Editing History of Albania (section)

== Middle Ages ==
=== Early Middle Ages ===
{{Main|Albania in the Middle Ages|Albania under the Byzantine Empire}}

[[File:Balkans 6th century.svg|220px|thumb|left|After the region was annexed by Romans, it became part of the province of Macedonia. The central portion of modern Albania was later split off as Epirus Nova, while the south remained under Epirus Vetus and the northern parts belonged to Praevalitana.]]
[[File:Berat UNESCO 2016 Albania.jpg|285x285px|thumb|right|[[Berat]] became part of the unstable frontier of the [[Byzantine Empire]] following the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] and along with much of the rest of the Balkan peninsula.]][[File:Stare mury miejskie Durrës.jpg|thumb|Ancient walls of [[Durrës]]|297x297px]]After the region fell to the Romans in 168 BC it became part of [[Epirus nova]] that was, in turn, part of the Roman province of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]]. When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the [[Slavic migrations to Southeastern Europe]] forced [[Albanians]] and [[Vlachs]] to pull back into the mountainous regions and adopt nomadic lifestyle, or flee into [[Byzantine Greece]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Kocsis |first=Károly |year=2001 |title=Az albán kérdés etnikai és politikai földrajzi háttere |trans-title=The ethnic and geographic background of the Albanian question |url=http://www.core.hu/mtafki/konyvtar/kiadv/FE2001/FE20011-4_161-190.pdf |journal=[[Földrajzi Értesítő]] |language=hu |location=[[Budapest]] |page=164 |issn=0015-5403 |eissn=2064-5139 |access-date=27 September 2022 |archive-date=27 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927092248/http://www.core.hu/mtafki/konyvtar/kiadv/FE2001/FE20011-4_161-190.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In general, the invaders destroyed or weakened Roman and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] cultural centres in the lands that would become Albania.<ref name="Barbarian Invasions">{{cite web | editor1-first= Raymond|editor1-last= Zickel |editor2-first=Walter R.|editor2-last= Iwaskiw| year= 1994 | title=The Barbarian Invasions and the Middle Ages|work= Albania: A Country Study | url=http://countrystudies.us/albania/15.htm |publisher = U.S. Library of Congress }}</ref>
[[File:Epitaph of Gllavenica.jpg|thumb|306x306px|[[Epitaph of Gllavenica]], commissioned by [[Gjergj Arianiti]] in 1373.]]In the late 11th and 12th centuries, the region played a crucial part in the [[Byzantine–Norman wars]]; Dyrrhachium was the westernmost terminus of the ''[[Via Egnatia]]'', the main overland route to Constantinople, and was one of the main targets of the Normans (cf. Battle of Dyrrhachium (1081)). Towards the end of the 12th century, as Byzantine central authority weakened and rebellions and regionalist secessionism became more common, the region of [[Arbanon]] became an autonomous principality ruled by its own hereditary princes. In 1258, the Sicilians took possession of the island of [[Corfu]] and the Albanian coast, from Dyrrhachium to Valona and Buthrotum and as far inland as Berat. This foothold, reformed in 1272 as the [[Kingdom of Albania (medieval)|Kingdom of Albania]], was intended by the dynamic Sicilian ruler, [[Charles of Anjou]], to become the launchpad for an overland invasion of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines, however, managed to recover most of Albania by 1274, leaving only Valona and Dyrrhachium in Charles' hands. Finally, when Charles launched his much-delayed advance, it was stopped at the Siege of Berat in 1280–1281. Albania would remain largely part of the Byzantine empire until the [[Byzantine civil war of 1341–47|Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347]] when it fell shortly to the hands of the Serbian ruler [[Stefan Dušan|Stephen Dushan]]. During this time, the territory became [[Albanians|Albanian]] majority as the [[Black Death]] wiped out much of its [[Greeks|Greek population]].<ref name=":2" />

In the mid-9th century, most of eastern Albania became part of the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]]. The area, known as [[Kutmichevitsa]], became an important Bulgarian cultural center in the 10th century with many thriving towns such as [[Devol (Albania)|Devol]], Glavinitsa ([[Ballsh]]) and Belgrad ([[Berat]]). When the Byzantines managed to conquer the First Bulgarian Empire the fortresses in eastern Albania were some of the last Bulgarian strongholds to submit to the Byzantines. Later the region was recovered by the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]].

In the [[Middle Ages]], the name Arberia began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania. The first undisputed mention of Albanians in the historical record is attested in a Byzantine source for the first time in 1079–1080, in a work titled ''History'' by Byzantine historian [[Michael Attaliates]], who referred to the ''[[Albanoi]]'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the duke of [[Dyrrachium|Dyrrhachium]]. A later reference to Albanians from the same Attaliates, regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078, is undisputed.<ref>{{cite book|title = The Wars of the Balkan Peninsula: Their Medieval Origins |first1 = Alexandru |last1=Madgearu|editor-first= Martin |editor-last=Gordon|edition= illustrated|publisher =Scarecrow Press |date= 2008 |isbn = 978-0-8108-5846-6|quote =It was supposed that those Albanoi from 1042 were Normans from Sicily, called by an archaic name (the Albanoi were an independent tribe from Southern Italy). The following instance is indisputable. It comes from the same Attaliates, who wrote that the Albanians (Arbanitai) were involved in the 1078 rebellion of... |page= 25|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EOIhpIu8KAQC&pg=PA25}}</ref>[[File:Map_of_Arbanon_(Arbëria).png|thumb|324x324px|Map of the [[Principality of Arbanon]]]][[File:Kingdom of Albania.png|thumb|215x215px|The [[Kingdom of Albania (medieval)|Kingdom of Albania]] at its maximum extent (1272–1274).]][[File:Karl Topia, by Kostandin Shpataraku, Ardenica Monastery.png|thumb|318x318px|Karl Thopia, Prince of Albania]]

=== Principality of Arbër ===
{{Main|Principality of Arbër}}
In 1190, the [[Principality of Arbër]] (Arbanon) was founded by archon [[Progon, Lord of Kruja|Progon]] in the region of [[Krujë]]. Progon was succeeded by [[Gjin Progoni]] and then [[Dhimitër Progoni]]. Arbanon extended over the modern districts of [[central Albania]], with its capital located at [[Krujë]].

The principality of Arbanon was established in 1190 by the native ''[[archon]]'' [[Progon of Kruja|Progon]] in the region surrounding [[Kruja]], to the east and northeast of [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] territories.{{Sfn|Elsie|2010|p=|pp=iv, xxviii}} Progon was succeeded by his sons [[Gjin Progoni|Gjin]] and then [[Dimitri Progoni|Demetrius]] (Dhimitër), who managed to retain a considerable degree of autonomy from the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref name="autonomy">{{harvnb|Ducellier|1999|p=780|ps=: "As for Albania, its separate identity was real enough, even though it had not truly broken with Constantinople; all the same, the rulers of Arbanon around ἄρχον, Progon and his sons Dhimitër and Gjin, based at Kruja, retained a considerable degree of autonomy, even though Progon bore no title grander than ἄρχων (archon); and the title of πανὑπερσεβαστός (panhypersebastos), borne by Dhimitër at the start of the thirteenth century, can only be seen as a sign of his dependence on the Byzantines."}}</ref> In 1204, Arbanon attained full, though temporary, political independence, taking advantage of the weakening of Constantinople following its [[Sack of Constantinople|pillage]] during the [[Fourth Crusade]].{{Sfn|Elsie|2010|p=xxviii}} However, Arbanon lost its large autonomy ca. 1216, when the ruler of [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]], [[Michael I Komnenos Doukas]], started an invasion northward into [[Albania]] and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], taking [[Kruja]] and ending the independence of the principality of Arbanon following the death of Dhimitër.{{sfn|Varzos|1984|pp=555–556}} After the death of Demetrius, the last ruler of the Progon family, the same year, Arbanon was successively controlled subsequently by the [[Despotate of Epirus]], the [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]] and, from 1235, by the [[Empire of Nicaea]].{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=68}}

During the conflicts between [[Michael II Komnenos Doukas]] of Epirus and Emperor [[John III Doukas Vatatzes]], Golem (ruler of Arbanon at the time) and Theodore Petraliphas, who were initially Michael's allies, defected to John III in 1252.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Angelidi|first=Christine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVOkCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT390|title=ΕΥΨΥΧΙΑ. Mélanges offerts à Hélène Ahrweiler|date=2016|publisher=Publications de la Sorbonne|isbn=978-2-85944-830-1|language=fr}}</ref> He is last mentioned in the sources among other local leaders, in a meeting with George Akropolites in Durrës in 1256. Arbanon was a beneficiary of the Via Egnatia trade road, which brought wealth and benefits from the more developed Byzantine civilization.{{sfn|Ellis|Klusáková|2007|p=134}}

=== High Middle Ages ===
{{Main|Albanian principalities|League of Lezhë|Kingdom of Albania (medieval)}}

[[File:Palazzo Reale di Napoli - Carlo I d%27Angiò.jpg|196x196px|thumb|[[Charles I of Naples]] established '''Regnum Albaniae''' (Kingdom of Albania) |left]]After the fall of the [[Principality of Arber]] in territories captured by the [[Despotate of Epirus]], the [[Kingdom of Albania (medieval)|Kingdom of Albania]] was established by [[Charles I of Naples|Charles of Anjou]]. He took the title of King of [[Albania]] in February 1272. The kingdom extended from the region of Durrës (then known as Dyrrhachium) south along the coast to Butrint. After the failure of the Eighth Crusade, Charles of Anjou returned his attention to Albania. He began contacting local Albanian leaders through local catholic clergy. Two local Catholic priests, namely John from Durrës and Nicola from Arbanon, acted as negotiators between Charles of Anjou and the local noblemen. During 1271 they made several trips between Albania and Italy eventually succeeding in their mission.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title = Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime (in Albanian)|last = Prifti|first = Skënder|year = 2002|isbn = 978-99927-1-622-9|location = Albania|page = 207}}</ref>
On 21 February 1272, a delegation of Albanian noblemen and citizens from Durrës made their way to Charles' court. Charles signed a treaty with them and was proclaimed King of Albania "by common consent of the bishops, counts, barons, soldiers and citizens" promising to protect them and to honor the privileges they had from Byzantine Empire.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Despotate of Epiros 1267–1479: A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XIj0FfKto9AC|publisher = Cambridge University Press|date = 1984-01-01|isbn = 9780521261906|first = Donald M.|last = Nicol}}</ref> The treaty declared the union between 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'').<ref name=":3" /> He appointed Gazzo Chinardo as his Vicar-General and hoped to take up his expedition against Constantinople again. Throughout 1272 and 1273 he sent huge provisions to the towns of Durrës and Vlorë. This alarmed the Byzantine Emperor, Michael VIII Palaiologos, who began sending letters to local Albanian nobles, trying to convince them to stop their support for Charles of Anjou and to switch sides. However, the Albanian nobles placed their trust on Charles, who praised them for their loyalty. Throughout its existence the Kingdom saw armed conflict with the Byzantine empire. The kingdom was reduced to a small area in Durrës. Even before the city of Durrës was captured, it was landlocked by Karl Thopia's principality. Declaring himself as Angevin descendant, with the capture of [[Durrës]] in 1368 [[Karl Topia|Karl Thopia]] created the [[Principality of Albania (medieval)|Princedom of Albania]]. During its existence Catholicism saw rapid spread among the population which affected the society as well as the architecture of the Kingdom. A [[Manorialism|Western type of feudalism]] was introduced and it replaced the Byzantine [[Pronoia]].

=== Principalities and League of Lezhë ===
[[File:Gjergj Kastrioti.jpg|thumb|240x240px|[[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]], the National Hero of the Albanians successfully rebelled against the Ottomans for 25 years.]]
[[File:Buna and Lake from Shkodra Castle.jpg|thumb|278x278px|The ancient [[Rozafa Castle]] in [[Shkodër]] was the focal point of the [[Siege of Shkodra]]]]
{{Main|Albanian principalities|League of Lezhë}}

In 1371, the [[Serbian Empire]] was dissolved and several Albanian principalities were formed including the [[Principality of Kastrioti]], [[Principality of Albania (medieval)|Principality of Albania]] and [[Despotate of Arta]] as the major ones.
In the late 14th and the early 15th century the [[Ottoman Empire]] conquered parts of south and central Albania. The Albanians regained control of their territories in 1444 when the [[League of Lezhë]] was established, under the rule of [[George Kastrioti]] [[Skanderbeg]], the Albanian national hero. The League was a military alliance of feudal lords in Albania forged in Lezhë on 2 March 1444, initiated and organised under Venetian patronage<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Encyclopaedia of Islam|year = 1974|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kIjrAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> with Skanderbeg as leader of the regional Albanian and Serbian chieftains united against the Ottoman Empire.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time|last = Barbinger|first = Franz|year = 1978| publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn = 0691010781|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PPxC6rO7vvsC&pg=PA153}}</ref> The main members of the league were the Arianiti, Balšić, Dukagjini, Muzaka, Spani, Thopia and Crnojevići. For 25 years, from 1443 to 1468, Skanderbeg's 10,000-man army marched through Ottoman territory winning against consistently larger and better supplied Ottoman forces.<ref name=":0" /> Threatened by Ottoman advances in their homeland, Hungary, and later Naples and Venice – their former enemies – provided the financial backbone and support for Skanderbeg's army.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest|year = 1994|isbn = 978-0-472-08260-5|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=LvVbRrH1QBgC|last1 = Fine|first1 = John V. A.|last2 = Fine|first2 = John Van Antwerp| publisher=University of Michigan Press }}</ref> By 1450 it had certainly ceased to function as originally intended, and only the core of the alliance under Skanderbeg and Araniti Comino continued to fight on.<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts21/AH2008_2.html|title =Oliver Jens Schmitt: Scanderbeg: an Uprising and its Leader|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160313203243/http://albanianhistory.net/texts21/AH2008_2.html|archive-date =13 March 2016}}</ref> After Skanderbeg's death in 1468, the sultan "easily subdued Albania," but Skanderbeg's death did not end the struggle for independence,<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Story of Turkey|year = 1888|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PqYCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA135|last1 = Lane-Poole|first1 = Stanley}}</ref> and fighting continued until the Ottoman [[siege of Shkodra]] in 1478–79, a siege ending when the Republic of Venice ceded Shkodra to the Ottomans in the peace treaty of 1479.
[[File:Kostandin Shpataraku, S. Demetrio a cavallo, 43x31 cm, Berat, Museo Onufri, XVIII sec..jpg|thumb|''Saint Demetrius on Horseback'', Onufri Museum, Berat]]