Ymer Prizreni

Who was Ymer Prizreni?

Ymer Prizreni was an Albanian political leader in the 19th century. Ymer Efendi Prizreni was an Albanian cleric, jurist, politician, scholar, patriot and diplomat. Born in 1826 and died in 1887. He was a Remarkable intellectual and activist in the Albanian National Movement, and head leader of the Albanian League of Prizren. He was prime minister of its autonomous provisional government, formed in the period 1880−1881.

Having studied Islamic theology and jurisdiction he worked in the madrasa of Prizren, where he enlighted his students and distinguished himself as a main supporter of the lower classes against the injustices of the corrupt 19th-century Ottoman administration. Once The Russo-Turkish War started off in, He set up together with other Albanian feudal lords, to work for the protection of Albania's territorial integrity and to seek its national rights in international level. He Organized self-defense committee for the Prizren sanjak and else where, and organized other committees that were formed in Kosovo-

In 1877 he was elected member of the first Ottoman Parliament. In the same year he become a member and a founder of the Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights which was formed under the chairmanship of Abdyl Frashëri, whom he was connected for the rest of his life. In the spring of 1878, chaired the committee that organized in Prizren General Assembly meeting, who founded the Albanian League. Parliament chose Ymer Prizreni its General Council member in whose bosom was lined up alongside fellow radical power. In October 1879 he was elected chairman of the League, and in January 1881, the head of the autonomous provisional Government. Its chairman directed political activity that led to the establishment of the vilayet of Albania, administration and organization of armed resistance against the Ottoman armies in the spring of 1881, who were coming to crush it. After suppression of the League of Prizren, Ymer Prizren escaped from falling into the hands of the Ottoman authorities and to refuse the submission, by Settling in Ulcinj, although sultan promised forgiveness and high posts to have him return. He was not subdued nor his Albanian ideology, and Died in Ulcinj where his tomb still lies.