TIRANA, January 14 – Jani Vreto was born on January 14, 1822, near Leskovik, then part of the Janina Vilayet. He is regarded as the “Albanian Gutenberg,” a patriot, writer, publisher, and key thinker of the National Renaissance.

He studied at the renowned Zosimea Gymnasium in Janina. In 1854, he moved to Istanbul, where his father worked in trade. There, he connected with leading figures of the Albanian national movement, including Hasan Tahsini, Sami Frashëri, Pashko Vasa, and Ferid Vlora. He exchanged letters with notable Albanians in Egypt such as Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, and Thimi Thoma Kreji, as well as with Dhimitër Kamarda and Jeronim De Rada in Italy.

In autumn 1877, he became a founding member of the Central Committee for the Protection of Albanian National Rights. In May 1878, he published “Apologia”, discussing Albanian origins, language, inhabited territories, and rights. At the beginning of 1879, he joined the commission to finalize the Albanian alphabet. On October 12, 1879, he helped establish the Society for Publishing Albanian Letters.

Vreto moved to Bucharest to promote interest in the national movement. After returning to Istanbul, he worked for the periodical “Drita” [The Light], later renamed “Dituria” [The Knowledge], which was published from August 1884 to July 1885. In December 1884, he helped establish the Drita Society in Bucharest and served as its secretary, overseeing most printing activities.

He passed away in July 1900 in Athens.

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