Early Life
Qazim, son of Muhamet Kociu, was born Qazim Muhameti in 1887, in the village of Koculi, close to Vlorë (in the then Ottoman Empire, now modern Albania). Koculi received his primary education in Vlorë and later moved to Ioannina, Greece to attend the Zosimea Gymnasium. He accomplished his higher education at the Kara Harp Okulu Turkish Military Academy, graduating as a Teğmen (Second Lieutenant). He was appointed to the Ottoman Navy as a Üsteğmen (First Lieutenant).
He disobeyed a military order in 1909 during a naval battle in Preveza by refusing to surrender to the Italian Navy. After a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Imperial Command, Koculi fled to Argentina, where he resided until 1912.
He then returned to Vlorë upon the invitation of President Ismail Qemali. The latter appointed him Director of the Port of Vlorë, a position he held until the takeover of the port by the Italians in October 1914. He withdrew to Brataj, Vlorë and served as a village chief until 1917. He later served as vice prefect of Tepelenë until 1919.
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