Letter of the sages of Pristina

Ylemaja, the Salihs (the wise) and the poor from Prishtina of Kosovo, all together in the sharia court have expressed that, from the previous invasion of the infidels (the army of the Holy League A.I.), we were destroyed and together with our families ( we were forced) we moved to other countries. While we were separated in different countries, in the name of God, our homeland was liberated and after joining the liberated Islamic lands, with the exalted ferman, we returned to our countries empty-handed. We sold the valuables, or we took money, and with it we bought seeds and oxen. (Thus) for a year or two, we were engaged in agriculture and while facing poverty, our homeland was again attacked by 2,000 thieves and gangs. (on this occasion) some of us were captured and some were martyred, our houses were burned and all kinds of cattle that we had were taken from us. All the mahallas are in a deplorable condition. We lost everything we had.

We have informed the high state (Ottoman) about our situation, which has mercy and creates security conditions in our country... for two years there has been a drought and great cost in our city, (even) we are deprived of grains and food we get from other countries. Our situation is also difficult because of thieves and gangs who are attacking this year as well. Therefore, we ask that you respond to our requests to send special people to create security in our city.

With your permission, taking into account our difficult situation and also being that we are entering the holy month of Ramadan, these days, the High Fermani has arrived, for the gathering of 12,000 kilograms of mixed grains according to the measurement of Istanbul, which will be collected from Skopje and Kosovo. It is difficult for your poor slaves, who are needed for a metelic, to collect so much grain and cattle to carry. However, we do not go against the ferman (imperial order), rather we ask for your mercy to free us from these heavy taxes. The request was registered, while the decision belongs to the righteous and forgiving (Sultan).

Date 27 May 1695.

Source: Istanbul, BOA. AE. SAMD. II. 5/440. Its copy in the Archive of Pristina with the same numbering. (Translated by Agron Islami.)