”Albania: the land of the Eagle”

1000 BCE :   Illyrians were Indo-European tribesmen who appeared in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula; Albanians derived their name from an Illyrian tribe called the Arber, or Arbereshe, and later Albanoi, who lived near Durres  1190-1200 :  Serbs occupied parts of northern and eastern Albanian inhabited lands; The Principality of Arbër was created. Local Albanian noble families begin to emerge. Serbia occupied parts of northern Albania.  1200-1390 :  Fourth Crusade: Venice won control over most of Albania. The Byzantines regained control of the southern portion of Albania and established the Despotate of Epirus. Forces allied to Charles I of Naples occupied Durrës and established the Kingdom of Albania. … Read More

1900-1918 :   (1906) Albanians began joining the Committee of Union and Progress in the hope of gaining autonomy. (1908) Albanians began joining the Committee of Union and Progress in the hope of gaining autonomy. (1911) Albanian Highlanders under Ded Gjo Luli defeated Ottoman forces in the town of Tuzi. (1912) First Balkan War: The war began, encouraging Albanian leaders to affirm the independence of their state. Muslim and Christian delegates declared Albania independent at Vlorë and established a provisional government. (1913) Second Balkan War: The Treaty of Bucharest ended the war and recognized an independent Albanian state ruled by a constitutional monarchy. (1918) World War I: The war ended with … Read More

1944-1949 :   The Communists established a provisional government with Enver Hoxha as Prime Minister and enter central and northern Albania. (1946) The People's Assembly proclaimed the Socialist People's Republic of Albania, signalling the beginning of purges of noncommunists from positions of power. Corfu Channel Incident: Two British ships were destroyed by mines off the Albanian coast in the Straits of Corfu. (1948) The Soviet Union began giving economic aid and sending advisers to Albania. The first Party Congress changed the name of the Communist Party to the Party of Labour of Albania.  1950-1985 :  A new constitution was approved by the People's Assembly, under which Hoxha became minister of defense … Read More

1992 :   In the midst of economic freefall and social chaos, Alia resigns as president and is succeeded on April 9 by Sali Berisha, the first democratic leader of Albania since Bishop Noli. The Albanian Communist Party is outlawed, and its chairman, Hysni Milloshi, is arrested in Tirana and charged with illegally carrying a gun. Former President Alia is detained. Albania is granted membership of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and in the same month applies to join NATO.  1992 :  Pope John Paul II makes a historic visit. (The last pope to travel to Albania – in 1464 – died en route.) Alia is arrested on charges of … Read More

1998 :   More than 13,000 refugees flee into Albania after the eruption in February of civil war between the Serbian police and army and the ethnic Albanian separatist Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in the neighbouring province of Kosovo.  1999 :  During the 78 days of NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, about 450,000 of a total 750,000 Kosovar refugees flee into Albania. That figure is equal to almost 15% of Albania's total population. The hostilities turn Albania into a key operational theatre for international relief agencies and NATO forces in Albania, called Kosovo Force (KFOR), which launch a humanitarian relief operation.  2000-2003 :  A "quick start" package is launched within the Stability … Read More