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| A L I P A S H A O F J A N I N A |
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| Courtesy of Iliriapress |
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| This article is dedicated in remembrance to Dr. Astridhis Kolia, an Arvanitis or Albanian, of Epirus, who got mysteriously murdered by the Greek secret Police. When Dr. Astridhis Kolia openly declared himself as an Albania, he was murdered by Greek government. |
| The War of Ali Pasha With Suljas |
| Page 2 |
| Page 2 |
| The attacks of Suljas did not stop, the rubbery of the caravans passing near Suli were frequently rubbed. The Suli villages were only with one access, and passages threw and around Suli were not accessible very easy. The Russian and French priests using the freedom of the religion by Ali Pasha were going free to Suli villages. The mission of French and Russian terrorist priests was successful. This black mission was nothing more than to break the tolerance of the government and cause enough anger for the Suliots. |
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| Fotos Xhavella |
| The fear of Napoleon and France averted the war with Ali Pasha , which war could be catastrophic loss for Napoleon and France, but they used their diplomatic intelligence full of promises and lying to convince Suliots to go in war against Ali Pasha. Suliots were convinced to get help for the war from French and Russians, and they started an offensive of sabotages of government objects, caravans, and gendarmeries or police. French and Russian were enjoying the Suljas� activities against Ali Pasha. They made the Suliots, the warriors of the centuries, which was not true. This war was not as war that the French and the Russian were describing. The fear of Napoleon from Ali Pasha and his army made the Suliots the warriors of that time. The only defense for French and Russian was to create an internal war among Albanians. The alliance between Ali Pasha and England caused greater fear to France and Russia. Ali Pasha and Suljas finally started their war in spring 1790, which war will continue for the next 15 years causing a lot of damages to both sides, but mostly to Suliots who at the end joined Ali Pasha�s war against Ottoman Turkey. |
| It was spring of 1790 when Ali decided to launch his first attack on Suli. He sent an army of 5 000 men...(William Plomer, pg. 61) For Ali, the Suli must be broken down because it was on the hands of his enemy; it was a knife on the back for Ali Pasha because Suliots were always helped from Pasha. Ali Pasha wrote to the people and chieftans of Suli tribes, and asked them to stop the actions against him and his army. Also, Ali Pasha wrote a letter to each chief of Suli. The chiefs gathered in Suli and some of them did not believe Ali Pasha, and some of them wanted their freedom. Nevertheless, the chiefs remained as they were. The richest people of Suli were going in their land just to appear as they were looking their workers and slaves. Within a short time, they were hiding themselves in their houses form fear of Ali Pasha. The captains of Suli did not appear at all in the fields and valleys since the war started. Only women and the slaves were working their land. In spring of 1792, Ali Pasha raised his army appearing that his army was going to Gjirokastra, the army started marching toward Suli. Before the attack, Ali Pasha again wrote a letters to the captains of Suli. There was no respond from them. (Sabri Godo, pg 72) The French and Russians knew the strength of Ali Pasha, and they knew that a battle and a war against Ali Pasha will be catastrophic for Suliots. French and Russian did not care for Suliots neither for Ali Pasha because both were Albanians, and they were killing each other. It was time for Albanians to pay. Russians remembered Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu who killed the prince of Russia known as a White Devil and returned the land in dispute to the Ottoman Empire. It was the only way to revenge Albanians by creating rebellions and wars among them. |
| Some of the Suljas were of Muslim faith. One of the cousins of Captain Llambro Xhavella was a Muslim, and one of the cousins of Captain Gjergj Bochari was too Muslim. Both captains with 17 soldiers went to Ali Pasha, but they did not agree to any deal with Ali Pasha. The chiefs of Suljas threw down every deal with Ali Pasha. The Suljas did not get angry because every chief of a tribe had right to do whatever he wanted with his family. (Sabri Godo, pg. 72) The religion, for both the Suljas and Ali Pasha did not matter too much. Captain Xhavella was captured by Ali Pasha soldiers and tied up. Ali Pasha released him to go to Suli in order to negotiate with his native co-country man. Xhavella said that the jobs of Suli are not in his hand, but he is willing to go to Suli and tell them the massage of Ali Pasha. Ali asked what if you do not return. Xhavella answered that tomorrow morning will send his son on trust. Next morning, the 15 years old boy Photo Xhavella appeared in the custody of Ali Pasha. (Sabri Godo, pg 73) Later Xhavella wrote to Ali Pasha. � Ali Pasha, I am glad to have deceived a traitor, and I am here to defend my country against a thief. My son will be put to death, but I shall desperately revenge him before I die. Some men, like you will say that I am a cruel father to sacrifice my son for my own safety, but I answer that if you had been able to take the mountain my son would have been killed together with all the rest of my family and my countryman, and then I could not have avenged his death. If we are victorious, I may beget other children: my wife is still young. And if my son, young as hi is, is not willing to be sacrificed for his country, then he is worthy neither to live nor to be acknowledged as my son. Advance, traitor, I am important for my revenge. I am your sworn enemy. Txavellas.�(William Plomer, pg. 64) |
| However, Ali Pasha released the boy and said, � Say to your father that I do not war with boys.� The war started between Ali Pasha and Suljas taking too many lives of innocent Albanians until the end to be understood that was only a dirty game that French and Russians involved the Suliots in a misery. It is believed the war continued even 15 years between two Albanian rival groups. In the first battle, Ali Pasha last too many soldiers of Turkish background that were brought from Sultan for the wars against Venetians. The Suljas retrieved in their mountains, and their heroic war against Ali�s troops was heard as far as in London. At the same time, Ali attacked the city of Arta and victoriously occupied the city. The Pasha of Arta that was furnishing the Suliots with ammunition and guns was thrown down. From other neighboring enemies of Ali, Suliots got helped in ammunition and weapons. Many people who survived Hormova massacre, Gardhiqi massacre, and from other towns joined the battle of Suljas. (Sabri Godo, pg76) |
| Ali Pasha sent many presents to the Port and the news of the victory against Venetians to Selim III was very well accepted and welcomed. (Sabri Godo, pg 77). The wars in Butrint, Perveza, and other towns against the Venetians increased the name and the power of Ali Pasha in the Port of Istanbul, and Ali increased his territory. In the war, Venetians and Russians were brutally killed from the army of Ali Pasha. |
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