Pretash Zeka Ulaj
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Pretash Zeka Ulaj (born Pretash Zeka 1882 - 1962) is one of the most prominent Albanian heroes of the 1911 Battle of Deçiq (Battle of Dečić), near Tuzi, in which Albanians defeated the Turks. He was the leader of the Koja e Kuçit tribe, an Albanian enclave within the Kuči mountain of Malësia in what is today within Montenegro.
On April 6, 1911, the Malesore fighters lead by Dede Gjon Luli reached the top of the strategic peak of Dečić (Deçiq). Many died that day, but after the battle the Ottomans were finally defeated, Pretash Zeka Ulaj raised the Flag of Albania after 442 years of occupation. This was the first time Albanians raised their Flag since the Castle of Shkodër had fallen in 1469.
About a year and a half later, with the help of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Albanian Flag was risen officially in the southern town of Vlona.
[edit] Family Legacy
Pretash Zeka, was the second oldest of the 12 sons of Zek Nika Ulaj. The 11 remaining sons of Zek Nika defended their border town Koja e Kuçit against advancing Slavs into the Albanian Malësia region.
Pretashi had 2 Sons, Gjok and Pjeter. They had 11 sons between them, and their sons have had 15 more sons to date. In 2007 the 5th generation descendent of Pretash Zeka was born, in the United States where most of his living descendants now call home.
Today, descendents of Pretash Zeka have leadership positions in Business and Government including a cabinet level advisor to Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku, a Vice President at Morgan Stanley Investment Bank, a member of the US Navy (honorable discharge), and the founder of "Adriatic Eagle Air" the first public charter airline to fly non-stop to Tirana and Kosovo Airports directly from the United States JFK Airport, and most importantly they're all dedicated Family men proud of their heritage.
Gjok Pretashi Ulaj's 6 sons:
Mark, Toma (Toti), Doka, Gjeka, Lulashi, and Pretash.
Pjeter Pretashi Ulaj's 5 sons:
Doda, Noshi(died natural causes age 19, R.I.P.), Vasel, Palok, Gjeto, and Rroku.
Last names of his descendants:
Ulaj (Lulashi, and all of Pjeter's sons), Uljaj (Toma), Ulic (Gjek, and Pretash), Uljic (Doka), and Ula (Mark).
