Song of Marko Boçari
Encyclopedia
The Song of Marko Boçari from Suli is an Albanian
polyphonic
folk song of the early 19th century narrating the death of Markos Botsaris
, a Souliot leader.
. After the beginning of Greek War of Independence
he became one of its central figures. He died in Kefalovryso, modern western Greece
in 1823 during a battle between Ottoman
and Souliot forces.
and lament of his death. It contains more than 70 octosyllabic lines and was published about fifty years after the event by Thimi Mitko
, an Albanian folklorist in his book Bleta Shqipëtare .
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...
polyphonic
Polyphonic song of Epirus
The Polyphonic song of Epirus is a form of traditional folk polyphony practiced among Greeks, Albanians, Aromanians and Macedonian Slavs in southern Albania and northwestern Greece....
folk song of the early 19th century narrating the death of Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris was a Souliote captain and a hero of the War of Greek Independence. Markos Botsaris is among the most revered national heroes in Greece.-Early life:...
, a Souliot leader.
History
Markos Botsaris was a leader of the SouliotesSouliotes
Souliotes were a warlike community from the area of Souli, in Greece, who became famous across Greece for their resistance against the local Ottoman Pashalik of Yanina ruled by the Muslim Albanian Ali Pasha...
. After the beginning of Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
he became one of its central figures. He died in Kefalovryso, modern western Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1823 during a battle between 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...
and Souliot forces.
Song
The Song of Marko Boçari from Suli is a narrativeNarrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
and lament of his death. It contains more than 70 octosyllabic lines and was published about fifty years after the event by Thimi Mitko
Thimi Mitko
Thimi Mitko was an Albanian rilindas and folklorist.Mitko was born in Korçë, Albania , where he attended the local Greek school. His uncle, Peti Mitko, had been one of the leaders of the Albanian Revolt of 1847 in Korçë and Tepelenë against the Turkish Tanzimat legislation...
, an Albanian folklorist in his book Bleta Shqipëtare .
Lyrics
Part of the lyrics:| Albanian | English |
|---|---|
Një harap me karabinë u ngulë e shtroi synë Goditi bajrakn' e mirë Marko Boçari shahinë! Erdhi Kosta vet i tretë "More shokë, gjithë erdhët S'prit të vinja edhe unë, Vriti, shokë, Shqipëtarë, biru qënet, se më vrane Mermëni sa jam i gjallë më muarë plumbi ndë ballë |
A moor with a carbine kneeled and took aim, He struck the goodly banner, Marko Boçari the falcon! Kosta himself came with two others. "Hey, comrades, have you all come? Didn't you wait for me as well? Kill them, oh Albanian comrades Shoot the dogs, cause they have slain me. Take me while I am alive, The shot has struck my forehead! |