Kol Tromara (1882–1945) 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 ...

nationalist and political figure of the first half of the 20th century. Tromara was born in Albanian Orthodox

Qytezë Qytezë (or Qyteza in its definite form in Albanian) is a community in Korçë County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Devoll. The settlement is known for being the birthplace of Adam Anasta ...

, a town in today's Devoll municipality, back then part of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

, son of Thanas and Kostandina Tromara. Tromara pursued his elementary studies in nearby

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 ...

, and higher ones in

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. He started working after then as a pharmacist in Korçë, but due to economical difficulties and political oppression from the Ottomans decided to emigrate in US, quite common at the time for the Orthodox community members. Tromara settled in

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

in 1906 and was immediately involved in the patriotic circles of the Albanian community there. In 1907, he became secretary of the

Besa-Besën Besa-Besën (Pledge for a Pledge) was an organization of Albanian emigrants in Boston, Massachusetts. The society was founded on January 6, 1907, in Boston. The elected president was Fan Noli, vice-president Goni Katundi, treasurer Angelo Stefens ...

society in Boston. In 1915, he became General Secretary of

Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra (') is an association of Albanian Americans, created in 1912, that has historically protected the rights of the Albanians in the United States, as well as has endeavored in lobbying with the United States Congress about the rights of the Alb ...

. A year later, he was elected acting chairman of Vatra; in 1917 he co-founded the "Vatra Musical Band", and organized the Congress of Diaspora for raising funds in support of the Vatra's delegation (part of which Tramara was) in the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. Meanwhile, his mother had been executed in his native village by the Greek andarts of Zografos.
In 1920, he returned to Albania where he founded the "Federata e Madhe Atdheu" (Homeland Wide Federation) in

Vlorë Vlorë ( ; ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, third most populous city of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surr ...

together with

Avni Rustemi Avni Rustemi (26 September 1895 – 22 April 1924) was an Albanian patriot, revolutionary, teacher, activist and member of the Albanian parliament. Rustemi was the leader of numerous patriotic societies and associations and also a member o ...

Luigj Gurakuqi Luigj Gurakuqi (19 February 1879 – 2 March 1925), also called Louis Gurakuchi, was an Albanians, Albanian writer and politician. He was an important figure of the Albanian National Awakening and was honored with the People's Hero of Albania ...

, Ahmet Dakli, and Bedri Pejani. In 1923, as Prefect of

Gjirokastër Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in Southern Albania, southern Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë moun ...

Prefecture, Tromara reported constantly on the attempts of the Greek government to exchange the Cham Albanian population and send them to

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. Through the sub-prefecture of Chameria which was under his jurisdiction, he tried convincing the Cham population to stay and not leave. Together with Koço Muka he denounced on 27 August 1923 the scenario of the assassination of Enrico Tellini, Italian emissary dealing with Albania-Greece border delimitation, murdered by unknown assailants. He also made an attempt for the electrification of the region, by getting in contact with American companies.
On 27 December 1923 he became member of the

Albanian Parliament The Parliament of Albania () or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a four-year term on the b ...

, representing Korçë. As an active supporter of

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 the June Revolution, he left Albania in December 1924 when

Ahmet Zogu Zog I (born Ahmed Muhtar Zogolli; 8 October 18959 April 1961) was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as King ...

suppressed Noli's movement with the financial and military aid of

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...

and Greece. As many Albanian political ''emigre'' members of that time, Tromara settled in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

where he joined the "Bashkimi Kombëtar" (National Union) society. Meanwhile, a political court in Albanian sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment. After the failed assassination attempt on King Zog in 1933, he settled in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, still being one of the most active Albanian political emigrants.
With the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign which was launched by Fascist Italy, Italy against Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939), Albania in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

in 1939, Tromara returned and became member of the

Council of State A council of state is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head ...

(Albanian: Këshilli i Shtetit). He was a founding member of the

Balli Kombëtar The Balli Kombëtar (literally ''National Front'') was an Albanian nationalist, Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, collaborationist, and anti-communist resistance movement during the Second World War. It was led by Ali Këlcyra a ...

political fraction. During 1942-1943 he served as Prefect of Korçë. In 1943, following his resignation from Balli Kombëtar, he joined the Cabinet of Rexhep Mitrovica as Minister of Culture.
With the end of

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 the rise of the Communists in power, he was arrested and prosecuted in the Special Court of 1945. The court sentenced him to death on 13 April 1945. Tromara was executed by the Communists in 1945 at the age of 63. Tromara is the author of an Albanian patriotic song, ''Sa te rrojë gjithësia'' (As long as the universe lives), quite known between Albanians though the name of the author was hidden during communism.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tromara, Kol 1882 births 1945 deaths 20th-century Albanian politicians Government ministers of Albania Culture ministers of Albania Balli Kombëtar Albanian fascists Executed Albanian collaborators with Fascist Italy Executed Albanian collaborators with Nazi Germany Albanian people executed by the communist regime People executed by Albania by firing squad People from Manastir vilayet Activists of the Albanian National Awakening People from Devoll (municipality) Eastern Orthodox Christians from Albania Members of the Albanian Orthodox Church Albanian expatriates in the United States