Ali Pasha of Tepelena

Leader
Pasha of Janina

Ali Pasha of Tepelena, son of Veli, was born into a family of military feudal lords in the Labëria region. He rose to rule the Pashalik of Janina, which became a de facto independent state. Foreign powers, including Napoleon Bonaparte, courted him and saw him as a worthy adversary.

Tepelena

Born: TepelenaLabëria; one source gives the village of Beçisht
Title: Pasha of Janina
Known as: Lion of Janina
Region: Epirus and southern Albanian lands
Family: Son of VeliFather of Myftar and Veli
Death: Killed treacherouslyBesieged on an island of the Lake of Janina

Why He Matters

Autonomous state builder
He turned the Pashalik of Janina into a de facto independent state noted for order and development, and Janina became a prosperous center where Albanian began to be written.
Courted by great powers
French, Russian and British forces turned to him and set up direct diplomatic ties, bypassing the Porte. Napoleon Bonaparte considered him a worthy adversary.
Legacy in memory
His war against the sultan deepened the gulf between Albanians and Ottoman rulers and helped prepare the National Renaissance. Songs about him are sung across the Albanian lands.

Key Moments

1784
Made Pasha
He received the rank of Pasha as a military commander and secured the governorship of the sanjak of Delvina.
1786–88
Janina governorship
He became governor of Trikala and took the important sanjak of Janina, extending his power over Epirus.
1797
Dealings with France
He met the French general Roze and welcomed French officers as neighbors in the former Venetian territories.
October 1798
Butrint and Preveza
He struck the French at Butrint, then defeated them at Nicopolis near Preveza.
1820–1822
War with the Porte
He fought the Ottoman forces sent against him and withstood a siege of a year and a half before being killed.