After capturing
Shkoder in 1479, the Ottomans did not succeed in extending their rule around the Albanian Alps until 1491, when they finally were able to register the population of
Kelmendi for tax collection purposes. Not only around the Albanian Alps, but also in other mountainous regions, the Ottomans had to concede local tribes the right to self-governance according to the local traditions, such as the
Kanun of Leke Dukagjini. In an effort to pacify these regions, they recognized Albanian tribes as self-governing units led by their own bajraktars, and ruled in very decentralized fashion. Until the
Tanzimat Reforms, these tribes only paid tribute once a year, continued to bear weapons, and their children were not taken into the Devshirme system. When it was required, Albanian tribes joined Ottoman military campaigns as compact units and commanded by their own leaders, and returned home after the war. In areas of strategic interest, especially near trade routes or militarily important roads, the Ottomans even gave local tribes the status of
debrenci, as protectors of peace and order. Despite the substantial concessions, the highland tribes never fully integrated into the empire, and would frequently launch revolts and uprisings against the Ottomans.
Northern highlands Among the Albanian tribes of the northern highlands, the Kelmendi obtained
debrenci status and became the most powerful, seriously threatening Ottoman rule around the Albanian Alps until the early 18th century. Other tribes, such as Kuçi, Palbardhi, Gruda, Hoti, etc., also participated in regular revolts. As early as 1538, the Kelmendi rose up against the Ottomans and may have done so also in 1565 as Kuçi and Piperi were also in rebellion. In 1609,
Venetian documents mention the Kelmendi as being in a conflict with the Ottomans for 4 consecutive years. The local Ottomans were unable to counter them and were thus forced to ask the Bosnian Pasha for help. In 1614, the
Convention of Kuçi held in the area of the
Kuçi tribe in the region of
Malësia in modern northernmost Albania and Montenegro, to create an anti-Ottoman alliance and gain western support. In 1694, the
Hoti and
Kuçi tribe rose up against the Ottomans Throughout the 1630s, Kelmendi was in regular clashes with the Ottomans, which culminated in 1637–38, when the tribe would repel an army of 12,000 (according to some sources 30,000) commanded by Vutsi Pasha of the
Bosnia Eyalet. Ottoman casualties vary from 4,000 to 6,000, based on different sources. The legend of
Nora of Kelmendi would come to life during this epic struggles. In 1658, the seven tribes of Kuči,
Vasojevići,
Bratonožići,
Piperi,
Kelmendi,
Hoti and
Gruda allied themselves with the
Republic of Venice against the Ottomans, establishing the so-called "Seven-fold barjak" or "alaj-barjak". In 1688, an uprising in
Medun would take place. The
Kelmendi,
Kuçi and
Piperi tribes would revolt against the
Bushati rule there. They would win 2 battles and capture the area of Medun and its supplies. In 1689, the Kelmendi joined other tribes from northern and northeastern Albania, as well as Albanians from
Prizren,
Pristina and other regions of
Kosovo, in support of the
Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire during its Kosovo campaign. In 1774,
the Pashalik of Scutari invaded
Brda. The
Kuçi and
Palabardhi tribes managed to defend against the attacking
Shkodrans.
Kara Mahmud Pasha would try again in 1794 but was once again unsuccessful. In 1832,
Hoti,
Kastrati,
Gruda and
Kelmendi joined Montenegrin forces and defeated Ottoman forces on Hoti mountain. In May 1845, following
Reşid Pasha's outloawing of arm bearing, 2000 people from the
Gjakova region, and the
Highlands of Gjakova tribes of
Krasniqi,
Gashi,
Bytyçi rose in revolt. The rebels, comprising about 8,000 men, drove the Ottoman garrison out of
Gjakova. The Ottomans suppressed the rebellion, but did not succeed in establishing effective control of the region. In 1862 the Ottomans sent Maxharr Pasha with 12 divisions to implement the
Tanzimat Reforms in the
Highlands of Gjakova. Under the leadership of
Mic Sokoli and
Binak Alia, the tribes of
Krasniqi,
Gashi,
Bytyçi,
Nikaj-Mertur organized the resistance near
Bujan. The rebels were reinforced by the forces of
Shala, led by Mark Lula. After heavy fighting, they managed to defeat the Ottoman force and expel them from the highlands. Northern Albanian leaders, such as
Sulejman Aga of
Botushë – a chieftain of the
Gashi tribe in the Gjakova region during the early 20th century – organised resistance and movements for independence against the Ottomans throughout the 19th–20th centuries; in one such uprising, Sulejman Aga led 5,000–6,000 Albanian fighters who gathered outside of
Gjakova and attacked the garrison in an attempt to enter the city. In 1904, 10 Ottoman battalions accompanied by artillery were sent to Gjakova in order to quell the uprising.
Shemsi Pasha and the Ottomans enforced heavy taxes upon the local Albanians in response to the uprising, and the hostilities were accompanied by forcible tax collection and the destruction of entire villages in the Gjakova region by Ottoman forces. Upon his arrival in Botushë, Shemsi Pasha – with five battalions and numerous artillery pieces – began bombarding the village. The Ottomans were resisted by 300 Albanian fighters under
Sulejman Aga Batusha. The resistance fighters lost 35 dead or wounded, and the Ottomans lost more than 80 soldiers. Another 300 Albanian fighters arrived and surrounded the Ottoman force, who were numerically superior and in better positions. 2,000
Albanian tribesmen would eventually gather to fight the Turks, and the Ottoman government sent 18 more battalions accompanied by artillery to quell this new uprising;
Shkup's Vali, Shakir Pasha, also went to Gjakova. A series of ensuing battles followed in the Gjakova region, resulting in the deaths of more than 900 Ottoman soldiers as well as 2 bimbashis and a dozen officers, whereas the Albanians suffered only 170 dead or wounded. Shakir Pasha was thereby ordered to stand down.
Dukagjin and Mirdita In 1565,
Puka,
Iballa,
Mirdita,
Luma and other regions in Dukagjin had blocked the road from
Shkoder to
Prizren and had started attacking the lowlands too.In 1560, 500 peasants from Rec, Dardhe, Lure and other parts of
Diber rose to arms and killed the local sipahis. Around 1591, the mountains behind
Kruja,
Lezha and
Shkoder had rebelled against the Ottomans with 6000 armed warriors, causing considerable damage in their continuous incursions. In 1601–1602, the
Convention of Dukagjin (
Alb.
Kuvendi i Dukagjinit) gathered Albanian nobles and leaders in the village of
Macukull, in the
Mati region The convention was attended by 2656 representatives, and included both secular and religious representatives, from 14 various Albanian districts. There were Albanians from the highlands of
Shkodër,
Zadrima,
Dukagjin,
Kosova,
Lezha,
Kurbin,
Mat,
Dibra,
Petrela,
Durrës,
Elbasan,
Shpat and from
Myzeqe. The convention was headed by
Nikollë Bardhi,
Gjin Gjergji and
Nikollë Mekajshi. The convention decided to wage war against the
Ottoman Empire in an attempt of liberation. The decision was approved by 56 main leaders, consisting of 13 representatives who all sealed the act which the text “Sigillum Regni Macedonia et Albaniae” (The Seal of the Macedonian and Albanian Kingdom) with the double-headed eagle. In 1609,
Venetian documents state that the tribes of the
Dukagjin Highlands had been in conflict with the Ottomans for four years. In 1862, a revolt in Mirdita took place against the kapedan there,
Bib Dodë Pasha. Despite the rebels raiding his land in
Kallmet and occupying the road connecting
Shkodër to
Prizren. Bib Dodë pasha would call in Ottoman support of which suppressed the revolt in Mirdita. France would vocally support the rebels while Britain and Austria would take the side of the Ottomans in this revolt.
Himara and Labëria In 1481, the Himariotes had joined the forces of
Gjon Kastrioti II (son of
Skanderbeg) in his uprising against the Ottomans. The uprising failed, but the Himariotes rose up again in 1488, and between 1494 and 1509, destabilizing Ottoman control though failing to liberate their territory. In 1532, the Himara region, which still included all of
Labëria, was considered a Venetian official to be one of the regions of Albania still under "Albanian lordship", and could field 20000 warriors against the Ottomans. The Ottoman Sultan
Suleiman the Magnificent personally mounted an expedition in 1537 that destroyed or captured many surrounding villages but did not manage to subdue the area. The Ottomans found it necessary to compromise with the inhabitants by giving them a series of privileges: local self-government, the right to bear arms, exemption from taxes, the right to sail under their own flag into any Ottoman port and to provide military service in time of war. However, despite the privileges, the Himariotes revolted during the following conflicts:
Ottoman–Venetian War (1537–40),
Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–73),
Morean War (1684–99),
Ottoman–Venetian War (1714–18) and the
Russo-Turkish wars of the 18th century. In 1567, Himariots are counted among Albanians that could be rallied against the Ottoman, as they, together with other Albanians, had caused great damage to the Ottomans since 1537. In 1606, there was an uprising in the Lopes region of
Kurvelesh. In 1661, both the Muslims and the Christians of the region had joined in rebellion against the Ottomans. In 1720, the villages of Himara, Palasa, Ilias, Vuno, Pilur and Qeparo refused to submit to the Pasha of Delvina. In 1703, the villages of
Progonat and
Kardhiq rose up in arms. They were joined by the castellan of Tepelene, Muco Hyso. The uprising spread to all the parts of
Kurvelesh in 1704, and the Ottomans had to send Hydaverdi Pasha to defeat the rebels. However, by 1707,
Kurvelesh had rebelled once more. Himara revolted again in 1767, laying siege to
Delvinë and
Vlorë, but were eventually defeated by Ottoman reinforcements from nearby regions. This defeat resulted in large numbers fleeing to
Apulia and
Corfu, where many were recruited as Albanian contingents for the Russian fleet. In 1847, under the leadership of
Zenel Gjoleka,
Rrapo Hekali,
Hodo Nivica and others, the
Laberia region started a revolt against the
Tanzimat reforms, scoring several military successes and liberating the main town of the region. The Ottomans were able to defeat the rebels only after several months of warfare. == Rilindja ==