Haxhi Zeka

Haxhi Zeka

Picture of Haxhi Zeka (sitting in the middle) with Ali Pasha of Gucia (sitting, first from the left) with some other members of Prizren League
Born December 20, 1832
Shoshan, Ottoman Empire (now Shoshani, Tropojë, Albania)
Died February 21, 1902
Nationality Ottoman
Occupation Teacher then commander and leader
Years active 1880-1902
Known for Fighting Montenegrin forces in Plava and Gucia
Notable work Cooperated closely with Ali Pashe of Gucia

Haxhi Zeka (Turkish: Haci Zeka; 20 December 1832-21 February 1902) was an Albanian nationalist leader, a member of the League of Prizren, while in 1899 he was part of the establishment and leadership of the League of Peja, another organization seeking autonomy for Albania within the Ottoman Empire. Zeka was assassinated by a Serbian agent in 1902 with the backing of the Ottoman authorities.[1]

Biography

Zeka was born on 20 December 1832 in the village of Shoshani (now in Tropojë),[2] from where his family moved to Peć, in the Kosovo Vilayet. He was one of the organizers of the League of Prizren and one of the determined fighters for Albania's autonomy and protection of the integrity of its territory. The Assembly of the first League was held on June 10, 1878, where he was elected member of its Central Committee. He was a military commander, in charge of the forces of the League in action in Gjakova in September 1878 against Mehmet Ali Pasha. Besides other political and military leaders the league struggled in late 1879 and early 1880 for the protection of Plav and Gusinje against the forces of Montenegro. In the spring of 1881 he took part in battles against the army of Dervish Pasha.

In 1884-85, together with Kadri Bajri and Sulejman Vokshi, Haxhi Zeka led anti-Ottoman uprisings, in order to create autonomy. In 1893, Haxhi Zeka and Bajram Curri organized the uprisings in Peć, Gjakova and other regions of Kosovo against the political and economic injustices of the Ottoman Empire. For his patriotic activities in 1893, he was summoned to Istanbul where he was held under arrest until 1896.

In 1896-1900 he was put in charge of the Albanian rebellion for autonomy and protection of the territorial integrity of the country.

He led a people's armed resistance that began in Kosovo in 1897 and founded the Albanian Covenant (1897). In cooperation with the Albanian Committee of Istanbul headed by Sami Frashëri and other patriots at home and abroad, Haxhi Zeka organized on 23–29 January 1899 the Assembly of Peja that founded the Albanian League of Peja and was elected chairman of its Committee. In April–May 1899 he was prepared to call another General Assembly of the Albanian League, whose keeping was hampered by the Sublime Porte. Regardless of Istanbul's objections and obstacles of the Great Powers of neighbouring chauvinist circles, Haxhi Zeka continued his efforts to strengthen the League throughout the year 1900 until the Ottoman army's suppression of it.[3]

On February 21, 1902 Haxhi Zeka was treacherously killed in Peja by Adem Zajmi, an agent of Serbian chauvinist circles, which had the support of the Ottoman authorities.[1]

Legacy

Haxhi Zeka mill

Haxhi Zeka mill

Haxhi Zeka Mill is a large complex of industrial heritage which belongs to the second half of the 19th century. It was built with the help of the Austro-Hungarians. The building consists of a mill and a granary. At the time in which it was built, it was the tallest building in Peja consisting of three floors. The façade combines stone and brick and it has arched windows and frames. The Haxhi Zeka Mill was the first mill in Kosovo and the region which had the most advanced technology brought in from Austria. The mill initially used water for its power source, then it used electricity. The building represented the start of an industrial-based economy in Peja.[4] Prior to that, the whole region has performed services for grinding grain and flour production.[5]

After the death of Haxhi Zeka, Yasar Pasha, his nephew, became manager of the mill. In 1997 it was placed under state control. During the 1998-1999 war, the mill was burned but it was restored: the mill was restored in 2004 with the granary restored in 2016.[6]

Public University "Haxhi Zeka"

Public University "Haxhi Zeka" in the establishment is a descendant of the Faculty of Applied Business (FSHAB) in Peja was established in 1960 by decision of the Executive Board of KSAK as the High School of Commerce - Commercial Peja. The school was renamed as Business School and then at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Business. Initially the school had only section of the Commercial Business in Enterprise and a small number of teachers. In the first academic year 1960/61, 120 students were enrolled.

Since 2007 FSHAB studies develop in three departments:

Also, the university provides opportunities for academic preparation master of science.[7]

Haxhi Zeka square

Haxhi Zeka statue

In the centre of the city of Peja lies Haxhi Zeka square. In this square are important objects including Tahir Bey Konak, the National Ethnographic Museum where can be seen various galleries, traditional national crafts, characteristic clothing of Rugova and Dukagjini, Trade Center "Metë Bajraktari" etc. In the center of the square is the fountain which was built in the 16th century, close to the statue of Haxhi Zeka.[8]

Tower of Haxhi Zeka

Near the Haxhi Zeka square is found Tower of Pasha or also known as Tower of Haxhi Zeka, whose walls are made with characteristic works of Albanian masters of that time as the lion, the star of David, etc. It has a characteristic architecture of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, built of stone and it has windows worked with commitment by the Albanian masters.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Bep Jubani et al., Historia e popullit shqiptar: për shkollat e mesme (Libri Shkollor: Prishtinë, 2002) 182-185.
  2. ↑ Gjergj Fishta (2006). The Highland Lute. I.B.Tauris. p. 472. ISBN 978-1-84511-118-2.
  3. ↑ Historia e Popullit Shqiptar II, Instituti i Historisë dhe i Gjuhësisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës, Tiranë, 1979
  4. ↑ http://gazetalokale.com/mulliri-haxhi-zekes/
  5. ↑ http://www.pejatourism.org/kultura-ne-peje.html
  6. ↑ http://klankosova.tv/ora-7-mulliri-i-haxhi-zekes-i-shnderruar-tashme-ne-muze-19-01-2016-klan-kosova/
  7. ↑ http://unhz.eu/historiku-i-institucionit/
  8. 1 2 https://kk.rks-gov.net/peje/

Further reading

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