Capture of Priştine

The Capture of Priştine (Albanian: Pushtimi i Prishtinës) was a pivotal event during the Albanian revolt of 1912, it involved the entry of Albanian rebels into the former capital of the Kosovo vilayet.

Siege of Peja
In Peja, a fierce uprising unfolded as Xhafer Tajari valiantly resisted, though Turkish forces eventually broke through, forcing rebels towards Rugova and Plava. Despite setbacks, Albanian morale remained resilient.

Battle of Prush Pass
Bajram Curri's Krasniqi tribe secured a crucial victory at Prush Pass in Has, scattering four Turkish battalions. The Turks, misled about rebel intentions, returned to Gjakova demoralized. This triumph not only lifted spirits but also prompted dissatisfied officers to express opposition to the Young Turk regime, sympathizing with the Albanian cause.

Capture
Within the space of a few days, over 10,000-12,000 rebels converged outside Priştine, determined to claim the town. Forces from Gjilan, Kaçanik, Prizren, and Tetova strategically secured positions.

Facing military preparations from the Priştine garrison, a daring act unfolded at the telegraph office. A group of Albanian men from Priştine confronted Ismail Fazıl Pasha, shoving a pistol into his mouth and threatening him to sign an order prohibiting the Ottoman army in the trenches from resisting if the Albanian rebels attempted to take the town. This decisive move not only avoided the risk of bloody conflict but also facilitated a seamless transition of Priştine into the epicenter of the rebellion, with the enthusiastic participation of the town's populace swelling the rebel ranks to 30,000.

Aftermath
The fall of Priştine put the entire Vilayet of Kosovo under the control of the rebels, Panic spread in Istanbul and leading to the resignation of Grand Vizier Said Pasha. Kâmil Pasha formed a new cabinet, initiating negotiations with Albanian leaders.

In August 1912, less than a month after the Albanian rebels captured Priştine, they marched to Üskup and seized it, ending the Albanian revolt of 1912.