Battle of Deçiq

Part of Albanian Revolt of 1911

Date	6 April 1911
Location	Deçiq near Tuzi, Ottoman Empire (now Montenegro) Coordinates: 42°20′42″N 19°18′21″E / 42.34500°N 19.30583°E / 42.34500; 19.30583
Result	Albanian tribes victory

Belligerents

Northern Albanian (Malesor) tribes

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Ded Gjo Luli
Sokol Baci
Pretash Zeka

Shefket Turgut Pasha

Strength

310,780 soldiers^[1]

529 soldiers (1 infantry battalion)^[1]
25 heavy machine guns^[1]
21 mountain cannons^[1]

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The Battle of Deçiq (Albanian: Beteja e Deçiqit) marked the beginning of the turning point for Albanian liberty.^[2]

Location and background

The battle took place near Deçiq, south of the town of Tuzi (today in Montenegro). Tuzi is the town center for the region of Malësia that lies within Montenegro, whereas the capital town for all of Malësia is Koplik. Malësia is simply translated to "The Great Highlands", which is a well depicted name due to the rough mountainous terrain within this region. The region of Malësia is mostly under the Roman Catholic faith. The tribesman of Malësia are known as Malësor, meaning Highlander.

The battle

The main portion of the battle took place between Tuzi and Koplik (Albania), where the Malësors went against thousands of Turks. Koplik is the largest town in Malësia, right across the border with Montenegro is Tuzi. As the fighting proceeded, both armies decided to move north into the town of Tuzi, where the battle ended.

Outcome

In 1913, at the Treaty of London, the powers of Europe decided to annex half the land of Malësia to Montenegro, wheres the rest remained in Albania. Tuzi, along with the tribes of half of Hoti (Traboini), Grudë, Triesh, and Koja e Kuçit went to Montenegro. Kelmendi, the other half of Hoti (Rapsha), Kastrati, Shkreli, and the town of Koplik remained in Albania, but certain parts of Kelmendi such as Vuthaj, Martinaj, Plav, Gusinje, went to Montenegro and Rugova was annexed to Serbia. .

Notable warriors

Ded Gjo Luli Dedvukaj of Traboin
Sokol Baci of Gruda
Pretash Zeka Ulaj of Koja
Prek Cali of Kelmend
Gjeto Toma Kolçaj of Koja
Mehmet Shpendi of Shala
Tringe Smajl Martini of Gruda
Palok Traboini 1888-1951, Secretary of Ded Gjo Lul, teacher, and owner of the Albanian Flag of Deçiq, which he brought from Vienna through Dalmatia.

References

1 2 3 4 "Ded Gjo Luli and the battle of Deçiq". www.dedgjoluli.org.
↑ Nikprelaj, Gjergj (5 January 2006). "DEDE GJO LULI, MBROJTESI FISNIK I TROJEVE SHQIPTARE" (in Albanian). Koha Jone. Retrieved 20 September 2010.