Nikolla bey Ivanaj or Nikollë Ivanaj (1879–1951) was an Albanian journalist,
publisher and writer from
Montenegro. He was considered one of the "distinguished personalities of the most conscious Albanian nationalism" and was included in Albanian insurgents' main staff during 1911. Ivanaj was the first Albanian writer from Montenegro with his work ''The flower of eternity'' ( sq, Lulet e pasosme) published in
Tirana in 1943.
In the 1905–08 period he published the newspaper ''Shpnesa e Shqypnisë'' (The Hope of Albania) in
Dubrovnik,
Trieste and
Rome, getting financial aid from the different sides. For his publishing activities Ivanaj managed to gain financial support of
Albert Ghica
Albert Ghica was a Romanian writer and socialite. He was a member of the Ghica noble family. Later in life he changed his name to the Albanian form ''Gjika'', for more credentials in his quest for the Albanian throne.Paul Cernovodeanu et al., ''El ...
, a member of the
Ghica noble family and pretender to the Albanian throne. He was one of the leaders of the Albanian National Committee which was founded in
Podgorica at the beginning of 1911 and participated in organization of the
Albanian uprising. His speech to the Italian Press Association held on January 26, 1911 is in some sources considered "an historical document of vital importance". Ivanaj was also one of the participants of the
Albanian Congress of Trieste held in 1913. In January 1919 he started publishing another newspapers ''The New Time'' ( sq, Koha e Re) in
Shkodër
Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkod ...
which, on January 31, 1919, published the news about the death of
Ismail Qemali.
During the
Paris Peace Conference in 1919 he represented the ''Political Party'' ( sq, Partise Politike) from United States. In 1923 together with his cousin
Mirash Ivanaj
Mirash Ivanaj (12 March 1891–22 September 1953) was an Albanian politician, minister and school director, famous for his role in reforming education system in Albania.
Life
Mirash Ivanaj was born on 12 March 1891, in Podgorica, Principality of ...
he published the newspaper ''Bashkimi'' in Albania.
[Mirash Ivanaj; lost in dictatorship by Phd. Iljaz Gogaj, "Standart " Newspaper, September 13, 2008 (in Albanian)]
/ref> and the weekly ''Republika'' from 1923 until 1925, both in Shkodër
Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkod ...
. During World War II, Ivanaj published an autobiographical book ''Historija e Shqipëniës së ré. Vuejtjet e veprimet e mija'' ( en, History of Young Albania. My sufferences and my actions) in two parts published in 1943 and 1945 respectively, where he focused on the role of the catholic clergy. At last he left a volume of poetry before he died in 1951.
Selected works
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References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ivanaj, Nikolla
Activists of the Albanian National Awakening
1879 births
1951 deaths
Montenegrin expatriates in Albania
19th-century Albanian writers
20th-century Albanian writers
Albanians in Montenegro
Albanian Freemasons