Mujo Ulqinaku
Encyclopedia
Mujo Ulqinaku (1896–1939) was an Albanian
officer of the Royal Albanian Army, known for his resistance on April 7, 1939, to the Italian forces during the Italian Invasion of Albania
. He was given the People's Hero of Albania
award after death.
(Albanian
: Ulqin), Principality of Montenegro
, now modern Montenegro
, in 1896 to a family of a sailors and fishermen. Since in his teens he entered in commercial fleet in Shkodër
and Lezhë
. Later he entered in Albanian navy based in Durrës
with the rank of sergeant. He was one of the few officers of the Royal Albanian Army who tried to stop the Italian invasion of Albania
. Armed only with a machine gun
he was placed in the center of defense line and fought uninterruptedly until he was eventually killed in the last hour of the combat, and never quit his position. Before dying it is reported that he had killed and wounded dozens of Italian soldiers with his machine gun.
bear his name. A documentary on his life and act with the title "Lufton Mujo Ulqinaku" (Mujo Ulqinaku fights) was released in 1979 by Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re.
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...
officer of the Royal Albanian Army, known for his resistance on April 7, 1939, to the Italian forces during the Italian Invasion of Albania
Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
. He was given the People's Hero of Albania
People's Hero of Albania
Hero of Albania, more properly Hero of the People is the highest title that can be bestowed on a citizen of Albania.-Creation:The title was created in 1945 and the Albanian parliament confirmed it by Law in 1954 and then reconfirmed by Law Nr.6133 on February 12, 1980...
award after death.
Life
Mujo Ulqinaku was born in UlcinjUlcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
(Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
: Ulqin), 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....
, now modern Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, in 1896 to a family of a sailors and fishermen. Since in his teens he entered in commercial fleet in 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 Lezhë
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
. Later he entered in Albanian navy based in Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
with the rank of sergeant. He was one of the few officers of the Royal Albanian Army who tried to stop the Italian invasion of Albania
Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
. Armed only with a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
he was placed in the center of defense line and fought uninterruptedly until he was eventually killed in the last hour of the combat, and never quit his position. Before dying it is reported that he had killed and wounded dozens of Italian soldiers with his machine gun.
Legacy
To honor his action, patriotism, and sense of duty a monument was erected in front of the Durrës Castle. A grammar school in Durrës and a street in TiranaTirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
bear his name. A documentary on his life and act with the title "Lufton Mujo Ulqinaku" (Mujo Ulqinaku fights) was released in 1979 by Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re.