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The House of Taushani was an Albanian aristocratic family prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Members

According to the studies of Lef Nosi (scholar and Albanian political figure), some of the most notable members of this family included:

Abdullah Pashe Taushani appointed Pasha of the city of Elbasan. Due to his political activity against the interests of the Sultan, he was later declared a rebel of the Sublime Porte. He also became member of the Ali Pasha Tepelena's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Other members of the Council included Myftar Pasha, Veli Pasha, Xheladin bej Ohri and a number of his trusted men like Hasan Dervishi, Halil Patrona, Omar Vrioni, Meço Bono, Ago Myhyrdari, Thanasis Vagias, Veli Gega (murdered by Katsantonis) and Tahir Abazi. Between 1812 and 1813, Abdullah Pasha, in the capacity of Sanjakbey of Elbasan (roughly equivalent to "district governor"), engaged in the process of the hygienization of the city by cleaning the water and sewage canals that originated from inside Elbasan Castle and finally depositing them in the Shkumbin river.

Mehmet Pashe Taushani appointed Pasha of the City of Elbasan after the death of his uncle, Abdullah Pasha. According to Prof. Staver Naçi, after the occupation of Tirana, Durres, and Kruja, the Pasha of Shkodra sent a letter to the paria (nobility) of the City of Elbasan asking them to surrender peacefully and to remove from power the allies of Ali Pasha Tepelena. Once the "paria" learned that Mustafa Pashe of Shkodra (Bushati), was on his way to invade Elbasan, they assembled and elected Mehmet Pasha Taushani (nephew of Abdullah Pashe Taushani (from his father's side) and Abaz Pashe Dibra (mother's side) to lead the fight against the advancing troops.

Isuf Bey Taushani and Ismail Bej Xheladin Beu (Taushani), were among the signatories of the Independence of the City of Elbasan on November 25, 1912. In a telegram sent to Ismail Bey Vlora, the signatories declared that "All the People of Elbasan, muslim and christian, in one voice, have accepted the Independence of Albania." (“I gjithe populli i Elbasanit, myslimane dhe te krishtere, me nje ze kane pranuar Indipendencen e Shqiperise”).

Abaz Bey Taushani was an Albanian army officer executed (together with Kamber Benja and Bexhet Manastiri) by the Austrian army after protesting against the removal of Albanian archeological objects from Apolonia, Fier by the Austrian army. The Protest Note formulated by the three officers, which was handed over to the Austrian authorities stated the following: We protest against the removal of all archeological objects without the permission of the Albanian authorities. Although we believe that you have come to Albania as our allies, your hurriedness and escorted removal of all marble busts, golden and bronx rings, and all the painted ceramics with mythological figures that are part of our national history, is unfair and unacceptable. You may not remove the stone chest located within the turkish gymnasium in Berat because in reality, that chest is a crematorium that holds invaluable notes on the history and origin of ancient Illyrian towns.

After their removal, only some the objects managed to reach Austria where they remain exhibited to this day. For their courageous act, the Albanian Monarchy and later on, the Socialist Republic of Albania, proclaimed the fallen officers "Deshmore te Monumenteve" (Martyrs of the Monuments).

In the framework of the 100th anniversary of the declaration of independence and creation of the Albanian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania, named September 29 as the "National Day of Cultural Heritage" in honor of the three fallen heroes. They were also decorated with the highest military medal for Albanian officers for their extraordinary efforts in preserving the cultural riches of the country.

The Albanian movie Dëshmoret e Monumenteve is also based upon this event. Abaz Bey was also a leading officer in the Albanian volunteer forces ({{lang-sq|Mëmëdheu) that stopped the Greek invasion of the city of Korca and the surrounding villages and towns.

Ismail Bey Halla

Zyber Bey Taushani was described in the Memoirs of Eqrem Bey Vlora: "Zyber Bey Taushani (of the well known aristocratic family from Elbasan)...was a true knight who knew no fear, a true caballero, dressed in the picturesque Albanian national costume...

References

1. Dokumentet Historike te Lef Nosit, A.Sh. Fondi 32, Dosja 47, fq 10-35.
2. Pashalleku i Shkodres nen Sundimin e Bushatllijve, Tirane 1986
3. Isuf Bey
4. "Elbasani ngriti flamurin me 25 nentor 1912 Gazeta Standard 2010-11-26". Lajme4.shqiperia.com. 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
5. Abaz Bey Taushani
6. "Petro Luarasi: Skënder P. Luarasi për Kosovën: adhurim dhe detyrim i përjetshëm" (in Albanian). Revista Drini. 23.4.12. Retrieved 6.1.13. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
7. Vlora, Eqrem (2001). Lebenserinnerungen. Albania: Qendra Nderkombtare e Kultures, Tirana. pp. 30, 78–80. ISBN 99927-661-6-6.

Template:Persondata

• Albanian families