Sali Butka
Encyclopedia
Sali Butka was an Albanian
nationalist figure, kachak
, poet, and one of the delegates of the city of Korçë
to the Albanian National Congress
of Lushnjë
.
Butka was born in village Butkë
of Kolonjë District
. He became the commander of various Albanian irregular bands and initiated armed guerilla operations in 1906 in regions of modern southern Albania, which were under Ottoman
control that time. His guerilla activities continued the next years and especially in the Balkan Wars
(1912–1913) and World War I
(1914–1918). During the Balkan Campaign
of World War I, several bands of Albanian Tosks and Ghegs supported with their activity the armed operations of the Central Powers
in the region. Butka's band invaded in 1916 the once prosperous metropolis of Moscopole
and lead to its destruction.
In 1920 he became one of the delegates of the city of Korçë
to the Congress of Lushnjë
.
Sali Butka during his guerilla campaigns composed revolutionary poems that combined of naturalistic texts with nationalistic themes in a form of folk poetry.
society of Post-Communist Albania: while on specific Albanian textbooks he is considered a national hero, according to cycles of Aromanians
he is considered a notorious criminal because he is held as the primary responsible of the destruction of Moscopole
in 1916.
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...
nationalist figure, kachak
Kachak
A Kachak is an originally Turkish term for rebel or bandit. In Albania the term is used to define guerrilla units established by Albanian revolutionaries who fought in Albanian inhabited areas against foreign rule during the period of the Albanian National Awakening and the early 20th century in...
, poet, and one of the delegates of the city of Korçë
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
to the Albanian National Congress
Congress 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...
of Lushnjë
Lushnjë
Lushnjë or Lushnje is a city in Central-West Albania located at 40.95°N, 19.71°E. It is the center of the District of Lushnje in the County of Fier and has a population of about 54,813. The town was founded in late medieval times by a Turkish widow called Salushe. She built a rest stop on the...
.
Butka was born in village Butkë
Butkë
-Notable people:*Safet Butka, World War II freedom fighter*Sali Butka, 19th and early 20th century freedom fighter*Qemal Butka, mayor of Tirana...
of Kolonjë District
Kolonjë District
The Kolonjë District , is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Korçë County. It has a population of 14,318 . The district has an area of 805 km². It is in the south-east of the country, and its capital is Ersekë. Other towns in this district include Leskovik to the south...
. He became the commander of various Albanian irregular bands and initiated armed guerilla operations in 1906 in regions of modern southern Albania, which were under 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...
control that time. His guerilla activities continued the next years and especially in the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
(1912–1913) and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(1914–1918). During the Balkan Campaign
Balkans Campaign (World War I)
The Balkans Campaign of World War I was fought between Central Powers Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, and Germany on one side and the Allies Serbia, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Montenegro on the other side.-Overview:The prime cause of World War I being the hostility between Serbia and...
of World War I, several bands of Albanian Tosks and Ghegs supported with their activity the armed operations of the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
in the region. Butka's band invaded in 1916 the once prosperous metropolis of Moscopole
Moscopole
Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small municipality in Korçë District, modern southeastern Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches...
and lead to its destruction.
In 1920 he became one of the delegates of the city of Korçë
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
to the Congress of Lushnjë
Congress 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...
.
Sali Butka during his guerilla campaigns composed revolutionary poems that combined of naturalistic texts with nationalistic themes in a form of folk poetry.
Controversial personality
Butka's personality has created a ideological dilemma between homogeneity and heterogeneity myths in the pluralisticCultural pluralism
Cultural pluralism is a term used when smaller groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities, and their values and practices are accepted by the wider culture. Cultural pluralism is often confused with Multiculturalism...
society of Post-Communist Albania: while on specific Albanian textbooks he is considered a national hero, according to cycles of Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
he is considered a notorious criminal because he is held as the primary responsible of the destruction of Moscopole
Moscopole
Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small municipality in Korçë District, modern southeastern Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches...
in 1916.