Summary
Highlights
In the 6th century BC, the Balkans were inhabited by the Illyrians, a group of pirate and bandit tribes. Some tribes formed the Kingdom of Dardania, which clashed with Macedonians and was eventually conquered by Alexander the Great. Declining Dardanians were followed by the Ardiaean tribe, whose piracy under Queen Teuta led to conflicts with Rome and the Illyrian Wars, resulting in Roman invasion and four centuries of Roman cultural and economic influence in Albania.
After the Roman Empire's division, Albania became part of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium). This period saw frequent invasions by Goths, Avars, and Slavs, and a period of Bulgarian expansion and reconquest by the Byzantines. Emperor Basil II, known as 'the Bulgar Slayer', was a prominent figure. Tensions between Eastern and Western churches culminated in the Fourth Crusade, where Constantinople was sacked, and Albania became part of the Despotate of Epirus.
Charles I of Anjou, King of Sicily, conquered Durrës and proclaimed himself king, leading to a period of fragmented principalities. In 1478, the Ottoman Empire arrived. Prince Skanderbeg led a fierce 20-year resistance against the Turks, but Albania was eventually conquered, initiating five centuries of Ottoman rule. Many Albanian families fled to Italy, forming communities that still exist today. During this time, much of the population converted to Islam.
In 1912, as the Ottoman Empire declined, Albania rebelled. The Balkan League defeated the Ottomans, leading to the establishment of the Principality of Albania. After years of political instability, the principality transformed into a republic and then a kingdom, with Ahmed Zogu proclaiming himself King Zog I. In 1939, Italy occupied Albania, overthrowing Zog's regime, and Vittorio Emanuele III became King of Albania as World War II began.
Following the Allied victory in World War II, Enver Hoxha rose to power, transforming Albania into a communist state. After years of crisis, the Democratic Party won elections in 1991, leading to the birth of the modern Republic of Albania. In 2009, Albania became a UN member, and in 2014, it was officially declared a candidate for European Union membership.