Self-government of Mirdita

The Republic of Mirdita was state that existed from 17 July to 20 November 1921.

Mirdita's greates political difficulties began in 1919, after the Prince of Mirdita, Preng Bib Doda (Gjomarkaj), was killed near Lezha by highlanders from Shkodra who were paid by Serbia. As an act of revenge, some Mirditas who were in Shkodra carried out killings against the people who were believed that did this and anyone related to them in retaliation for their Prince.

In Mirdita, around 800 men gathered and prepared to attack Shkodra to avenge the prince's murder. At that point, the French consul in Shkodra called Marka Gjoni (Gjomarkaj) to an urgent meeting and asked him to calm the situation. He succeeded in doing so, and the Mirditas forces that had advances as far as Naraç were turned back. In 1920, the government in Tirana planned to dissolve Mirdita by diving it into three parts, or prefectures.

This move angered the Gjomarkaj family and Mirdita as a whole. In response the Princely House of Mirdita urgently summoned the 12 Bajrakts and the tribal chiefs to decide the region's future. The Mirditas men were ready to defend and positioned them self in the mountains near the borders that separated Mirdita from Shkodra, Lezha, Kurbin, Mat,Dibër dhe Kukës. By then a state emergency had been declared throughout the country. The leaders of Mirdita discussed the matter and finally decided that Mirdita would be proclaimed the Republic of Mirdita, with a President, a Constitution, and an Administration. 

Their telegrams were also sent to the Western states, asking them to recognize it as a Republic. I a very short time, France was the first to recognize the Republic of Mirdita since Mirdita's ties with France existed for a long time because the Prince of Mirdita, Preng Bib Dod (Gjomarkaj), was the godfather of the Napoleon Bonaparte III, and France was the guarantor in European diplomacy for protecting the inviolability of Mirdita. Immediately after France, the republic of Mirdita was recognized by Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Serbia and Vatican. Mirdita was proclaimed a Republic on 21 July 1921.

President of the republic of Mirdita: Gjon Marka Gjoni (Gjomarkaj). Minister of foreign affairs: Andon Ashiku. Minister of War Preng Lleshi. Minister of Internal Affairs Zef Ndoci. The 12 deputies of the Republic of Mirdita were the leaders of the 12 administrative zones (Bajraktars) of Mirdita. After the news that Mirdita had been proclaimed a Republic and had been recognized by the Westerns states, the government of Tirana immediately launched a military offensive toward Mirdita, where a titanic war took place. This was reflected throughout the international media with headlines such as: "The Republic of Albania attacks the Republic of Mirdita", thus clearly showing that the Republic of Mirdita was recognized in the West as a government, with a flag, seal, postage stamps, and so on, However this would not last long because the President of republic of Mirdita, Gjon Marka Gjoni(Gjomarkaj), asked that Mirdita stop the was because, according to him, the aim was to prevent the shedding of brotherly blood.

In 1919, Mirditas Prince Preng Bib Doda, the chief (Kapidan) of the Catholic region captaincy of Mirdita, was killed near the marshes of Lezha and left no clear heir. Marka Gjoni, a relative, became the successor to the position of chief (Kapidan). However, many of Mirdita's leaders refused to recognize him, and he lacked popularity within the tribe because of accusations of cowardice shown during the First World War. He allowed the Yugoslav authorities to proclaim, in his name, the independence of the Republic of Mirdita in July 1921 in Prizren, Yugoslavia. Gjoni received Yugoslav support, weapons, money, and Wrangel’s White Russian Army was in his service for the effort. The motive for independence that he claimed was that the Albanian government or the “Turks” would ban Catholicism. The events of the Republic of Mirdita coincided with international negotiations on finalizing the Albanian-Yugoslav border, which participants considered important, and these discussions continued through November 1921. Gjoni asked the Yugoslav authorities to take steps to secure recognition of the Republic of Mirdita, while the Yugoslavs hoped that the rebellion in northern Albania would support their territorial claims in the region. Greece granted recognition to the Republic of Mirdita.

At the League of Nations, the Yugoslav government accused the Albanian government of being a tool of Muslim landowning elites, while Albania replied that it was not a government of Muslims and represented the Albanian people of all religions. The Yugoslav government argued that the Albanian government in Tirana did not represent all Albanians because the existence of the Republic of Mirdita cast doubt on Albania’s status as a single country and therefore affected its membership in the League. The Yugoslav delegation claimed that there were two governments and that no unity of the people existed.

Mirdita’s legacy was also shaped by its strong opposition to communism. During the communist period, the region was associated with anti-communist resistance, which became part of its historical identity alongside its traditions of autonomy, religion, and regional distinctiveness.

• President: Marka Gjoni
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Andon Ashiku
• Minister of War: Preng Lleshi
• Minister of Home Affairs: Zef Ndoci

• Mirditë District
• Former countries in Europe after 1815
• Albania
• Republic of Central Albania
• Autonomous Province of Korçë

• WorldStatesmen
• Proclamation
• Article on p. 6