Sokol Baci

As a youth, Sokol was taken by the Ottoman authorities to be trained and raised in Istanbul.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} Due to his intelligence and athletic abilities, Sokol was selected to attend the military academy at the [[University of Sorbonne]] in Paris, France.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} As a result of the many battles he fought for the Ottomans, he was eventually selected, along with five other young men of high standing, for the personal bodyguard of the Sultan.{{cite book|last=Wyon|first=Reginald|title=The Land of the Black Mountain|url=https://archive.org/details/landblackmounta00prangoog|year=1905|publisher=Methuen & Co|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/landblackmounta00prangoog/page/n151 100]}}

As a youth, Sokol was taken by the Ottoman authorities to be trained and raised in Istanbul.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} Due to his intelligence and athletic abilities, Sokol was selected to attend the military academy at the [[University of Sorbonne]] in Paris, France.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} As a result of the many battles he fought for the Ottomans, he was eventually selected, along with five other young men of high standing, for the personal bodyguard of the Sultan.{{cite book|last=Wyon|first=Reginald|title=The Land of the Black Mountain|url=https://archive.org/details/landblackmounta00prangoog|year=1905|publisher=Methuen & Co|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/landblackmounta00prangoog/page/n151 100]}}

In 1877, during the [[Serbian–Ottoman War (1876–1878)|Serbo-Turkish]] and [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–78)|Russo-Turkish]] wars, while on leave at home, the order came for the disarming of the northern Albanian tribes (the "Malissori").Wyon 1903, p. 314 The Gruda refused to obey, and refusing to be a traitor to his people, he led his clan in battle against Ottoman forces. He managed to behead two high-ranked Ottoman officers, however, the clan was defeated, and he was forced to flee.Wyon 1903, p. 315 He became a fugitive and outlaw, in exile in Montenegro, against whom he had earlier fought against in the 1870s. He took refuge with his wife's tribe in [[Zatrijebač]], which was annexed by the [[Principality of Montenegro]] after the [[Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78)|Montenegrin–Ottoman War]].{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} Baci became a Montenegrin agent among the Catholic Albanians.{{cite book|title=Историски записи|volume=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8wVAQAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=с.н.|page=18|quote=}} He had entered cooperation through ''vojvoda'' [[Mašo Vrbica]], the Interior Minister. Baci informed Vrbica over Albanian political commitment and movement of Ottoman forces in Malesia. A document dated 21 September 1879 from the French consulate in Shkodër shows that Sokol Baci and other chiefs of the Hoti and Gruda submitted a memorandum to the Great Powers requesting that their land not be ceded to Montenegro.AMAE, CPC, Konsullata e Frances në Shkoder vëll. 21, fl.350r-351v.{{verify source|date=March 2014}}

In 1877, during the [[Serbian–Ottoman War (1876–1878)|Serbo-Turkish]] and [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–78)|Russo-Turkish]] wars, while on leave at home, the order came for the disarming of the northern [[Albanian tribes]] (the "Malissori").Wyon 1903, p. 314 The Gruda refused to obey, and refusing to be a traitor to his people, he led his clan in battle against Ottoman forces. He managed to behead two high-ranked Ottoman officers, however, the clan was defeated, and he was forced to flee.Wyon 1903, p. 315 He became a fugitive and outlaw, in exile in Montenegro, against whom he had earlier fought against in the 1870s. He took refuge with his wife's tribe in [[Zatrijebač]], which was annexed by the [[Principality of Montenegro]] after the [[Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78)|Montenegrin–Ottoman War]].{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} Baci became a Montenegrin agent among the Catholic Albanians.{{cite book|title=Историски записи|volume=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8wVAQAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=с.н.|page=18|quote=}} He had entered cooperation through ''vojvoda'' [[Mašo Vrbica]], the Interior Minister. Baci informed Vrbica over Albanian political commitment and movement of Ottoman forces in Malesia. A document dated 21 September 1879 from the French consulate in Shkodër shows that Sokol Baci and other chiefs of the Hoti and Gruda submitted a memorandum to the Great Powers requesting that their land not be ceded to Montenegro.AMAE, CPC, Konsullata e Frances në Shkoder vëll. 21, fl.350r-351v.{{verify source|date=March 2014}}

[[File:Sokol Baci Ivezić.jpg|thumb|Sokol Baci in his middle years.]]

[[File:Sokol Baci Ivezić.jpg|thumb|Sokol Baci in his middle years.]]

[[Nicholas of Montenegro|Prince Nicholas of Montenegro]] recognized him, gave him a house and land, and employed him in the Montenegrin government for northern Albanian affairs. After 1883, Prince Nicholas' diplomacy with the Malissori mainly went through Sokol Baci.{{cite book|author=Vladimir Stojančević|title=Srbija i Albanci u XIX i početkom XX veka: ciklus predavanja 10-25. novembar 1987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RrVBAAAAYAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti|pages=165–6, 183|isbn=9788670250949|quote=Sokol Baco}} A Montenegrin document, dated November 1891, with a list of Herzegovinian and Albanian leaders, showed that Sokol Baci received the largest payment from the Montenegrin government: 540 florins and 967 measures of flour annually for his service. In mid-July 1902, Sokol Baci gave a list to Prince Nicholas of Malissori chieftains and their escorts, who were given 1,190 florins on the Prince's order. Sokol Baci financed the building of a Catholic church in Podgorica in 1904 (that was destroyed in a May 1944 bombing). Sokol Baci returned briefly to Gruda upon the [[Young Turk]] regime's accession to the Ottoman government in 1908, but problems arose and he returned to [[Podgorica]].{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

[[Nicholas of Montenegro|Prince Nicholas of Montenegro]] recognized him, gave him a house and land, and employed him in the Montenegrin government for northern Albanian affairs. After 1883, Prince Nicholas' diplomacy with the Malissori mainly went through Sokol Baci.{{cite book|author=Vladimir Stojančević|title=Srbija i Albanci u XIX i početkom XX veka: ciklus predavanja 10-25. novembar 1987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RrVBAAAAYAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti|pages=165–6, 183|isbn=9788670250949|quote=Sokol Baco}} A Montenegrin document, dated November 1891, with a list of Herzegovinian and Albanian leaders, showed that Sokol Baci received the largest payment from the Montenegrin government: 540 florins and 967 measures of flour annually for his service. In mid-July 1902, Sokol Baci gave a list to Prince Nicholas of Malissori chieftains and their escorts, who were given 1,190 florins on the Prince's order. Sokol Baci financed the building of a Catholic church in Podgorica in 1904 (that was destroyed in a May 1944 bombing). Sokol Baci returned briefly to Gruda upon the [[Young Turk]] regime's accession to the Ottoman government in 1908, but problems arose and he returned to [[Podgorica]].{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

An interview with Sokol Baci conducted by the Italian Newspaper Corrlere d'Italia, was published in numerous publications in May of 1911 including the Los Angeles Herald and the Evening star of Washington DC. Images of the article were provided by the Library of Congress.

An interview with Sokol Baci conducted by the Italian Newspaper Corrlere d'Italia, was published in numerous publications in May of 1911 including the Los Angeles Herald and the Evening star of Washington DC. Images of the article were provided by the [[Library of Congress]].

"''Albanian Revolution is Directed by Exiled Chief''"

"''Albanian Revolution is Directed by Exiled Chief''"

" Rome, May 7. - "The clerical "Corrlere d'Italla," which is especially well informed about all matters connected with Albania, publishes an Important Interview with the Albanian chief, Sokol Beg Batcho, who has been for several years an exile in Montenegro, where he is now living and from where he is directing the Albanian insurrection. This fine old warrior, who is a familiar figure at Cettinje, formulates the demands of the Albanians as follows: The administrative autonomy of our vilayets which contain an Albanian population under an Albanian or European governor general; European control for a number of years, until the new autonomous province has been placed upon a definite footing; the use of the Albanian language, with Latin characters in all official documents; the expenditure of all sums raised as taxes from the Albanians within Albania itself, and the restriction of military service to the Albanian districts only, so that no Arnaut may be sent to do his term of soldiering in the Yemen, as is now the case." Chroniclingamerica.loc.gov, Evening Start May 12, 1911, Page 14, Image 14, Evening star (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972 Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC

" Rome, May 7. - "The clerical "Corrlere d'Italla," which is especially well informed about all matters connected with Albania, publishes an Important Interview with the Albanian chief, Sokol Beg Batcho, who has been for several years an exile in Montenegro, where he is now living and from where he is directing the Albanian insurrection. This fine old warrior, who is a familiar figure at Cettinje, formulates the demands of the Albanians as follows: The administrative autonomy of our vilayets which contain an Albanian population under an Albanian or European governor general; European control for a number of years, until the new autonomous province has been placed upon a definite footing; the use of the [[Albanian language]], with Latin characters in all official documents; the expenditure of all sums raised as taxes from the Albanians within Albania itself, and the restriction of military service to the Albanian districts only, so that no Arnaut may be sent to do his term of soldiering in the Yemen, as is now the case." Chroniclingamerica.loc.gov, Evening Start May 12, 1911, Page 14, Image 14, Evening star (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972 Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC