Albania "propaganda?" stamps |
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guyana1230
First Class Joined: 13 August 2018 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 237 |
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Topic: Albania "propaganda?" stamps Posted: 10 November 2019 at 01:35 |
Panterra
First Class Joined: 01 April 2017 Location: Auckland, NZ Status: Offline Points: 240 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 28 December 2019 at 03:00 |
I came upon these a while back, so researched it up, and here is what I discovered: During the Balkan Wars, Albania became independent & Mirdita was
included in the new country. Prenk Bib Doda, with hopes of claiming the
Albanian throne, gave support to the government of Ismail Qemali in
Vlorë. After World War 1, Doda was assassinated in 1919 & as he was
childless, a relative Marka Gjoni claimed the position of kapedan. Many
of the Mirdita leaders refused to acknowledge him & he lacked
popularity among the tribe due to cowardice during the war. By 1921
Marka Gjoni received money from Belgrade & rebelled against the new
Muslim Albanian government & he declared the Mirdita Republic at
Prizren in Yugoslav territory on 17 July 1921. Recognised by Greece
& supported by Yugoslavia, the new state was put down by Albanian
troops on 20 November 1921. Marka Gjoni fled to Yugoslavia but after
some time he was allowed to return to Albania & in Mirdita was
active in local affairs for a few years before his death.
His son Gjon Markagjoni became the next kapedan and reached an understanding with the Albanian state, later being given prominent government ministries to lead. During World War 2, he collaborated with Italian & later German military forces occupying Albania & by 1944 fled to Italy. His son became the next kapedan & with his Mirdita fighters later fled to the Luma region continuing an anti-communist struggle. In early 1946 he was killed in his sleep by his brother in law hoping for a reprieve from communist forces who in turn was killed by Marka's brother. Marka's son, Gjon Markagjoni (1938-2003) spent his years in a communist internment camp, as did other members of the Gjonmarkaj family. With the collapse of communism in Albania (1992), the position of Prince of Mirdita or kapedan has become a memory of a long ago past. Here is a complete collection comprising all the stamps of the Mirdita Republic. The top 3 rows are the definitive set showing the double-head eagle emblem, while the bottom 2 rows are the "Postage Due" overprints. All have Orosh cancels. |
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guyana1230
First Class Joined: 13 August 2018 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 237 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 28 December 2019 at 05:02 |
Thank you very much for this information
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