Pashalik of Berat
Encyclopedia
The Pashalik of Berat was a pashalik created in modern day central Albania
by Ahmet Kurt Pasha
in 1774 and dissolved after Ahmet's ally, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
was defeated by Ali Pasha
in 1809, thus incorporating the pashalik, with the Pashalik of Janina
. This pashalik was one of the three pashaliks created by Albanians
in the period of Albanian Pashaliks.
managed to complot with the Sublime Porte against Mehmed Pasha Bushati
in 1774. For his service, the sultan
gave him territories in central Albania
. He managed to grow his pashalik until his death in 1787, incorporating territories of all central Albania, bordering to the north with the Pashalik of Scutari and to the south with the Pashalik of Janina
.
Ahmet Kurt Pasha
was the grandfather of Ali Pasha
, and father of Ali's mother, Hanka.
, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
.
As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim Pasha
was roused at this encroachment. This made, Ali Pasha
to start a war with the Pashalik of Berat. After some fruitless negotiation, Ibrahim Pasha
sent a body of troops under the command of his brother Sephir, bey of Avlona. Against these, Ali summoned the armatoles of Thessaly; and after villages had been burnt, peasants robbed and hanged, and flocks carried oif on both sides, peace was made. Ibrahim gave his daughter in marriage to Mookhtar, the eldest son of Ali, and the disputed territory as her dower. As Sephir bey had displayed qualities which might prove formidable hereafter, Ali contrived to have him poisoned by a physician ; and, after his usual fasliion, he hanged the agent of the crime, that no witness might remain of it. Ali Pasha has said that he should prevail over the pasha of Berat, become vizir of Epirus, fight with the Sultan, and go to Constantinople. In 1808, Ali Pasha
defeated Ibrahim Pasha
, incorporating its territory in the Pashalik of Janina
.
The local population and the tradesmen neither pay the kharatj nor any other tax, except a contribution of thirty paras a head per annum to Ibrahim Pasha of Berat, for the liberty of trading to his ports. The right of pasturage on the lands of the town of Himara, that of gathering velanidhi on the mountains, and that of fishing in the northern bay of Palermo are enjoyed in common by all the inhabitants. Maize is grown in the plain adjacent to the northern beach, where the two torrents, which embrace the town, overflow in the winter, and prepare the land for receiving that grain.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
by Ahmet Kurt Pasha
Ahmet Kurt Pasha
Ahmet Kurt Pasha was the founder and the first ruler of the Pashalik of Berat. He descended from the house of Muzakaj, which had founded in the medieval ages the Muzakaj Principality of Berat.-Creation of the Pashalik:...
in 1774 and dissolved after Ahmet's ally, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat was the second and last ruler of the Pashalik of Berat, in office from 1787 to 1809.- Ruler :After the death of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat. As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim...
was defeated by Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
in 1809, thus incorporating the pashalik, with the Pashalik of Janina
Pashalik of Janina
The Pashalik of Yanina or Janina was a subdivision in the Ottoman Empire, created in 1430. It had some degree of autonomy in the early 19th century under Ali Pasha, but it was never recognized as such by the Ottoman empire...
. This pashalik was one of the three pashaliks created by Albanians
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...
in the period of Albanian Pashaliks.
Creation and rule of Ahmet Pasha
The Pashalik of Berat was created after Ahmet Kurt PashaAhmet Kurt Pasha
Ahmet Kurt Pasha was the founder and the first ruler of the Pashalik of Berat. He descended from the house of Muzakaj, which had founded in the medieval ages the Muzakaj Principality of Berat.-Creation of the Pashalik:...
managed to complot with the Sublime Porte against Mehmed Pasha Bushati
Mehmed Pasha Bushati
Mehmed Bushati was an Albanian Pasha and a noble of the Bushati family in Ottoman controlled Albania. He created the Pashalik of Scutari and ruled it from 1768 until 1774, when he was succeeded by Mustafa Pasha Bushati.- See also :*Ibrahim Bushati...
in 1774. For his service, the sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
gave him territories in central Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. He managed to grow his pashalik until his death in 1787, incorporating territories of all central Albania, bordering to the north with the Pashalik of Scutari and to the south with the Pashalik of Janina
Pashalik of Janina
The Pashalik of Yanina or Janina was a subdivision in the Ottoman Empire, created in 1430. It had some degree of autonomy in the early 19th century under Ali Pasha, but it was never recognized as such by the Ottoman empire...
.
Ahmet Kurt Pasha
Ahmet Kurt Pasha
Ahmet Kurt Pasha was the founder and the first ruler of the Pashalik of Berat. He descended from the house of Muzakaj, which had founded in the medieval ages the Muzakaj Principality of Berat.-Creation of the Pashalik:...
was the grandfather of Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
, and father of Ali's mother, Hanka.
Conquest by Ali Pasha
After the death of Ahmet Kurt PashaAhmet Kurt Pasha
Ahmet Kurt Pasha was the founder and the first ruler of the Pashalik of Berat. He descended from the house of Muzakaj, which had founded in the medieval ages the Muzakaj Principality of Berat.-Creation of the Pashalik:...
, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat was the second and last ruler of the Pashalik of Berat, in office from 1787 to 1809.- Ruler :After the death of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat. As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim...
.
As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim Pasha
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat was the second and last ruler of the Pashalik of Berat, in office from 1787 to 1809.- Ruler :After the death of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat. As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim...
was roused at this encroachment. This made, Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
to start a war with the Pashalik of Berat. After some fruitless negotiation, Ibrahim Pasha
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat was the second and last ruler of the Pashalik of Berat, in office from 1787 to 1809.- Ruler :After the death of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat. As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim...
sent a body of troops under the command of his brother Sephir, bey of Avlona. Against these, Ali summoned the armatoles of Thessaly; and after villages had been burnt, peasants robbed and hanged, and flocks carried oif on both sides, peace was made. Ibrahim gave his daughter in marriage to Mookhtar, the eldest son of Ali, and the disputed territory as her dower. As Sephir bey had displayed qualities which might prove formidable hereafter, Ali contrived to have him poisoned by a physician ; and, after his usual fasliion, he hanged the agent of the crime, that no witness might remain of it. Ali Pasha has said that he should prevail over the pasha of Berat, become vizir of Epirus, fight with the Sultan, and go to Constantinople. In 1808, Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
defeated Ibrahim Pasha
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat was the second and last ruler of the Pashalik of Berat, in office from 1787 to 1809.- Ruler :After the death of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, the territory of the pashalik was ruled by a close ally of him, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat. As this territory belonged to the Middle Albania, Ibrahim...
, incorporating its territory in the Pashalik of Janina
Pashalik of Janina
The Pashalik of Yanina or Janina was a subdivision in the Ottoman Empire, created in 1430. It had some degree of autonomy in the early 19th century under Ali Pasha, but it was never recognized as such by the Ottoman empire...
.
Economy
Whether Mahometan or Christian the Albanians of that tract are equally independent and unruly. They pay neither capitation nor any other tax; nominally they acknowledge the authority of the Pasha of Berat; and by their bravery and their poverty they have hitherto escaped subjection to Ali of Janina.The local population and the tradesmen neither pay the kharatj nor any other tax, except a contribution of thirty paras a head per annum to Ibrahim Pasha of Berat, for the liberty of trading to his ports. The right of pasturage on the lands of the town of Himara, that of gathering velanidhi on the mountains, and that of fishing in the northern bay of Palermo are enjoyed in common by all the inhabitants. Maize is grown in the plain adjacent to the northern beach, where the two torrents, which embrace the town, overflow in the winter, and prepare the land for receiving that grain.
See also
- Pashalik of Scutari
- Pashalik of JaninaPashalik of JaninaThe Pashalik of Yanina or Janina was a subdivision in the Ottoman Empire, created in 1430. It had some degree of autonomy in the early 19th century under Ali Pasha, but it was never recognized as such by the Ottoman empire...
- Albania under the Ottoman Empire
Sources
- "History of Albanian People" Albanian Academy of Science. ISBN 99927-1-623-1