Çerçiz Topulli Square

Last updated

Coordinates: 40°4′29″N20°8′24″E / 40.07472°N 20.14000°E / 40.07472; 20.14000 Çerçiz Topulli Square (Albanian : Sheshi „Çerçiz Topulli“) is a town square located in Gjirokastër, Albania. In fact, it is actually a widened street (Rruga Gjin Zenebisi, Gjin Zenebisi Street) located east of the entrance of Qafa e Pazarit (Bazaar Pass) [1] The city's Old Bazaar begins at the upper corner (west) of the square.

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

Albanian language Indo-European language

Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by the Albanians in the Balkans and the Albanian diaspora in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. It comprises an independent branch within the Indo-European languages and is not closely related to any other language in Europe.

Town square open public space

A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, piazza, plaza, and town green.

Contents

The square is named after Çerçiz Topulli, Albanian hero born in Gjirokastër. Within the square is a monument also dedicated to him. It was erected in 1934 by Odhise Paskali, an Albanian realist sculptor. [2] On the monument is a bullet hole inflicted by an Italian soldier during the Occupation of Albania during World War II.

Çerçiz Topulli Albanian activist

Çerçiz Topulli was a Albanian involved in the national movement and a guerrilla fighter operating in the mountainous areas of southern Albania. He was the younger brother of Bajo Topulli. He was known for fighting the Ottomans in 1907 and 1908 and then after they left, the Greeks in 1913 and 1914 during the Balkan Wars.

Albanians people of Southeast Europe

The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula and are identified by a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language. They primarily live in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia as well as in Croatia, Greece and Italy. They also constitute a diaspora with several communities established in the Americas, Europe and Oceania.

Odhise Paskali Albanian artist

Odhise Paskali is one of the most acclaimed Albanian sculptors. For his contribution, he was awarded the People's Artist of Albania award.

History

A rally was held in the square on 17 May 1944. While Albanian politician Ismail Golemi gave a speech, a hand grenade was thrown into the crowd, effectively killing seven people: Aleko Kekezi, Miro Sporeja, Gole Gushi, Asaf Gjebrea, Fato Gozhita, Skënder Çina and Arshi Mezini. [3]

A more detailed account was provided by Myzafer Malile, a veteran of the Albanian National Liberation Movement. He reports that the rally was initially staged by Ismail Golemi, and was truly meant to be massacre. Golemi and several of his colleagues were located in a balcony above the square. Every citizen of Gjirokastër were to participate in the rally, where, because the square was to be flooded by people, no one could hide. Upon the opening of the "rally," a person behind the mayor was to throw a hand grenade into the middle of the crowd. This grenade was indeed thrown into the crowd, killing three people, and many left injured. Among those killed was a shoemaker of the Balloma clan from the Varosh neighbourhood. In panic, Golemi grabbed a rifle and fired it, sending the crowd into a frenzy. [4]

National Liberation Movement (Albania) 1939-1945 insurgency in Albania

The National Liberation Movement, also translated as National Liberation Front, was an Albanian resistance organization that fought in World War II. It was created on 16 September 1942, in a conference held in Pezë, a village near Tirana. Apart from the communist figures which had the majority in the General Council it also included known nationalist figures like Myslim Peza, etc. The Albanian National Liberation Front was later transformed in May 1944 into the government of Albania and its leaders became government members. It was replaced in August 1945 by the Democratic Front.

Immediately after the rally, Ballistët (members of Balli Kombëtar) patrols were launched throughout the city. A patrol of three men that circulated in the neighborhood of Hazmurat shot 25-year-old Arshi Mezini in the front gate of Mehmet Terihati's household. Wounded, Terihati's mother attempted to bring Mezini to a hospital. However, Mezini died before reaching the hospital.

Balli Kombëtar 1942-1945 political and military organization in Albania

The Balli Kombëtar, known as Balli, was an Albanian nationalist anti-communist resistance movement and a political organization established in November 1942. It was led by Ali Këlcyra and Midhat Frashëri and was formed by members from the landowning elite, liberal nationalists opposed to communism and other sectors of society in Albania. The motto of the Balli Kombëtar was: "Shqipëria Shqiptarëve, Vdekje Tradhëtarëve". Eventually the Balli Kombëtar joined the Nazi established puppet government and fought as an ally against anti-fascist guerrilla groups.

In an act to cover the crime, Balli Kombëtar falsely blamed guerrilla leaders as planting the grenade-throwing person into the crowd.

Expansion efforts

Due to increased tourism in the last decade, local citizens and various tourist groups expressed the need for an expansion of the square to adequately provide more room for parking, effectively doubling the size from 6,000 square metres to 12,000 square metres. This would allow 1500 parked vehicles in the square. Local authorities approved the project, albeit the project of one million euros. [5]

Related Research Articles

Ismail Kadare Albanian writer

Ismail Halit Kadare is an Albanian novelist, poet, essayist and playwright. He has been a leading literary figure in Albania since the 1960s. He focused on poetry until the publication of his first novel, The General of the Dead Army, which made him famous outside of Albania. In 1996, he became a lifetime member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques of France.

World War II in Albania war

In Albania, World War II began with its invasion by Italy in April 1939. Fascist Italy set up Albania as its protectorate or puppet state. The resistance was largely carried out by Communist groups against the Italian and then German occupation in Albania. At first independent, the Communist groups united in the beginning of 1942, which ultimately led to the successful liberation of the country in 1944.

Greater Albania irredentism

Greater Albania is an irredentist concept of lands that are considered to form the national homeland by many Albanians, based on claims on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in those areas. In addition to the existing Republic of Albania, the term incorporates claims to regions in the neighbouring states, the areas include Kosovo and the Preševo Valley of Serbia, territories in southern Montenegro, northwestern Greece, and a part of western Republic of North Macedonia.

Visoki Dečani cultural heritage monument of Kosovo

Visoki Dečani, or simply Dečani is a medieval Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery located near Deçan, Kosovo. It was founded in the first half of the 14th century by Serbian king Stefan Dečanski.

Bilal Xhaferri, real name Bilal Xhaferr Hoxha, 2 November 1935 – 14 October 1986, was an Albanian poet and novelist, and a political dissident against the Albanian communist regime. He was born in Ninat, Konispol in southern Albania, and died in Chicago, USA.

Xhemail Hasani, known as Xhem Hasa and Xhem Gostivari, was an Albanian nationalist and Axis collaborator, in charge of the Balli Kombëtar's activities in the western regions of Macedonia, a part of Yugoslavia occupied by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany during World War II.

Bule Naipi was a World War II Hero of Albania.

Tërbaç Village in Vlorë, Albania

Tërbaç is a community in the Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Himarë.

Safet Butka (1901—1943) was an Albanian professor, politician and nationalist. Son of famous patriot Sali Butka, he organized the student demonstrations in April 1939 during the Italian invasion and was interned in Ventotene. Upon his return he organized antifascist movements in his native region and was one of the founders of the nationalist organization Balli Kombëtar. Distressed by internal civil war in Albania, he killed himself in 1943.

Aziz Çami was an Albanian army officer and Balli Kombëtar commander. In 1920 he was a commander in the Vlora War. In the mid-1920s he was exiled after the restoration of monarchy as he was a supporter of Fan Noli and in 1931 he was arrested for an assassination attempt against King Zog I. During World War II he joined the ranks of the Balli Kombëtar and fought against Nazi Germany. He was assassinated in Tiranë in 1943.

Dhuvjan Monastery

The Dhuvjan Monastery also known as Monastery of Saints Quiricus and Julietta and Birth of the Virgin Mary Monastery, is a Byzantine monastery located in the western part of the village of Dhuvjan, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania.

Skënder Muço (1904–1944) was an Albanian lawyer and leader of Balli Kombëtar, one of the most important resistance organizations in Albania during World War II. Along with Musine Kokalari Muço founded the first social democratic party of Albania in 1943. In 1944 he was ambushed by German troops near Vlorë and executed three days later.

Gjirokastër Municipality in Albania

Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania, on a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino, at 300 metres above sea level. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate". The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress, where the Gjirokastër National Folklore Festival is held every five years. It is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha and notable writer Ismail Kadare.

"Free Albania" National Committee organization

"Free Albania" National Committee, also known as "Free Albania" National-Democratic Committee, also National Committee for a Free Albania or NCFA, was a political organization of post-World War II Albanian emigre in the Western countries. It was supported by CIA, placed as member of National Committee for a Free Europe. The committee aimed organizing the Albanian diaspora and cooperating with western powers into overthrown Enver Hoxha's Communist regime in Albania.
The committee creation started in Rome and was finalized in Paris in the summer of 1949.

Special Court for War Criminals and Enemies of the People, usually referred only as Special Court, was a Communist court set up during the spring of 1945 in the newly established Communist Albania, which carried on the trial against those labeled as "people's enemies" and "war criminals". It was based on a decision taken by the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation on 25 December 1944. Like the rest of the Eastern Europe, the purge against "Fascists" and "war criminals" became a central part of the construction of society based on the Soviet model.

Architecture of Albania

The Architecture of Albania is a reflection of Albania's historical and cultural heritage. The country's architecture was influenced by its location within the Mediterranean Basin and progressed over the course of history as it was once inhabited by numerous civilisations including the Illyrians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans as well as modern Austro-Hungarians and Italians. In addition, missionaries, invaders, colonisers and traders brought cultural changes that had a large profound effect on building styles as well as techniques.

Erion Veliaj Albanian politician

Erion Veliaj is an Albanian politician, who is currently serving as the 42nd Mayor of Tirana. Stemming from a civil society activism organization as the leader of “MJAFT!”, Veliaj joined the ranks of the Socialist Party of Albania in 2011, when he was appointed Secretary for Youth and Immigration.

References

  1. "Sheshi Çerçiz Topulli (Çerçiz Topulli square)". Virtual Tourist. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  2. "Monuments". Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  3. Peçi, Eqerem (4 June 2010). "Askush s'mund t'i fshehë dot krimet e Ballit". Gazeta „Kushtrim Brezash (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  4. Malile, Myzafer (4 June 2010). "Historia e ka damkosur Ballin Kombëtar me vulën e tradhëtisë". Gazeta „Kushtrim Brezash (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  5. Xhaferri, Ismail. ""Çerçiz Topulli", parkim me 4 kate". Gazeta Shqiptare (in Albanian). Retrieved 4 September 2010.