Dhimitër Tutulani (19 March 1857 – 1937), also known as Taq Tutulani or Dhimitraq Tutulani, was an Albanian lawyer and politician from city of
Berat
Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...
. He was one of the signatories of the
Albanian Declaration of Independence
The Albanian Declaration of Independence (Albanian language, Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six da ...
.
Life
Dhimitër Tutulani was born in the ''Goricë'' neighbourhood of
Berat
Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...
, on 19 March 1857, in a relatively rich
Aromanian family. His family roots originated from
Vithkuq, near
Korçë
Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, eighth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population of the city is 51,152 and 75,994 of Korçë municipal ...
, having been settled there after they left
Voskopojë. Tutulani family had settled to Berat and since then had been merchants. Certain old toponyms in Berat, i.e. "Ara e Tutulanëve" (Tutulani's field) or "Çezma e Tutulanit" (Tutulani's drinking fountain) give hints on the economical state and prestige of the family.
After finishing the first studies in his home town, he finished the
Zosimea high school in
Yannina where he learned several foreign languages, and later studied at the
University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; , ''Ethnikó kai Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens (UoA), is a public university in Athens, Greece, with various campuses alo ...
where he graduated in jurisprudence. During his studies he got in touch with the philosophies of
Illuminism and
Humanism
Humanism is a philosophy, philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and Agency (philosophy), agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.
The me ...
, which had been the precursors of the freedom movements throughout the
Balkans
The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...
. Tutulani returned home and opened a
law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise consumer, clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and Obligation, respon ...
, working as a lawyer. He married Marie Nova from the ''
Kala'' neighborhood of the town. The couple had a son and two daughters.
Tutulani joined the intellectual and patriotic circles in Berat, cooperating with
Jorgji (Dudë) Karbunara, Sulo Resuli, Llambi Goxhomani, Jorgji Manushi,
Nyzhet Vrioni. On 22 December 1908, the patriotic club "Bashkimi" ("The Union"), opened in Berat, being one of the many with the same name among Albanian towns and colonies. The club gathered patriotic elements from various social groups, which performed patriotic activities while being masked as cultural ones. Tutulani would soon become one of the strongest and more eloquent voices inside the club.
In 1911, the Committee of Albanians for Defending the National Rights () was formed in Berat. It was led by a Consulting Counsel (), while on 23 July 1912 the
Assembly of Sinjë would take place. The Assembly went along with the
Albanian Revolt of 1912 and came out with political demands, including the Autonomy of Albania. Tutulani's active role in all events brought him to being chosen as a delegate at the
Assembly of Vlora together with Jorgji Karbunara and
Iliaz Vrioni, which would culminate with the Albanian Declaration of Independence on 28 November 1912. Tutulani was a signatory, signing as ''Dh. Tout''.
Six years later, in December 1918, he was elected delegate of Berat at the
Congress of Durrës which took place during 25–27 December. The congress was a serious endeavor in establishing a continuity in the newly created Albanian state after
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, and came out with a provisional government. Two years later, he was again delegate, this time at the
Congress of Lushnje which would establish the territorial and political sovereignty of Albania.
Tutulani has left traces in the social and cultural perspective as well. He was a delegate at the
Congress of Berat. This time the congress was about the declaration of the
Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania (), commonly known as the Albanian Orthodox Church or the Orthodox Church of Albania, is an autocephaly, autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox church. It declared its autocephaly in ...
. It was held on 10 September 1922 inside a school in the ''Mangalem'' neighborhood.
Fan Noli
Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian Americans, Albanian-American writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, bishop, and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albania ...
and other patriotic religious (orthodox) figures came out with the decision which disconnect the Albanian church from the
Church of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (, ; ; , "Roman Orthodox Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul") is one of the fifteen to seventeen Autocephaly, autocephalous churches that together compose the Eastern Orthodox Church. ...
, and the Albanian orthodox population from the Greek influence under the moto '"Free church in a free state"' (). Tutulani served for 35 years as member of ''Dhimogjerondia'' in the
Metropolis
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural area for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big city b ...
of Berat until his death.
He also server in a few public positions. In 1923 he was elected vice prefect, and in January 1925 he became
mayor of Berat. In the first local elections of the town, held in May 1922, he was a member of the Election Commission. In 1930, he was voted as Permanent Council Members from the Municipal Assembly of Berat. He also served in civic administrative organizations.
Tutulani died in his beloved town of Berat, having written a
will
Will may refer to:
Common meanings
* Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death
* Will (philosophy), or willpower
* Will (sociology)
* Will, volition (psychology)
* Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will
...
stating that part of his wealth should go to the town, for improving education, infrastructure, and helping those in need.
Dhimiter Tutulani was the father of
Miltiadh Tutulani, member of Albanian Senate 1922-1923, Albanian Minister of Justice of
Ahmet Zogu's government September 1925 - September 1928, Minister of Finances of
Koço Kota's governments of September 1928 - January 1929, and January 1929 - March 1930, and Minister of Justice of
Pandeli Evangjeli's government of January 1933 - October 1935.
His grandson and granddaughter
Kristaq &
Margarita Tutulani were nationalist and anti-fascist activists during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, and were arrested, tortured, and execute by the
Italians
Italians (, ) are a European peoples, European ethnic group native to the Italian geographical region. Italians share a common Italian culture, culture, History of Italy, history, Cultural heritage, ancestry and Italian language, language. ...
in the
Gosë village near
Kavajë in July 1943. Both are awarded "
People's Hero" ().
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tutulani, Taq
19th-century Albanian politicians
20th-century mayors of places in Albania
Activists of the Albanian National Awakening
Signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
1857 births
1937 deaths
People from Berat
Aromanians from the Ottoman Empire
Albanian people of Aromanian descent
Albanian philanthropists
Zosimaia School alumni
All-Albanian Congress delegates
Congress of Durrës delegates