HISTORY

In map:  Illyrians (Albanians origin) have been populate former Yugoslavia, a part of Greece and Italy

In the second millennium B.C. Illyrians populated the Adriatic coast on Balkan Peninsula. In 1225, the first Illyrian monarch, King Hyllis, died. Until the fourth century B.C., when the Illyrian monarchy was at its zenith, they united the whole Illyrian territory. In the second century B.C. began a war against the Romans, which they won, gaining supremacy over the territory until 285 A.D. From 285 until the fifth century the Byzantines reigned. Due to weakness in the Byzantine empire, the territory was repeatedly attacked for five centuries ( 5th through 10th centuries) by the Goths, Slavs, Avaret, Serbs, and Bulgarians, until the revival of the Byzantines. From the 6th through 8th centuries, the Byzantines consolidated their power and in 1080, the name of Albania first emerges.

In the 14th century, Albanian principalities formed a league, which, due to the expansion of Ottoman power, had a short life. Among the principalities, was the Prince of the Topia, who lived from 1358 until 1395. During this period, war against the Turks broke out.

This war was led by the national hero, George Kastrioti Skenderbeg (1405-1468), and is a key moment in Albanian history. For the first time, the Albanian population united in 1444 under the Oath of Lezhe, which existed until the death of Skenderbeg. After 10 years the entire Albanian territory was overwhelmed by Turkish occupation.

The occupation continued until 1912, the year of Albanian independence.

The Declaration of Independence took place in Vlore on 28 November 1912. After years of instability, Albania established a national league in 1925. The Republic of Albania was created in 1925, which was transformed in 1928 into the Kingdom of Albania. Throughout the Second World War, Albania was occupied by Italy and then Germany. The movement for national liberation was led by the communists.

George Kastrioti Skenderbeg (1405-1468)

On 29 November 1944, Albania was liberated and within the year, the communists took power.This time Albania has lost his territory as we can see in the Historical ethnic Albanian map. What`s happening with Albanians under Slave and Greece occupations? Thus began the communist dictatorship, led by EnverHoxha, which ended in 1990. After the Albanian people movement, the nations system changed to a democratic one.