Llazar Bozo (January 1882 – 18 April 1956) was an Albanian activist, freedom-fighter, commander, benefactor and delegate representing Myzeqe region. Llazar Bozo was active in the political and liberation events of the Albanian National Awakening, as well as in the national liberation movements of the two World Wars, events that shaped the statehood of modern Albania.
Early life Llazar Bozo was born in January 1882 in Kolonjë, Fier, in Ottoman Albania (now, modern Albania) of Aromanian origin with early roots from Grabovë, Albania.
During the depopulation wave of the Aromanian settlements of Grabovë and Moscopole in the late 17th and 18th century, his family had to flee and move to Kolonjë in Myzeqe region in Albania.
Llazar studied in the school of the Ardenica Monastery.
Llazar Bozo's wealth had its source from his activities in producing and international trading of manufacture, jewelry, tobacco, wine, olive oil, food and clothing.
Independence movement
Komitadji Llazar Bozo began his activity as a Komitadji (Albanian: Komit) in 1906 and gets involved in anti-Ottoman activities with other komitas and freedom-fighters with whom he had friendship such as Çerçiz Topulli, Mihal Grameno, Themistokli Gërmenji etc.
His activities during this period were mainly in the regions of Berat, Korcë, Gjirokastër.
The victory of the Battle of Mashkullorë (Albanian: Beteja e Mashkullorës) after the Ottoman binbashi of Gjirokastër was assassinated on February 25, 1908, by the cheta of Albanian rebels led by Çerçiz Topulli, triggered the premises for a general anti-Ottoman uprising.
In 1910 Llazar Bozo with other komitadjis, created a first cheta of armed rebel fighters and performed attacks against the authorities of the Ottoman garrisons in Lushnjë.
In 1911, the organised chetas were circulating in the Karbunare forests, Lushnjë.
In May 1911, the “Freedom or Death” uprising Committee (Albanian: Komiteti kryengritës “Liri o vdekje”) in Vlorë, planned the armed uprising program against the Ottoman regime, and Albanians were preparing for general armed revolts in Mirditë, Shkodër, Kosovë and Toskëri in south Albania.
In the Myzeqe region was decided to attack the Ottoman military garrisons of Lushnjë.
Three chetas of armed fighters led respectively by Llazar Bozo, Taulla Sinani and Besim Nuri attacked the Ottoman military garrisons and administration, liberated Lushnja and raised the Albanian flag.
Declaration of independence
Context On November 19, 1912, after a diplomatic campaign in Europe, patriots led by Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora set off from Trieste, Italy to Durrës, Albania.
The city of Vlora was blockaded by the Greek military fleet.
On November 11, 1912, Ismail Qemali set off with delegates from central Albania from Durrës towards Vlora to declare the independence of Albania on November 28, 1912.
The Ottoman Wali of Ioannina, in a secret telegram ordered that Ismail Qemali be arrested dead or alive as soon as he entered Lushnja. For this, a detachment of Ottoman gendarmes was sent to the village of Gramsh, Lushnja.
Mission Ismail Qemali's arrest was prevented thanks to the patriots and the Myzeqe.
Ismail Qemali was able to pass safely through the villages of Cermë Bicak, Cermë Boshk, Cermë Pasha, Cermë Ciflik, Sulzotaj, Divjakë, Xeng, Mizë, Kryekuq, Babunjë, Libofshë.
Until the village of Petovë, Ismail Qemali was accompanied by the Libofshë patriots Ikonom Dhima, Tuni Gjergji, Zoi Marini, Zoi Ndreko, etc.
Llazar Bozo and his cheta of armed fighters ensured Ismail Qemali a safe passage through the Myzeqe region, from Cerma, the Ardenica monastery and Libofshë to Vlora, where was held the act of declaring the independence of Albania in the Assembly of Vlorë on November 28, 1912.
Llazar Bozo communicated to Ismail Qemali the joyful news of the liberation of Lushnja, with Myzeqe region and of the raising of the Albanian flag in Lushnja, on November 27, 1912 that took place a few days before the declaration of Albanian independence in Vlora on November 28, 1912.
World War I In 1913, all southern Albania, except for Vlora and Berat, was under Greek occupation.
Northern Albania was under Serbo-Montenegrin occupation.
In central Albania, after the withdrawal of Serbian forces, Essad Pasha Toptani established his power, who on October 12, 1913 gathered an "Elderly" in Durrës and proclaimed a separate government. The ties with the Vlora government were severed.
Two centers of power were created in Albania. The Vlora Government and the Essad Pasha Toptani Government that was mainly supported by the great landlords and the great Ottoman era beys.
Llazar Bozo sided with the principles of the declaration of Albanian independence by Ismail Qemali of the Vlora government.
Peasant Revolts 1913-1915 In Myzeqe region, the oppression of the peasantry was severe.
Llazar Bozo with his armed groups, fought against the power and the forces of Essad Pasha Toptani Government in the years 1913-1914 during the 1914–1915 Peasant revolts in Albania.
On January 24, 1913, the Lushnja platoons commanded by Llazar Bozo and Taullah Sinani destroyed the Essadist forces led by Dervish Bey Bicaku.
In May–June 1914, the rebel forces of Myzeqe region clashed in Krutje with the forces of the Kavaja feudal lords in fierce fighting for five days in a row. About 500-800 Essadist forces burned the villages of Myzeqe and reached Lushnja.
The Peasant Uprising of Central Albania led by Haxhi Qamili also spread to Myzeqe region.
All of Myzeqe region was involved in the uprising, and defeated the forces of Azis Pasha etc.
Llazar Bozo, who had initially gathered about 500 fighters, met Haxhi Qamili in Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana in June 1914 with the aim of coordinating the peasant uprising forces against the government forces of the Essad Pasha Toptani and the occupying Serbian-Montenegrin armies.
On July 11, 1914 in Maliq, an armistice was signed with the Greek forces.
On July 13, 1914, the rebel forces entered Berat, and the government forces left Fier, which was under pressure from the insurgent forces led by Llazar Bozo. The fighting spread to the banks of the Vjosa River.
Haxhi Qamili, led 3300 peasant rebel forces towards Berat.
The forces led by Llazar Bozo also set off towards Berat, joined by the exploited farmers of the province.
On August 8–9, 1914, the rebel forces defeated the government forces led by the prefect of Berat.
On August 11, 1914, the government forces were badly defeated by the rebel forces in Fier.
Aftermath of the uprising Essad Pasha Toptani, after emerging from the 200-day isolation imposed by Haxhi Qamili's rebels, returns, and with the help of Serbian forces that attack Albania on June 2, 1915, as well as mercenary forces, undertakes a campaign of terror against the villages that had participated in the peasant uprising.
The rebellion was crushed.
Death sentences The leaders of the Peasant Uprising, Haxhi Qamili and Musa Qazimi, are sentenced to death by the court headed by Xhelal Bey Zogu.
Llazar Bozo was also sentenced to death, in absentia, by the Essadist court headed by Xhelal Zogu.
The court also sentenced his friend Nebi Bali, the commander of the rebel forces in the Peqin and Darsia areas, to death by hanging.
Llazar Bozo was forced to temporarily take refuge in Italy, while his house in Kolonjë, Lushnje, was burned down and his family was forced to hide in the houses of the Myzeqe people to escape reprisals.
Growing reputation The participation and contribution of Commander Llazar Bozo in the Albanian Peasant Uprising for the rights of the oppressed peasantry, further increased his authority in the Myzeqe region as a brave commander and patriot.
The newspaper “Zëri i Shqipërisë”, which was run by a committee headed by Themistokli Gërmenji, in the article entitled “The Cause of the First Uprising in Myzeqe” dated March 29, 1915, describes him as “…the tireless and famous Llazar Bozo…”.
Pacification commissions Llazar Bozo played a role in the creation of peace commissions, to unite the people against the tactics promoted by Essad Pasha Toptani forces to divide the people of Myzeqe on religious grounds in 1914.
In a peace commission were Mihal Grameno, Cilka Coruni from Vlora, Llazar Bozo from Kolonja of Myzeqe, etc.
Congress of Lushnjë 1920
The necessity of a national congress The Treaty of London of April 26, 1915 that planned the division of Albania.
After the agreement of August 20, 1919 of the provisional government of Durrës with Italy that recognised, among others, the sovereignty of Italy over Vlora;
In the Albanian National Movement began to spread the idea of calling a national assembly, which would save the country from dissolution. The first initiatives, but without result, were undertaken by patriots in Tirana, then in Elbasan, Berat, Krujë and Shijak.
This important task was then taken over by an initiative committee created in the city of Lushnja by patriotic activists such as Llazar Bozo, Besim Nuri, Taullah Sinani, Jakov Bozo, Eshref Frashëri, Zija Mullai, Andre Pepa, etc.
Contribution to the congress Llazar Bozo was a member of the Initiating Committee of the Congress of Lushnjë.
Llazar Bozo was a delegate, representative of Myzeqe and signatory in the proceedings of the Congress of Lushnjë.
Llazar Bozo was charged also with the task of organising all the work for the smooth running of the Congress of Lushnjë, responsible for the subcommittees for preparing the conditions for organising the Congress of Lushnjë, receiving of the delegates, their accommodation and food, etc.
Llazar Bozo was appointed Commander of the armed forces for the protection of the Congress of Lushnjë.
The Italian army, and the Government of Durrës demonstrated military force in order to prevent the Congress of Lushnja.
Two military battalions led by Mufid Bey Libohova, with the support of the commander of the Italian occupation Settimio Piacentini in Vlora, set out to prevent the organisation of the Congress of Lushnjë, but they did not succeed.
On January 15, 1920 everything was ready for the Congress of Lushnjë.
Congress of Lushnja outcomes The Congress of Lushnjë concluded its work on January 21–31, 1920.
The decisions of the Congress of Lushnja were fundamental for preserving the integrity and the future of the sovereign Albanian state. Its decisions preceded the War of Vlora a few months later in 1920.
At this congress it was decided that Tirana would be declared the capital of Albania and that a new modern democratic government would be created.
Vlora war 1920 A consequence of the decisions of the Congress of Lushnja was the expulsion of foreign occupying armies from the territory of independent Albania.
Creation of the National Defence Committee of Lushnja With the formation of the “National Defense Committee” in Vlora, the “National Defense Committee” in Lushnja was also created by Llazar Bozo, Taullah Sinani, teacher Rrapi Mërtiri, Zoi Ndreko, Naun Prifti and Sil Keqi.
Elected Member of the Operational Headquarters Captain (Albanian: Kapedan) Llazar Bozo was elected a member of the Operational Headquarters (Albanian: Shtabi Operativ Luftarak) that was located in Novoselë, Vlora, to coordinate combat operations in the War of Vlora.
Participation in battles The fighters from Myzeqe region participated in the fierce liberation battles in the War of Vlora in 1920, mainly in Novoselë, Babicë, and the surroundings of the city of Vlora.
In July 1920, Captain (Albanian: Kapedan) Llazar Bozo personally led one of the night combat operations to capture the 800m high, well-fortified concrete hill where the Italian military bases, barracks and artillery were located, directing the freedom fighters to attack from the steep cliff of the hill.
After midnight, the fierce combat operation ended successfully for the Albanian side.