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| The Italian newspaper La Tribuna of May 6, 1910, which wrote about the Albanian uprisings against the Ottoman Empire |
The Myth of Submission vs. The Reality of Resistance
For decades, certain nationalistic narratives from neighboring regions have attempted to paint the Albanian people as "passive subjects" or "collaborators" of the Ottoman Empire. However, when we move away from political rhetoric and look at the cold, hard data of historical uprisings, a completely different picture emerges—one of relentless sacrifice and constant rebellion.
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Comparative Data: Uprisings Against Ottoman Rule
The statistical evidence shows that Albanians did not just participate in the resistance; they were the primary engine of it. The number of Albanian uprisings exceeds that of all other Balkan nations combined.
| People | Approximate Number of Uprisings |
| Albanians | 80–100 |
| Greeks | 25–30 |
| Bulgarians | 20–25 |
| Serbs | 15–20 |
| Romanians | ~15 |
| Bosnians | 10–15 |
| Montenegrins | 10–12 |
Debunking the "Collaborator" Narrative
It is deeply ironic that those who today project themselves as the "eternal enemies" of the Ottomans often ignore their own historical periods of vassalage and military cooperation with the Sultan. While the Albanians were organizing 80 to 100 separate revolts to reclaim their lands, many of these "anti-Ottoman" neighbors were often serving as loyal vassals in Ottoman campaigns or paying tribute in exchange for local autonomy.
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The claim that Albanians "submitted" because of the conversion to Islam is a shallow reading of history. As the statistics prove, the Albanians were the most rebellious element within the Empire, regardless of religion. Their uprisings were not merely religious, but deeply nationalistic and territorial, aimed at preserving the identity of the Arbër.
Key Takeaways
Massive Sacrifice: Shqiptarët (Albanians) led nearly four times as many uprisings as the Greeks and five times as many as the Serbs.
Geographic Context: Many uprisings categorized within the modern borders of neighboring states were actually spearheaded by Albanian populations living in those territories at the time.
The Arbër Legacy: From the era of Skanderbeg to the late 19th-century League of Prizren, the Albanian spirit remained the most significant thorn in the side of Ottoman administration in the Balkans.
To those who continue to push the narrative of Albanian collaboration: the numbers do not lie. While you were negotiating terms of vassalage, the Albanians were busy fighting.