Kristo Dako (1880–1941), son of Anastas Dako, was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

patriot, author and educator of the early 20th century.

Early years and education

Kristo Dako (Christo Dako) was born in

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, eighth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population of the city is 51,152 and 75,994 of Korçë municipal ...

, in the

Manastir Vilayet The Vilayet of Manastir () was a first-level administrative division (vilayet) of the Ottoman Empire, created in 1874, dissolved in 1877 and re-established in 1879. The vilayet was occupied during the First Balkan War in 1912 and divided between t ...

of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

in 1880. He migrated to

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

, where he finished high school and later the Faculty of Mathematics. Dako was also a student of literature at Bucharest University. Though he had studied mathematics, Dako's passion was in ancient history. He was the strong supporter of the thesis that Albanians are descendants of the ancient

Illyrians The Illyrians (, ; ) were a group of Indo-European languages, Indo-European-speaking people who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan languages, Paleo-Balkan populations, alon ...

Epirotes Epirus () is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, now shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay of Vlorë and the Acroceraunian Mountains in ...

, and Macedonians, one of the pillars of

Albanian Nationalism Albanian nationalism is a general grouping of nationalism, nationalist ideas and concepts generated by ethnic Albanians that were first formed in the 19th century during the Albanian National Awakening (). Albanian nationalism is also associated w ...

. From 1906 to 1913, Dako studied theology at the Graduate School of Theology of

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational lib ...

, graduating with a

Bachelor of Divinity In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity or Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD, DB, or BDiv; ) is an academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies. ...

. He became a member of the First

Congregational Church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

in Jamestown, N.Y. in December, 1906.

Biography

While in Bucharest Dako, together with

Aleksandër Stavre Drenova Aleksandër Stavre Drenova (; 11 April 187211 December 1947), commonly known by the pen name Asdreni, was an Albanian poet, rilindas, translator, writer and the author of the poem which later became the national anthem of Albania. He is regard ...

, founded ''Qarku i studentëvet shqiptarë'' (Circle of Albanian students) in 1899. By March 1902 this had become the ''Shpresa'' (Hope) Society consisting of young nationalists that aimed to enlighten Albanians on the national question. Dako represented ''Shpresa'' at the Congress of the Subjugated People of Turkey held in Vienna, 1902 and presented proposals relating to the creation of Albanian schools, Albanian language liturgy being conducted in Orthodox churches, and release of all political prisoners. Dako was the husband of

Sevasti Qiriazi Sevasti Qiriazi-Dako (Sevasti D. Kyrias) (ca. 1871–1949) was an Albanians, Albanian patriot, educator, Protestant missionary, author, pioneer of Albanian female education, and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. Life and early career ...

, Albanian patriot and pioneer of female education in Albania, from the well known Qiriazi family of Monastir. The couple met in Bucharest, and moved to the US in 1907. Dako pursued there a degree in philosophy. He is remembered for initiating and opening the first Albanian school in US in 1908, located in Natick, MA.

Petro Nini Luarasi Petro Nini Luarasi (born 22 April 1865 in Luaras, Kolonjë, Albania, then Ottoman Empire, and died on 17 August 1911 in Ersekë, Kolonjë, Albania, then Ottoman Empire) was an Albanian rilindas activist, teacher and journalist. His father, Nini ...

taught there between others. Dako returned shortly in Albania in June 1911, right in the middle of the

Albanian Revolt of 1911 The Malissori uprising or the Albanian revolt of 1911 was one of many Albanians, Albanian revolts in the Ottoman Empire and lasted from 24 March 1911 until 4 August 1911 in the region of Malësia (also spelled Malissori). Background The main ...

, together with

Charles Richard Crane Charles Richard Crane (August 7, 1858 – February 15, 1939) was an American businessman and Arabist. His widespread business interests gave him entree into domestic and international political affairs where he enjoyed privileged access to many in ...

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. There he would be imprisoned for a short time due to his nationalistic activities. He was released with Crane's intervention, and his persecutor

Şevket Turgut Pasha Shevket Turgut Pasha (; 1857–1924) was an Ottoman Turkish army general with the rank of ''mirliva'' (major general), who also held the governmental title of ''pasha'' (lord). He went to the Prussian military school. Biography Albanian revo ...

immediately removed from the Ottoman authorities. Charles Crane would become one of the few lobbyists of Albania at that time, allegedly managing to influence the American government on lobbying for Albania towards the British during the

London Conference of 1912–13 London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 14.9 million. London stands on the River Thame ...

. Dako was editor of the ''

Dielli Dielli may refer to: *Dielli (Albanian paganism), the Sun in Albanian ethnic religion *Dielli (newspaper) ''Dielli'' is a newspaper published in the United States by Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America. History ''Dielli'' started on ...

'' magazine and chairman of

Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra (') is an association of Albanian Americans, created in 1912, that has historically protected the rights of the Albanians in the United States, as well as has endeavored in lobbying with the United States Congress about the rights of the Alb ...

in 1913. In 1914, he shortly visited his home town in Albania. Due to later divergences with

Fan Noli Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian Americans, Albanian-American writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, bishop, and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albania ...

, he partly retired from Vatra. In 1918 he would join the "Albanian Political Party" (Albanian: ''Partia Politike Shqiptare''). In 1916, he published the short-lived (8 issues) newspaper ''Biblioteka Zeri i Shqiperise'' ("Voice of Albania Library") in Southbrigde, MA. Dako later participated in the

Paris Peace Conference, 1919 Paris () is the capital and largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the fourth-most populous city in the European Union and the 30th most densely pop ...

. He met twice with then United States president

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to serve as president during the Prog ...

. His wife Sevasti wrote Wilson to explain Albanian national aspirations. Dako also became minister of education in one of

Ahmet Zogu Zog I (born Ahmed Muhtar Zogolli; 8 October 18959 April 1961) was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as King ...

's cabinets. Apparently Zogu showed respect for Dako, and shortly met him in the eve of the Italian Invasion of 1939, asking for US support through Dako's connections. Because of this affiliation, Dako's name would be thrown in darkness during the communist regime of post WWII. His family would be persecuted (including his sister in law Parashqevi) and two sons would be arrested and imprisoned. One of Dako's most significant achievements was founding the Kyrias Institute for Girls in

Kamëz Kamëz ( sq-definite, Kamza) is a municipality in Tirana County, Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Kamëz and Paskuqan, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipalit ...

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

, together with his wife Sevasti and sister-in-law Parashqevi.

Published works

The following works are known to have been written by Kristo Dako: *''Cilet jane Shqipëtarët?'' ("Who are the Albanians?"), Monastir, 1911. *''Albania's Rights and Claims to Independence and Territorial Integrity'' (memorandum sent to President Woodrow Wilson), July 20, 1918.
''The Strength of the National Consciousness of the Albanian People''
August 1918. *''Albania, the Master Key to the Near East'' (Boston: E.L. Grimes, 1919). (Republished 2020, IAPS, ). *"Albania and its Unredeemed Territories" (map) (Boston: E.L. Grimes, 1919). *''Liga e Prizrenit'' ("The League of Prizren"), Bucharest, 1922. *''Shenime historike nga jeta dhe vepra e Nalt Madherise se tij Zogu i Pare, Mbret i Shqiptarevet'', Tirana: Shtëpija Botonjëse "Kristo Luarasi", 1937.

Notes and references

Notes: References {{DEFAULTSORT:Dako, Kristo 1876 births 1941 deaths People from Korçë People from Manastir vilayet Albanian people from the Ottoman Empire Albanian Protestants Activists of the Albanian National Awakening 20th-century Albanian educators Government ministers of Albania Education ministers of Albania

Early years and education

Biography

Published works

See also

Notes and references