The Role of the Komitaji and the Band in Albania in the Context of Nationalist Rebellion

In the 19th century the nationalist separatist movements of the Ottoman Balkans occurred relatively later among the Albanians because of their cultural and religious differences. The Albanian rebellion in the first place was against the application of decisions of the Berlin Treaty in 1878 in the region rather than the ambition for independence. Then, it transformed into a reaction against measures taken by II.Abdulhamit and the Committee of Union and Progress to protect the status quo in the region. In this period, Albanians tried to protect their self-interest and reach their desire with the activities of gangs like many Balkan nations that demanded independence. In this study, the role of gang activities and secret organizations, emerged as a result of political developments at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, and their effects on the independence of Albania and the political structure of the region, are examined