Who was Marash Marku of Trieshi?

In Triesh, in various gatherings, funerals and after-dinner village parties, men talked a lot about the country's past and the personalities who had left their mark on the centuries-old history of this tree-lined town.

Most of the time they talked about those who had gone to eternity. I don't know why, but in Triesh there wasn't much talk about those who killed and beheaded as it was in the very wild Balkan tradition. In those meetings, there was a lot of talk about resistance and defense, but not so much about attacks. There they talked and sang more about those who had sacrificed themselves in defense of others.

In the assemblies of Triesh, there was not much talk about the rich. The main topics of conversation were: knowledge, honor and character of mountain women and men. Faith, generosity and manhood were like a holy trinity. There in Triesh, even in my house, some mountaineers who were being hunted for blood found shelter and protection. Accepting them at home was a big responsibility. As children, we heard orders day and night not to tell who is in our house. In Triesh, protecting a friend was the height of moral responsibility. I remember in our house at the top of the chimney a very visible and quiet man. He had a big moustache. He was Prelë Tomë Pretashi-Berishaj. I also remember our grandson Nikë (Nisho) Marashin Lulgjuraj. Nishi was a young boy and we had problems with him because he left the house without our permission. He did this to be seen with a girl. Our neighborhood was known for beautiful girls.

Despite the fact that I left this country many decades ago, I remember many of those conversations and the names of many personalities of that country. At that time, Marash Mark of Triesh was more talked about than any other man. Half a century ago, his name was mentioned more than any other name after Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu for naming the eight-year school of Trieshi. Naturally, no one could challenge our national hero and the school of Trieshi was named after him. I don't know why but I was curious about the past of our Marash Mark.

The graves of Nikmarash village are near the main road and to this day I remember a cross on his grave. Most people talked seriously about this big and tough man. Marash Marku had taken power in Triesh during the period of the Albanian League of Prizren, at the time when this territory was occupied by Montenegro. The Slavic-Montenegro forces occupied Triesh by force. As a result of the violence they had exerted on the population of the country, the majority of the population had left the country. The Triesh refugees were settled in the territories of the Great Highlands, occupied by Turkey. They stayed there for years and returned after Marash Marku and Knjaz Nikolla had reached an agreement for the return of Triesh refugees to their land and homes, despite the fact that the Montenegrin army had done great damage to Triesh.

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During the 7-year period of refugees in Albania, Marash Marku had won the political support of Knjaz Nikolla for the almost absolute rule of Triesh. The Prince of Montenegro had given Marash Mark the military rank of captain, despite the fact that he had inherited the title of voivode from his ancestors. Marash Mark's fathers had been very honorable men even at the time when this mentioned family had no connection with Knjaz Nikolla. His father, Mark Gjeloshin, had been very honorable and brave, and he is even mentioned in Mark Milan's well-known work "Examples of Courage and Courage". Mark Milani writes about the incident of Mark Gjelos with Poj Ula in Luj i Korita.

During that incident, the cause of which was Mark Gjeloshi, the tired and poor Poj Ula had reacted harshly against Mark Gjeloshi. But the aforementioned brave man of Triesh had accepted his personal mistake and apologized to Poj Ula. This was a noble gesture by Mark Gjelos. For the aforementioned Montenegrin author Mark Milanin, this had been an excellent human example. The Gjeloshaj brotherhood of Triesh has produced more mentioned men than any other family in Triesh. I had known one of the family members. He was Tomë Hasi, much mentioned in Triesh.

I always remembered Tom, especially after the tragic death of his son Kola at the age of 20. His speech at the tragic death of the boy is still talked about today. Tome Hasi's father and Marash Marku had been the sons of my aunt. Marash Marku is mentioned in the studies of the great Croatian jurist Prof. Dr. Valtezar Bogishic. This jurist had talked with Mark Marash about the Canon of Lekë Dukagjin. In 1972, this monumental work of Albanian culture codified by Father Shtjefën Gjeçovi was republished in Pristina. But this reprint was preceded by an excellent foreword by the Kosovo jurist, Prof.Dr. Pupovcit's eye. In this introduction, Pupovci writes:

"Well, as it seems Bogishiqi from the Albanians only asked Marash Marku about the Canon of Lekë Dukagjin, even briefly. In the preserved note dated October 6(18) 1894 for this conversation, among other things it is said: ".....Marashi says that the law is not written: Leka ruled in Dukagjin and around it (nahi ede). He has been judged from tribe to tribe, so what is left is more a way of judging according to him than any law. Even now, when they judge, he says: We judge as Leka judged....He said that if it wasn't for Skanderbeg, we would lose our weapons and become rajes (and we would also lose -- SP also the way of judging according to Leka), and thus we preserved a certain autonomy". The answers given by Marsh Marku arouse curiosity even though their number is small". Marash Mark's conversation with the Croatian jurist who for a long time was the minister of justice in Montenegro, can be found in the Bogishić Archive in Cavtat, Croatia.

Marash Marku had done a lot for the return of refugees to Triesh. He had asked for a guarantee from Knjaz Nikolla that the right of the Albanian language and the right to practice the Catholic religion would be guaranteed to the refugees and the general population after the invasion. Marash Mark understood the occupation, but he also understood the full autonomy of his homeland. From then to today, 140 years have passed and Trieshi preserved with the greatest loyalty the Albanian language and the religion of the ancestors. Although he operated in difficult political conditions between Kuç and Malësë, Trieshi remained loyal to the Albanian tradition.

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The strong foundations of this autonomy were laid by Marash Marku of Trieshi. In Triesh it was not allowed to speak any language other than Albanian, even Montenegrin women married in Triesh did not have the right to speak their language. Nor was the practice of the Orthodox or Muslim religion allowed. This prince of Tries had connections with many Albanian leaders and with the captain and voivode of Montenegro. He had never compromised to the detriment of the country. Marash Mark was friends with Mark Milani, but he never learned or spoke the Serbian or Montenegrin language, even though his mother had been Montenegrin. He did not speak any language other than Albanian. The Montenegrin authorities wanted Marash Marku to wear their cap on his head. He never put the Montenegrin cap on his head or wore their uniform.

Knjaz Nikolla and Mark Milani had requested his military assistance in their attack on Nokshiq and Plavë e Guci, but Marash Marku had vowed that Trieshi would never participate in the Slavic wars against the Albanians. He considered Ali Pasha Guci a brother of the tribe and blood. Trieshi in the time of Marash Mark enjoyed wide autonomy. Only Mirdita could have such independence. There were some similarities between Mark John's Door and Marash Mark's Door. Marka Gjoni and Marash Marku were known connoisseurs and interpreters of the Canon of Lekë Dukagjin. Marash Marku in the social and political conditions at that time was indispensable for peace and tranquility in Triesh. He ruled with a strong hand, he even had a prison in his house.

Captain Marashi had armed guards at his disposal. The armed guards were from Trieshi. In different cases they made arrests, putting the accused in prison and after a certain time they appeared in court before Marash Marku. Judge Marash made every effort to ensure that court decisions were completed in Trieste and not in Cetina, because there they could have more consequences. He treated the defendants with dignity. After the sincere efforts of this serious man, many disagreements or even bloodshed ended in reconciliation.

Marash Marku also took care of the construction of the place, especially the construction of the roofs, because Trieshi was suffering from a lack of water. Marash Marku had built many crowns, even the Crown of Liqëth, which was the largest crown in the country. This was the main crop of Nikmarash and Budzë villages and it was never exhausted. The women of these villages used to go there to wash clothes, especially for the "Zoja e Trieshit" holiday. Marash Mark was respected but feared by some. He did not compromise with evil. Trieshi in his time had complete autonomy. He ruled for a quarter of a century, and the time of his rule was a period of special heaviness and tranquility. This famous man was respected by everyone, but not his wife.

Even her disrespect was talked about a lot in Triesh. She was a Lady Macbeth who had tortured him morally until the last day of his life. Triesh felt sorry for the suffering of this legendary brave. His sufferings were a consequence of the religious and moral code of the Albanians. They say that in his dying confession he forgave all his enemies but not his wife. The Italian priest of Tries, Patër Giuliani, talked about this episode of the last hours of his life. Marash Mark did not leave an heir, what had happened to many mentioned men of Albania and Montenegro. He had shown extraordinary bravery in the wars against Turkey. Marash Marku is a respected name even today after 150 years.

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The Gjeloshaj brotherhood was a great dynasty. The brave men of this dynasty can only be counted with two digits, but the best known and most honored was Marash Marku. He died in 1901 and since then, nothing serious has been done in the field of studies about this nobleman of the Great Highlands who acted as a statesman. We hope that one day the various Albanian scholars will do their work and not leave this mountain-Albanian colossus behind. His respect and adoration for the Canon of Lekë Dukagjin and the weapons of Skënderbey best show who Marash Marku was.

(The author is a former journalist of the "Voice of America", currently a publisher in New York)