Spiro Bellkameni (1885-1912) 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 ...

kachak, revolutionary and activist of the

Albanian National Awakening The Albanian National Awakening ( or ), commonly known as the Albanian Renaissance or Albanian Revival, is a period throughout the 19th and 20th century of a cultural, political, and social movement in the Albanian history where the Albanian ...

. He led one of the most important bands during the Albanian revolts of the 1900-1910s. Bellkameni's band operated around south-eastern Albania and worked closely with other Albanian revolutionary groups in the region, particularly that of

Sali Butka Sali Butka (1852 – 24 October 1938), was an Albanian nationalist figure, revolutionary kachak, poet, and one of the delegates of the city of Korçë to the Albanian National Congress of Lushnjë.Nikolaeva Todorova Marii︠a︡''Balkan i ...

's.

Life

Born in Bellkameni, 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 1885 he was a close associate of Themistokli Gërmenji and Mihal Grameno. In 1906 he was a member of

Bajo Topulli Bajo Topulli (1868 – 24 July 1930), born Bajram Fehmi Topulli, was an Albanian nationalist figure of the Albanian National Awakening. Bajo was the older brother of Çerçiz Topulli. Biography Bajo Topulli was a Muslim Tosk Albanian, sc ...

's band that assassinated the Greek Orthodox bishop of Korçë Photios as retribution for the assassination of Kristo Negovani, which was instigated by Photios. In March of 1911, Spiro returned from exile to the village of

Butkë Butkë is a community in the Korçë County, Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterr ...

near

Kolonjë Kolonjë is a municipality in Korçë County, southeastern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Barmash, Çlirim, Ersekë, Leskovik, Mollas, Novoselë, Qendër Ersekë and Qendër Leskovik. The seat of ...

, where he spent some time with the çeta of fellow Albanian revolutionary

. In order to grow the revolutionary movement, Butka organised the formation of a separate çeta detachment under Spiro's command, which originally consisted of Sali's brother Myftar, Sali's son Gani and Thoma Pituli; this detachment was sent to the lowlands of

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 ...

, where they made a name for themselves in 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 ...

by defeating an Ottoman contingent in Mali i Thatë. Six members of the çeta were killed during this time, and were later declared martyrs of Albania. Together with the fellow Albanian armed bands of Sali Butka and Kajo Babjeni, Spiro Bellkameni and his fighters briefly liberated

in August of 1912. Spiro's band consisted of both Muslim and Christian Albanians. Despite the fact that the majority of his band consisted of Muslims, they had no qualms in electing Spiro - an Orthodox Albanian - to be their leader. Spiro vojvoda od Bel Kamen

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellkameni, Spiro 1885 births 1912 deaths People from Manastir vilayet Activists of the Albanian National Awakening People from Perasma