On January 15, 1864, the patriot Isa Boletini was born. Independent Albania was the key theme of his life. He led the anti-Ottoman movement alongside figures like Ismail Qemali, Hasan Prishtina, Bajram Curri, etc. After the successful conclusion of the uprising, the Sublime Porte in Istanbul was compelled to engage in negotiations and accept the terms proposed by the Albanian side. The most significant outcome was the declaration of National Independence on November 28th.

On Independence Day, he once again stood alongside the venerable elder of Vlora, taking an active role in organizing the armed forces to defend the Provisional Government of Vlora. In 1913, as a member of the Albanian delegation, he traveled to London, where he vehemently opposed the Great Powers’ decision regarding the territorial division of the country.

The life and work of this exceptional patriot, who played a crucial role in laying the foundations of the independent Albanian state, came to an end on January 23, 1916, when Boletini was killed in a confrontation with Montenegrin troops.

The General Directorate of Archives commemorates the famous words of Isa Boletini: “I am good when Albania is good.”

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