Sulejman Vokshi, activist and military leader of the Albanian League of Prizren, Hero of the People, was born in Gjakova, into a family with traditions. He started his patriotic activity at a young age. He was one of the founders of the League and one of the main political and military leaders, a member of the Central Committee and a consistent representative of its radical wing. He stood at the forefront of the war for the protection of the entirety of the Albanian lands and of the war for the realization by force of arms of the autonomy of the entire Albanian lands. As a member of the military staff of the League, Sulejman Vokshi was one of the leaders of the Albanian fighters in the battles for the defense of Plava and Gucia, which led to the defeat of the forces of Montenegro. With the formation of the temporary government of the Albanian League, in January 1881, he was charged with the duty of the military leader of the armed forces of its national army; he was also the chairman of the revenue and finance committee. In the capacity of the commander of the military forces, he lined up alongside Abdyl Frashëri, Ymer Prizreni and others , in the armed struggle for the realization of Albania’s autonomy. The forces of the League, under his command, within a short time extended the administrative and military power of the League in Shkup, Prishtinë, Mitrovicë, Lumë, Guci, Vuçiternë, Preshevë, etc. Under his direction, as the chief of staff of the Albanian forces, and with his direct participation, the war for the defense of the League in Shtime and Slivova, against the Ottoman forces of Dervish Pasha, took place. He was arrested, like many other leaders of the League. The Ottoman government considered him one of the most dangerous leaders of the League, therefore the extraordinary court of Prizren initially sentenced him to death, which replaced him with life imprisonment. But in the difficult conditions of the outbreak of the uprising in Eastern Rumelia, the sultan was forced to release him very quickly (1885). His image was also immortalized in historical popular songs of that period. He died in Gjakova. (In the photo: Sulejman Vokshi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2913-2914.
Photo: © National History Museum
Graphic processing: AHCF
