History of Albania

Albania has a rich 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 often fought for power and sometimes clashed with nearby Macedon and other regions. One famous Illyrian king, Bardylis, united many tribes and even challenged the Macedonians.

Later, the area became part of the huge 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 principalities and became part of the powerful Ottoman Empire. It stayed under Ottoman control for centuries 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 monarchs, then occupied by Italy during World War II, and later became a communist state under strict leaders. After the fall of communism in the early 1990s, Albania faced hard 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 earliest signs of people living in Albania come from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic times. These were found in places like Xarrë, near Sarandë, and Dajti near Tirana. The objects discovered include tools made of stone and animal bones. These tools are similar to ones found in Montenegro and Greece. Many important sites from the Neolithic period, between 6,000 and the end of the Early Bronze Age, have been found in places 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 a time when new groups of people arrived from places far away, bringing with them their languages and mixing with the local people. This mixing created the early groups that later became known as Illyrians. These groups built special burial mounds called tumuli, which were used by clans. Some of the earliest of these mounds date back to the 26th century 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 movements happened around the beginning 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 a long time ago. Their land was called Illyria, and 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 (ending around 461), the area faced attacks by Visigoths, Huns, and Ostrogoths. In the 6th and 7th centuries, movements of Slavic people into the Balkans pushed Albanians and Vlachs into the mountains or into Byzantine Greece.

These invasions often damaged Roman and Byzantine 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 in the 10th century with busy towns such as Devol, Glavinitsa (Ballsh), and Belgrad (Berat). When the Byzantines defeated the First Bulgarian Empire, the forts in eastern Albania were among the last Bulgarian places to give in. 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 in 1043 and about the Arbanitai being under the leader of Dyrrhachium. 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, the main road to Constantinople, and it was a key target for the Normans, like in the Battle of Dyrrhachium (1081). By the end of the 12th century, as Byzantine control weakened and local uprisings grew, 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, from Dyrrhachium to Valona and Buthrotum, and even some land near Berat. This area, made formal in 1272 as the Kingdom of Albania, was meant by the strong Sicilian leader, Charles of Anjou, to be a base for attacking the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines, however, took back most of Albania by 1274, keeping only Valona and Dyrrhachium under Charles' control. Finally, when Charles started his long-delayed attack, it stopped at the Siege of Berat in 1280–1281. Albania stayed mostly with the Byzantine empire until the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 when it was taken over by the Serbian ruler Stephen Dushan. During this time, the land became mostly Albanian as the Black Death reduced the Greek population.

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, east and northeast of Venetian areas. Progon was succeeded by his sons Gjin and then Demetrius (Dhimitër), who kept much freedom from the Byzantine Empire. In 1204, Arbanon became fully, though temporarily, independent, taking advantage of the weakness in Constantinople after its damage during the Fourth Crusade. However, Arbanon lost this freedom around 1216, when the ruler of Epirus, Michael I Komnenos Doukas, attacked north into Albania and Macedonia, capturing Kruja and ending the independence of Arbanon after Dhimitër died. After Demetrius, the last Progon ruler, died that same year, Arbanon was controlled by the Despotate of Epirus, then the Bulgarian Empire, and from 1235, the Empire of Nicaea.

During fights between Michael II Komnenos Doukas of Epirus and Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes, Golem (Arbanon's ruler then) and Theodore Petraliphas, who were first Michael's allies, switched to support John III in 1252. Golem was last seen in records at a meeting with George Akropolites in Durrës in 1256. Arbanon benefited from the Via Egnatia trade road, which brought wealth and good things from the more advanced Byzantine civilization.

High Middle Ages

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

After the fall of the Principality of Arber in areas taken by the Despotate of Epirus, 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 (then called Dyrrhachium) south along the coast to Butrint. After the failure of the Eighth Crusade, Charles of Anjou turned his attention back to Albania. He began talking to local Albanian leaders through local Catholic priests. Two Catholic priests, John from Durrës and Nicola from Arbanon, worked as negotiators between Charles of Anjou and the local noblemen. During 1271 they made several trips between Albania and Italy and finally succeeded.

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 "by the shared choice of the bishops, counts, barons, soldiers and citizens" promising to protect them and to respect the rights they had from the Byzantine Empire. The agreement joined the Kingdom of Albania (Latin: Regnum Albanie) with the Kingdom of Sicily under King Charles of Anjou (Carolus I, dei gratia rex Siciliae et Albaniae). He named Gazzo Chinardo as his Vicar-General and planned to start his attack on Constantinople again. During 1272 and 1273 he sent lots of supplies to the towns of Durrës and Vlorë. This worried the Byzantine Emperor, Michael VIII Palaiologos, who began writing to local Albanian nobles, trying to convince them to stop supporting Charles of Anjou and to change sides. However, the Albanian nobles trusted Charles, who praised them for their loyalty. 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, changing society and the look of the kingdom. A Western type of feudalism was started, replacing the Byzantine Pronoia.

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 including the Principality of Kastrioti, Principality of Albania and Despotate of Arta as the main ones. 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 and former Ottoman leader. 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 the Arianiti, Balšić, Dukagjini, Muzaka, Spani, Thopia and Crnojevići. For 25 years, from 1443 to 1468, Skanderbeg's army of about 10,000 people marched through Ottoman lands, fighting against much bigger and better-supplied Ottoman armies. Threatened by Ottoman moves in their home, Hungary, and later Naples and Venice – who had once been their enemies – gave money and help to Skanderbeg's army. By 1450 it had clearly stopped working as planned, and only the central group under Skanderbeg and Araniti Comino kept fighting. After Skanderbeg died in 1468, the sultan "quickly took over Albania," but Skanderbeg's death did not end the fight for freedom, and battles went on until the Ottoman siege of Shkodra in 1478–79, when Venice gave Shkodra to the Ottomans in the peace agreement of 1479.

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 still kept their power, but in the south, Ottoman rulers changed many leaders and introduced new taxes. This caused anger, and local leaders, led by Gjergj Arianiti, started a revolt. They won some battles but could not take major towns. Eventually, the Ottomans crushed 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 a battle defeat, he left the Ottomans in 1443 and started 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 and helped them feel more united.

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 benefits and challenges.

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, reforms by the Ottoman government failed. Many people in the Balkans, including Albanians, began to want independence from the Ottoman Empire. Albanians, who had many different groups and worried about losing their land to nearby countries, were the last to push for independence. But as they began to feel like a nation again, they started fighting back against the Ottoman rule and also began writing more books in their own language. Albanians living outside their country helped by writing and 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 power and many Albanians were upset, revolts against the Ottoman Empire began. These revolts grew until 1878, when leaders met in Prizren and formed the League of Prizren. The league wanted to keep Albania part of the Ottoman Empire but also protect Albanian lands. They fought against Montenegro and won back some areas. But 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 grew weaker, countries like Serbia and Greece took over parts of Albania. But Albanians kept fighting back. Finally, on November 28, 1912, a leader named Ismail Kemal declared Albania independent in the city of Vlorë. Soon after, other countries began to recognize 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 regained control of some southern areas that had been taken over briefly by Greece.

Principality of Albania

Main article: Principality of Albania

When Albania gained its independence, a British member of Parliament named Aubrey Herbert helped support the cause. He was offered to become the leader of Albania, but he turned it down. Instead, a German prince named William of Wied became the leader of the new Principality of Albania on 21 February 1914. In Albania, he was called Mbret, meaning King, so he would not seem less important than the King of Montenegro.

During this time, Albania's different religious groups became independent. The Albanian Orthodox Church was recognized as its own, and Muslim Albanians broke away from ties with Turkey and pledged loyalty to their country. They also made changes like banning polygamy and letting women choose whether to wear a veil.

World War I

Main article: Albania during World War I

World War I caused chaos in Albania, and the country was split into different areas controlled by various groups. After Prince William left in 1914, the country 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 becoming independent again.

Projects of partition in 1919–1920

After World War I, Albania was still occupied by Serbian and Italian forces. Albanian people pushed back against these forces to keep their country whole. The country faced 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 and scandals.

June Revolution

Main article: June Revolution (Albania)

In June 1924, a group led by Fan Noli took over Tirana after some protests. Noli planned many 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 created a new constitution and announced the first republic, giving Zogu strong powers. He could choose and remove ministers, block laws, and pick important leaders.

On 31 January, Zogu was chosen as president for seven years. During his time, opposing parties and freedoms were taken away. Zogu ruled with the help of four military leaders and used 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 parliamentary system to a monarchy, with himself as king. He kept strong control over the country and made some 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 because of this. He kept guards close and did not appear in public often. Even when he traveled, he sometimes had to protect himself from people who wanted to harm him. Zog 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 managed to keep Albania standing until Italy invaded the country in 1939.

World War II

Main article: World War II in Albania

During World War II, Albania faced major changes. In 1939, Italy invaded and took control of the country. The Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, wanted Albania to be part of a larger 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 had 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, a group of communists quickly took control of Albania. They worked to stop any other political groups from gaining power, broke up large farms, and kept Albania apart from Western countries. By 1945, they had removed most of the old leaders of the country.

The new leaders faced many problems, such as poverty, lack of education, old traditions like "blood feuds," diseases, and the poor status of women. The communists created plans to modernize the country. They changed the farming system, took over factories and banks, and helped women gain equal rights.

Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu became the main leaders. They focused on keeping their power and shaping Albania using strict rules. Albania first became a friend of the Soviet Union, but later turned to China for support. In 1967, the government closed all religious places, saying they divided the people.

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, and efforts were made to improve relationships with other nations.

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 and wanted more support for industries. This led to tensions between the two countries.

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. They worried the Soviet Union might want less strict leaders in Albania and kept a firm grip on power.

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 and normalized relations with some neighbors. 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, declined, he began planning for a smooth transition of power. In 1976, Albania adopted a new Constitution that promised people important freedoms, but these were balanced with duties to the community. The constitution also emphasized Albania’s independence and prevented the government from forming partnerships with countries seen as rivals.

In 1980, Hoxha chose Ramiz Alia to be his successor, even though another close colleague, Mehmet Shehu, had been expected to take over. Hoxha made sure Shehu stepped down and removed him and his supporters from important positions. In 1982, Hoxha announced that Shehu had worked against Albania’s interests. After this, Hoxha stepped back from active leadership, and Alia began managing the country’s affairs. Alia became a prominent leader, often speaking to the public and guiding Albania forward.

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 changes were already happening. The end of communism across Europe brought big changes to Albania. Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union introduced new ideas, and Alia made some changes too, like signing agreements and allowing more freedom. 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 got caught in risky money plans that failed 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.