Introduction: Why a 1913 Albanian Document Still Matters Today
In the fragile early years of the Albanian state, every surviving document carries extraordinary historical weight. Albania declared independence in November 1912, but building a functioning administration was an immense challenge. A Finance Ministry letter dated 20 November 1913, signed by Deputy Minister Luigj Gurakuqi, offers rare insight into how Albania organized its institutions, symbols, and security forces during this formative period.
This document is not just a bureaucratic note. It is a window into state symbolism, international cooperation, and the lives of two very young Albanians who later paid a heavy price for their political convictions. For Albanians today—especially historians, researchers, and patriots—it represents an invaluable piece of national memory.
The First Value: An Early Model of the Albanian Ministry Seal
One of the most important aspects of this document is the official seal of the Ministry of Finance. Very few authenticated seals from this exact period have survived, making this example especially significant.
The seal shows:
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The early visual identity of the Albanian state
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The standardized style of governmental seals in 1913
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The effort to establish legitimacy and authority in international correspondence
At a time when Albania was still struggling for recognition and internal stability, such symbols were essential. They projected sovereignty not only to Albanian citizens, but also to foreign governments and companies.
For researchers, this seal helps fill a major gap, as documentation from the 1912–1914 period remains extremely limited.
The Second Value: Gendarmerie Uniforms Made in Torino
Perhaps even more surprising is what the document reveals about Albania’s early security forces. It confirms that the first uniforms for the Albanian gendarmerie were produced in Torino, Italy.
The uniforms were commissioned from the Italian company Bauchiero, a firm that remained active until 1977. This detail highlights several key points:
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Albania relied on Italian industrial expertise for state-building
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There was an early effort to professionalize the gendarmerie
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International contracts were already being negotiated just one year after independence
This cooperation also reflects Albania’s geopolitical reality in the early 20th century, balancing regional powers while attempting to remain sovereign.
Two Names, Two Teenagers, One Mission
The document names two individuals tasked with traveling to negotiate or discuss contracts:
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Anton Dukagjini, aged just 18
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Adem Isa Boletini, aged 17
It is difficult to overstate the significance of this fact. At an age when most teenagers today are still in school, these two young Albanians were entrusted with state-level responsibilities abroad. Their involvement demonstrates both the scarcity of trained personnel and the extraordinary sense of duty among Albania’s youth at the time.
Anton Dukagjini: From State Builder to Political Prisoner
Anton Dukagjini went on to serve for many years in the Ministry of Public Works, rising to positions of specialist and director. However, his fate took a tragic turn after World War II.
In 1946, he was condemned as part of the Democratic Coalition opposition by the communist regime. His punishment included:
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Nearly 14 years of imprisonment
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Severe deterioration of his health
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Forced internment in Savër after release
Dukagjini eventually died in 1967 in a hospital in Berat, a broken man whose early contributions to the Albanian state were erased from official narratives for decades.
Adem Isa Boletini: A Silenced Assassination
The fate of Adem Isa Boletini was even more abrupt. He was assassinated by communists in Shkodër in November 1943.
What is particularly disturbing is the silence that followed. Despite the regime’s extensive documentation of ambushes and partisan actions, this killing was never properly explained in official histories. His name faded, not because his role was insignificant, but because it did not fit the approved ideological narrative.
Why This Document Is Crucial for Albanian Historical Memory
This single Finance Ministry letter connects multiple layers of Albanian history:
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The symbolism of early state authority
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The internationalization of Albania’s institutions
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The youthful idealism of early public servants
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The brutal political repression that followed decades later
For Albanians today—especially younger generations—such documents remind us that statehood was built by teenagers, visionaries, and professionals who often paid with their freedom or lives.
Conclusion: Recovering the Truth Beyond Official Histories
The 20 November 1913 document signed by Luigj Gurakuqi is far more than an administrative record. It is evidence of Albania’s early ambition, international engagement, and tragic political continuity.
By studying and sharing such materials, Albanians reclaim stories that were deliberately buried. These documents restore dignity to figures like Anton Dukagjini and Adem Isa Boletini, and they remind us that true national history often survives not in textbooks, but in forgotten archives.