Memorie.al / Much has been written about the figure of Lef Nosi, although even to this day, we still do not have a complete monograph. The preservation of the Document of Independence is linked to the name of this patriot, as is a broad patriotic, political, and social activity. Among other things, Nosi also published the journal “Dokumente historike” (Historical Documents) and in 1937, a leaflet with the 1912 Act of Independence on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. He maintained a rich correspondence with well-known personalities of international politics, albanology, linguistics, and history. But those things that have almost not been spoken of at all, and have not yet been published, are Nosi’s relationships with his family members.
In this publication, we bring for the first time letters exchanged between him and his mother and brother, “discovered” in Nosi’s personal fund in the Central State Archive. In this jubilee year, marking 110 years since the declaration of Independence, the description of Nosi’s activity, fragments of his life, and his manuscripts come as a dedication and gratitude for this figure who gave so much for this moment, not simply as one of the signatories of Independence.
In this writing, we will bring a part of Nosi’s manuscripts and personal correspondence, which is not separated from his patriotic work. For the first time, we are making public several original documents, previously unpublished, extracted from the fund of Lef Nosi. Nosi appears even more complete to us in his correspondence with his mother, with his brother Gregor, as well as in parts of the diary kept by his friend, Margaret Hasluck, in her notes and poetic verses collected by Nosi.
The Origin of the Nosi Family from Greece
Closely linked to Albania and its fate, especially with the city where he was born and raised, Elbasan, Nosi nevertheless searches deep into his roots and speaks of them. According to the facts he brings and believes and accepts as true, the origin of Nosi and his family is from Greece. He affirms that the Nosis have the same roots as another great patriotic and intellectual family, the Shuteriqis.
This means that two of the most prominent intellectuals of the time, of whom not only Elbasan but all of Albania is proud, Lef Nosi and Dhimitër Shuteriqi, are united not only by patriotic consciousness and love for knowledge but also by the same blood.
“The family lore says that the Nosis are arrivals from Greece. The first one had come here after he had ‘fallen into blood’ (a blood feud) in his own place and had been forced to leave the land. However, when exactly he came is not well known, as there is no written document in the family to show it to us. This clan with the passing of time increased and was divided into three different branches, of which only one kept the old surname and the other two changed it, with one taking the surname ‘Shuteriqi’ and the other ‘Marku’.
Most of the names they gave to the children of these three branches are the same. For example, today they have: Anastas, Beniamin, Jakob, Gregor, Basil, Kolë, Dhimitër, Josif, etc. But the Shuteriqis and the Markas also have such names. Besides this, all three branches celebrate Saint Nicholas with the only difference being that the Nosis hold the feast in summer and the Shuteriqis in winter, so that they can thus call one another to the feast.
We find the surname Kapidani in the ancient codex of the Church of Saint Mary in the year 1784 and, page 167…! It is also in the years 1812 and 1814, pages 192 and 193…! One thing that proves that the Nosis are arrivals from Greece is an event that my brother, Gregor, tells me.
Simon Shuteriqi tells me that he had heard from his father that the first of the ‘Nosi’ family had been the ‘Captain of a ship’ and after it had sunk, he had jumped from Corfu and come ashore. He had come and taken up residence here in Elbasan and therefore they had called them Kapideni (Captain). However, it does not seem to me to be so.
The name Kapidani is more an honorary title, which when I was younger, was also used as Captain. The Muslims of Elbasan used to say it to the wealthy Christians of importance in society. I have heard it in the village of Golomesh in Lushnja as well…”!
Indirectly, he reveals something about his life as well, while saying that he encountered the surname “Nosi” in its Greek form when on July 25, 1934, he was traveling with his sick wife to Greece. “Together with my wife, my first wife whom I had sick in the gorge of Salamis, opposite Piraeus…”! He gives wider data on the Nosi family. He tells of his two relatives, Jançi and Nosi, “whose sons started trade” and “They had a shop at home and then went out to the Bazaar. They went to Venice for goods…”!
The Correspondence of Lef Nosi with his Mother
Nosi: Elbasan, the future capital of Albania
If Esenin once wrote to his mother to be well and not to worry about him, Lefi also wrote to his dear mother shortly after the declaration of Independence, but with a tone that sounds not so much intimate as Esenin’s, but rather patriotic. Located in Vlora where Independence had been declared a few months earlier, he, one of its signatories, continues to think and work for the future of the country.
In the letter written to his mother, he speaks to her about the situation in the Balkans and the “war” of nations for the borders of Albania. With optimism, he notes nevertheless that things are going well and believes that soon Elbasan will be the capital of Albania. While speaking of the birth of one of his nephews, he “orders” his mother to give him an Albanian name.
Vlora, February 21, 1913
My dear mother,
I received your letter from Durrës via Musta and I rejoiced that you are healthy. I am even more rejoiced for Lana’s marriage, the birth of Kola’s son, Sifi’s arrival, and that Grigor’s wife is better. I believe that Venimia has also returned healthy from Durrës. One day I also called Mitri of Sildash at the telegraph office of Fier and asked him about you.
Truly a month has passed that I have not written to you; but, the reason was that people are not often found for there to give them letters. I want to send you also newspapers that we receive regularly from the steamships of Greece, but I have no way.
The affairs of Albania were coming to an end quickly; but, Turkey and Bulgaria did not settle for the work of Edirne, because the committee overthrew the cabinet of Kiamil Pasha and killed the Minister of War Nazim Pasha and, as it took the reins of the kingdom in hand, started the war again. Fortunately, the army of the Turks was broken again and it is expected this week for peace to be closed.
For the borders of Albania, Russia and Austria were quarreling so much that they wanted to start a war. But, the latest news tells us that they were settled and are releasing the armies they had gathered. I believe that the work is not to be delayed anymore, and very soon we will come to Elbasan, to the later Capital of new Albania.
I will try to send you also newspapers via Mitri, if I can send them to you with certainty. Kola’s wife’s parents are well and they rejoiced at the birth of the son. Give him an Albanian name. I greet everyone with health. I kiss the eyes of the little ones. Especially I kiss Sifi’s eyes.
Kissing your hand I remain
your son Lefi
P.S:
It seems Albania will lose only Prishtina, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Presheva, Kaçanik, Ferizo…, Kumanova, Plava, and Gucia and mostly Janina, for which on the other side we have certain news, that they want to leave it to Albania. This week the Congress of London is discussing the issue of borders and the decision will be published. But, we must know that this matter was decided earlier between Austria and Russia and, then it was put into discussion of the Congress.
The Letter of Lef Nosi sent to his brother, Gregor
Nosi, collector and “merchant”
In the letter addressed to his brother, we see an interesting side of Nosi’s human character, as a person with a spirit of trade, who cares for the well-being of the family and who advises the brothers on some practical actions they should take to earn money. Right here Nosi’s passion as a collector also appears, as he seeks to save Serbian stamps for “antiques”…!
Vlora, March 12, 1913
Dear brother Grigor,
I received your card, those of Kola and Ali Irfan, and I rejoiced that you are healthy. We too are healthy and in all things well. We wait from today till tomorrow for the work to take an end and for us to come there. Via Mitri I sent you a letter and some newspapers, which I believe have fallen into your hands. The Greeks came as far as Tepelena, pursuing the Turk’s army. The Bulgarian Committee killed in Thessaloniki George, the King of Greece.
The Turkish army which is found gathered today in Lushnja and Fier, is selling horses and things, for it seems that they will fall into the hands of the Serbs, after they make a small encounter with them so it is not said that they gave up without a fight. Mitri tells me that he has bought 15 horses for you until today; he will do well if he buys even more, for as they get healthy they become such that they come to 40-50 liras a horse.
Here today after the port is closed, an ‘oka’ of sugar is being sold for (30) thirty grosh and cannot be found. If you can, send me as soon as possible about four or five loads for me to sell, as the profit is very large as you see. If you are going to send, make haste for 10 days and, today the livestock should be here and if the sea opens without the sugar arriving here, it may come from outside and the profit does not remain. Do not lose then this chance and, start a man to bring it.
Save some stamps of Serbia for me, with today’s seal which is used for letters in Albania and any document… of the Serbian commander, for I want them for antiques and memory. For Cilka and Erickson write to me how they are and I greet them with health. I greet the family and clan with health. … and I congratulate for the son.
Send me 5 men’s qeleshe (felt hats) of those produced in Elbasan, also 5 qeleshe of those that come from Istanbul like in gray color wool and cotton, like the one I have here …! I kiss Mother’s hand, I greet the brothers and sisters with health, I kiss the eyes of the little ones. Greetings to Sifi. Greetings to my friends.
For a letter of Hafëz Sherif from Dibra that I had… the answer was not sent to us.
Your brother
Lef Nosi
The Content of Nosi’s Fund and his Figure
In the manuscripts of the fund and his correspondence, Nosi speaks on the initiative to publish the newspaper “Tomorri”, his official activity as director of the newspaper, as well as Nosi’s and his mother’s pleas to release him from internment are given. Such a multi-dimensional figure is revealed in great width also through Nosi’s correspondence with well-known figures of the time. It is enough to mention names like: Faik Konica, Fan Noli, Ismail Qemali, Fuat Toptani etc. The number of letters sent to his address is not small.
Almost all of Nosi’s letters are linked to the national cause. His activity is broad also in publicistics and ethnology. A complex personality with broad and deep patriotic and intellectual activity, Lef Nosi, had at the same time a controversial fate and an unmerited death. Publisher of the newspaper “Tomorri”, participant in the Assembly of Vlora, signatory of the Independence document or Mayor of Elbasan at the time of the government of Vlora, he was killed by the communist regime, being labeled as a “collaborator of German nazism”.
From the documents brought, the true, unequivocal, and pure love that he had for Albania and the preoccupation for its fate is observed. The importance of these documents is undoubtedly extraordinary, but there are still many other documents, which must be browsed and interpreted in the right light. It is interesting to clarify Nosi’s stance during the Anti-Fascist National-Liberation War, to eliminate the “shadows” that may exist regarding his figure in this part of Albanian history.
What cannot be doubted is that Lef Nosi, even only through these documents and details brought here, is proven as a rare figure and patriot with a great contribution for Albania and a special love for his city, Elbasan. His killing by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha is a testimony to the inhuman treatments, horrors, and damages that dictatorial regimes bring and carry. / Memorie.al
