Essad Pasha
Encyclopedia
Essad Pasha Toptani or Esad Pasha Toptani , primarily known as Essad Pasha, was Ottoman army officer, Albanian deputy in Ottoman parliament and politician in the early twentieth century in Albania. He was cooperating with the Balkan League
after the Balkan Wars
and established a state in central Albania, based in Durrës
, called the Republic of Central Albania
.
, Ottoman Empire
(today Republic of Albania). He belonged to prominent landowning family Toptani which founded contemporary Tirana
. He became a supporter of the Young Turks
following the assassination of his brother (Gani Bey Toptani) by forces loyal to Prime Minister Abdul Hamit II. He served as deputy for Albania in the Ottoman
parliament and was proclaimed as Albanian king in Absentia for a few days in June 1920, before his assassination.
During the Albanian Revolt of 1912
Essad Pasha Toptani obliged himself to organize the uprising in Central Albania and Mirdita. He was one of the commanders of the Ottoman forces at Scutari
, until the city surrendered to Montenegro
in 1913 in the First Balkan War
. Essad Pasha was allowed in return to leave the town with his army and all their weaponry to become involved in the struggle over power in central Albania. Official Serbia
simultaneously helped a number of other small tribal chiefs who resisted Ismail Qemali
's government, directing them towards cooperation with Essad Pasha. He was accused of fomenting a Peasant Revolt in Albania
against William of Wied. Essad Pasha was exiled to Italy
, without trial, but returned to Albania following the ouster of William in September by the movement of the Peasant Revolt in Albania
. In autumn 1914 he decided to accept invitation of Senate of the Central Albania to return to Albania to take over the power. First, he had to provide financial backing for his government. Therefore he travelled to Niš
, Kingdom of Serbia
, where he and Serbian prime minister Pašić
signed the secret Treaty of Serbian-Albanian Alliance
on September 17, 1914. In October 1914 Essad Pasha returned to Albania. With Italian
and Serbian
financial backing he established armed forces in Dibër
and captured interior of Albania and Dures. Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić
ordered that his followers be aided with money
and arms.
Though his rule was not stable because of the First World War. In the end of 1914, Essad secretly agreed with the Greek government to support the annexation of the southern provinces, known to Greeks as Northern Epirus
, to the Kingdom of Greece
. He also succeeded in controlling much of central Albania until 1916, when he left for Serbia
and Greece
to help them in their war against Austria-Hungary
. After the war, he travelled to France
, to represent Albania at the Paris Peace Conference
.
For the next two years, Essad Pasha remained in Paris
, attempting to organize recognition for Albania from the Great Powers and reject the secret pact of London
, which planned the division of Albania. During this time Tirana and much of central Albania was controlled by his Field Commander, Osman Bali.
. Although living in Paris and away from legislative governing of Albania, Essad Pasha claimed to still be the ruler of the state and attempted to represent Albania in the Paris Peace Conference
. The governmental delegation didn't permit him to do so as they were going to represent Albania themselves. The assassination was largely seen as a heroic act as it has historically been seen as a signal of a new bourgeois revolution against the feudal traditions of Albania and a crossing bridge in the newly democratic-bourgeois values.
Balkan League
The Balkan League was an alliance formed by a series of bilateral treaties concluded in 1912 between the Balkan states of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia, and directed against the Ottoman Empire, which at the time still controlled much of the Balkan peninsula...
after the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and established a state in central Albania, based in Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, called the Republic of Central Albania
Republic of Central Albania
The Republic of Central Albania was a short-lived unrecognized state established on October 16, 1913 with its administrative centre in Durres, today in Albania.- History :...
.
Life
Essad Pasha was born in 1863 in TiranaTirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(today Republic of Albania). He belonged to prominent landowning family Toptani which founded contemporary Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. He became a supporter of the Young Turks
Young Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
following the assassination of his brother (Gani Bey Toptani) by forces loyal to Prime Minister Abdul Hamit II. He served as deputy for Albania in the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
parliament and was proclaimed as Albanian king in Absentia for a few days in June 1920, before his assassination.
During the Albanian Revolt of 1912
Albanian Revolt of 1912
The Albanian Revolt of 1912 was one of many Albanian revolts in the Ottoman Empire and lasted from January until August 1912. After a series of successes, Albanian revolutionaries managed to capture the city of Skopje, the administrative centre of Kosovo vilayet within the Ottoman rule...
Essad Pasha Toptani obliged himself to organize the uprising in Central Albania and Mirdita. He was one of the commanders of the Ottoman forces at Scutari
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, until the city surrendered to Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
in 1913 in the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
. Essad Pasha was allowed in return to leave the town with his army and all their weaponry to become involved in the struggle over power in central Albania. Official Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
simultaneously helped a number of other small tribal chiefs who resisted Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora or commonly Ismail Qemali and in Turkish İsmail Kemal Bey or İsmail Kemal Vlora , was a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.-Life:He was born in Avlonya to a noble family...
's government, directing them towards cooperation with Essad Pasha. He was accused of fomenting a Peasant Revolt in Albania
Peasant Revolt in Albania
The Peasant Revolt in Albania, or the Muslim Uprising in Albania, was the uprising of peasants from central Albania, mostly Muslims, against the regime of prince Wilhelm of Wied during 1914, and was one of the reasons for prince's withrawal from the country which marked the fall of the Principality...
against William of Wied. Essad Pasha was exiled to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, without trial, but returned to Albania following the ouster of William in September by the movement of the Peasant Revolt in Albania
Peasant Revolt in Albania
The Peasant Revolt in Albania, or the Muslim Uprising in Albania, was the uprising of peasants from central Albania, mostly Muslims, against the regime of prince Wilhelm of Wied during 1914, and was one of the reasons for prince's withrawal from the country which marked the fall of the Principality...
. In autumn 1914 he decided to accept invitation of Senate of the Central Albania to return to Albania to take over the power. First, he had to provide financial backing for his government. Therefore he travelled to Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
, where he and Serbian prime minister Pašić
Nikola Pašic
Nikola P. Pašić was a Serbian and Yugoslav politician and diplomat, the most important Serbian political figure for almost 40 years, leader of the People's Radical Party who, among other posts, was twice a mayor of Belgrade...
signed the secret Treaty of Serbian-Albanian Alliance
Treaty of Serbian-Albanian Alliance
The Treaty of Serbian-Albanian Alliance, also known as the Treaty of Niš, was a secret treaty signed in Niš between Essad Pasha Toptani and prime minister Nikola Pašić of Kingdom of Serbia on September 17, 1914.- Background :...
on September 17, 1914. In October 1914 Essad Pasha returned to Albania. With Italian
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
and Serbian
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
financial backing he established armed forces in Dibër
Dibër District
The District of Dibër is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Dibër County. It has a population of 62,825, and an area of 1088 km². It is in the north-east of the country, and its capital is Peshkopi....
and captured interior of Albania and Dures. Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić
Nikola Pašic
Nikola P. Pašić was a Serbian and Yugoslav politician and diplomat, the most important Serbian political figure for almost 40 years, leader of the People's Radical Party who, among other posts, was twice a mayor of Belgrade...
ordered that his followers be aided with money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
and arms.
Though his rule was not stable because of the First World War. In the end of 1914, Essad secretly agreed with the Greek government to support the annexation of the southern provinces, known to Greeks as Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is a term used to refer to those parts of the historical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans, that are part of the modern Albania. The term is used mostly by Greeks and is associated with the existence of a substantial ethnic Greek population in the region...
, to the Kingdom of Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
. He also succeeded in controlling much of central Albania until 1916, when he left for Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to help them in their war against Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. After the war, he travelled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, to represent Albania at the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
.
For the next two years, Essad Pasha remained in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, attempting to organize recognition for Albania from the Great Powers and reject the secret pact of London
London Pact
London Pact , or more correctly, the Treaty of London, 1915, was a secret pact between Italy and Triple Entente, signed in London on 26 April 1915 by the Kingdom of Italy, Great Britain, France and Russia....
, which planned the division of Albania. During this time Tirana and much of central Albania was controlled by his Field Commander, Osman Bali.
Death
On June 13, 1920, Avni Rustemi assassinated Essad Pasha in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Although living in Paris and away from legislative governing of Albania, Essad Pasha claimed to still be the ruler of the state and attempted to represent Albania in the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
. The governmental delegation didn't permit him to do so as they were going to represent Albania themselves. The assassination was largely seen as a heroic act as it has historically been seen as a signal of a new bourgeois revolution against the feudal traditions of Albania and a crossing bridge in the newly democratic-bourgeois values.
See also
- Siege of Scutari (1912–1913)
- Republic of Central AlbaniaRepublic of Central AlbaniaThe Republic of Central Albania was a short-lived unrecognized state established on October 16, 1913 with its administrative centre in Durres, today in Albania.- History :...
- Muslim Uprising in Albania