History of Albania

Albanian History: A Journey Through War, Independence, and Dictatorship

The Balkan Wars and Albania’s Fight for Independence

In 1912, war erupted between the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan League, consisting of Montenegro, Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria. At this time, the weakening Turkish Empire raised fears among Albanians that their country would be divided by the Balkan powers. To prevent this, Albanian leaders convened in Vlora and, on 28 November 1912, declared Albania’s independence.

Recognition of Albanian Independence and Early Challenges

By 20 December 1912, the major European powers—Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and Russia—recognized Albania’s independence. A commission was established to determine the country’s borders. However, these powers refused to acknowledge Albania’s provisional government. Instead, they appointed Prince William of Wied as the new ruler. He arrived in March 1914, only to flee by September 1914 due to internal strife. Albania descended into chaos, with regions governed by various factions rather than a unified central government.

Albania’s Struggle for Stability (1918–1939)

In 1918, Albania established a provisional government, and elections were held in 1920, with a parliament formed in Tirana. Ahmet Zogu, Albania’s Interior Minister, became premier in 1922. Following his exile in 1924, Zogu returned with Yugoslav support and overthrew the government, declaring himself dictator. In 1928, Zogu crowned himself King Zog I of Albania.

Under Zog’s rule, Italian influence grew in Albania, culminating in the Italian invasion of Albania in April 1939. Zog fled abroad, and Mussolini installed a puppet government. Albania’s territory expanded when Germany annexed parts of Yugoslavia and Greece in 1941.

World War II and the Rise of Communism in Albania

In November 1941, the Albanian Communist Party, led by Enver Hoxha, was founded. Following Italy’s surrender in 1943, Nazi Germany occupied Albania. However, in May 1944, the Communists formed a provisional government, and by October 1944, the Germans withdrew from Albania. On 28 November 1944, Hoxha’s forces entered Tirana, establishing a Communist totalitarian regime that would control Albania for decades.

Albania’s Shift in Foreign Relations and Economic Isolation

Initially, Albania had friendly relations with Yugoslavia, but tensions arose in 1948 when Yugoslavia broke from the Soviet Union. Albania followed suit, severing ties with Yugoslavia in 1950. Albania then aligned with China in the 1950s, receiving economic aid until 1961, when diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union were cut off.

After Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, Albania’s relations with China began to deteriorate. The country became increasingly isolated, with its population cut off from the outside world. Despite the death of Enver Hoxha in 1985, his oppressive regime continued until the early 1990s.

The Fall of Communism and the Rise of Religious Freedom

In 1990, Ramiz Alia introduced modest reforms. That year, student demonstrations forced the government to permit the formation of opposition political parties. Albania held elections on 31 March 1991, but the Communists won, leading to a general strike in June, which forced their resignation. A new coalition government took power, leading to fresh elections in March 1992, during which the Communist Party rebranded itself as the Socialist Party.

During this period, Albania experienced a significant shift toward religious freedom. By 1990, religious practices that had been banned under the Communist regime were reinstated, with the majority of Albanians identifying as Muslim, alongside significant Orthodox and Catholic minorities.

Economic Unrest and Political Changes in Albania (1995–1997)

In the mid-1990s, pyramid investment schemes caused widespread financial instability. The collapse of these schemes led to civil unrest, prompting the government to call for new elections in June 1997.

The Roman Conquest and Prosperity of Ancient Albania

The Fall of the Illyrians and the Rise of Roman Albania

The Illyrians, one of the earliest known civilizations in the Balkans, came into conflict with Rome as the Roman Republic expanded its influence in the region. The Illyrian resistance ultimately ended in 167 BC, when Rome conquered Illyria, incorporating it into the Roman Empire. This marked the beginning of a new era in what is now modern-day Albania.

Roman Rule and Development in Albania

Under Roman rule, Albania experienced unprecedented stability and prosperity. The Romans invested heavily in infrastructure, building extensive road networks such as the Via Egnatia, which linked the Adriatic coast to the interior of the Balkans. Cities like Elbasan (ancient Scampa) flourished as regional hubs of commerce and culture.

Key Roman contributions to Albania:

• Development of urban centers and trade routes

• Construction of amphitheaters, aqueducts, and roads

• Spread of Roman law, administration, and architecture

• Integration of local Illyrian tribes into Roman society

Roman Albania thrived as a key part of the Empire, with its location serving both military and economic purposes.

The Division of the Roman Empire

In 395 AD, the Roman Empire was permanently divided into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. Albania became part of the Byzantine sphere, setting the stage for a complex and turbulent medieval period.

Albania in the Byzantine Era and Early Invasions

Germanic Invasions and Byzantine Rule

During the 4th to 6th centuries, Germanic tribes repeatedly invaded Albania, exploiting the region’s vulnerable borders. Despite these raids, the invaders did not establish permanent control, and life for the local population generally returned to normal between invasions.

The Byzantine Empire maintained a fragile hold over Albania. Because of its geographic position on the Empire’s western frontier, Byzantine Albania was often under-defended, making it a frequent target for ambitious neighboring powers.

The Bulgarian Conquest and Byzantine Resurgence

In the 10th century, the Bulgarian Empire expanded southward and conquered large portions of Albania. Their control was, however, short-lived. In the early 11th century, Byzantine Emperor Basil II, known as the “Bulgar Slayer,” launched military campaigns to reconquer the Balkans. By 1018, the Byzantines had successfully reclaimed Albania, reestablishing control and pushing back Bulgarian influence.

The Norman Invasion of Albania (1081-1083)

In the late 11th century, the Normans, who had already captured Sicily and Southern Italy, turned their sights to the Balkans. In 1081, Norman forces landed on Albania’s coast and captured Durrës (Durresi), a major strategic port city. However, the Byzantines, with crucial support from Venice, retook Durrës in 1083, reinforcing their presence in the region.

Key Takeaways:

• Albania’s role as a strategic territory drew invasions from multiple empires.

• The region’s instability allowed various ethnic and political groups to gain short-term control.

• Durrës emerged as a major military and economic stronghold during this era.

Crusaders, Venetians, and the Rise of Feudal Albania

The Fall of Constantinople and Power Struggles in Albania (1204–1215)

In 1204, the Fourth Crusade shocked the world by capturing Constantinople, the heart of the Byzantine Empire. This monumental event shattered Byzantine authority and opened the door for competing powers to vie for control of Albania.

During this period:

• Venice seized many Albanian ports and coastal cities, but only maintained direct control over these urban areas.

• The hinterlands were ruled by local vassals, such as Michael Komnenos Doukas, a Greek noble who initially cooperated with Venice but later formed the Despotate of Epirus in 1215, asserting full independence.

This was a time of fragmentation, where Albania was contested by Venetians, Greeks, and local feudal lords seeking to carve out independent principalities.

The 13th–14th Century: Struggle for Albanian Territory

The late 13th century was marked by continued conflict between the Byzantines and the Kingdom of Sicily (later part of the Kingdom of Naples). Though the Byzantines succeeded in pushing the Italians out temporarily, their grip on Albania weakened.

By the 14th century, Albania fell under Serbian control, following military campaigns led by Serbian King Stefan Dušan. In 1343, he launched an invasion that expanded Serbia’s territory into much of the Balkans, including Albania.

The Decline of Serbian Rule and the Ottoman Threat

After Stefan Dušan’s death in 1355, the Serbian Empire fragmented, and Albania once again became a patchwork of feudal states ruled by local lords. Internal conflict weakened the region, leaving it vulnerable to a new rising power — the Ottoman Turks.

By the late 14th century, the Ottomans had begun their incursions into the Balkans, setting the stage for the Ottoman conquest of Albania in the 15th century.

Conclusion: The medieval period in Albania was defined by:

• Constant warfare and foreign invasions

• Shifting alliances between empires and local rulers

• The foundation for Albanian resistance that would emerge in the Ottoman era