 Until then the captain of Hoti was recognized by the Ottomans as a "voivode", which became nominally the second-in-rank title of Hoti.The status of the "bajrak" meant that a tribal leader was designated as "bajraktar" (flag-bearer) by the Ottoman state and was responsible for rallying and leading men-in-arms from the tribe in campaigns of the Ottoman army.The bajraktar of Hoti, who was recognised as the first bajraktar of Malësia, led the forces of tribes (Kelmendi, Shkreli, Kastrati, Gruda and three smaller tribes) in times of war mobilisation.