Editing History of Albania (section)

== Antiquity ==
[[File:Nicolas René le Jeune Jollain, Pyrrhus enfant présenté à Glaucias.jpg|thumb|304x304px|''An Infant [[Pyrrhus of Epirus|Pyrrhus]] presented to [[Glaucias of Taulantii|Glaucias]],'' Nicolas René Jollain, 1779]]

=== Illyrians ===
{{Main|Origin of the Albanians|Illyria|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian|List of ancient tribes in Illyria}}
[[File:Face of King Gentius on Ancient Illyrian coin.jpg|thumb|122x122px|King [[Gentius]], the last ruler of the [[Ardiaean Kingdom|Ardiaean]] dynasty.|left]][[File:Qyteti Ilir I Bylisit 05.jpg|thumb|304x304px|Ruins of the city of [[Byllis]]]]
[[File:Queen Teuta orders the murder of Roman ambassadors.jpg|303x303px|thumb|Queen [[Teuta]] of the Ardieai orders the Roman ambassadors to be killed.]]
The [[Illyrians]] were a group of tribes who inhabited the western [[Balkans]] during the [[classical antiquity|classical times]]. The territory the tribes covered came to be known as [[Illyria]] to [[Greeks|Greek]] and [[Roman Republic|Roman]] authors, corresponding roughly to the area between the [[Adriatic Sea]] in the west, the [[Drava]] river in the north, the [[Great Morava|Morava]] river in the east and the mouth of [[Vjosë]] river in the south.<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, {{ISBN|978-0-631-19807-9}}, page 92, "Appian's description of the Illyrian territories records a southern boundary with Chaonia and Thesprotia, where ancient Epirus began south of river Aoous (Vjose)"  [https://books.google.com/books?id=4Nv6SPRKqs8C&dq=illyrians%20wilkes&pg=PR20 also map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226083134/https://books.google.com/books?id=4Nv6SPRKqs8C&lpg=PP1&dq=illyrians%20wilkes&pg=PR20 |date=26 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>Cambridge University Press. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0qAoqP4g1fEC&q=epirus&pg=PA266 ''The Cambridge ancient history''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226083133/https://books.google.com/books?id=0qAoqP4g1fEC&pg=PA266&dq=campridge+ancient+history+epirus&hl=el#v=onepage&q=epirus&f=false |date=26 December 2022 }}. 2000. {{ISBN|0-521-23447-6}}, page 261,"...down to the mouth of Aous"</ref> The first account of the [[Illyrian peoples]] comes from the Coastal Passage contained in a [[periplus]], an ancient Greek text of the middle of the 4th century BC.<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, page 94</ref>

Several Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of Albania were the [[Ardiaean Kingdom|Ardiaei]], [[Taulantii]] and [[Albanoi]]<ref>(Ptolemy. Geogr. Ill 12,20)</ref> in central Albania,<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[Partheni|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri/Arbi|Abri]] and the [[Cavii]]i in the north, the [[Enchelei]] in the east,<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, {{ISBN|0-631-19807-5}}, Page 96,"...&nbsp;25 Enchelei</ref> the [[Bylliones]] in the south and [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania, along with the Illyrian tribes, lived the [[Bryges]],<ref name="The Illyrians 1996, page 111">The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, {{ISBN|9780631198079}}, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygians|Phrygian]] people, and in the south<ref>Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Guy Thompson Griffith. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PnEJAQAAIAAJ&q=amyron ''A History of Macedonia: Historical geography and prehistory'']. Clarendon Press, 1972, p. 92.</ref><ref name="LewisBoardman1994">{{cite book|last1=Lewis|first1=D. M.|last2=Boardman|first2=John|title=The Cambridge ancient history: The fourth century B.C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vx251bK988gC&pg=PA423|access-date=26 October 2010|year=1994|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-23348-4|page=423}}</ref> lived the Greek tribe of the [[Chaonians]].<ref name="The Illyrians 1996, page 111" /><ref>Boardman, John; Hammond, Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière (1982), The Cambridge Ancient History: The Expansion of the Greek World, Eighth to Six Centuries B.C, Cambridge, p. 261</ref><ref>Wilkes, John J. (1995), The Illyrians, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, {{ISBN|0-631-19807-5}}, p. 92</ref>

In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardylis]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflicts with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the south-east, but was defeated. Bardyllis was succeeded by [[Grabos II]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardylis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79" /> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]].

Around 230 BC, the Ardiaei briefly attained military might under the reign of king Agron. Agron extended his rule over other neighbouring tribes as well.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Studies concerning Epirus and Macedonia before Alexander|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TWwiAQAAIAAJ|publisher = Hakkert|date = 1993-01-01|first = Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière|last = Hammond|isbn = 9789025610500}}</ref> He raided parts of [[Epirus (ancient state)|Epirus]], [[Epidamnos|Epidamnus]], and the islands of Corcyra and Pharos. His state stretched from Narona in Dalmatia south to the river Aoos and Corcyra. During his reign, the Ardiaean Kingdom reached the height of its power. The army and fleet made it a major regional power in the Balkans and the southern Adriatic. The king regained control of the Adriatic with his warships (''lembi''), a domination once enjoyed by the [[Liburnians]]. None of his neighbours were nearly as powerful. Agron divorced his (first) wife.

Agron suddenly died, {{Circa|231 BC}}, after his triumph over the [[Aetolian league|Aetolians]]. Agron's (second) wife was Queen [[Teuta]], who acted as regent after Agron's death. According to [[Polybius]], she ruled "by women's reasoning".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Moral Vision in the Histories of Polybius|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ky57ps7jjMEC|publisher = University of California Press|date = 1995-02-01|isbn = 978-0-520-91469-8|first = Arthur M.|last = Eckstein}}</ref> Teuta started to address the neighbouring states malevolently, supporting the piratical raids of her subjects.  After capturing [[Dyrrhachium]] and Phoenice, Teuta's forces extended their operations further southward into the [[Ionian Sea]], defeating the combined [[Achaean League|Achaean]] and Aetolian fleet in the [[Battle of Paxos]] and capturing the island of [[Corcyra]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Later on, in 229 BC, she clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]]. These wars, which were spread out over 60 years, eventually resulted in defeat for the Illyrians by 168 BC and the end of Illyrian independence when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army after heavy clashes with Rome and Roman allied cities such as [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]] and [[Durrës|Dyrrhachium]] under [[Anicius Gallus]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} After his defeat, the Romans split the region into three administrative divisions,<ref>{{Cite book|title = Épire, Illyrie, Macédoine: mélanges offerts au professeur Pierre Cabanes|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=I_kFU6h77ssC|publisher = Presses Univ Blaise Pascal|date = 2007-01-01|isbn = 9782845163515|language = fr|first = Danièle|last = Berranger|page = 127}}</ref> called ''meris''.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Épire, Illyrie, Macédoine: mélanges offerts au professeur Pierre Cabanes|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=I_kFU6h77ssC|publisher = Presses Univ Blaise Pascal|date = 2007-01-01|isbn = 9782845163515|language = fr|first = Danièle|last = Berranger|page = 137}}</ref>

=== Greeks and Romans ===
[[File:Dyrrachium coin.jpg|thumb|176x176px|[[Ancient Greek]] coin of [[Durrës|Dyrrachium]].|left]]
[[File:Apollonia, Albania (by Pudelek) - Monument of Agonothetes.JPG|thumb|304x304px|[[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]] archaeological park]]
[[File:5th century roman mosaic albania.jpg|thumb|306x306px|5th century mosaic from a Roman villa]]
Beginning in the 7th century BC, Greek colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], Aulon (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus (Illyria)|Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, {{ISBN|0-19-814099-1}}, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman Empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

The [[Roman province]] of ''Illyricum'' or<ref>Ludwig Schaaff, ''Enzyklopädie der klassischen Altertumskunde'', 2002, {{ISBN|0-543-80046-6}}, page 17</ref><ref>An ancient geography, classical and sacred. By S. Augustus Mitchell. by Michigan Historical Reprint Series, 2005, {{ISBN|1-4255-3778-2}}, page 215</ref> ''Illyris Romana'' or ''Illyris Barbara'' or ''Illyria Barbara'' replaced most of the region of [[Illyria]]. It stretched from the [[Drin River|Drilon]] River in modern [[Albania]] to [[Istria]] ([[Croatia]]) in the west and to the [[Sava]] River ([[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]) in the north. [[Salona]] (near modern [[Split (city)|Split]] in Croatia) functioned as its capital. The regions which it included changed through the centuries though a great part of ancient [[Illyria]] remained part of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]].

South Illyria became [[Epirus Nova]], part of the Roman province of Macedonia. In 357 AD the region was part of the [[Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum]] one of four large [[praetorian prefecture]]s into which the [[Later Roman Empire|Late Roman Empire]] was divided. By 395 AD dioceses in which the region was divided were the [[Diocese of Dacia]] (as Pravealitana), and the [[Diocese of Macedonia]] (as Epirus Nova). Most of the region of modern Albania corresponds to the [[Epirus Nova]].

=== Christianization ===
{{Main|Christianization of Albania}}
[[File:Butrint mosaic.jpg|thumb|304x304px|5th century decorative mosaic on the floor of the [[Baptistery of Butrint]]]][[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dormition of the Theotokos Church, Labovë e Kryqit|Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos]]. The foundations of the Church date back to the 6th century during the reign of [[Emperor Justinian]], who erected the church in memory of his mother.|241x241px]]Christianity came to [[Epirus nova]], then part of the Roman province of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pbePRvOCPaAC&dq=illyria+map&pg=PA248 Paul: His Story by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, page 247]</ref> Since the 3rd and 4th century AD, Christianity had become the established religion in [[Byzantium]], supplanting pagan polytheism and eclipsing for the most part the humanistic world outlook and institutions inherited from the Greek and Roman civilizations. The [[Durrës Amphitheatre]] ''(Albanian: Amfiteatri i Durrësit)'' is a historic monument from the time period located in Durrës, Albania, that was used to preach Christianity to civilians during that time.

When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into eastern and western halves in AD 395, Illyria east of the Drinus River ([[Drina]] between [[Bosnia]] and [[Serbia]]), including the lands form Albania, were administered by the Eastern Empire but were ecclesiastically dependent on [[Rome]]. Though the country was in the fold of [[Byzantium]], Christians in the region remained under the jurisdiction of the [[Pope]] until 732. In that year the iconoclast Byzantine emperor [[Leo III the Isaurian|Leo III]], angered by archbishops of the region because they had supported Rome in the [[Iconoclastic Controversy]], detached the church of the province from the Roman pope and placed it under the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|patriarch of Constantinople]].

When the [[East–West Schism|Christian church split in 1054 between Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism]], the region of southern Albania retained its ties to [[Constantinople]], while the north reverted to the jurisdiction of Rome. This split marked the first significant religious fragmentation of the country. After the formation of the Slav principality of Dioclia (modern [[Montenegro]]), the metropolitan see of [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]] was created in 1089, and dioceses in northern Albania ([[Shkodër]], [[Ulcinj]]) became its suffragans. Starting in 1019, Albanian dioceses of the Byzantine rite were suffragans of the independent [[Archbishopric of Ohrid|Archdiocese of Ohrid]] until [[Dyrrachion]] and [[Nicopolis]], were re-established as metropolitan sees. Thereafter, only the dioceses in inner Albania ([[Elbasan]], [[Krujë]]) remained attached to [[Ohrid]]. In the 13th century during the [[Venice|Venetian]] occupation, the Latin Archdiocese of Durrës was founded.