Zylyftar Poda

Zylyftar Poda (born Iljaz Poda, 1768–1835) was an Albanian leader, who led several revolts against the Ottoman Empire.

Life Zylyftar Poda was born in 1768 in Podë, a village in the region of Kolonjë, south Albania (then Ottoman Empire). On 1 September 1821, Poda was among the signatories of the "Greek-Albanian alliance" at Peta, near Arta. Written in Greek, the text was signed by eight Muslim Tosks, eight Souliotes and eight Greek kapetanioi. Its goal was military support for Ali, under the guarantee of besa, an Albanian traditional pledge. He took part in a meeting of Albanian leaders in 1828 in Berat. There Poda was one of the three main participants, the others being Ismail Kemal and Shahin bej Delvina. The meeting concluded with requests for Albanian officials in the areas with Albanian population and the removal of Reşid Mehmed Pasha, a local official with considerable power in parts of Epirus, from his official posts in Delvina, Vlora and Ioannina. Two years later Reşid invited a number of Albanian leaders to a meeting in Bitola. Poda decided to not attend, which turned out to be the right decision, as the attendees were massacred.

Legacy Zylyftar Poda is considered one of the most important Albanian leaders of the early 1800s, and many folk songs have been dedicated to him.