Luigj Gurakuqi
Encyclopedia
Luigj Gurakuqi was an Albanian
writer and politician. He was an important figure of the Albanian National Awakening and was honoured with the People's Hero of Albania
medal.
on February 19, 1879, Gurakuqi started his studies there, and he finished them at the University of Naples in Italy, where he was also a student of Jeronim De Rada. He was also a poet and published under the pen name Jakin Shkodra and Lekë Gruda. He published articles in Albania, Drita (magazine)
, Kalendari-kombëtar, Liria e Shqipërisë, and La Nazione Albanese.
In 1908, Gurakuqi returned to Albania and took an important role in the Albanian movement for independence. He participated in a meeting of Albanian leaders in Manastir, (Bitola
, present-day Republic of Macedonia
), was the first principal of Aleksandër Xhuvani University
, and was the right-hand man of Ismail Qemali
in the Albanian Declaration of Independence
in 1912, and one of the leaders of the northern uprisings of 1911-1912.
In 1924 Gurakuqi was one of the leaders of the revolution that overthrew the regime of Zog I, King of Albania
and established a democratic government. Fan S. Noli
became the new Prime Minister, while Luigj Gurakuqi was part of the new cabinet as Minister of Economy and Finance. After the restoration of monarchy Gurakuqi went to Italy
, where he was assassinated in a cafe of Bari
on March 2, 1925 by agents of Zog.
, established in 1957 was named after. A statue of him stands in the center of Shkodër
.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
writer and politician. He was an important figure of the Albanian National Awakening and was honoured with the People's Hero of Albania
People's Hero of Albania
Hero of Albania, more properly Hero of the People is the highest title that can be bestowed on a citizen of Albania.-Creation:The title was created in 1945 and the Albanian parliament confirmed it by Law in 1954 and then reconfirmed by Law Nr.6133 on February 12, 1980...
medal.
Life
Born in ShkodërShkodër
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...
on February 19, 1879, Gurakuqi started his studies there, and he finished them at the University of Naples in Italy, where he was also a student of Jeronim De Rada. He was also a poet and published under the pen name Jakin Shkodra and Lekë Gruda. He published articles in Albania, Drita (magazine)
Drita (magazine)
Drita magazine is an Albanian literary magazine published by the Association of the Young Modern Artists of Albania . Drita was one of the first magazines in the Albanian language. It has been published for 127 years with some interruptions.-History: 1883-1922:Drita was one of the first magazines...
, Kalendari-kombëtar, Liria e Shqipërisë, and La Nazione Albanese.
In 1908, Gurakuqi returned to Albania and took an important role in the Albanian movement for independence. He participated in a meeting of Albanian leaders in Manastir, (Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
, present-day Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
), was the first principal of Aleksandër Xhuvani University
Aleksandër Xhuvani University
Aleksandër Xhuvani University, is an institution of higher education located in Elbasan, Albania. It is divided into seven faculties: Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Economics, Pre-school and Primary Education, and Nursing....
, and was the right-hand man of 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...
in the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Albanian Declaration of Independence
The Albanian Declaration of Independence is the declaration of independence of the Albanian Vilayet from the Ottoman Empire. Albania was proclaimed independent in Vlorë on November 28, 1912.-Background:...
in 1912, and one of the leaders of the northern uprisings of 1911-1912.
In 1924 Gurakuqi was one of the leaders of the revolution that overthrew the regime of Zog I, King of Albania
King of Albania
While the medieval Angevin Kingdom of Albania was a monarchy, it did not encompass the entirety of the modern state of Albania. The latter has been a kingdom on two occasions. The first time was after it was declared independent in 1912...
and established a democratic government. Fan S. Noli
Fan S. Noli
Theofan Stilian Noli, better known as Fan Noli was an Albanian-American writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church, who served as prime minister and regent of Albania in 1924.Fan Noli is venerated in Albania as a champion of literature,...
became the new Prime Minister, while Luigj Gurakuqi was part of the new cabinet as Minister of Economy and Finance. After the restoration of monarchy Gurakuqi went 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...
, where he was assassinated in a cafe of Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
on March 2, 1925 by agents of Zog.
Honors
Luigj Gurakuqi was awarded the titles Hero i Popullit (Hero of the People) and Mësues i Popullit (Teacher of the People). The Luigj Gurakuqi University of ShkodraLuigj Gurakuqi University of Shkodra
The University "Luigj Gurakuqi" of Shkodër in Albania was established in 1957.It has 6 faculties, 15 branches, 14 departments and more than 140 professors....
, established in 1957 was named after. A statue of him stands in the center of Shkodër
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...
.