Hodo Sokoli
Encyclopedia
Hodo Sokoli born Hodo Dervishi was an Albanian
colonel of the Ottoman Empire
and later one of the leaders of the League of Prizren
. He defected from the Ottoman army, when the Ottoman Empire decided to cede the part of Albanian-populated area of Malësia
to the Principality of Montenegro
and led troops of the League of Prizren
against the Montenegrin army.
Sokoli was victorious and the areas of Plav
and Gusinje
weren't ceded to Montenegro. In 1880 he was captured by the Ottoman army and executed in Erzincan
, present day Turkey.
in 1836 to a notable family from the village of Dervishej. In 1860 he became commander of the border guards of the lake of Shkodër under Abdi Çerkezi. In 1868 he was promoted to the rank of colonel (bey
) and served as the commander of gendarmerie of Shkodër. In April 1880 he became the leader of a League of Prizren committee that opposed the annexation the Albanian-populated areas of Gruda
, Hoti
, Plava and Gucia to the Principality of Montenegro
. Sokoli led 8,000 volunteer troops from Shkodër
and Tuzi
to defend these areas, which eventually were not ceded to the Principality of Montenegro.
During his chairmanship of an assembly of the League of Prizren on April 17, 1880, attended by 150 Albanian officers of the Ottoman Empire, Sokoli publicly removed his insignia and uniform. Sokoli's decision to forego his Ottoman military uniform in favour of the Albanian national costume distinguished this symbolic act. In December 1880 the Ottoman general Dervish Pasha captured Sokoli, who was detained in Istanbul
, the capital of the empire, and later executed in Erzincan
, in 1883.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
colonel of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and later one of the leaders of the League of Prizren
League of Prizren
The League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation commonly known as the League of Prizren was an Albanian political organization founded on 10 June 1878 in Prizren, in the Kosovo province of the Ottoman Empire....
. He defected from the Ottoman army, when the Ottoman Empire decided to cede the part of Albanian-populated area of Malësia
Malësia
Malësia or Malësia e Madhe, is a historical geographical region in northern Albania and eastern Montenegro. It consists of an area of land that stretches from the southeast of Podgorica to northern shores of Lake Scutari, and includes much of the Malësi e Madhe District of Albania...
to the Principality of Montenegro
Principality of Montenegro
The Principality of Montenegro was a former realm in Southeastern Europe. It existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a kingdom by Knjaz Nikola, who then became king....
and led troops of the League of Prizren
League of Prizren
The League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation commonly known as the League of Prizren was an Albanian political organization founded on 10 June 1878 in Prizren, in the Kosovo province of the Ottoman Empire....
against the Montenegrin army.
Sokoli was victorious and the areas of Plav
Plav
Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
and Gusinje
Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
weren't ceded to Montenegro. In 1880 he was captured by the Ottoman army and executed in Erzincan
Erzincan
-Trivia:Erzincan has the largest man made of Portrait of Atatürk, located north of the city, 176m×43m. It covers 7,500 square meter. Turkish Army made it 1982, in 29 days by 3,000 soldier, 100 tons of black and white paint was used...
, present day Turkey.
Life
Hodo Sokoli was born in ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
in 1836 to a notable family from the village of Dervishej. In 1860 he became commander of the border guards of the lake of Shkodër under Abdi Çerkezi. In 1868 he was promoted to the rank of colonel (bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
) and served as the commander of gendarmerie of Shkodër. In April 1880 he became the leader of a League of Prizren committee that opposed the annexation the Albanian-populated areas of Gruda
Gruda
Grudë is a region within Malësia in southern Montenegro. Grudë lies just north of Lake Skadar and includes the small city of Tuzi, the major urban center of Malësia.-Religion:...
, Hoti
Hot, Albania
Hot is a settlement in the Kastrat Municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania. It has a population of 1,473....
, Plava and Gucia to the Principality of Montenegro
Principality of Montenegro
The Principality of Montenegro was a former realm in Southeastern Europe. It existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a kingdom by Knjaz Nikola, who then became king....
. Sokoli led 8,000 volunteer troops from Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and Tuzi
Tuzi
Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is...
to defend these areas, which eventually were not ceded to the Principality of Montenegro.
During his chairmanship of an assembly of the League of Prizren on April 17, 1880, attended by 150 Albanian officers of the Ottoman Empire, Sokoli publicly removed his insignia and uniform. Sokoli's decision to forego his Ottoman military uniform in favour of the Albanian national costume distinguished this symbolic act. In December 1880 the Ottoman general Dervish Pasha captured Sokoli, who was detained in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, the capital of the empire, and later executed in Erzincan
Erzincan
-Trivia:Erzincan has the largest man made of Portrait of Atatürk, located north of the city, 176m×43m. It covers 7,500 square meter. Turkish Army made it 1982, in 29 days by 3,000 soldier, 100 tons of black and white paint was used...
, in 1883.