Çerçiz Topulli was born in Gjirokastër, patriot and activist of the National Renaissance, leader of the armed struggle of the gangs for the national liberation of the country, Hero of the People. The family environment, especially his older brother Bajo Topulli, influenced his formation as a patriot. He participated in the activity of the Committee “Për lirinë e Shqipërisë“ (“For the freedom of Albania”) in Gjirokastër. In April 1907, he commanded the armed detachment operating in South Albania, especially in the provinces of Gjirokastra and Korça. By decision of the Committee of Gjirokastra, members of his squad killed, at the beginning of March 1908, in Gjirokastër, the Turkish commander of the gendarmerie. Bravely commanded the company in the “Mashkullore” Campaign (March 18, 1908). In the appeal “Nga malet e Shqipërisë“ (“From the mountains of Albania”), addressed to his compatriots and published in January 1907 in the newspaper “Shpnesa e Shqypeniis“ (“The hope of Albania”), Çerçiz Topulli, after condemning the robberies of the Ottoman administration, demanded that Albania become free and independent. He expressed his conviction that the only way to liberate Albania was a general armed uprising and invited all Albanians to stand up with guns in hand in the fight for freedom. After the victory of the “Young Turk Revolution” of 1908, Çerçiz Topulli worked for the formation of Albanian clubs and the opening of Albanian schools in different parts of the country. In patriotic societies and clubs, he defended the interests of the nation. After the Declaration of Independence of Albania (November 28, 1912) he was put in the service of the Provisional Government of Vlora and fought for the protection of the territorial integrity of the homeland. He was killed in the Field of Shtoi (Shkodër) in 1915. In 1937, the remains of Çerçiz Topulli were brought to Gjirokastër. (In the photo: Çerçiz Topulli)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2730.
Graphic processing: AHCF
