Isa Boletini – The Last Mohican

Aubrey Herbert had been planning to meet Isa Boletin for some time. The living legend was talked about so much, from the Yildiz palace and all of Istanbul - to the farthest corners of the empire. The personality of the Albanian noble greatly intrigued the diplomat, the military and the British aristocratic politician. He knew that Isa had not even turned 17 years old when he had shown himself brave and a master of war against the Ottoman forces in the battle of Slivova in 1881. However, his enmity with the sultan was not eternal.

In 1902, Sultan Abdul Hamit II had appointed Isa commander of his personal guard, which was the most special unit the Empire had. Of course, according to tradition, the guards were always carefully recruited Albanians. Isa Boletini spent four years in this position, for which the Sultan gave him the title of bey.

Isa Bey Boletini had returned to Kosovo, but had promised the Sultan that he would not fight against him. In 1908, he did not fully support the plans of the Albanian insurgents and the program of the Young Turks. But everything has an end. Since the end of 1908, Isa Bey had turned against the empire and led the Albanian uprisings until the independence of Albania.

Looking for the Isa Bulletin

At the very beginning of January 1909, Aubrey Herbert went to Mitrovica. He was thinking of meeting Isa Beu who had once been Yldiz's pet from where he received a fat salary, but now he had returned the rifle to the Sultan as well. In Mitrovica, people told the English guest that Isa Bey, with his own hand, had killed 20 people, all of them senior officers.

Herbert asked to find him in Mitrovica and its surroundings.

"Here, behind this stone, he killed someone" or "behind that hill, he killed two people last fall", said a follower from that side. Herberti, during the entire time he stayed in Kosovo, saw only signs where Isa Bey had acted (killed), who had now earned the epithet of the Albanian Robin Hood among the English. But he could not meet Isa.

Prijepolje: Friday, August 23, 1912

Aubrey Herbert had arrived in Prijepolje after a tiring journey from Sarajevo. He had stopped to spend the night in this place where the residents who had wrinkles on their heads started to report. After breakfast, still before the heat of the country, a gendarme named Ramadan, together with some soldiers, came to escort the distinguished English guest from Prijepolja to Sjenica.

Somewhere in the middle of the road, the convoy passed at the foot of a slope where some Serbian girls were selling and singing. After a few minutes, when the convoy stopped for a rest under the shade of some oaks and at the foot of a ravine, Ramadani broke out a song. He sang a conventional song, which rarely turns into a ballad. According to the lyrics, a mother was complaining because her son had married a daughter-in-law who did not enjoy her work. The song was accompanied by a trickle of rain and the gurgling of the water in the ravine.

"How is the work with Isa Boletin?", Herbert asked, enough to break the monotony that created the pause after the "painful" song. "Aaah, he killed 100 people", said some soldiers almost in unison. Ramadan the policeman, who was not sure if the Englishman liked the song, confirmed this by shaking his head.

Three years ago there were 20 and now the number has risen to 100. The rapid increase in the number was not good for peace - thought Herbert. When the convoy took the direction of Sjenica, Herbert began to see the nature as beautiful as the one in southern Albania.

Mitrovica: Monday, August 26, 1912

The surroundings of Mitrovica seemed to Herbert similar to that of Northern Italy. The hills looked like those in Tuscany, with the difference that those of Mitrovica cast an almost purple shade. At noon Herbert went to the office telegrafiyou have a telegram to send to London. The telegraph operator was very rude and kicked the Englishman out of the office, arguing that no one in the office knew French. The Englishman responded in the same way.

Then, Herbert went to visit the kaymekam, Halit Beu, whom he wrote was a capable man with the work habits of an English civil servant. While they were talking, he entered the office telegrafisti who, when he saw that the Englishman was a very honored guest of the kajmekam, let go of his legs. Trying to reason, he behaved like a miserable child in front of the kaymekam.

"I didn't say those bad words to him," and he waved in Herbert's direction. Then, he went on to say that the words were dedicated to someone waiting in line behind Herbert.

When Herbert left Hal Bey's office, he met the Russian consul on the street. The consul invited him to play bridge. Herbert refused on the grounds that he had never played and did not know the rules.

Meeting with Isa Boletini

Mitrovica: Tuesday, August 27, 1912

While Herbert was drinking coffee with the kajmekam, he entered the office telegrafikeep up with new news.

"There have been serious murders today in Peja", he said telegrafisti and continued to report on the details before the kaymekam. More murders were expected, but not before Bajram, because by then the Albanians had given allegiance to the Ottoman government.

The situation was getting complicated in Peja, which city Herbert remembered after visiting it a few years ago. The Ottoman governor then had a banquet for Herbert. Sejfedin Bey was also there, an important Albanian of the city, but young in age. That was why Herbert had asked him if he had ever had a fight.

"Of course I won't fight. I am twenty-four years old", replied Sejfedin Bey quickly, proudly and with a little bitterness. Then Herbert asked the Albanian bey when was the last time he had been involved in the war? Seyfedin Bey answered: "When we expelled his excellency from Peja" and waved at the governor.

In those cases, the Turkish governor, who did not like at all what Seyfedin Bey had said, intervened bitterly, saying: "The lack of courtesy is not necessary."

However, Sejfedin Bey was not doing well now, since he had not organized Peja and had not participated in the last uprising, even though the people had broken the warehouses and stolen their weapons. The Albanian leaders, including Isa Bey Boletin, did not see this gesture of Seyfedin Bey with good eyes. Perhaps this was the reason why he had now, during the August days, either out of patriotism or because he wanted to settle matters with the leaders of the uprising, gone with his men to fight on the border with Montenegro.

In the heat of the afternoon Herbert met the Russian and Austro-Hungarian consuls who were on good terms with the English visitor but not with each other. In the afternoon he went to Nexhip Bey Draga's workshop. The Draga brothers informed him of the current situation and the new demands that the Albanians had presented to the Porta.

Herbert was with the Austrians at dinner. In the middle of dinner, a mysterious order came to him. Kasneci told him that Isa Bey Boletini was waiting for him in a certain place. This was the moment Aubrey Herbert had been waiting for for years. Isa and Herbert had communicated several times with letters and telegrams, but had never met.

Leaving dinner halfway, Herbert went to the meeting place which was an inn outside the city where Isa Bey was waiting for him. Herbert describes the moment of the meeting as follows:

"Isa Boletini was surrounded by some wild Albanian mountaineers armed with weapons. Their appearance was beautiful under the shadow of the moon. I was waiting in the yard. One or two of them came to talk to me. Then I entered a medium-sized room where was Isa Boletini, a very tall, well-built Albanian with lively eyes with a beautiful, stern face and dressed in gypsy clothes. One of his sons, the eldest of the nine, a very handsome boy, stayed in the room to translate into Italian, but this proved unnecessary. He took the others out, except for one, and we sat on a low couch by the window."

The conversation started with the presentation of the political attitudes that the Albanians had. Isa Boletini did not support the Young Turks. At the moment, based on the existing circumstances, he still wanted an Albania under the Sultan, but protected by the Albanians themselves, for which he required arms from the Porte. As a military strategist that he was, it was clear that the Serbs, together with the Montenegrins, would penetrate the Albanian lands if there was no weaponry, organization and support from the Porta.

At Isa Bey's request, Herbert explained why London was still in favor of preserving the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire. He said that the English would rather see the Porte ruling the Balkans than Austria-Hungary or any other power. In other words, London did not want the destruction of the Ottoman Empire, as this would disrupt the market along with British geostrategy.

At this moment, gunshots were heard from outside. After they did not stop, Isa Bey, with a cold calm, pulled back the curtain to see what was happening outside under the moonlight. With maddening speed his soldiers grabbed their weapons and went out into the courtyard. Initially, the impression was created that the house was surrounded by the Ottoman army, and Isa Bey prepared to mourn the siege.

"I'm coming with you and if the Turks catch us, they won't be able to kill you if I'm with you."

Isa did not delay and replied: "No, you are my guest. My honor does not allow this."

At this moment Aubrey Herbert realized the mistake he made with the proposal. Isa Bey, being obliged by the norms of traditional Albanian laws, had to offer protection to the guest and not the other way around. Herbert's proposal could not be implemented since the place where they were located required the application of special legal norms contained in the local canon. Exchanging these words, the gunfire stopped. Without any delay, Isa Bey's men confirmed that the explosions were the cause of a fight between some Ottoman soldiers who were stationed nearby.

The conversation continued late into the night. Both parties agreed that very difficult days were coming for the Albanians. At the request of Isa Bey, Herbert pledged that he would seek protection for the Albanians from the Parliament and the British Government.

Isa Boletini and anecdotes of London

After a year Isa Bey would meet Abrey Herbert again. This time, in London, Isa Bey Boletini was a personal guest of Herbert, who tirelessly helped the Albanian cause in his country. Isa Bey Boletini's stay in London was marked by historical moments. The general of the Albanian insurgents, as the British called Isa Boletini, left an indescribable impression in all the circles he appeared in. The British were amazed by the appearance and personality of the Albanian legend. Kreshnik, with his physical appearance, interior, soul and all other characteristics, represented the example of the noble and traditional Albanian who had passed through all those centuries unscathed.

During her stay as a guest at the Herberts' house, it happened that Isa Bey was left alone with the lady of the house, Mary Herbert. Neither of them knew each other's language and this created situations of anecdotes. The use of gestures was often a useless communication. The telephone used to ring frequently in Herbert's office in the British Parliament. Mary called the man for translation, clarifications and interpretations.

"That's what Isa Bey told me. What does this mean?", Mrs. asked the husband. Herbert. He received answers and often burst into laughter.

Mrs. Herbert was waiting for Isa Bey with coffee. Dozens of times a day she entered and exited the grandiose drawing room with copper Turkish coffee cutlery. Every time she entered and left, Isa Bey stood up to honor and thank the lady for the conversation she was having. Holding the serm amber in his left hand, Isa Bey bowed before the lady, making a half bow with his right hand and placing it on his heart. In those moments even Mrs. Herbert returned the respect. She would carefully drop the tray on the table and take two steps back and then bow, moving her right hand almost to the ground, left and right, and her left hand half raised, just as the English greet their queen or members of the royal family. . This greeting ceremony was repeated very often. Mary Herbert and Isa Boletini spent almost the whole day teasing each other.

And, the moment of Isa Boletini's famous anecdote with cobras in Parliament. When Sir Edward Gray (British Foreign Secretary) was escorting Isa Bey from the meeting they had, they stopped at the door where the guards returned the revolver to Isa Bey. According to Edwin Jacques, the British secretary smilingly told Isa Bey: "General, the newspapers can write tomorrow that Isa Boletini, whom even Mahmut Shefqet Pasha could not disarm, was disarmed in London." Isa Boletini had looked at Sir Edward Gray and said: "No, no, I don't arm myself even in London" and he had taken out the spare pistol from his friend.

Isa Bey – The giant who was imposing with his appearance

Herbert, amazingly, describes in detail every step of the Isa Bey Boletin in London. Herbert organized meetings of members of the delegation with the highest British officials, gave speeches in Parliament, wrote articles in newspapers and did a series of other important activities in order to make politicians, soldiers, diplomats and the British public aware of the plight of the Albanians. and their national cause.

"The most picturesque figure of this delegation was Isa bey Boletini, the Robin Hood of Albania", writes Herbert, continuing to count the other facts which had turned this man into a legend even while he was alive. The impressions that Isa Bey left in London were amazing. With the body of a giant (198 centimeters tall) and characteristic national clothing, he imposed his appearance everywhere. Herbert notes that even in public places, when Isa Bey came out, the whole city stopped to look at this unusual man.

One day Herbert had organized a lunch at the restaurant of an Albanian (Toni Preša) in London, to meet Isa Boletini with Lloyd George, who at that time was Minister of Finance, but who was later elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. Herbert describes this encounter brilliantly. After Lloyd George had disclosed the positions of the British government on the Balkans (unfavorable to Albania), Isa Bey addressed Herbert, who served as a translator in this case, with these words:

"Tell this one", said Isa Bey, "that I am a mountaineer, like this one, and I know that he has a good heart for those who suffer, especially for the mountaineers. And, say that when spring comes, we will fertilize the lands of Kosovo with the blood and bones of the Serbs, since the Albanians have suffered a lot and cannot forget".

Of course, Herbert had softened this second sentence a bit during the translation. However, he notes that Isa Bey left a strong impression on Lloyd Gergei. "They were a funny pair. Ll. loved him", wrote Herbert, which in Albanian should be translated as: "They were a strange kite. Lloyd George really liked him (Isa Bey, vrj.)".

One day, while walking down the street (Regent Street), some large posters were attached all over the walls, with the main news of the day: "Nijazi Bey was killed by the son of Isa Boletini". The members of the Committee for Albania, except Aubrey Herbert, were shocked by this news. Herbert, at the insistence of the members of the Committee, said to Isa Bey: "It is written on these walls that your son killed Nijazi. Do you believe this"?

In a cold, icy way, Isa Bey said that this now made no difference, adding: "This is very possible. I know that my son was determined to kill Nijaziu, as much as Nijaziu was determined to kill my son".

Then, walking in the zoo, Isa Bey was asked if she liked what she was seeing there.

"All of you have been put in a cage except the devil. I like freedom", answered Isa bey Boletini.

Even in the British Parliament, Isa Bey left a great impression and effect. Lord Trowen (major general), to honor him officially, had received him in military uniform.

Herbert had once asked him how he rated London? Isa Bey had answered: "With all the greatness that this country has and with all the kindness that you English people have, I would not exchange this for the rocks and rivers of my country."

Death by law

The anecdote of the disarmament in London serves to show that Albanians never surrender their weapons anywhere and forever. This was another law which Isa Boletini, like many others, respected to the end. It was necessary to protect the word given, the friend, the threshold of the house, the honor and the whole tradition. In those times, Albanians were obliged at every step by all the laws they had.

"You have to take care of yourself without being bullied", Isa Boletini had often said to everyone around her. And just like that, while respecting the laws, the legendary Kreshnik died.

There is a suspicion based on facts that the French embassy in Cetina was involved in helping the Montenegrins in organizing the murder of Isa Boletini. The British, it seems, had smelled this bad work and offered protection to Isa Bey. The French were the first to offer him help and for this reason Isa Bey refused to turn his back on them and go with the British who were actually the only friends he had.

On January 23, 1916, Isa Boletini fell heroically fighting on the bridge of Podgorica in the ambush organized by the Montenegrins. That same day, their country capitulated to the Austro-Hungarian troops. Montenegro, on the day it was signing the capitulation, on the most shameful day imaginable, found time to kill Isa Boletini. For Montenegro, this state that was expanding on the lands and blood of Albanians, Isa Boletini was more dangerous than the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The death of Isa Bey Boletini symbolically also marked the loss of half of the territories that the Albanians had and the end of the war to return them during a century. Isa Boletini was the last man in whom all the characteristics of being an Albanian warrior were summed up. For Abrey Herbert, the English, and all of us, Isa Boletini was the Last of the Mohicans.

(This account is based on Aubrey Herbert's Ben Kendim diary. The author prepared this text exclusively for the Telegraph)