Sultanovo putovanje po Staroj Srbiji i Makedoniji

Abstract

Dissatisfaction of Albanian population in Old Serbia and Macedonia during 1910 and 1911 turned into open conflicts with Turkish authorities. These conflicts resulted in a large number of wounded and killed, and a lot of houses were burnt and destroyed. Turkish authorities, knowing that Albanians represent a fortress in preservation of Ottoman Empire in Balkans, decided to organize a sultan's visit to this part of state. The visit represents achievement of idea of Youth Turkish Committee which had intention to calm down Albanian population from one side, and to avoid interference of great powers in internal questions of state from another side. During his seventy days journey through Old Serbia and Macedonia Sultan visited Thessaloniki, Skopje, Pristina and Bitolj, where he was receiving religious and civil representatives of all nationalities including representatives of foreign countries in those places. Preparation which were done for arrival of Sultan supposed, among other things, participation of Serbs. The presence of Serbian military delegation in Thessaloniki was for Turks expression of peaceful politics of Kingdom of Serbia toward Ottoman Empire. Sultan's visit to Old Serbia and Macedonia and touring of Murat's turbet, where decree on amnesty of all political culprits being in country or outside was read, did not completely satisfy Albanians. Their dissatisfaction affected Serbs most. The Albanian fury increased every day and requests multiplied. They included appointment of Albanians for administrative, military and judicial officers in areas where they live, doing military service in their country, opening of schools in the whole Albania in which teaching process will be conducted in Albanian language with Latin alphabet, building of roads and railways through Albania. These requests openly led toward autonomy and creation of new state, which will come true after First Balkan War in 1912 with dedication of Austria-Hungary and Italy.