Zenel Gjoleka

Zenel Gjoleka (1805-1852) was an Albanian revolutionary fighter who participated in rebellions against the Ottoman Empire central authority, being against reforms of Tanzimat (that decreased the power of the local Albanian Pashas and Beys) . After those events he was pardoned by Abdülmecid I, the Sultan of Ottoman Empire at that time. In 1852 he died fighting as an Albanian for the Ottoman Empire and for the protection of Albanian populated lands against Montenegrin forces.
On 28 April 2012 Albanian President Bamir Topi posthumously awarded Gjoleka the Honor of Nation Order.