Qazim Koculi
Encyclopedia
Qazim Koculi was an Albanian
politician of the early 20th century and one-day acting Prime Minister of Albania
. He was also a distinguished military leader, having won the Vlora War
in 1920, as the principal military commander of the Albanian forces.
(in the then Ottoman Empire
, now modern Albania
). Koculi received his primary education in Vlorë and later moved to Ioannina
, Greece to attend the Zosimea Gymnasium. He accomplished his higher education at the Kara Harp Okulu
Turkish
Military Academy, graduating as a Teğmen (Second Lieutenant
). He was appointed to the Ottoman Navy
as a Üsteğmen (First Lieutenant
).
He disobeyed a military order in 1909 during a naval battle in Preveza
by refusing to surrender to the Italian Navy
. After a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Imperial Command, Koculi fled to Argentina
, where he resided until 1912.
He then returned to Vlorë upon the invitation of President Ismail Qemali
. The latter appointed him Director of the Port of Vlorë, a position he held until the takeover of the port by the Italians in October 1914. He withdrew to Brataj, Vlorë and served as a village chief until 1917. He later served as vice prefect of Tepelenë until 1919.
, a constituent assembly held in January 1920, and was hence appointed member of parliament. He was also Prefect of Vlorë on May 29, 1920. At the same time he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Vlora War Committee. Koculi led his army to victory over the Italian forces in the Battle of Vlora, at the end of which, on September 3, 1920, he marched into the city and took back the duties of the Vlorë prefecture.
Upon the establishment of a democratic government by the Congress of Lushnjë, the first elections for the national legislature were held on April 5, 1921, Koculi won the Vlorë district.
Koculi was Minister of Public Works in the Government of Fan Noli by pursuing a policy of opposition to King Zogu. He later (1943) became a member of the Albanian Fascist Party
and became an instrument of the oppressors
Koculi was murdered by the communist Albanian guerrillas while he was trying to negotiate on behalf of the Fascist Party that peace between the Fascist regime and the communist guerrillas was possible.
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...
politician of the early 20th century and one-day acting Prime Minister of 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 was also a distinguished military leader, having won the Vlora War
Vlora War
The Vlora War or the War of 1920 was a series of battles between an Italian forces garrisoned throughout Vlorë region and Albanian patriots divided in small groups of fighters. The war lasted three months and had great impact in the struggle of Albania for the safeguard of its territories at a...
in 1920, as the principal military commander of the Albanian forces.
Early life
Qazim, son of Muhamet Kociu, was born Qazim Muhameti in 1887, in the village of Koculi, close to VlorëVlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
(in the then 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...
, now modern 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...
). Koculi received his primary education in Vlorë and later moved to Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, Greece to attend the Zosimea Gymnasium. He accomplished his higher education at the Kara Harp Okulu
Kara Harp Okulu
The Turkish Military Academy, , is a four year co-educational military academy located in the center of Ankara. Its mission is to develop cadets mentally and physically for service as commissioned officers in the Turkish Army...
Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Military Academy, graduating as a Teğmen (Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
). He was appointed to the Ottoman Navy
Ottoman Navy
The Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century. During its long existence it was involved in many conflicts; refer to list of Ottoman sieges and landings and list of Admirals in the Ottoman Empire for a brief chronology.- Pre-Ottoman:...
as a Üsteğmen (First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
).
He disobeyed a military order in 1909 during a naval battle in Preveza
Preveza
Preveza is a town in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, located at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is part of the region of Epirus. An immersed tunnel, completed in 2002 which runs between Preveza and Actium, connects the town...
by refusing to surrender to the Italian Navy
Italian Navy
Italian Navy may refer to:* Pre-unitarian navies of the Italian states* Regia Marina, the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy * Italian Navy , the navy of the Italian Republic...
. After a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Imperial Command, Koculi fled to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where he resided until 1912.
He then returned to Vlorë upon the invitation of President Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora or commonly Ismail Qemali and in Turkish İsmail Kemal Bey or İsmail Kemal Vlora , was a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.-Life:He was born in Avlonya to a noble family...
. The latter appointed him Director of the Port of Vlorë, a position he held until the takeover of the port by the Italians in October 1914. He withdrew to Brataj, Vlorë and served as a village chief until 1917. He later served as vice prefect of Tepelenë until 1919.
Vlora War and politics
Koculi represented Vlorë in the Congress of LushnjëCongress of Lushnjë
The Congress of Lushnjë was held in five sessions on January 27-January 31, 1920 in Lushnjë, Albania by Albanian nationalists and had as its goal the study of the Albanian situation and the measures to be adopted in order to save Albania from being partitioned among other countries after World War I...
, a constituent assembly held in January 1920, and was hence appointed member of parliament. He was also Prefect of Vlorë on May 29, 1920. At the same time he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Vlora War Committee. Koculi led his army to victory over the Italian forces in the Battle of Vlora, at the end of which, on September 3, 1920, he marched into the city and took back the duties of the Vlorë prefecture.
Upon the establishment of a democratic government by the Congress of Lushnjë, the first elections for the national legislature were held on April 5, 1921, Koculi won the Vlorë district.
Koculi was Minister of Public Works in the Government of Fan Noli by pursuing a policy of opposition to King Zogu. He later (1943) became a member of the Albanian Fascist Party
Albanian Fascist Party
The Albanian Fascist Party was a fascist movement which held nominal power in Albania from 1939, when the country was conquered by Italy, until 1943, when Italy capitulated to the Allies...
and became an instrument of the oppressors
Koculi was murdered by the communist Albanian guerrillas while he was trying to negotiate on behalf of the Fascist Party that peace between the Fascist regime and the communist guerrillas was possible.