Kara Mahmud Bushati
Encyclopedia
Kara Mahmud Bushati was a noble of the Bushati
family in Ottoman
controlled Albania
near the city of Shkodër
. In the 1780s his rebellious character brought him into conflict with the Ottomans. This conflict is regarded in Albanian historiography as a bid to create an independent principality. However, the immediate cause of the conflict with the Ottomans was his clash with the Tosk Pashas of Southern Albania, namely Ali Pasha and Kurd Ahmet Pasha.
His major quarrels were with Montenegrin
, which he attacked in 1785. During his attacks in Montenegro he burned even Cetinje
.
During his conflict with the Southern Albanian Pashas he was approached by the Austrians
and Russians
who wanted to use him against the Ottomans. They offered to convert Bushati to Christianity, thus recognizing him as king of Albania. Bushati accepted this proposal. However, upon learning that they wanted to hand his lands to the Montenegrin state, he rejected their offers in 1788, and beheaded the delegation instead, sending their heads as trophies to the Ottoman Sultan who pardoned him for his quarrels with the local Pashas.
Bushati continued to quarrel with the Ottoman Empire, however, by annexing Kosovo
and large parts of Montenegro
and by instituting military and political reforms in his state without permission from the Porte. Through these efforts, he hoped to create an independent Albanian state free from Ottoman control. To prevent these efforts, the Ottomans sent an expedition into Bushati's realm and besieged Shkodër, which was garrisoned by Bushati's most faithful men. The siege was lifted and the Ottoman expedition retreated.
The Ottomans sent another expedition into Albania, besieging Shkodër, but again failed to subdue it.
Kara Mahmud Pasha was defeated in his attempt to subdue again Montenegro in 1796. He was defeated by the Montenegrins in the Battle of Krusi and was beheaded by Bogdan Vukov from village Zalaz. His skull is still on display in Cetinjski manastir. His brother Ibrahim Bushati
continued to work with the Ottoman Empire until his death in 1810.
Kara Mahmud Bushati's real name is Kara Mahmut Bushatlliu.
Bushati
The Bushati family was a prominent family in Albanian history for part of the Ottoman rule of the region. The family ruled the Pashalik of Scutari from 1757 to 1831. Their dominance of the Scutari region was gained through a network of alliances with various highland tribes...
family in Ottoman
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...
controlled 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...
near the city of 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...
. In the 1780s his rebellious character brought him into conflict with the Ottomans. This conflict is regarded in Albanian historiography as a bid to create an independent principality. However, the immediate cause of the conflict with the Ottomans was his clash with the Tosk Pashas of Southern Albania, namely Ali Pasha and Kurd Ahmet Pasha.
His major quarrels were with Montenegrin
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...
, which he attacked in 1785. During his attacks in Montenegro he burned even Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
.
During his conflict with the Southern Albanian Pashas he was approached by the Austrians
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
and Russians
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
who wanted to use him against the Ottomans. They offered to convert Bushati to Christianity, thus recognizing him as king of Albania. Bushati accepted this proposal. However, upon learning that they wanted to hand his lands to the Montenegrin state, he rejected their offers in 1788, and beheaded the delegation instead, sending their heads as trophies to the Ottoman Sultan who pardoned him for his quarrels with the local Pashas.
Bushati continued to quarrel with the Ottoman Empire, however, by annexing Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and large parts of 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...
and by instituting military and political reforms in his state without permission from the Porte. Through these efforts, he hoped to create an independent Albanian state free from Ottoman control. To prevent these efforts, the Ottomans sent an expedition into Bushati's realm and besieged Shkodër, which was garrisoned by Bushati's most faithful men. The siege was lifted and the Ottoman expedition retreated.
The Ottomans sent another expedition into Albania, besieging Shkodër, but again failed to subdue it.
Kara Mahmud Pasha was defeated in his attempt to subdue again Montenegro in 1796. He was defeated by the Montenegrins in the Battle of Krusi and was beheaded by Bogdan Vukov from village Zalaz. His skull is still on display in Cetinjski manastir. His brother Ibrahim Bushati
Ibrahim Bushati
Ibrahim Bushati or Ibrahim Bushat Pasha was a noble of the Bushati family in Ottoman controlled Albania near the city of Shkodër...
continued to work with the Ottoman Empire until his death in 1810.
Kara Mahmud Bushati's real name is Kara Mahmut Bushatlliu.
See also
- Ibrahim BushatiIbrahim BushatiIbrahim Bushati or Ibrahim Bushat Pasha was a noble of the Bushati family in Ottoman controlled Albania near the city of Shkodër...
- Mustafa Pasha BushatiMustafa Pasha BushatiMustafa Reshiti or Mustafa Reshit Pasha Bushati, was an Albanian Ottoman Pasha and a noble of the Bushati family in Ottoman controlled Albania. In 1810 he succeeded Ibrahim Bushati and ruled Shkodra until 1831....
- Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...