An American journalist who met Isa Boletini shortly before the declaration of independence of Albania, brings an interesting correspondence about the feats and character of the greatest Albanian after Skanderbeg and the bravest, most honest, noblest and most famous warrior of the Balkans. Armand Plaka

Among the most famous accounts of Isa Boletini are those of the English diplomat and writer, Aubrey Herbert, who met the legend of the Albanians in 1912 in Mitrovica and a year later in London, immortalizing him for the character and virtues he represented, in the chapters of his diary "Ben Kendim" (see: Aubrey Herbert: Ben Kendim, a Record of Eastern Travel - London: Hutchinson & Co, 1924, pp. 198-213).

But, in recent years, the Albanian public has been able to recognize, thanks to the individual contributions of history enthusiasts more than to the “discoveries” of professional historians themselves, several interviews given by Isa Boletini in the years 1908-1913, for international media, and even Russian ones (see: Isa Boletini's interview for the Russian newspaper “Birzevijih Vedomosti” - July 20, 1912, Telegrafi newspaper, 13.06.2014). It is precisely this period when his name had already become a true legend and a motive to move far beyond the editorial offices and meet him, for many journalists and correspondents, while Albania was formally consuming its last days under the power of the Sublime Porte. It was the time when the Albanian uprisings for independence were boiling and a clear nationalist spirit and nationwide awareness had also matured, to achieve common objectives.

The world was already getting to know the Albanians more closely with all their values ​​and defects, and where possible the press was also becoming an advertiser of their righteous and long-standing goals, thus crossing the borders of the continents and crossing the oceans.

In this context, there is also a special correspondence, which I first came across in the archive of an American newspaper (see: Fighting the Turks - “Monsieur” Issa, Albanian Hero, Type of Warrior That Threatens Ottoman Empire - The Sunday Oregonian, Portland, USA, October 27, 1912, p. 6), of October 1912, and then reproduced at a short distance in time, in two other newspapers: one Australian and the other New Zealand (see: An Albanian Brigand - The Mercury, Australia, Saturday December 14, 1912, p. 9 and the Press newspaper, New Zealand, November 23, 1912, p. 12).

Their content, which is being published for the first time for the Albanian public, is a novelty in itself, because it shows us how far international public interest had gone in treating the Albanian issue in geographical terms and, on the other hand, it tells us a somewhat "different" profile of Isa Boletini, whom the American journalist herself, from the very beginning, qualifies as: "... the greatest Albanian hero since Skanderbeg, in the fifteenth century. He is the bravest, the most honest, the most noble, the most fierce and the most famous of the Balkan warriors."

The following material has been translated in full by the American newspaper in question, where there is also a really interesting as well as previously undocumented photo of Isa Boletini, dressed in a Tosca costume, which can actually raise many questions. While the New Zealand version and the Australian one (where they are not found in the photo) are conveyed almost identically in content, with some minor and insignificant changes, such as the calculation of the values ​​donated by the sultan, Isa Boletini, from US dollars, in British pounds, to suit the respective reader of course.

The author's approach is also interesting, although she points out many positive characteristics of her character, she goes deeper and brings details about his personal life that may not be found in interviews, confessions or other documentary materials, despite the fact that anecdotes for the Bulletin, are known to have been good and rich material for many platforms of the time. Thus, for example, while describing him as a man with a lot of humor, she points out the excessive, but justifiable, anger of the great leader of the Albanians. Also, it alludes to a secondary reason that led Isa Boletini and his gang to kill the Russian consul in Mitrovica in 1904, for which history has certainly given the versions that are already known to everyone, and which were related to his completely negative role for the fate of Albanians in Kosovo.

Also, an information to be taken into consideration is the presence of an Albanianized Serbian member in the ranks of Boletini's squad, who had the gift of rhapsody. Combined with the "fixation" of Isa Boletini to be presented as "Mr." or "Monsieur", it makes the hitherto unknown contribution to Albanians, of the American journalist, Bertha Spencer, therefore enjoy some special values. Her prediction about the end of such a hero is especially impressive, as she closes the article with the words: "Such a man cannot have an ordinary career. He is destined to die on the gallows or in battle."

However, the complete reading of the correspondence in question, brought already more than 100 years after the original publication, reveals to us much more about the figure of Isa Boletini, as we have and as we have never known him before.

***

"Monsieur" Isa, the Albanian hero who threatens the Ottoman Empire Bertha Spencer Istanbul, October 27, 1912 - (Special Correspondence) - "Monsieur" Issa de Boletini is very happy. He finally has a chance to take revenge on his old enemies, the Turks. He has a weakness for death, plunder, chivalry, humor and being called "Monsieur": the confrontation on the Meydan field with the Turks has fulfilled an old ambition of Issa. For a long time he has rebuilt with flint his towers, often hit by bullets, and has sharpened his sword for the final battle against the Turks. "Monsieur" Isa is the greatest Albanian hero since Skanderbeg, in the fifteenth century. He is the bravest, the most honest, the noblest, the toughest, and the most famous of the Balkan warriors. And, he knows it. When he was born on a cold March morning in 1870, his mother had told him that he would live in blood but die in peace. And, at the age of three, the healthy Isa found himself playing around the blood of an Albanian killed by thieves, who had left him on the street. With this Isa begins his story. Isa's first political outburst was his revenge on the Russian consul, Shcherbina. This had happened nine years earlier. Isa was stirring up a storm in the hearts of the men and women of Mitrovica; and he was particularly angry because of a dark-skinned girl named Lime, who served in the consul's household. Isa threatened Mitrovica. There, Qamil Pasha had 12 battalions - about 700 men - while Isa had 1500. However, he threatened to attack the city. When Shcherbina heard that Isa was talking too much and threatening to kidnap his maid, he asked Qamil to turn his artillery towards the hills where Isa was standing. The first shell passed just over the head of his blood brother, Burhan. Isa saw his chance there. He reminded Burhan's brother that good Albanians do not forget their wounds. The brother went down to Mitrovica. He used his skills to ambush Shcherbina. And he shot him in the head. Then, Mr. Isa gained fame and greatness, and Abdul Hamit, finding no remedy for his strength, tried his usual method: bribery. He invited Isa to Yildez. He affectionately called him "Monsieur" and offered him $14 a month and a harem to live as a "good Muslim" in Istanbul. Isa refused the $000 and even the harem. "I used to breathe in the city," he said. Abdul put him on a pension and sent him back home. On the way to Mitrovica, Isa, carrying $12 in cash - an amount never seen before in Northern Albania as a bribe - was attacked by seven Greeks. His only friend was shot dead. Isa managed to escape. The Greeks followed him. Isa found a deep hollow and hid behind a rock. He shot the first Greek who came across him, leaving him dead on the spot. The others behind him fled in a hurry. Isa shot another Greek, leaving him dead, and wounded a third, while he shot a fourth in the eye. Those who survived fled with all four. Isa returned safely to his homeland, with the $000 and valuable trophies with him - a revolver, a sword, and a Greek chariot. He shared his goods generously with his friends, everything he had: the $12, the revolvers, and the Greek chariot. Isa had sworn in Istanbul that he would love Abdul Hamit, and he kept his promise. He kept it up by declaring war on the Young Turks. This was also the cause of the Albanian uprisings of 000 and 1910. When in April 1912, Shefqet Pasha with 1910 men started from Skopje to Verisovic to fight Isa, Isa cut the railway line and stopped all trains. He protected Kaçanik's neck for a week and withdrew only when he was threatened from behind. This is the kind of enemy that the Turks have to deal with in the current war. In Kaçanik, Isa gained fame for unprecedented courage and severity. When his men were seen beckoning, he would rush over the crest of the hill and suddenly appear. Once, a shell managed to catch him in his shirt. When his 13-year-old nephew tried to run from him, Isa fired a volley after him, knocking him to the ground. After Kaçanik, he went to Montenegro to cause riots against the Young Turks. This was his fourth visit there. He spent the winter in Podgorica and campaigned with such bravery and pride among the highlanders that they rose up in a bloody uprising. Isa rushed to Kosovo, to draw his men into battle. There he was disappointed. The “intelligence” – that is, the new Nationalist Party – was in charge. Isa took up his part of the work and swore to defend the national cause faithfully against the Young Turks (New Turks) or even the Old Turks. When Sultan Mahmud V made his pilgrimage to the tomb of Sultan Murad, he issued an amnesty decree. Isa Boletini was pardoned. He was summoned to Skopje and offered a pension. He refused the pension and the pardon as well. “What do you want?” the Turks asked. Weapons, Isa said. He took them, but not from the negotiators. Three days later, he attacked a Turkish train with weapons. 30 Turks fought back. They were surrounded. Isa offered them protection. The Turks left their weapons on the ground. Then a foolish Turk tried to escape. The surrendered were shot. They fired until all 30 Turks lay dead. Isa was accused of treason. The guns were fired accidentally, he said. This is the way of Jesus. He is a cultured humorist. When he was fighting Shemsi Pasha, he wrote verses to the Turkish commander in envelopes decorated with flowers, and sent the letter to him in the south of Kupril, where they were sent by regular mail. He knew that Qamili was a lover of women and had many girlfriends in Kupril and Krushevo; the letters were written in an unspoken Albanian and when Shemsiu translated them, he saw that they were declarations of war, not love. Seven times within the last decade, the Turks shot down or knocked down the tower belonging to Isa. Isa neither rebuilt them nor changed their place. When his third tower was captured by Shefqet Pasha, the Turks found bullets in Isa's room adorned with mocking verses. They were written by Isa's rhapsody and blood brother, the Albanianized Serb, Kovic. Even in his mother's Albanian, Isa does not say much to him. Countless stories have been told about Jesus, some of them true and some false, like the word of Jesus himself. If he were an Englishman he would wear a dozen Victorian crosses on his chest, if he were a German he would be the proud possessor of enough Iron Crosses to make a ball of them. His forces vary in number, but they are nevertheless numerous, and there is scarcely a member of them who will not tell you that he has left his life in the hands of fate, forgiving the bravery of Isa Boletini. He is the only man in the world whose name inspires terror in the hearts of brave and fanatical Turks. In the minds of Turkish soldiers, a life of privilege goes on, and campaigns against it are simply a waste of time and ammunition. This is also the real reason why the Turks will not fight it, and if they find the chance, they will even avoid it. Endless money has been spent by the Turks to buy Isa's murder with bribes, but in vain. The Young Turks have put a reward of 20 dollars on his head, but the money is in Thessaloniki, still unclaimed by anyone to this day. It's worth more than $000 for a shot in the shining eyes of "Monsieur" Boletin, especially when there's a big chance for the killer, coming in second on the date. As a result, many attempts have been made to end Isa Boletin, failing. But, attempts made by Turks who worship Allah enlightened, and not by traitors within his camp. On one occasion, when attacked from behind, the long blade of the knife broke through the large heart of the lion of Albania, thanks to a silver medal he wore on his chest. Quickly Isa turned on him and grabbed his aggressor by the neck; cleanly and surely, his long knife was returned to its original destination, and Isa went along the river bank and tied up the wound that had pierced his body so deeply that one could try to put a finger in there. Isa's fixation on being called "Monsieur" is a fragment of his magnificent weakness. He first heard about this word in civilized Cetinje. There Isa wore "European" clothes for the first time, visited and hosted diplomats and aspired in his great weakness to be a "European". He ordered to print business cards with the inscription "Monsieur Issa de Boletini" and distributed them to diplomats, shopkeepers, postmen and Montenegrin highlanders. Also, he learned 50 words in French and tried to impose them on the Turkish diplomats from Paris. In fact, Isa was quite bright. But Isa's anger was forgivable. He was an extremely handsome man, the classic rebel type, with a fine body, big, dark eyes, and a killer crush on women. He would rather appear dressed in a mountain suit than in a German bonnet, and his gun earns him much more respect than his business card. "Monsieur Issa". Isa does not show the 42 years on his shoulder, and thank God, he has before him a long life of battles, plunder, treachery, wisdom and French politeness. Such a man cannot have an ordinary career. He is destined to die on the gallows or in battle. /Telegraph/

storyCult