Pretash Zeka Ulaj (1882-1962) was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

military figure in the

Albanian Revolt of 1911 The Albanian revolt of 1911 or the Malësori uprising of 1911 was one of many Albanian revolts in the Ottoman Empire and lasted from 24 March 1911 until 4 August 1911 in the region of Malësia. Background The main headquarters of the rebels ...

. He was the ''

bajrak The ''bajrak'' (pronounced or , meaning "banner" or "flag") was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Administrative division, territorial unit, consisting of villages in mountainous frontier regions of the Balkans, from which military recruitment was base ...

tar'' (flag-bearer) of

Koja e Kuçit Koja e Kuçit (Koja of Kuçi) is a historical Albanian tribes, Albanian tribe and region in Malësia. Koja is a Catholic region located between Triepshi (tribe), Triepshi and Kuči. The people of Koja are referred to as ''Kojanë'' or ''Koqas''. ...

in Montenegro. He was distinguished

Battle of Deçiq The Battle of Deçiq ( sq, Beteja e Deçiqit; Montenegrin: ) was a battle between Albanian tribesmen and Ottoman forces during the Malësori uprising of 1911. It was a turning point for Albania's secession from the Ottoman Empire. Dedë Gjo ...

, fought near

Tuzi Tuzi ( cnr, Tuzi/Тузи, ; sq, Tuz or ''Tuzi'') is a small town in Montenegro and the seat of Tuzi Municipality, Montenegro. It is located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers n ...

in 1911 between Albanian highlanders and the Ottoman troops of Shefket Turgut Pasha.

Life

Pretash was born in Kojë (Koći), an Albanian-inhabited village in eastern

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

, close to the border of Albania, the second oldest of the 11 sons of Zek Nika Ulaj. His brothers also helped defend their border town against advancing Turks and Slavs into the Albanian

Malësia Malësia e Madhe ("Great Highlands"), known simply as Malësia ( sq, Malësia, cnr, / ), is a historical and ethnographic region in northern Albania and eastern central Montenegro corresponding to the highlands of the geographical subdivision ...

region. Pretash was the leader of the Kojë brotherhood (of the village of Kojë), an Albanian enclave within the Kuči mountain of Montenegro. On April 6, 1911, the Malësor Warriors led by

Ded Gjo Luli Ded Gjo Luli Dedvukaj also referred to as ''Ded Gjon Luli'' (November 1840–24 September 1915) was an Albanian guerrilla leader most notable for commanding the 1911 revolt against Ottoman troops. He was posthumously awarded the "Hero of Alban ...

reached the top of the strategic peak of Deçiq at the

. Many died that day and the Ottomans were defeated. About a year and a half later, the

Albanian flag The flag of Albania ( sq, Flamuri i Republikës së Shqipërisë) is a red flag with a silhouetted black double-headed eagle in the center. The red stands for bravery, strength, valour and bloodshed, while the Eagle represents the sovereign state ...

was risen officially in the southern town of Vlora. Since 2004, a bust of him stands in his home village Koja in

Tuzi Municipality Tuzi Municipality ( Montenegrin: Opština Tuzi / Општина Тузи; Albanian: Komuna e Tuzit) is one of the 24 Municipalities of Montenegro. The municipal seat is the town of Tuzi. The municipality is located about 10 km south of the cap ...

Life

References

Further reading