beteja e Deçiqit) marked the beginning of the turning point for Albanian liberty.[1]

Location and background

The battle took place near Deçiq, south of the town of Tuzi (today in Montenegro). Tuzi is the town center for the region of Malësia that lies within Montenegro, whereas the capital town for all of Malësia is Koplik. Malësia is simply translated to "The Great Highlands", which is a well depicted name due to the rough mountainous terrain within this region. The region of Malësia is mostly under the Roman Catholic faith. The tribesman of Malësia are known as Malësor, meaning Highlander.

The battle

The main portion of the battle took place between Tuzi and Koplik (Albania), where the Malësors went against thousands of Turks. 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 the town of Tuzi, where the battle ended.

Outcome

In 1913, at the Treaty of London, the powers of Europe decided to annex half the land of Malësia to Montenegro, wheres the rest remained in Albania. Tuzi, along with the tribes of half of Hoti (Traboini), Grudë, 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, Gusinje, went to Montenegro and Rugova was annexed to Serbia.

Notable warriors

References

  1. Nikprelaj, Gjergj (5 January 2006). "DEDE GJO LULI, MBROJTESI FISNIK I TROJEVE SHQIPTARE" (in Albanian). Koha Jone. Retrieved 20 September 2010.

Further reading

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