Tajar Tetova

Tajar Tetova was an Albanian military commander and çetë (band) leader in southern Albania and Macedonia.

Background
born in Kalkandelen in the late-19th century, Tajar bey Tetova came from a noble landowning family. Tetova rose through the military ranks of the Ottoman empire, becoming a Captain in the Turkish army.

Albanian National Awakening
In 1908 he was sent by the Ottoman empire to support the Ottoman troops against the Albanian uprisings in Monastir (present-day Bitola). On June 22, 1908 Tajar Tetova then leading 150 Albanian soldiers mutinied and joined the revolutionaries. He formed a military league, demanding the retirement of the Young Turk government and general elections claiming that the existing cabinet was elected under terrorist agitation of the Young Turkish Committee. Tetova and his soldiers took all the weapons and ammunition company as well as two heavy machine guns from the Turkish in Monastir. Tetova expanded his insurgent movement in the area of Dibra, Korce and Kolonje. Tetova's group merged with Sali Butka fighters and together fought against the invaders of Albania.

He served for a short time as Mayor of Elbasan. A street in Elbasan is named after him.