Kaje Gale Selmani
Kaje Gale Selmani or Kalë Galja Shabanaj, also known as Galja of Koshutan (1851–c.1951) was an Albanian peasant highlander woman and resistance fighter from the village of Koshutan, Rugova, Kosovo (back then part of the Ottoman Empire). Selmani is known for having fought against the invading Montenegrin forces in the Battle of Novsice in 1879.[1] Sadri Groshi, an 80-year-old man at the time, fought alongside Kaje but died as the Montenegrins entered the kulla. She cut down four Montenegrin forces with an axe. Kaje Selmani was the daughter of the local bayraktar Shaban Smajli and sister to Zhuj Selmani. She was wounded outside the kulla and was found by her second brother, Zymeraj Selmani, who took her to the local hospital of the Albanian fighters where she survived. After she was healed, she continued to fight in numerous battles. She is mentioned in Albanian epic poetry.
Life and death
Kaje Selmani was the sister of Zhuj Selmani, who died in 1875 fighting Montenegrin forces. Kaje was married in Novsic (Nokshiq) and had two daughters. During the Battle of Novsice, Kaje Selmani headed out to help Rrustem Ukaj, whose village, the Haxhaj in Rugova, had been attacked by the Montenegrin forces led by Marko Miljanov. When the Montenegrins launched their first attack, Kaje took shelter in the kulla of Sadri Groshi, an 80-year-old man at the time. They opened fire with their muskets, killing several Montenegrins. When she ran out of ammunition, the Montenegrins broke through and broke down the door at the bottom floor of the kulla. Sadri Groshi was shot and died. Kaje then grabbed an axe and cut down the Montenegrins one by one. After being wounded in the head, she was taken to a hospital where she recovered. In 1941, the Montenegrin forces entered her house and broke both her hands as an act of vengeance for her battle more than 60 years ago. The Montenegrins planned to burn her alive but she was spared by a Montenegrin soldier, Millka, who insisted on leaving her alive. Kaje Selmani is said to have turned 100 years old before she died.[2] Kaje is mentioned by Albanian epic folklore.[3]
References
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- ↑ "The Normandy of the Albanians".
- ↑ "Luanesha e Koshutanit - Lajme - Kosova Sot". Kosova Sot.
- ↑ "Nokshiqi, Normandia e shqiptarëve | Kosova për Sanxhakun". kosovapersanxhakun.org (in shqip).
