Lika Ceni (born 1749,

Ulqin Ulcinj () is a town in the Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro and the capital of Ulcinj Municipality. It has an urban population of 11,488. As one of the oldest settlements in the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic coast, it was founded in 5th ...

) known as Kapidan Likaceni, was a pirate leader from the Ottoman Empire. Lika Ceni was a legendary Albanian pirate from

Ulcinj Ulcinj () is a town in the Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro and the capital of Ulcinj Municipality. It has an urban population of 11,488. As one of the oldest settlements in the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic coast, it was founded in 5th ...

. He reportedly was one of a number of

Barbary corsairs The Barbary corsairs, Barbary pirates, Ottoman corsairs, or naval mujahideen (in Muslim sources) were mainly Muslim corsairs and privateers who operated from the largely independent Barbary states. This area was known in Europe as the Barba ...

who helped seize the port from Venice and stayed on raiding Venetian and other merchant ships along the

Dalmatian coast Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia, th ...

. His legend has also become synonymous with the famous

Lambros Katsonis Lambros Katsonis (; ; 1752–1805) was a Greek privateer of the 18th century who would ultimately sail under the Russian flag with the rank of colonel. He became a knight of the Russian Empire and was awarded the Order of St. George. Early l ...

(1752-1804); a Greek naval admiral of the 18th century (born in Levadia, he joined the Orlov Revolt in 1770). As captain of the Greek fleet against the Ottoman Empire he had become a thorn in the side of the Sultan. Greeks called him Katsonis, the Italians called Lambro Cazziani, Cazzoni. Ali Kaceni, the name that history remembers him by, is said to be a derivative of Katsonis. As he was attributed with defeating Lambros, thus earning his name of Ali Kaceni; Ali, the one who slew Labro Katsonis, which is in fact exaggeration as Greek commander was defeated, but not killed. In the legend of Lambros, it said that he died in battle with the Turks in

Crimea Crimea ( ) is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The Isthmus of Perekop connects the peninsula to Kherson Oblast in mainland Ukrain ...

;Panos Stamou (c. 2007). Προσέγγιση ιστορικής προσωπικότητας μέσα από Αρχειακές πηγές: Περίπτωση Λάμπρου Κατσώνη pproaching the historic person through archival sources: The case of Lampros Katsonis(DOC) (in Greek). Hellenic Cultural Center (Moscow). p. 6. which culminates to the legend we know about Likaceni. Due to Karalambro (Black Lambro) deeds and actions against the

Ottomans Ottoman may refer to: * Osman I, historically known in English as "Ottoman I", founder of the Ottoman Empire * Osman II, historically known in English as "Ottoman II" * Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empir ...

, the

Sultan Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...

was forced to eliminate this foe. For this act, Likaceni accepted the bounty made by the Sultan; with a reward of an official title for the one could defeat Lambro Katsonis. The legend says that Likaceni defeated Karalambro, thus given the title "Kapidan". Due to Likaceni's actions and activities in the

Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

and

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

; , many Ottoman pashas and captains of the Ottoman fleet convinced the Sultan that this Albanian was a massive threat and ordered his death as well. Upon being detained in the

Bosphorus The Bosporus or Bosphorus Strait ( ; , colloquially ) is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Bosporus connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and forms one of the continental bo ...

, Likaceni was able to slip through an Ottoman blockade and return to his home of

. His direct-descendents still allegedly survive today in

under the surnames Lazoja and Kapidani.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceni, Lika 1749 births Pirates whose existence is disputed People from the Ottoman Empire Barbary pirates (people) 18th-century pirates People from Ulcinj Year of death unknown

See also

References