History of Albania

Albania has a long history that goes back thousands of years. During classical antiquity, the land was home to many groups, including the Illyrian tribes such as the Albanoi, Ardiaei, and Taulantii. These tribes sometimes fought each other and with nearby areas.

Later, the area became part of the large Roman Empire and stayed under Roman rule for many years. After Rome, it was controlled by the Byzantine Empire before other groups, like the Bulgarian Empire, took over.

In the Middle Ages, Albania saw the rise of its own small kingdoms and became part of the powerful Ottoman Empire. It stayed under Ottoman control for many years until it declared independence in 1912 after the Albanian Declaration of Independence.

In the 20th century, Albania went through many changes. It was ruled by kings, then occupied by Italy during World War II, and later became a communist state under strict leaders. After communism ended in the early 1990s, Albania faced difficult times but slowly improved. Today, Albania is a member of NATO and hopes to join the European Union one day.

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Albania

Mesolithic & Neolithic

The first signs that people lived in Albania come from long ago, in the Middle and Upper Paleolithic times. These signs were found in places like Xarrë, near Sarandë, and Dajti near Tirana. People left behind tools made of stone and animal bones. These tools look like ones found in Montenegro and Greece. Many important places from a time called the Neolithic period have been found in spots such as Maliq, Gruemirë, Dushman (Dukagjin), near the Erzen River close to Shijak, near Durrës, Ziçisht, Nepravishtë, Finiq, and Butrint.

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age in Albania was when new groups of people came from far away. They brought their languages and mixed with local people. This mixing made the early groups later known as Illyrians. These groups built special burial mounds called tumuli. Some of the oldest of these mounds are from the year 2600 BCE. These mounds were part of a culture that spread from the northern Balkans down along the Adriatic coast. Similar mounds have been found in Montenegro and northern Albania.

In the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, more groups of people moved into parts of what is now Albania. This included the Bryges in southern Albania and northwestern Greece, and Illyrian tribes in central Albania. These moves happened around the start of the Iron Age in the Balkans, during the early 1st millennium BC.

Antiquity

Illyrians

Main articles: Origin of the Albanians, Illyria, Illyrians, Thraco-Illyrian, and List of ancient tribes in Illyria

The Illyrians were groups of tribes who lived in parts of the western Balkans long ago. Their land was called Illyria. It was between the Adriatic Sea to the west, the Drava river to the north, the Morava river to the east, and the Vjosë river to the south. We know about them from old Greek writings.

Many Illyrian tribes lived in what is now Albania, such as the Ardiaei, Taulantii, and Albanoi. Other tribes included the Parthini, Abri, Cavii, Enchelei, and Bylliones. In the west, some people from Phrygia called the Bryges also lived there, and in the south were the Chaonians, a Greek tribe.

Around 400 BC, an Illyrian leader named Bardylis became the first known king of the Illyrians. He tried to make Illyria stronger and fought with nearby areas.

Greeks and Romans

Starting around 700 BC, people from Greece set up trading towns along the coast where Illyrians lived. Important towns included Apollonia, Epidamnos (now Durrës), and Lissus (now Lezhë). Another town, Buthrotum (Butrint), became important later on.

Later, the land became part of the big Roman Empire. A major road called the Via Egnatia went through this area. The Romans split up Illyria into smaller parts, and some of it became part of Macedonia.

Christianization

Main article: Christianization of Albania

Christianity began to spread in this area during the time of the Roman Empire. By the year 395, the Roman Empire was split into two parts, and the land that is now Albania was under the control of the eastern part, called Byzantium. Even though it was part of Byzantium, the Christian leaders there were at first under the authority of the leader in Rome. Later, this changed, and the area became more connected to the leaders in Constantinople.

When the Christian church later divided into two groups, the southern part of Albania stayed connected to Constantinople, while the northern part stayed with Rome. This was the beginning of different religious groups in the area.

Middle Ages

Early Middle Ages

Main articles: Albania in the Middle Ages and Albania under the Byzantine Empire

After the region became part of the Roman lands in 168 BC, it joined Epirus nova, which itself belonged to the Roman province of Macedonia. When the Roman Empire split into two parts in 395, the lands of modern Albania joined the Byzantine Empire. During the first decades of Byzantine rule, the area faced attacks by Visigoths, Huns, and Ostrogoths. In later centuries, movements of Slavic people into the Balkans pushed Albanians and Vlachs into the mountains or into Byzantine Greece.

These invasions often damaged places in what would become Albania.

In the mid-9th century, much of eastern Albania joined the Bulgarian Empire. The area, called Kutmichevitsa, became a center of Bulgarian culture with busy towns such as Devol, Glavinitsa (Ballsh), and Belgrad (Berat). Later, the area was taken back by the Second Bulgarian Empire.

In the Middle Ages, the name Arberia started being used more often for the lands that are now Albania. The first clear mention of Albanians in history books comes from a Byzantine writer named Michael Attaliates between 1079 and 1080. He wrote about the Albanoi joining a revolt against Constantinople and about the Arbanitai. Another mention by Attaliates, about Albanians in a rebellion around 1078, is also certain.

In the late 11th and 12th centuries, this area was important in the wars between the Byzantines and the Normans; Dyrrhachium was the farthest west point of the Via Egnatia. By the end of the 12th century, as Byzantine control weakened, the area of Arbanon became an independent principality ruled by its own leaders. In 1258, leaders from Sicily took over the island of Corfu and the Albanian coast. This area, made formal in 1272 as the Kingdom of Albania, was meant to be a base for attacking the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines, however, took back most of Albania by 1274. Finally, when an attack started, it stopped. Albania stayed mostly with the Byzantine empire until it was taken over by the Serbian ruler Stephen Dushan. During this time, the land became mostly Albanian.

Principality of Arbër

Main article: Principality of Arbër

In 1190, the Principality of Arbër (Arbanon) was created by a leader named Progon in the area of Krujë. Progon was followed by Gjin Progoni and then Dhimitër Progoni. Arbanon covered parts of central Albania, with its capital in Krujë.

The principality of Arbanon started in 1190 by a local leader named Progon in the lands around Kruja. Progon was succeeded by his sons Gjin and then Demetrius (Dhimitër). In 1204, Arbanon became fully independent for a short time. However, Arbanon lost this freedom around 1216, when the ruler of Epirus attacked and captured Kruja. After Demetrius died, Arbanon was controlled by others.

During fights, Arbanon benefited from the Via Egnatia trade road.

High Middle Ages

Main articles: Albanian principalities, League of Lezhë, and Kingdom of Albania (medieval)

After the fall of the Principality of Arber, the Kingdom of Albania was created by Charles of Anjou. He became King of Albania in February 1272. The kingdom reached from the area of Durrës south along the coast. After the failure of a crusade, Charles of Anjou turned his attention back to Albania. He began talking to local Albanian leaders.

On 21 February 1272, a group of Albanian noblemen and citizens from Durrës went to Charles' court. Charles signed an agreement with them and was named King of Albania. The agreement joined the Kingdom of Albania with the Kingdom of Sicily under King Charles of Anjou. He named Gazzo Chinardo as his Vicar-General and planned to attack Constantinople again. During 1272 and 1273 he sent supplies to the towns of Durrës and Vlorë. This worried the Byzantine Emperor, who began writing to local Albanian nobles. However, the Albanian nobles trusted Charles. During its time, the kingdom often fought with the Byzantine empire. The kingdom became small, reduced to an area around Durrës. Even before the city of Durrës was taken, it was surrounded by Karl Thopia's lands. Calling himself an Angevin descendant, Karl Thopia took Durrës in 1368 and created the Princedom of Albania. During this time, Catholicism spread quickly among the people. A Western type of feudalism was started.

Principalities and League of Lezhë

Main articles: Albanian principalities and League of Lezhë

In 1371, the Serbian Empire broke up and several Albanian principalities formed. In the late 14th and early 15th century the Ottoman Empire took over parts of south and central Albania. The Albanians took back control of their lands in 1444 when the League of Lezhë was created, led by Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero. The League was a group of Albanian and Serbian leaders united against the Ottoman Empire, started and organized by Venice with Skanderbeg as the leader. The main members were several families. For many years, Skanderbeg's army fought against the Ottoman armies. After Skanderbeg died, the sultan took over Albania, but battles went on until the Ottoman siege of Shkodra in 1478–79.

Ottoman Era

Early Ottoman period

Main articles: Ottoman Albania and Albanian Revolt of 1432–36

In 1385, the Ottoman Empire began to control parts of the Balkan region, including Albania. By 1415, they set up a region called the Sanjak of Albania, which stretched from the Mat River in the north to Chameria in the south. Gjirokastra became its main city in 1419.

Some local leaders in northern Albania kept their power, but in the south, Ottoman rulers changed many leaders and added new taxes. This made many people angry. Local leaders, led by Gjergj Arianiti, started a revolt. They won some battles but could not take major towns. The Ottomans stopped the revolt by 1436.

Ottoman-Albanian Wars

Main article: Albanian–Turkish Wars (1432–1479)

Many Albanians joined the Janissary troops, including a man named George Kastrioti. After losing a battle, he left the Ottomans in 1443 and began fighting against them. He became known as Skanderbeg and led Albanian forces for 25 years. He formed a group called the League of Lezhë and fought many battles against larger Ottoman armies. Though he received little help from other countries, his efforts inspired Albanians.

Late Ottoman period

Main articles: Islamization of Albania, Scutari Vilayet, Janina Vilayet, and Kosovo Vilayet

After the Ottomans returned in 1479, many Albanians moved to other places. Over time, some Albanians converted to Islam, which helped them get better jobs and positions in the empire. This change brought both good and bad effects.

Semi-independent Albanian Pashaliks

Main article: Albanian Pashaliks

As the Ottoman Empire weakened in the 1700s, local leaders in Albania gained more power. Two important families, the Bushati family and Ali Pasha of Tepelena, ruled large areas almost independently. They acted like their own leaders until the Ottoman sultan removed them.

Modern

National Renaissance

Main article: Albanian National Awakening

In the 1870s, changes by the Ottoman government did not work well. Many people in the Balkans, including Albanians, wanted to be free from the Ottoman Empire. Albanians were one of the last groups to seek independence. They were worried about losing their land. As they started to feel like one nation, they fought against Ottoman rule and wrote more books in their own language. Albanians living outside their country helped by sharing books in Albanian.

League of Prizren

Main articles: League of Prizren, League of Peja, and Albanian Revolt of 1910

In the 1800s, after some leaders lost their power, many Albanians were unhappy. This led to revolts against the Ottoman Empire. These revolts grew until 1878, when leaders met in Prizren and formed the League of Prizren. The league wanted to stay part of the Ottoman Empire but protect Albanian lands. They fought against Montenegro and won back some areas. Later, under pressure from other countries, the Ottoman government sent soldiers to stop the league. Many leaders were arrested or sent away.

Independence

Main articles: Albania during the Balkan Wars, Albanian Declaration of Independence, and Provisional Government of Albania

In 1912, as the Ottoman Empire became weaker, countries like Serbia and Greece took over parts of Albania. But Albanians kept fighting. Finally, on November 28, 1912, a leader named Ismail Kemal declared Albania independent in the city of Vlorë. Soon after, other countries recognized Albania as its own nation. However, many Albanians still lived outside the new country's borders, in areas controlled by Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece. Later, after World War I, Albania got back some southern areas that had been taken by Greece.

Principality of Albania

Main article: Principality of Albania

When Albania became independent, a British member of Parliament named Aubrey Herbert helped. He was asked to be the leader but said no. A German prince named William of Wied became the leader on 21 February 1914. In Albania, he was called Mbret, meaning King.

During this time, Albania's different religious groups became independent. The Albanian Orthodox Church became its own, and Muslim Albanians stopped ties with Turkey and pledged loyalty to Albania. They also made changes like letting women choose whether to wear a veil.

World War I

Main article: Albania during World War I

World War I brought trouble to Albania, and the country was split into areas controlled by different groups. After Prince William left in 1914, Albania was divided, with different groups wanting different leaders. Italy, Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro all occupied parts of Albania.

A secret treaty in 1915 promised Italy and other countries parts of Albania, but this did not happen. By the end of the war in 1918, different countries still held parts of Albania, but the country began to move toward independence again.

Projects of partition in 1919–1920

After World War I, Albania was still occupied by Serbian and Italian forces. Albanian people worked hard to keep their country whole. The country had many problems, with no single government and fears that Italy, Yugoslavia, and Greece would try to take over.

In 1920, an Albanian assembly rejected plans to split the country and set up a new government. With help from the United States and the League of Nations, Albania began to gain recognition as an independent country, though it still faced many challenges.

Zogu Government

Interwar Albanian governments changed often. In 1921, a leader named Ahmed Bey Zogu became important. He faced many challenges, including opposition from people who wanted land reform and better rights. Zogu's government won elections in 1924 but faced problems.

June Revolution

Main article: June Revolution (Albania)

In June 1924, a group led by Fan Noli took over Tirana after some protests. Noli planned changes for Albania, like land reform and improving schools and health care. However, he faced resistance and lacked support from other countries. By December 1924, Zogu, with help from Yugoslavia, took back control, and Noli's government ended after only about six months.

First Republic

Main article: Albanian Republic

After defeating Fan Noli’s government, Ahmet Zogu brought back the parliament to decide the future of Albania. The parliament made a new constitution and started the first republic, giving Zogu strong powers. He could choose and remove ministers, block laws, and pick important leaders.

On 31 January, Zogu became president for seven years. During his time, some opposing parties and freedoms were taken away. Zogu ruled with help from four military leaders and local leaders to keep control.

Zogu worked closely with Benito Mussolini’s Italy and joined Italy’s group against Yugoslavia. But this alliance ended after the United Kingdom and France got involved in 1927. Zogu was the only Albanian to be president until 1991.

Kingdom of Albania

Main article: Kingdom of Albania

In 1928, Zogu I changed Albania from a group that voted on laws to a monarchy, with himself as king. He kept tight control over the country and made a few changes, like stopping people from adding their region to their names. He also gave land for schools and hospitals.

Zogu I had many people who did not like him, and he had to be careful. He kept guards close and did not appear in public often. He also had problems with Italy, which wanted more control over Albania. He stood up to Italy, refusing their demands and making changes to keep Albania independent. Despite challenges, Zog kept Albania standing until Italy invaded the country in 1939.

World War II

Main article: World War II in Albania

During World War II, Albania went through big changes. In 1939, Italy invaded and took control of the country. The Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, wanted Albania to be part of a bigger Italian empire. Under Italian rule, the Albanian language was not encouraged in schools, and Italian culture was pushed instead.

Albania also became a place for Italy to plan attacks on nearby countries. Later, when Italy fell, Germany took over Albania. During this time, Albanian people formed groups to fight against the occupiers. By the end of the war in 1944, Albanian forces helped push the Germans out, and a new government took control of the country.

Second Republic

Main article: Socialist People's Republic of Albania

Communism

Main article: Communism in Albania

After the Second World War, communist leaders took control of Albania. They made changes to farming, factories, and banks. They also helped women gain equal rights.

Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu became the main leaders. Albania first worked closely with the Soviet Union, but later turned to China for support. In 1967, the government closed all religious places.

During this time, Albania saw growth in its economy and improvements in areas like industry, farming, education, and culture. Enver Hoxha died in 1985, and after that, the country began to open up to the world more. By 1990, people were allowed to travel abroad.

Albania and Yugoslavia

See also: Albania–Yugoslavia relations

Before 1948, Albania followed Yugoslavia’s lead. But after Yugoslavia left a group of communist countries, Albania and Yugoslavia had disagreements. Albania felt Yugoslavia was not paying fairly for materials.

Albania and the Soviet Union

See also: Albania–Soviet Union relations

After splitting from Yugoslavia in 1948, Albania relied on help from the Soviet Union. They joined a group for economic planning and made trade deals with other countries. The Soviet Union sent advisers and built military facilities in Albania.

Albania followed Soviet economic plans, focusing on using its natural resources and building industries. However, when the Soviet Union changed its leaders and policies, Albania became wary.

Albania and China

See also: Albania–People's Republic of China relations

The People's Republic of Albania became closely tied to the People's Republic of China, especially when disagreements arose between China and the Soviet Union. Albania supported China’s views on several important issues. When the Soviet Union stopped helping Albania, China stepped in to support them.

By the 1970s, relations between Albania and China began to weaken. Albania started to reach out to other countries. Albanian leaders disliked China’s efforts to connect with the United States.

Third Republic

See also: Constitution of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania

As the health of Enver Hoxha, the leader of the People's Socialist Republic, got worse, he planned how to pass power smoothly. In 1976, Albania adopted a new Constitution. This constitution promised people important freedoms, but it also said people had duties to the community. The constitution also stressed Albania’s independence and stopped the government from working with countries seen as rivals.

In 1980, Hoxha chose Ramiz Alia to be his successor, even though many thought another close colleague, Mehmet Shehu, would take over. Hoxha made sure Shehu stepped down and removed him and his supporters from important jobs. In 1982, Hoxha said that Shehu had worked against Albania’s interests. After this, Hoxha stepped back from leading daily affairs, and Alia began managing the country. Alia became a well-known leader, often speaking to the public and helping guide Albania.

Fourth Republic

Further information: History of post-Communist Albania and Albanian diaspora

Transition

In 1985, Ramiz Alia became the first President of Albania. He tried to follow Enver Hoxha's ways, but things were changing. The end of communism in Europe brought changes to Albania. Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union shared new ideas, and Alia made some changes too. The first elections with many parties happened after the communists took power. The Socialist Party led by Ramiz Alia won in 1991. But changes kept coming. By 1992, the Democratic Party won and took control.

Democratization

The Democratic Party won and took control, making Sali Berisha the new president. Albania joined the Council of Europe in 1995 and wanted to join NATO. They tried to make the country stronger, but many people lost money in risky plans in 1996–1997. This caused big problems, and Italy helped bring peace. The Democratic Party lost in 1997, and the Socialist Party took over. Albania wrote a new constitution in 1998.

Present

Further information: Accession of Albania to the European Union and Albania–NATO relations

In 2013, Edi Rama of the Socialist Party won the elections and became prime minister. He worked to improve the economy and make government fairer. Albania joined NATO in 2014 and started working toward joining the European Union. In 2017, the Socialist Party won again, and in 2022, Bajram Begaj became the new president. Albania began talks to join the European Union in 2022.