Çelo Picari

Xhelil Bega or Çelo Picari (1801–1880) was an Albanian revolutionary leader of the Albanian Revolt of 1847.

Life Born Xhelil Bega in 1801 in the old Picar, a settlement that is no longer inhabited and in ruins, but close to today's Picar, in southern Albania, he later preferred to be called Çelo Picari. In his youth he was a shepherd and at that time he was recruited by Ali Pasha in Ioannina. In 1821 he commanded the troops of the Pashalik of Yannina that were defending Tepelenë against the Ottoman army and Souliotes. After Ali Pasha's defeat he was interned in Preveza.

He later participated in several uprisings with Zylyftar Poda but avoided getting killed in the Massacre of the Albanian beys by not responding to an invitation. When Picari was captured he was again interned in Konya until 1852. AlbanianEnglishMarko Boçari suliot, Qan e të këput me lot, Se me Çelon se del dot, Është djalë picariotThe Souliot Mark Botsaris, Cries and can't stop, 'Cause he can't be better than Çelo, He is a Picariot boy