Pashalik of Scutari

Pashalik of Scutari Pashallëku i Shkodrës
Autonomous state
← 1757–1831 →
Capital	Shkodër
Language(s)	Albanian
Religion	Sunni Islam Roman Catholicism
Government	Pashalik
Pasha
- 1757-1774	Mehmed Bushati
- 1774-1778	Mustafa Bushati
- 1778-1796	Kara Mahmud Bushati
- 1796-1810	Ibrahim Bushati
- 1810-1831	Mustafa Reshiti
Historical era	Early modern period
- Established	1757
- Disestablished	1831
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The Pashalik of Iskodra, or Pashalik of Shkodra, (1757-1831) was a semi-autonomous^[1] pashalik under the Ottoman empire created by the Albanian Bushati family from the previous Sanjak of Scutari, which was situated around the city of Shkodër in modern-day Albania and parts of modern-day Montenegro.

Background

The weakening of Ottoman central authority and the timar system of land ownership brought anarchy to the Albanian-populated region of the Ottoman empire. In the late eighteenth century, two Albanian centers of power emerged: Shkodër, under the Bushati family; and Janina, under Ali Pasha of Tepelenë. Both regions cooperated with and defied the Sublime Porte as their interests required.^[2]

History

In 1757, Mehmed Bushati, having eliminated two rival families^[3] proclaimed himself pasha of Shkodër, thus transforming the Sanjak of Scutari, created in 1479, into a semi-autonomous Pashalik of Shkodra.

Mehmed Bushati's son and second successor, Kara Mahmud Bushati, pursued a policy of military expansion and established his control over northern Albania up to the River Shkumbin and over Kosovo. He launched two attacks on Montenegro (1785, 1796) and defeated several Ottoman expeditions dispatched to subdue him. Kara Mahmud courted both the Austrian and Russian empires, even receiving a promise from Vienna that they would recognise him as lord of all Albania in return for an alliance against the Sublime Porte.^[4] In response, the Ottomans ex post facto appointed Kara Mahmud governor of Shkodër.^[4]

In 1796, the Montenegrins defeated an expedition launched against them from Shkodër and beheaded Kara Mahmud Bushati.^[4] His death signalled a decline in autonomy for the pashalik^[1] and Kara Mahmud's successor, his brother Ibrahim Bushati, cooperated with the Ottoman empire until his own death (1810).^[4]

The Bushati dynasty's rule came to an end when an Ottoman army under Mehmed Reshid Pasha laid siege to the Rozafat castle at Shkodër and forced the surrender of the last pasha, Mustafa Reshiti (1831).^[5] This defeat not only ended a planned alliance between the Albanians and the Bosnians, who were similarly seeking autonomy,^[6] but also brought about the dissolution of the pashalik and the establishment in its place of the vilayets of Scutari and of Kosovo. An uprising in Scutari in 1833-1836 failed to reestablish the autonomy enjoyed under the Bushatis.

Pashas

• Mehmed Bushati (1757-1774)
• Mustafa Bushati (1774-1778)
• Kara Mahmud Bushati (1778-1796)
• Ibrahim Bushati (1796-1810)
• Mustafa Reshiti (1810-1831)

See also

• Pashalik of Janina
• Albania under Ottoman Empire
• Albanian Pashaliks
• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

References

Bibliography

• Bahl, Taru; Syed, M. H. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Muslim World. New Delhi: Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.. ISBN 978-81-261-1419-1. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ceW4dR78ubEC&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
• Castellan, Georges (2002). Histoire de l'Albanie et des albanais. N.p.: Editions Armeline. ISBN 978-2-910878-20-7. 
• Elsie, Robert (2005). Albanian literature: a short history. London: I. B. Tauris in association with The Centre for Albanian Studies. ISBN 978-1-84511-031-4. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ox3Wx1Nl_2MC&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
• Jelavich, Barbara ([1983] 1999). History of the Balkans: Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-27458-6. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qR4EeOrTm-0C&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
• Vickers, Miranda (1999). The Albanians: a modern history. New York: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IzI0uOZ2j6gC&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
• Zickel, Raymond; Iwaskiw, Walter R. (1994). Albania: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: GPO for Library of Congress. http://countrystudies.us/albania/19.htm.