Haxhi Zeka a prominent leader of the Albanian National Movement, fighter and organizer of popular anti-Ottoman uprisings was born on December 20, 1832 in the Highlands of Gjakova, from where he moved with his family to Peja. He was one of the organizers of the Albanian League of Prizren (1878) and one of the most determined fighters for the autonomy of Albania and the protection of its territorial integrity.

He was elected a member of its Central Committee in the first Assembly of the League, on June 10, 1878. He participated, as a military commander, at the head of the forces of the League in the action of Gjakova, in September 1878 against the Ottoman commander Mehmet Ali Pasha.

Along with other political and military leaders of the League, he fought at the end of 1879 and at the beginning of 1880 for the defense of Plava and Gucia against the Montenegrin forces. In the spring of 1881, he participated in the battles against the Ottoman armies, which were sent to subdue the Albanian League.

In 1884-1885, together with Sulejman Vokshi and Kadri Bajri, Haxhi Zeka led the anti-Ottoman uprisings of the Albanians, which aimed to restore the League and implement its autonomist ideas. In 1893, Haxhi Zeka and Bajram Curri organized the uprising that spread in Peja, Gjakova and other parts of Kosova, against the economic and political brutality of the Ottoman rulers. Due to his patriotic activity, in 1893, he was called to Istanbul where he was kept under arrest until 1896.

In 1896-1900 he was put in charge of the struggle of the Albanian people for the autonomy of Albania and the protection of the territorial integrity of the country. He led the popular armed resistance that broke out in Kosova in 1897 and founded the “Albanian League” (1897). In cooperation with the Albanian Committee of Istanbul, headed by Sami Frashëri and other patriots in the country or abroad, Haxhi Zeka organized on January 23-29, 1899 the Assembly of Peja that founded the Albanian League of Peja and was elected chairman of its Committee.

In April-May 1899, he was one of the organizers to convene another general assembly of the Albanian League, the holding of which was prevented by the Porte. Despite the opposition of Istanbul and obstacles of other powers and neighboring chauvinist circles, Haxhi Zeka continued his efforts to strengthen the League throughout 1900.

On February 21, 1902, Haxhi Zeka was treacherously murdered in Peja, a murder that involved the Serbian chauvinist circles, who also had the support of the Ottoman authorities.

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