Aristidh Ruçi (1875–1950) was born in Sheper of Zagoria. He got his first lessons at the village school, then moved to Ioannina to attend high school at the “Zosimea” gymnasium. For a period of 2 years, he lived in Istanbul and returned to Ioannina during the years 1899-1904. These movements allowed him to come into contact with great figures, such as Naim Frashëri, Shahin Kolonja or Jani Vruho. In 1906, he settled in the city of Vlora, to stay there until the end of his life, where he became one of the city’s best-known merchants. Aristidh Ruçi turns into an important figure with a wide national activity. In 1908, he joined the patriotic club “Labëria” of Vlora. His name is related to the efforts of spreading the Albanian language. In the National Assembly, on November 28, 1912, he was a delegate from Tepelena and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He was among the founders of the “National Defense” Committee, which helped to organize the Vlora War (1920). In the momentum of this war, the patriotic society “Përlindja Kombëtare” was created, where the commission tasked Aristidh Ruçi and some other patriots with the drafting of its regulations. During the following years, he was involved in the democratic life of the country, such as the federation “Atdheu” and the society “Bashkimi”. In 1937, he was elected a member of the leadership of the Albanian National Bank. During the occupation, as a result of the anti-fascist activity, he was arrested and exiled to Italy. Upon his return to Albania, he was arrested by the established communist system because he was a great merchant. After 2 years of imprisonment, he was released, but everything he had was seized, even his household furniture. (In the photo: Aristidh Ruçi)
Text: “House of Leaves” National Museum
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristidh_Ru%C3%A7i
Graphic processing: AHCF
