Haxhi Zeka was born in the village of Shoshan in the Gjakova Highlands, a patriot, popular leader, and founder of the Peja League. Together with his family, he migrated to the city of Peja. He attended the maktab in Peja and the Great Madrasa in Gjakova. From an early age, he was involved in anti-Ottoman activities. He was one of the organizers and participants in the General Assembly of the League of Prizren on June 10, 1878, and as a representative of the Peja nahiye, he was elected a member of the Central Committee of the League. He contributed to the consolidation of the army of the League of Prizren and other institutions in the branch of the League in Peja. He participated in military action against Mehmed Ali Pasha Maxharr in Gjakova in September 1878 and, at the end of 1879 and the beginning of 1880, participated in the battles for the defense of Plav and Guci against the Montenegrin military forces. After the suppression of the League of Prizren, Haxhi Zeka, along with Sulejman Vokshi and other patriots, during the period 1884–1885, led the uprisings of Albanians against the Ottoman Empire. He remained loyal to the autonomist ideas of the League of Prizren and supported the unity of Albanian forces, regardless of religious and regional differences. In 1893, in cooperation with Bajram Curri, they organized and led anti-Ottoman uprisings in the Peje and Gjakove regions. During the months of February to March 1897, he laid the foundations of a new alliance, which later became known as the “Albanian League of Prizren”. After consultations with the Albanian Committee in Istanbul, led by Sami Frashëri, Haxhi Zeka convened the Peja Assembly, which took place from January 23 to 29, 1899. In this assembly, the Albanian League of Peja, also known as “Besa-Besë“, was founded, with Haxhi Zeka as its chairman. He took charge of organizing military forces to defend Albanian lands from attacks by Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece. His activities worried the Ottoman Empire, Serbia, and Montenegro. He was assassinated in an attack organized by Serbia in 1902. (In the photo: Haxhi Zeka)
Text: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Kosovo – Vol. II , Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Prishtina, 2018, page 1793.
Photo: © https://gazetavatra.com/haxhi-zeka-udheheqes-i-levizjes-kombetare-shqiptare/
Graphic processing: AHCF
