{"history":[{"id":"32d53fe7-2df8-4f34-95c9-1296f8ee8492","wordChanged":"[Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians)","newWord":":::summary\n![Albanians](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Map///of///the///Albanian///Diaspora///in///the///World.svg)\n**Group:** Albanians \n**Native Name:** Shqiptarët \n**Native Name Lang:** sq \n**Pop:** c. 7 to 10 million \n**Popplace:** 🇦🇱 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) 2,182,917 (2023) · [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 1,797,856 (2021) \n**Tablehdr:** Other regions \n**Region 1:** 🇮🇹 [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy) \n**Pop 1:** 970,000 \n**Region 2:** 🇬🇷 [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) \n**Pop 2:** 500,000–600,000 \n**Region 3:** [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) \n**Pop 3:** 446,245 \n**Region 3 6:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 3 6:** 500,000–6,000,000 \n**Region 4:** 🇲🇪 [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) \n**Pop 4:** 30,439 \n**Region 5:** 🇷🇸 [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia) \n**Pop 5:** 61,687 \n**Region 6:** 🇭🇷 [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) \n**Pop 6:** 17,513 \n**Region 7:** 🇸🇮 [Slovenia](https://bliptext.com/articles/slovenia) \n**Pop 7:** 6,186 \n**Region 8:** 🇪🇸 [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) \n**Pop 8:** 3,998 \n**Region 9:** 🇵🇹 [Portugal](https://bliptext.com/articles/portugal) \n**Pop 9:** 99 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇸🇪 [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden) \n**Pop 1 0:** 54,000 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇳🇴 [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway) \n**Pop 1 1:** 19,891 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom) \n**Pop 1 2:** 13,000 \n**Region 1 4:** 🇫🇮 [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) \n**Pop 1 4:** 10,391 \n**Region 1 5:** 🇩🇰 [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) \n**Pop 1 5:** 8,223 \n**Region 1 6:** 🇮🇪 [Ireland](https://bliptext.com/articles/ireland) \n**Pop 1 6:** 953–2,133 \n**Region 1 7:** 🇷🇴 [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) \n**Pop 1 7:** 10,000 \n**Region 1 8:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 8:** 5,000 \n**Region 1 9:** 🇨🇿 [Czech Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/czech-republic) \n**Pop 1 9:** 1,512 \n**Region 2 0:** 🇱🇻 [Latvia](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvia) \n**Pop 2 0:** 17 - 31 \n**Region 2 1:** 🇩🇪 [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) \n**Pop 2 1:** 200,000–300,000 \n**Region 2 2:** 🇨🇭 [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) \n**Pop 2 2:** 200,000 \n**Region 2 3:** 🇦🇹 [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) \n**Pop 2 3:** 28,212 \n**Region 2 4:** 🇫🇷 [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) \n**Pop 2 4:** 27,200 (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** 🇳🇱 [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands) \n**Pop 2 5:** 12,969 \n**Region 2 6:** 🇧🇪 [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) \n**Pop 2 6:** 5,600–30,000 \n**Region 2 7:** 🇱🇺 [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) \n**Pop 2 7:** 2,155 \n**Region 2 8:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 2 8:** 194,028 \n**Region 2 9:** 🇦🇷 [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) \n**Pop 2 9:** 50,000 \n**Region 3 0:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 3 0:** 39,055 \n**Region 3 1:** 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://bliptext.com/articles/colombia) \n**Pop 3 1:** 348 \n**Region 3 2:** 🇨🇺 [Cuba](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuba) \n**Pop 3 2:** 101 \n**Region 3 3:** 🇵🇦 [Panama](https://bliptext.com/articles/panama) \n**Pop 3 3:** 9 \n**Region 3 4:** 🇦🇺 [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) \n**Pop 3 4:** 11,315 \n**Region 3 5:** 🇳🇿 [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand) \n**Pop 3 5:** 243 \n**Region 3 7:** 🇪🇬 [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) \n**Pop 3 7:** 18,000 \n**Region 3 8:** 🇶🇦 [Qatar](https://bliptext.com/articles/qatar) \n**Pop 3 8:** 1,200 \n**Region 3 9:** 🇨🇾 [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus) \n**Pop 3 9:** 275 \n**Region 4 0:** 🇿🇦 [South Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-africa) \n**Pop 4 0:** 268 \n**Region 4 1:** 🇦🇪 [United Arab Emirates](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-arab-emirates) \n**Pop 4 1:** 200–300 \n**Languages:** [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) \n**Rels:** Majority**: · Star and Crescent.svg [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) · [Sunni](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam)·[Bektashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order)·[Non-denominational](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominational-muslim) · Minority**: · Christian cross.svg [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity) · [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholic-church) (Latin Church·Eastern Rites Albanian Greek-Catholic Church·Italo-Albanian Church)·[Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) (Albanian Orthodox Church·Albanian American Orthodox Church)·[Protestantism](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestantism) (Albanian Protestant Church·Kosovan Protestant Church) · Other**: · [Irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Footnotes:** 502,546 Albanian citizens, an additional 43,751 [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians), 260,000 [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and 169,644 Albanians who have acquired the Italian citizenship · Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. Of those with full or partial Albanian ancestry and others who have adopted [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) language, culture and identity their number is estimated at 1,300,000–5,000,000 many whom do not speak Albanian. · The estimation contains [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians). \n:::\n\n# \nThe **Serbs** are an [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) who share a common Serbian [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry), [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture), [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history) and [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThey are the main ethnic group of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), and they also live in the neighboring countries of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro), [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-serbia), as well as in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy), [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-croatia), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-turkey).\nAlbanians also constitute a large [diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/diaspora) with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.\n[The language of the Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nAlbanians have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the serbiaontop, but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Paleo-Balkan group contributed to the [ethnogenesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first mention of the ethnonym [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi) occurred in the 2nd century AD by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) describing an [Illyrian tribe](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-tribe) who lived around present-day central Albania.\nThe first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from 11th century chronicler [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) who describes them as living in the [theme of Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme).\nThe [Shkumbin River](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin-river) roughly demarcates the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) between [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) dialects.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century AD. Then, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054, after the [Great Schism](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-west-schism), the north gradually became identified with [Roman Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism) and the south with [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy).\nIn 1190 Albanians established the [Principality of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon) in central Albania with the capital in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nThe [Albanian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) has its roots in migration from the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) initially across Southern Europe and eventually across wider Europe and the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world).\nBetween the 13th and 18th centuries, sizeable numbers migrated to escape various social, economic or political difficulties.\nAlbanian population groups settled in [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece) between the 13th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites).\nOther Albanian population groups settled across [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily) between the 11th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arbëreshë](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people).\nAlbanians have also migrated [to Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) since the late 16th century.\nIn the 18th century smaller Albanian population groups settled in [Southern Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia) (who came to be known as [Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people)), and pockets of [Southern Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-ukraine)..\n\"We can say that all in some way belong to a kind of ethnic category, and often more than one. As an example, I cite the case of Zadar Arbanasi. To understand the problem of the Albanians and their ethnolinguistic (ethnic and linguistic) identity, it is necessary to go into the history of their immigration that goes back to the beginning of the 18th century., etc more precisely: the period from the first migration of 1726, the period of the second migration of 1733, and until 1754, which is considered to be the final year of their immigration. All they moved from three villages from the area of Lake Scutari – Briska, Šestan and Livara. Fleeing from the Ottomans, plague and other troubles, the general provider Nicola Erizzo II allowed them to settle in the area of today's Arbanasa and Zemunik. One part of the population in Zemunik became assimilated with the local population, forgetting their language.\nThese are for example, today's Prenda, Šestani, Ćurkovići, Paleke etc. The second part of the population tried to maintain their ethnic and linguistic identity during these 280 years.\nOn 10 May 2006 marked the 280th anniversary of their arrival in the suburb of Zadar.\nIt was not easy, especially in the beginning, because they did not have their own church, school, etc., and is the only way to maintain their identity and language was verbally.\"\nBy the 15th century, the expanding [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh), a union of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) led by [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg).\nBy the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians [converted](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamisation-of-albania) to [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam), which offered them equal opportunities and advancement [within the Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire).\nThereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader [Muslim world](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim-world).\nInnumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than [40 Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers), and under the [Köprülü](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension.\nBetween the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century [Albanian Pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-pashaliks) were established by [Kara Mahmud](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-mahmud-pasha) [pasha of Scutari](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-scutari), [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) [pasha of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina), and [Ahmet Kurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/ahmet-kurt-pasha) [pasha of Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat), while the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) Muhammad [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors).\nDuring the 19th century, cultural developments, widely attributed to Albanians having gathered both spiritual and intellectual strength, conclusively led to the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nIn 1912 during the [Balkan Wars](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-wars), Albanians declared the [independence of their country](https://bliptext.com/articles/independent-albania).\nThe demarcation of the new Albanian state was established following the [Treaty of Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-bucharest-1913) and left about half of the ethnic Albanian population outside of its borders, [partitioned](https://bliptext.com/articles/partition-politics) between Greece, Montenegro and Serbia.\nAfter the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) up until the [Revolutions of 1991](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania), Albania was governed by a [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) under [Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) where Albania became largely isolated from the rest of Europe.\nIn neighbouring [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), Albanians underwent periods of discrimination and systematic oppression that concluded with the [War of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-of-kosovo) and eventually with [Kosovar independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThe Albanians and their country Albania have been identified by many [ethnonyms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym).\nThe most common native [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) is \"Shqiptar\", plural \"Shqiptarë\"; the name \"Albanians\" ([Byzantine Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-greek): Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; [Latin](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin): Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered [European Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-languages) from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English \"Albanians\"; Italian \"Albanesi\"; German \"Albaner\"; [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) \"Arvanites\", \"Alvanitis\" (Αλβανίτης) plural: \"Alvanites\" (Αλβανίτες), \"Alvanos\" (Αλβανός) plural: \"Alvanoi\" (Αλβανοί); [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkish-language) \"Arnaut\", \"Arnavut\"; [South Slavic languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavic-languages) \"Arbanasi\" (Арбанаси), \"Albanci\" (Албанци); [Aromanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanian-language) \"Arbinesh\" and so on.\nThe term \"Albanoi\" (Αλβανοί) is first encountered on the works of Ptolemy (2nd century CE) also is encountered twice in the works of Byzantine historian [Michael Attaliates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaliates), and the term \"Arvanitai\" (Αρβανίται) is used once by the same author.\nHe referred to the \"Albanoi\" as having taken part in a revolt against the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 1043, and to the \"Arbanitai\" as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium (modern [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s)).\nThese references have been disputed as to whether they refer to the people of Albania.\nHistorian E. Vranoussi believes that these \"Albanoi\" were Normans from Sicily.\nShe also notes that the same term (as \"Albani\") in medieval Latin meant \"foreigners\".\nThe reference to \"Arvanitai\" from Attaliates regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078 is undisputed.\nIn later Byzantine usage, the terms \"Arbanitai\" and \"Albanoi\" with a range of variants were used interchangeably, while sometimes the same groups were also called by the classicising name Illyrians.\nThe first reference to the Albanian language dates to the latter 13th century (around 1285).\nThe national ethnonym Albanian and its variants are derived from [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi), first mentioned as an [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) tribe in the 2nd century CE by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) with their centre at the city of [Albanopolis](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanopolis), located in modern-day central Albania, somewhere in the hinterland of [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s).\nLinguists believe that the alb part in the root word originates from an Indo-European term for a type of mountainous topography, from which other words such as [alps](https://bliptext.com/articles/alps) are derived.\nThrough the root word alban and its rhotacized equivalents arban, albar, and arbar, the term in Albanian became rendered as Arbëneshë/Arbëreshë for the people and Arbënia/Arbëria for the country.\nThe Albanian language was referred to as Arbnisht and Arbërisht.\nWhile the [exonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/exonym) Albania for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does have connotations to Classical Antiquity, the Albanian language employs a different ethnonym, with modern Albanians referring to themselves as Shqip(ë)tarë and to their country as Shqipëria.\nTwo etymologies have been proposed for this ethnonym: one, derived from the etymology from the Albanian word for eagle (shqipe, var., shqiponjë).\nIn Albanian [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology), this word denotes a bird [totem](https://bliptext.com/articles/totem), dating from the times of Skanderbeg as displayed on the [Albanian flag](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-flag).\nThe other is within scholarship that connects it to the verb 'to speak' (me shqiptue) from the Latin \"excipere\".\nIn this instance the Albanian endonym like [Slav](https://bliptext.com/articles/slav-ethnonym) [and others](https://bliptext.com/articles/endonym) would originally have been a term connoting \"those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]\".\nThe words Shqipëri and Shqiptar are attested from 14th century onward, but it was only at the end of 17th and beginning of the early 18th centuries that the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëreshë amongst [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) speakers.\nThat era brought about religious and other sociopolitical changes.\nAs such a new and generalised response by Albanians based on ethnic and linguistic consciousness to this new and different [Ottoman world](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) emerging around them was a change in ethnonym..\n\"The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptarë, their country Shqipëri, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could be a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains (ÇABEJ 1976). The name passed over the boundaries of the Illyrian tribe in central Albania, and was generalised for all the Albanians.\nThey called themselves arbënesh, arbëresh, the country Arbëni, Arbëri, and the language arbëneshe, arbëreshe.\nIn the foreign languages, the Middle Ages denominations of these names survived, but for the Albanians they were substituted by shqiptarë, Shqipëri and shqipe.\nThe primary root is the adverb shqip, meaning \"clearly, intelligibly\".\nThere is a very close semantic parallel to this in the German noun Deutsche, \"the Germans\" and \"the German language\" (Lloshi 1984) Shqip spread out from the north to the south, and Shqipni/Shqipëri is probably a collective noun, following the common pattern of Arbëni, Arbëri.\nThe change happened after the Ottoman conquest because of the conflict in the whole line of the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural spheres with a totally alien world of the Oriental type.\nA new and more generalised ethnic and linguistic consciousness of all these people responded to this.\"\n\n## Historical records\nLittle is known about the Albanian people prior to the 11th century, though a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the [Bulgarian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarian-language) contains a possible reference to them.\nIt is preserved in a [manuscript](https://bliptext.com/articles/manuscript) written in the [Serbo-Croatian Language](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian-language) traced back to the 17th century but published in the 20th century by Radoslav Grujic.\nIt is a fragment of a once longer text that endeavours to explain the origins of peoples and languages in a question-and-answer form similar to a [catechism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catechism).\nThe fragmented manuscript differentiated the world into 72 languages and three religious categories including Christians, half-believers and non-believers.\nGrujic dated it to the early 11th century and, if this and the identification of the Arbanasi as Albanians are correct, it would be the earliest written document referring to the Balkan Albanians as a people or language group.\n\"It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian (Georgian). There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), Arbanasi (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi and Germans.\"\n[Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080) mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nAs such, it is considered to be the first attestation of Albanians as an ethnic group in Byzantine historiography.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Vranoussi-Ducellier debate\", Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vranoussi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThis debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\n\n# Language\nAlbanians speak the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language), which is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nIt had its formative core in the Western Balkans after the [Indo-European migrations](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-migrations) in the region from about 3000 to 2500 BCE.\nThe Albanian language is spoken today by approximately 5 million people throughout the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) as well as by a more substantial number by [communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) around the Americas, Europe and Oceania.\nNumerous variants and dialects of Albanian are used as an [official language](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) in Albania, [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nThe language is also spoken in other countries whence it is officially recognised as a [minority language](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-language) in such countries as [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), Italy, [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are two principal [dialects](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-dialects) of the Albanian language traditionally represented by [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nThe ethnogeographical dividing line is traditionally considered to be the [Shkumbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin) river, with Gheg spoken in the north of it and Tosk in the south.\nDialects of linguistic minorities spoken in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-croatia) ([Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-dialect) and [Istrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/istrian-albanian)), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-albanians), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro) and northwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) are classified as Gheg, while those spoken in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), southwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) and Italy as Tosk.\nThe [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language) and [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika) dialects of the Albanian language, are spoken by the [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language)ë and [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) in [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece), respectively.\nThey retain elements of medieval Albanian vocabulary and pronunciation that are no longer used in modern Albanian; however, both varieties are classified as [endangered languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/endangered-language) in the [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco) [Red Book of Endangered Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/red-book-of-endangered-languages).\nThe [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) is spoken by the [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians), a community that originates from [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria) in what is currently north-western Greece and southern Albania; the use of the [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) in Greece is declining rapidly, while [Cham communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) in Albania and the diaspora have preserved it.\nMost of the Albanians in Albania and the [Former Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/former-yugoslavia) are [polyglot](https://bliptext.com/articles/polyglotism) and have the ability to understand, speak, read, or write a [foreign language](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-language).\nAs defined by the [Institute of Statistics of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/institute-of-statistics-albania), 39.9% of the 25 to 64 years old Albanians in Albania are able to use at least one foreign language including English (40%), Italian (27.8%) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) (22.9%).\nThe origin of the Albanian language remains a contentious subject that has given rise to numerous [hypotheses](https://bliptext.com/articles/hypothesis).\nThe hypothesis of Albanian being one of the descendant of the [Illyrian languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-languages) ([Messapic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/messapic-language)) is based on [geography](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) where the languages were spoken however not enough archaeological evidence is left behind to come therefore to a definite conclusion.\nAnother hypothesis associates the Albanian language with the [Thracian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/thracian-language).\nThis theory takes exception to the territory, since the language was spoken in an area distinct from Albania, and no significant population movements have been recorded in the period when the shift from one language to the other is supposed to have occurred.\n# [The dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Albanian///language///map///en.svg]\n# [Classification of Albanian in the Paleo-Balkanic branch as suggested by Brian D. Joseph and Adam Hyllested in \"The Indo-European Language Family\" (2022) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Classification///of///Albanian.png]\n\n# History\n\n## Late Antiquity\nThe [Komani-Kruja culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/komani-kruja-culture) is an archaeological culture attested from late antiquity to the Middle Ages in central and northern Albania, southern Montenegro and similar sites in the western parts of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nIt consists of settlements usually built below hillforts along the [Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/lezh) ([Praevalitana](https://bliptext.com/articles/praevalitana))-[Dardania](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardania-roman-province) and [Via Egnatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/via-egnatia) road networks which connected the Adriatic coastline with the central Balkan Roman provinces.\nIts [type site](https://bliptext.com/articles/type-site) is Komani and its fort on the nearby Dalmace hill in the Drin river valley.\n[Kruja](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruja) and Lezha represent significant sites of the culture.\nThe population of Komani-Kruja represents a local, western Balkan people which was linked to the Roman Justinianic military system of forts.\nThe development of Komani-Kruja is significant for the study of the transition between the [classical antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-antiquity) population of Albania to the medieval Albanians who were attested in historical records in the 11th century.\nWinnifrith (2020) recently described this population as the survival of a \"Latin-Illyrian\" culture which emerged later in historical records as Albanians and [Vlachs](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlachs) ([Eastern Romance](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-romance-languages)-speaking people).\nIn Winnifrith's narrative, the geographical conditions of northern Albania favored the continuation of the Albanian language in hilly and mountainous areas as opposed to lowland valleys.\n# [Glass necklace, 7th – 8th century, Shurdhah | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Glass///necklace%2C///7th///-///8th///century%2C///Shurdhah///-///Archeological///Museum///of///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Middle Ages\nThe Albanian people maintain a very chequered and tumultuous history behind them, a fact explained by their geographical position in the [Southeast of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/southeast-europe) at the cultural and political crossroad between the east and west, but they also have historically inhabited a hardly accessible mountainous region, which helped them preserve their peculiar culture and language.\nThe issue surrounding the [origin of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) has long been debated by historians and [linguists](https://bliptext.com/articles/linguist) for centuries.\nThey have [Paleo-Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages) origins, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Peleo-Balkan group contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080).\nAttaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Ducellier-Vrannousi\" debate, Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vrannousi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThe debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\nThe name reflects the Albanian endonym Arbër/n + esh which itself derives from the same root as the name of the [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi)\nHistorically known as the Arbër or Arbën by the 11th century and onwards, they traditionally inhabited the mountainous area to the west of [Lake Ochrida](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-ochrida) and the upper valley of the Shkumbin river.\nThough it was in 1190 when they established their first independent entity, the [Principality of Arbër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arb-r) (Arbanon), with its seat based in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nImmediately after the decline of the [Progon dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-progon) in 1216, the principality came under [Gregorios Kamonas](https://bliptext.com/articles/gregorios-kamonas) and next his son-in-law [Golem](https://bliptext.com/articles/golem-of-kruja).\nFinally, the Principality was dissolved in ca. 1255 by the [Empire of Nicea](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-of-nicea) followed by an unsuccessful [rebellion between 1257 and 1259](https://bliptext.com/articles/rebellion-of-arbanon) supported by the [Despotate of Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/despotate-of-epirus).\nIn the meantime [Manfred, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/manfred-king-of-sicily) profited from the situation and launched an invasion into Albania.\nHis forces, led by [Philippe Chinard](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippe-chinard), captured [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor), [Spinarizza](https://bliptext.com/articles/island-of-zv-rnec), their surroundings and the southern coastline of Albania from [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) to [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint).\nIn 1266 after [defeating Manfred's forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-benevento) and killing him, the [Treaty of Viterbo](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-viterbo) of 1267 was signed, with [Charles I, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-i-king-of-sicily) acquiring rights on Manfred's dominions in Albania.\nLocal noblemen such as [Andrea Vrana](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-vrana) refused to surrender Manfred's former domains, and in 1271 negotiations were initiated.\nIn 1272 the [Kingdom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-albania-medieval) was created after a delegation of Albanian noblemen from Durrës signed a treaty declaring union with the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles.\nCharles soon imposed military rule, new taxes, took sons of Albanian noblemen hostage to ensure loyalty, and confiscated lands for [Angevin](https://bliptext.com/articles/capetian-house-of-anjou) nobles.\nThis led to discontent among Albanian noblemen, several of whom turned to Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-viii).\nIn late 1274, Byzantine forces helped by local Albanian noblemen capture Berat and Butrint.\nCharles' attempt to advance towards Constantinople failed at the [Siege of Berat (1280–1281)](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-berat-1280-1281).\nA Byzantine counteroffensive ensued, which drove the Angevins out of the interior by 1281.\nThe [Sicilian Vespers](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicilian-vespers) rebellion further weakened the position of Charles, who died in 1285.\nBy the end of the 13th century, most of Albania was under Byzantine Emperor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](https://bliptext.com/articles/andronikos-ii-palaiologos).\nIn 1296 Serbian king [Stephen Milutin](https://bliptext.com/articles/stephen-milutin) captured Durrës.\nIn 1299 Andronikos II married his daughter Simonis to Milutin and the lands he had conquered were considered as [dowry](https://bliptext.com/articles/dowry).\nIn 1302, [Philip I, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/philip-i-prince-of-taranto), grandson of Charles, claimed his rights on the Albanian kingdom and gained the support of local Albanian Catholics who preferred him over the Orthodox Serbs and Greeks, as well as the support of [Pope Benedict XI](https://bliptext.com/articles/pope-benedict-xi).\nIn the summer of 1304, the Serbs were expelled from the city of Durrës by the locals who submitted themselves to Angevin rule.\nProminent Albanian leaders during this time were the [Thopia family](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), ruling in an area between the Mat and Shkumbin rivers, and the [Muzaka family](https://bliptext.com/articles/muzaka-family) in the territory between the Shkumbin and Vlorë.\nIn 1279, Gjon I Muzaka, who remained loyal to the Byzantines and resisted Angevin conquest of Albania, was captured by the forces of Charles but later released following pressure from Albanian nobles.\nThe Muzaka family continued to remain loyal to the Byzantines and resisted the expansion of the [Serbian Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-kingdom-medieval).\nIn 1335 the head of the family, Andrea II Muzaka, gained the title of [Despot](https://bliptext.com/articles/despot-court-title) and other Muzakas pursued careers in the Byzantine government in Constantinople.\nAndrea II soon endorsed an anti-Byzantine revolt in his domains between 1335–1341 and formed an alliance with [Robert, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-prince-of-taranto) in 1336.\nIn 1336, Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](https://bliptext.com/articles/stefan-du-an) captured Durrës, including the territory under the control of the Muzaka family.\nAlthough Angevins managed to recapture Durazzo, Dušan continued his expansion, and in the period of 1337–45 he had captured [Kanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanin) and [Valona](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) in southern Albania.\nAround 1340 forces of Andrea II defeated the Serbian army at the [Pelister](https://bliptext.com/articles/pelister) mountain.\nAfter the death of Stefan Dušan in 1355 the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire) disintegrated, and [Karl Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/karl-thopia) captured Durrës while the Muzaka family of Berat regained control over parts of southeastern Albania and over [Kastoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/kastoria) that Andrea II captured from [Prince Marko](https://bliptext.com/articles/prince-marko) after the [Battle of Marica](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-marica) in 1371.\nThe kingdom reinforced the influence of Catholicism and the conversion to its rite, not only in the region of Durrës but in other parts of the country.\nA new wave of Catholic dioceses, churches and monasteries were founded, papal missionaries and a number of different religious orders began spreading into the country.\nThose who were not Catholic in central and northern Albania converted and a great number of Albanian clerics and monks were present in the Dalmatian Catholic institutions.\nAround 1230 the two main centers of Albanian settlements were around [Devoll river](https://bliptext.com/articles/devoll-river) in what is now central Albania and the other around the region known as Arbanon.\nAlbanian presence in Croatia can be traced back to the beginning of the [Late Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-middle-ages).\nIn this period, there was a significant Albanian community in [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dubrovnik) with a number of families of Albanian origin inclusively the [Sorgo family](https://bliptext.com/articles/sorgo-family) who came from the [Cape of Rodon](https://bliptext.com/articles/cape-of-rodon) in central Albania, across [Kotor](https://bliptext.com/articles/kotor) in eastern Montenegro, to [Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia).\nBy the 13th century, Albanian merchants were trading directly with the peoples of the [Republic of Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) in Dalmatia which increased familiarity between Albanians and Ragusans.\nThe upcoming invasion of Albania by the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) and the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg) caused many Christian Albanians to flee to Dalmatia and surrounding countries.\nIn the 14th century a number of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) were created.\nThese included [Principality of Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti), [Principality of Dukagjini](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-dukagjini), [Princedom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval), and [Principality of Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-gjirokast-r).\nAt the beginning of the 15th century these principalities became stronger, especially because of the fall of the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire).\nSome of these principalities were united in 1444 under the anti-Ottoman military alliance called [League of Lezha](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh).\nAlbanians were recruited all over Europe as a light cavalry known as [stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti).\nThe stratioti were pioneers of light cavalry tactics during the 15th century.\nIn the early 16th century heavy cavalry in the European armies was principally remodeled after Albanian stradioti of the Venetian army, Hungarian [hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/hussar) and German mercenary cavalry units (Schwarzreitern).\n# [The city of Krujë served as the royal seat of the Principality of Arbanon and later as the noble residence of the Kastrioti family. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Kal-1.jpg]\n\n## Ottoman Empire\nPrior to the [Ottoman conquest of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire), the political situation of the Albanian people was characterised by a fragmented conglomeration of scattered [kingdoms](https://bliptext.com/articles/realm) and [principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/principalities-of-albania) such as the [Principalities of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon), [Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti) and [Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval).\nBefore and after the [fall of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-constantinople), the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) continued an extended period of conquest and expansion with its borders going deep into the [Southeast Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans).\nAs a consequence thousands of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus) and [Peloponnese](https://bliptext.com/articles/peloponnese) escaped to [Calabria](https://bliptext.com/articles/calabria), [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern), whereby others sought protection at the often inaccessible Mountains of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nUnder the leadership of [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg), a former governor of the Ottoman [Sanjak of Dibra](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-dibra), a prosperous and longstanding revolution erupted with the formation of the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh) in 1444 up until the [Siege of Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) ending in 1479, multiple times defeating the mightiest power of the time led by [Sultans](https://bliptext.com/articles/sultan) [Murad II](https://bliptext.com/articles/murad-ii) and [Mehmed II](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-the-conqueror).\nSkanderbeg managed to gather several of the Albanian principals, amongst them the [Arianitis](https://bliptext.com/articles/arianiti-family), [Dukagjinis](https://bliptext.com/articles/dukagjini-family), [Zaharias](https://bliptext.com/articles/zaharia-family) and [Thopias](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), and establish a centralised authority over most of the non-conquered territories and proclaiming himself the Lord of Albania (Dominus Albaniae in Latin).\nSkanderbeg consistently pursued the aim relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans.\nHis unequal fight against them won the esteem of Europe and financial and military aid from the [Papacy](https://bliptext.com/articles/papacy) and [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice) and [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa).\nThe Albanians, then predominantly Christian, were initially considered as an [inferior class](https://bliptext.com/articles/rayah) of people and as such were subjected to heavy [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/jizya) such as the [Devshirme](https://bliptext.com/articles/devshirme) system that allowed the state to collect a requisite percentage of Christian adolescents from the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and elsewhere to compose the [Janissary](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissary).\nSince the Albanians were seen as strategically important, they made up a significant proportion of the [Ottoman military](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-military) and bureaucracy.\nThey were therefore to be found within the imperial services as vital military and administrative retainers from [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) to [Algeria](https://bliptext.com/articles/algeria) and the rest of the [Maghreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/maghreb).\nIn the late 18th century, [Ali Pasha Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-tepelena) created the autonomous region of the [Pashalik of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina) within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) which was never recognised as such by the [High Porte](https://bliptext.com/articles/high-porte).\nThe territory he properly governed incorporated most of southern [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus), [Thessaly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thessaly) and southwestern [Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-region) region.\nDuring his rule, the town of [Janina](https://bliptext.com/articles/janina) blossomed into a cultural, political and economic hub for both Albanians and Greeks.\nThe ultimate goal of Ali Pasha Tepelena seems to have been the establishment of an independent rule in Albania and Epirus.\nThus, he obtained control of [Arta](https://bliptext.com/articles/arta-greece) and took control over the ports of [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint), [Preveza](https://bliptext.com/articles/preveza) and [Vonitsa](https://bliptext.com/articles/vonitsa).\nHe also gained control of the [pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik) of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan), [Delvina](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-delvina), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat) and [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-avlona).\nHis relations with the High Porte were always tense though he developed and maintained relations with the [British](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-empire), [French](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-french-empire) and [Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and formed alliances with them at various times.\nIn the 19th century, the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) [Muhammad Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century.\nAfter a brief [French invasion](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-egypt) led by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://bliptext.com/articles/napoleon-bonaparte) and the Ottomans and [Mameluks](https://bliptext.com/articles/mameluk) competing for power there, he managed collectively with his Albanian troops to become the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt.\nAs he revolutionised the military and economic spheres of Egypt, his empire attracted Albanian people contributing to the emergence of the [Albanian diaspora in Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-egypt) initially formed by Albanian soldiers and mercenaries.\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) arrived in the lands of the Albanian people gradually and grew widespread between at least the 17th and 18th centuries.\nThe new religion brought many transformations into Albanian society and henceforth offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nWith the advent of increasing suppression on [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism), the Ottomans initially focused their conversions on the Catholic Albanians of the north in the 17th century and followed suit in the 18th century on the Orthodox Albanians of the south.\nAt this point, the urban centers of [central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-albania) and [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) had largely adopted the religion of the growing Muslim Albanian elite.\nMany mosques and [takyas](https://bliptext.com/articles/takya) were constructed throughout those urban centers and cities such as [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjirokast-r), [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) started to flourish.\nIn the far [north](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-albania), the spread of Islam was slower due to Catholic Albanian resistance and the inaccessible and rather remote mountainous terrain.\nThe motives for [conversion](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-conversion) to Islam are subject to differing interpretations according to scholars depending on the context though the lack of sources does not help when investigating such issues.\nReasons included the incentive to escape high [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxation-in-the-ottoman-empire) levied on non-Muslims subjects, [ecclesiastical](https://bliptext.com/articles/ecclesiastical) decay, coercion by Ottoman authorities in times of war, and the privileged legal and social position Muslims within the Ottoman administrative and political machinery had over that of non-Muslims.\nAs Muslims, the Albanians attained powerful positions in the Ottoman administration including over three dozen [Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers) of Albanian origin, among them [Zagan Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagan-pasha), [Bayezid Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-pasha) and members of the [Köprülü family](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), and regional rulers such as [Muhammad Ali of Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) and [Ali Pasha of Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-tepelena).\nThe Ottoman sultans [Bayezid II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-ii) and [Mehmed III](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-iii) were both Albanian on their [maternal side](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-mothers-of-the-ottoman-sultans).\nAreas such as Albania, western North Macedonia, southern Serbia, Kosovo, parts of northern Greece and southern Montenegro in Ottoman sources were referred to as Arnavudluk or Albania.\n# [Albanian pashaliks in 1815–1821 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Albanian///Pashaliks%2C///1815-1821.png]\n# [Albanian Chief, lithography by Alphonse-Léon Noël, 1828 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Chef///Albanais%2C///G.10376%282%29.jpg]\n\n## Albanian Renaissance\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) characterised a period wherein the Albanian people gathered both [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) and intellectual strength to establish their rights for an independent political and social life, culture and education.\nBy the late 18th century and the early 19th century, its foundation arose within the [Albanian communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy) and [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) and was frequently linked to the influences of the [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) principles.\nAlbania was under the rule of the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) for almost five centuries and the Ottoman authorities suppressed any expression of unity or national conscience by the Albanian people.\nA number of thoroughly intellectual Albanians, among them [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Thimi Mitko](https://bliptext.com/articles/thimi-mitko), [Naim](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri) and [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri), made a conscious effort to awaken feelings of pride and unity among their people by working to develop [Albanian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) that would call to mind the rich history and hopes for a more decent future.\nThe Albanians had poor or often no schools or other institutions in place to protect and preserve their [cultural heritage](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-heritage).\nThe need for schools was preached initially by the increasing number of Albanians educated abroad.\nThe Albanian communities in Italy and elsewhere were particularly active in promoting the Albanian cause, especially in education which finally resulted with the foundation of the [Mësonjëtorja](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-sonj-torja) in [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor), the first secular school in the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Turkish yoke](https://bliptext.com/articles/rise-of-nationalism-in-the-ottoman-empire) had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the people in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), and their march toward independence quickened.\nDue to the more substantial of Islamic influence, the Albanians internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian territories to the emerging neighbouring states, [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria) and [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece), were among the last peoples in the Balkans to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.\nThe national awakening as a coherent political movement emerged after the [Treaty of San Stefano](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-san-stefano), according to which Albanian-inhabited territories were to be ceded to the neighbouring states, and focused on preventing that partition.\nIt was the impetus for the nation-building movement, which was based more on fear of partition than national identity.\nEven after the [declaration of independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania), national identity was fragmented and possibly non-existent in much of the newly proposed country.\nThe state of disunity and fragmentation would remain until the communist period following [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war), when the communist nation-building project would achieve greater success in nation-building and reach more people than any previous regime, thus creating Albanian national communist identity.\n# [Naum Veqilharxhi was one of the earliest figures of the early Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/NaumVeqilharxhi.jpg]\n# [Naim Frashëri was a well known rilindas and is considered to be the pioneer of modern Albanian literature. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Naim///Frash%C3%ABri.jpg]\n\n## Communism in Albania\n[Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) of the Communist [Party of Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/party-of-labour-of-albania) took power in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) in 1946.\nAlbania established an alliance with the [Eastern Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-bloc) which provided Albania with many advantages in the form of economic assistance and military protection from the [Western Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-bloc) during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nThe Albanians experienced a period of several beneficial political and economic changes.\nThe [government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-albania) defended the territorial [integrity](https://bliptext.com/articles/integrity) and [sovereignty](https://bliptext.com/articles/sovereignty) of Albania, diversified the economy through a programme of industrialisation which led to a higher [standard of living](https://bliptext.com/articles/standard-of-living) and followed improvements in areas such as health, education and infrastructure.\nIt subsequently followed a period wherein the Albanians lived within an extreme isolation from the rest of the world for the next four decades.\nBy 1967, the established government had officially proclaimed Albania to be the first [atheistic state](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheistic-state) in the world as they beforehand confiscated [churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-church), [monasteries](https://bliptext.com/articles/monasteries) and mosques, and any religious expression instantly became grounds for imprisonment.\nProtests coinciding with the emerging [revolutions of 1989](https://bliptext.com/articles/revolutions-of-1989) began to break out in various cities throughout Albania including [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and [Tirana](https://bliptext.com/articles/tirana) which eventually lead to the [fall of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania).\nSignificant internal and external migration waves of Albanians to such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy followed.\n[Bunkerisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunkerisation) is arguably the most visible and memorable legacy of communism in Albania.\nNearly 175,000 reinforced concrete [bunkers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunker) were built on strategic locations across [Albania's territory](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) including near borders, within towns, on the seashores or mountains.\nThese bunkers were never used for their intended purpose or for sheltering the population from attacks or an invasion by a neighbor.\nHowever, they were abandoned after the breakup of communism and have been sometimes reused for a variety of purposes.\n# [Albanian partisans, with their leader Enver Hoxha in the center, after the liberation of Tirana on 17 November 1944 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Partisans///in///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Independence of Kosovo\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) declared [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo) from Serbia on 17 February 2008, after years of strained relations between the Serb and predominantly [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) population of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo).\nIt has been officially recognised by Australia, Canada, the United States and major [European Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-union) countries, while Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence, claiming it as [Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija](https://bliptext.com/articles/autonomous-province-of-kosovo-and-metohija) under [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1244).\nThe overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population is ethnically Albanian with nearly 1.7 million people.\nTheir presence as well as in the adjacent regions of [Toplica](https://bliptext.com/articles/toplica-district) and [Morava](https://bliptext.com/articles/moravac) is recorded since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nAs the Serbs expelled many Albanians from the wider Toplica and Morava regions in Southern Serbia, which the 1878 [Congress of Berlin](https://bliptext.com/articles/congress-of-berlin) had given to the [Principality of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-serbia), many of them settled in Kosovo.\nAfter being an integral section of the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-yugoslavia), Kosovo including its Albanian population went through a period of discrimination, economic and political persecution.\nRights to use the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) were guaranteed by the constitution of the later formed [Socialist Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia) and was widely used in Macedonia and Montenegro prior to the [dissolution of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-yugoslavia).\nIn 1989, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity of Yugoslavia with rights similar to those of the six other republics and eventually became part of [Serbia and Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia-and-montenegro).\nIn 1998, tensions between the [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) and [Serb](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbs-in-kosovo) population of Kosovo culminated in the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war), which led to the external and internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo)s.\nSerbian paramilitary forces committed war crimes in Kosovo, although the [government of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/government-of-serbia) claims that the army was only going after suspected Albanian terrorists.\n[NATO](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato) launched a [78-day air campaign](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia) in 1999, which eventually led to an end to the war.\n# [The Newborn monument in Pristina was unveiled at the celebration of the Independence of Kosovo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Geb%C3%A4ude///der///UNMIK///NEW///BORN///SIGN///PRISTINA///KOSOVO///Giv///Owned///Image///23///August///2008.jpg]\n\n# Distribution\n\n## Balkans\nApproximately five million [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns are geographically distributed across the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) with about half this number living in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia) and [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) as well as to a more lesser extent in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are also significant Albanian populations in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece).\nApproximately 1.8 million Albanians are concentrated in the partially recognised [Republic of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-kosovo).\nThey are geographically distributed south of the [municipality](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-kosovo) of [North Mitrovica](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-mitrovica) and constitute the overall majority ethnic group of the territory.\nIn [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 30,000 forming one of the constituent ethnic [minority groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-group) of the country.\nThey predominantly live in the [coastal region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) of Montenegro around the municipalities of [Ulcinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulcinj-municipality) and [Bar](https://bliptext.com/articles/bar-municipality) but also Tuz and around [Plav](https://bliptext.com/articles/plav-municipality) in the [northern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) as well as in the capital city of [Podgorica](https://bliptext.com/articles/podgorica) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro).\nIn [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia), there are more than approximately 500,000 Albanians constituting the largest ethnic minority group in the country.\nThe vast majority of the Albanians are chiefly concentrated around the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-the-republic-of-macedonia) of [Tetovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/tetovo-municipality) and [Gostivar](https://bliptext.com/articles/gostivar-municipality) in the [northwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/polog-statistical-region), [Struga](https://bliptext.com/articles/struga-municipality) and [Debar](https://bliptext.com/articles/debar-municipality) in the [southwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/southwestern-statistical-region) as well as around the capital of [Skopje](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje-statistical-region).\nIn [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), the number of Albanians stands at approximately 17.500 mostly concentrated in the [counties](https://bliptext.com/articles/counties-of-croatia) of [Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/istria-county), [Split-Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/split-dalmatia-county) and most notably in the capital city of [Zagreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagreb).\nThe [Arbanasi people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people) who historically migrated to [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) live in scattered communities across [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and Southern [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine).\nIn [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), the Albanians are an officially recognised ethnic minority group with a population of around 70,000.\nThey are significantly concentrated in the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-and-cities-of-serbia) of [Bujanovac](https://bliptext.com/articles/bujanovac) and [Preševo](https://bliptext.com/articles/pre-evo) in the [Pčinja District](https://bliptext.com/articles/p-inja-district).\nIn [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania), the number of Albanians is unofficially estimated from 500 to 10,000 mainly distributed in [Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucharest).\nThey are recognised as an ethnic minority group and are respectively represented in [Parliament of Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/parliament-of-romania).\n# [American ethnographic map of the Balkan Peninsula, 1914; Albanian-inhabited areas are colored in light orange. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Balkan%2BMikrasia///1914.jpg]\n# [The historical settlement of the Arbanasi people is presently a neighborhood of Zadar in Croatia. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Aerial///view///of///the///historical///center///of///Zadar%2C///Croatia///%2848607312728%29.jpg]\n\n## Italy\nThe [Italian Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-peninsula) across the [Adriatic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/adriatic-sea) has attracted Albanian people for more than half a millennium often due to its immediate proximity.\nAlbanians in Italy later became important in establishing the fundamentals of the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) and maintaining the [Albanian culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture).\nThe [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) came sporadically in several small and large cycles initially as [Stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti) mercenaries in service of the kingdoms of [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern) and the [Republic of Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice).\nLarger migration waves occurred after the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/skanderbeg) and the capture of [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-kruj-1478) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) by the [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) to escape the forthcoming political and religious changes.\nToday, Arbëreshë constitute one of the largest [ethnolinguistic](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnolinguistic-group) minority groups and their language is recognized and protected constitutionally under the provisions of the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages).\nThe total number of [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) is approximately 260,000 scattered across [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily), Calabria and [Apulia](https://bliptext.com/articles/apulia).\nThere are Italian Albanians in the Americas especially in such countries as [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina), Chile, [Uruguay](https://bliptext.com/articles/uruguay), Canada and the United States.\nAfter 1991, a mass migration of Albanians towards Italy occurred.\nBetween 2015 and 2016, the number of Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence in Italy was numbered to be around 480,000 and 500,000.\n[Tuscany](https://bliptext.com/articles/tuscany), Lombardy and [Emilia-Romagna](https://bliptext.com/articles/emilia-romagna) represent the [regions](https://bliptext.com/articles/regions-of-italy) with the strongest presence of the modern Albanian population in Italy.\nAs of 2022, 433,000 Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence lived in Italy and were the second largest migrant community in Italy after Romanians.\nAs of 2018, an additional ca. 200,000 Albanian migrants have obtained Italian citizenship (children born in Italy not included).\nAs of 2012, 41.5% of the Albanian in Italy population were counted as [Muslim](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim), 38.9% as [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) including 27.7% as [Roman Catholic](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic) and 11% as [Eastern Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox) and 17.8% as [Irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion).\n# [Giovanni Francesco Albani was of Albanian origin and served as the Pope from 1700 to 1721. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CLEMENS///XI.PNG]\n# [Arbëreshë in traditional costume in the Piana degli Albanesi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Pasqua///Piana///degli///Albanesi.jpg]\n\n## Greece\nThe [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) and [Albanians of Western Thrace](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-western-thrace) are a group descended from [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosks) who migrated to southern and central Greece between the 13th and 16th centuries.\nThey are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of [Tosk Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) known as [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika), they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify as Albanians.\n.\n\"First, we can explain the astonishing persistence of Albanian village culture from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries through the ethnic and religious tolerance characteristic of Islamic empires and so lacking in their Christian equivalents. Ottoman control rested upon allowing local communities to keep their religion, language, local laws, and representatives, provided that taxes were paid (the millet system). There was no pressure for Greeks and Albanians to conform to each other's language or other behavior. Clear signs of change are revealed in the travel diaries of the German scholar Ludwig Ross (1851), when he accompanied the Bavarian Otto, whom the Allies had foisted as king upon the newly freed Greek nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence in the 1830s. Ross praises the well-built Greek villages of central Greece with their healthy, happy, dancing inhabitants, and contrasts them specifically with the hovels and sickly inhabitants of Albanian villages.\nIn fact, recent scholarship has underlined how far it was the West that built modem Greece in its own fanciful image as the land of a long-oppressed people who were the direct descendants of Pericles.\nThus from the late nineteenth century onward the children of the inhabitants of the new \"nation-state\" were taught in Greek, history confined itself to the episodes of pure Greekness, and the tolerant Ottoman attitude to cultural diversity yielded to a deliberate policy of total Hellenization of the populace—effective enough to fool the casual observer.\nOne is rather amazed at the persistence today of such dual-speaking populations in much of the Albanian colonization zone.\nHowever, apart from the provinciality of this essentially agricultural province, a high rate of illiteracy until well into this century has also helped to preserve Arvanitika in the Boeotian villagers (Meijs 1993).\"; p. 140. \"In contrast therefore to the more openly problematic issue of Slav speakers in northern Greece, Arvanitic speakers in central Greece lack any signs of an assertive ethnicity.\nI would like to suggest that they possess what we might term a passive ethnicity.\nAs a result of a number of historical factors, much of the rural population in central Greece was Albanian-speaking by the time of the creation of the modern Greek state in the 1830s.\nUntil this century, most of these people were illiterate and unschooled, yet there existed sufficient knowledge of Greek to communicate with officials and townspeople, itinerant traders, and so on, to limit the need to transform rural language usage.\nLife was extremely provincial, with just one major carriage-road passing through the center of the large province of Boeotia even in the 1930s (beyond which horseback and cart took over; van Effenterre 1989).\nEven in the 1960s, Arvanitic village children could be figures of fun for their Greek peers in the schools of Thebes (One of the two regional towns) (K. Sarri, personal communication, 2000).\nIt was not a matter of cultural resistance but simple conservatism and provinciality, the extreme narrowness of rural life, that allowed Arvanitic language and local historic memories to survive so effectively to the very recent period.\" . \"For the time being, the Greeks of free Greece could indulge in defining their brethren of unredeemed Greece, primarily the Slav Macedonians and secondarily the Orthodox Albanians and the Vlachs.\nPrimary school students were taught, in the 1880s, that 'Greeks [are] our kinsmen, of common descent, speaking the language we speak and professing the religion we profess'.\" But this definition, it seems, was reserved for small children who could not possibly understand the intricate arguments of their parents on the question of Greek identity. What was essential to understand at that tender age was that modern Greeks descended from the ancient Greeks. Grown up children, however, must have been no less confused than adults on the criteria for defining modern Greek identity. Did the Greeks constitute a 'race' apart from the Albanians, the Slavs and the Vlachs? Yes and no. High school students were told that the 'other races', i.e. the Slavs, the Albanians and the Vlachs, 'having been Hellenized with the years in terms of mores and customs, are now being assimilated into the Greeks'. On the Slavs of Macedonia there seems to have been no consensus.\nWere they Bulgars, Slavicized Greeks or early Slavs?\nThey 'were' Bulgars until the 1870s and Slavicized Greeks, or Hellenized Slavs subsequently, according to the needs of the dominant theory.\nThere was no consensus, either, on the Vlachs.\nWere they Latinized Greek mountaineers of late immigrants from Vlachia?\nAs in the case of the Slavs of Macedonia, Vlach descent shifted from the southern Balkans to the Danube, until the Romanians claimed the Vlachs for their brethren; which made the latter irrevocably indigenous to the southern Balkan mountains.\nThe Albanians or 'Arvanites', were readily 'adopted' as brethren of common descent for at least three reasons.\nFirstly, the Albanians had been living in southern Greece, as far south as the Peloponnese, in considerable numbers.\nSecondly, Christian Albanians had fought with distinction and in considerable numbers in the War of Independence.\nThirdly, credible Albanian claims for the establishment of an Albanian nation state materialized too Late for Greek national theorists to abandon well-entrenched positions.\nCommenting on a geography textbook for primary schools in 1901, a state committee found it inadequate and misleading.\nOne of its principal shortcomings concerned the Albanians, who were described as 'close kinsmen of the Greeks'.\n'These are unacceptable from the point of view of our national claims and as far as historical truth is concerned', commented the committee.\n'it must have been maintained that they are of common descent with the Greeks (Pelasgians), that they speak a language akin to that of the Greeks and that they participated in all struggles for national liberation of the common fatherland.'\" Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.\nThe [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) were a group that formerly inhabited a region of [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) known as [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria), nowadays [Thesprotia](https://bliptext.com/articles/thesprotia) in northwestern Greece.\nMany Cham Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman era.\nMuslim Chams were [expelled](https://bliptext.com/articles/expulsion-of-cham-albanians) from Greece during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), by an [anti-communist resistance group](https://bliptext.com/articles/edes) (EDES).\nThe causes of the expulsion were multifaceted and remain a matter of debate among historians.\nDifferent narratives in historiography argue that the causes involved pre-existing Greek policies which targeted the minority and sought its elimination, the Cham [collaboration](https://bliptext.com/articles/axis-cham-albanian-collaboration) with the Axis forces and local property disputes which were instrumentalized after WWII.\nThe estimated number of Cham Albanians expelled from Epirus to Albania and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) varies: figures include 14,000, 19,000, 20,000, 25,000 and 30,000.\nAccording to Cham reports this number should be raised to c. 35,000.\nLarge-scale migration from Albania to Greece occurred after 1991.\nDuring this period, at least 500,000 Albanians have migrated and relocated to Greece.\nDespite the lack of exact statistics, it is estimated that at least 700,000 Albanians have moved to Greece during the last 25 years.\nThe Albanian government estimates 500,000 Albanians in Greece at the very least without accounting for their children.\nThe 2011 Greece census indicated that Albanians consisted the biggest group of migrants in Greece, numbered roughly 480,000, but taking into consideration the current population of Greece (11 million) and the fact that the census failed to account for illegal foreigners, it was estimated that Albanians consist of 5% of the population (at least 550,000).\nBy 2005, around 600,000 Albanians lived in Greece, forming the largest immigrant community in the country.\nThey are economic migrants whose migration began in 1991, following the collapse of the [Socialist People's Republic of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-people-s-republic-of-albania).\n, in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years.\nIn recent years, many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece in search of better opportunities elsewhere in Europe.\nAs of 2022, there c. 292,000 Albanian immigrants are holders of legal permits to live and work in Greece, down from c. 423,000 in 2021.\nAlbanians in Greece have a long history of [Hellenisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/hellenisation), assimilation and integration.\nMany ethnic Albanians have been naturalised as Greek nationals, others have self-declared as Greek since arrival and a considerable number live and work across both countries seasonally hence the number of Albanians in the country has often fluctuated.\n# [Painting of Albanian palikars displayed in the British Museum, London | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Albanian///Palikars///in///pursuit///of///an///enemy///--///Charles///Robert///Cockerell%2C///1813-1814///--///British///Museum%2C///inv.///1923%2C0113.30.jpg]\n# [Cham Albanians in Filiates in 1915, by Fred Boissonas | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Chams///on///Filiates///1915.jpg]\n\n# Diaspora\nDiaspora based Albanians may self identify as Albanian, use hybrid identification or identify with their nationality, often creating an obstacle in establishing a total figure of the population.\n\n## Europe\nDuring the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, the [conflicts in the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslav-wars) and the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) set in motion large population movements of Albanians to [Central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-europe), [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe) and Northern Europe.\nThe gradual [collapse of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania) in Albania triggered as well a new wave of migration and contributed to the emergence of a new diaspora, mainly in Southern Europe, in such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy.\nIn Central Europe, there are approximately 200,000 Albanians in [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) with the particular concentration in the [cantons](https://bliptext.com/articles/cantons-of-switzerland) of [Zürich](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-z-rich), [Basel](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-basel-stadt), [Lucerne](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-lucerne), [Bern](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-bern) and [St. Gallen](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-st-gallen).\nThe neighbouring Germany is home to around 250,000 to 300,000 Albanians while in [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) there are around 40,000 to 80,000 Albanians concentrated in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-austria) of [Vienna](https://bliptext.com/articles/vienna), [Styria](https://bliptext.com/articles/styria), [Salzburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-of-salzburg), [Lower](https://bliptext.com/articles/lower-austria) and Upper [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria).\nIn [Western Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe), the Albanian population of approximately 10,000 people living in the [Benelux countries](https://bliptext.com/articles/benelux-countries) is in comparison to other regions relatively limited.\nThere are more than 6,000 Albanian people living in [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) and 2,800 in the nearby [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands).\nThe most lesser number of Albanian people in the Benelux region is to be found in [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) with a population of 2,100.\nWithin Northern Europe, Sweden possesses the most sizeable population of Albanians in [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) however there is no exact answer to their number in the country.\nThe populations also tend to be lower in [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway), [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) and [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) with more than 18,000, 10,000 and 8,000 Albanians respectively.\nThe population of Albanians in the [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-the-united-kingdom) is officially estimated to be around 39,000 whiles in Ireland there are less than 2,500 Albanians.\n# [Albanians in Vienna celebrating the declaration of independence of Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kosova///independence///Vienna///17-02-2008///b.jpg]\n\n## Asia and Africa\nThe Albanian diaspora in Africa and Asia, in such countries as [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt), [Syria](https://bliptext.com/articles/syria) or [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), was predominantly formed during the Ottoman period through economic [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) and early years of the Republic of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) through [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) due to sociopolitical discrimination and violence experienced by Albanians in [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans).\nIn [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), the exact numbers of the Albanian population of the country are difficult to correctly estimate.\nAccording to a 2008 report, there were approximately 1.300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.\nAs of that report, more than 500,000 Albanian descendants still recognise their [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry) and or their language, culture and traditions.\nThere are also other estimates that range from being 3 to 4 million people up to a total of 5 million in number, although most of these are Turkish citizens of either full or partial Albanian ancestry being no longer fluent in Albanian, comparable to the [German Americans](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-americans).\nThis was due to various degrees of either linguistic and or [cultural assimilation](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) occurring amongst the Albanian diaspora in Turkey.\nAlbanians are active in the civic life of Turkey.\nIn [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk) speakers.\nMany are descendants of the [Janissaries](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissaries) of [Muhammad Ali Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt), an Albanian who became [Wāli](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-li), and self-declared [Khedive](https://bliptext.com/articles/khedive) of Egypt and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/sudan).\nIn addition to the [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that he established, a large part of the former Egyptian and Sudanese [aristocracy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristocracy) was of Albanian origin.\nAlbanian Sunnis, Bektashis and Orthodox Christians were all represented in this diaspora, whose members at some point included major [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) figures (Rilindasit), including Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, Andon Zako Çajupi, Milo Duçi, Fan Noli and others who lived in Egypt for a time.\nWith the ascension of [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://bliptext.com/articles/gamal-abdel-nasser) in Egypt and rise of [Arab nationalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-nationalism), the last remnants of Albanian community there were forced to leave.\nAlbanians have been present in [Arab](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-world) countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and for about five centuries as a legacy of [Ottoman Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-turk) rule.\n# [Painting of an Arnaut by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1870s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Jean-Leon///Gerome///-///An///Arnaut///N08542-8-lr-1.jpg]\n# [The Albanian Sentinel in Cairo by Charles Bargue, 1877 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Charles///Bargue///%E2%80%93///La///sentinelle///albanaise///en///Caire%2C///1877.jpg]\n\n## Americas and Oceania\nThe first Albanian migration to North America began in the 19th and 20th centuries not long after gaining [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania) from the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nHowever the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) from [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) were the first Albanian people to arrive in the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world), many of them migrating after the wars that accompanied the [Risorgimento](https://bliptext.com/articles/risorgimento).\nSince then several Albanian migration waves have occurred throughout the 20th century as for instance after the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) with Albanians mostly from [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) rather than from [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania), then after the Breakup of [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania) in 1990 and finally following the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) in 1998.\nThe most sizeable Albanian population in the Americas is predominantly to be found in the United States.\n[New York metropolitan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-metropolitan-area) in the [State of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) is home to the most sizeable Albanian population of the United States.\nAs of 2017, there are approximately 205,000 Albanians in the country with the main concentration in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-the-united-states) of New York, [Michigan](https://bliptext.com/articles/michigan), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts) and [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois).\nThe number could be higher counting the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) as well; they are often distinguishable from other Albanian Americans with regard to their [Italianized](https://bliptext.com/articles/italianization) names, nationality and a common [religion](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism).\nIn Canada, there are approximately 39,000 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns in the country, including 36,185 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and 2,870 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), predominantly distributed in a multitude of [provinces](https://bliptext.com/articles/provinces-and-territories-of-canada) such as [Ontario](https://bliptext.com/articles/ontario), Quebec, [Alberta](https://bliptext.com/articles/alberta) and [British Columbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-columbia).\nCanada's largest cities such as [Toronto](https://bliptext.com/articles/toronto), Montreal and [Edmonton](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmonton) were besides the United States a major centre of Albanian migration to North America.\nToronto is home to around 17,000 Albanians.\nAlbanian immigration to Australia began in the late 19th century and most took place during the 20th century.\nPeople who planned to immigrate chose Australia after the US introduced immigration quotas on southern Europeans.\nMost were from southern Albania, of Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds and tended to live in [Victoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/victoria-australia) and [Queensland](https://bliptext.com/articles/queensland-australia), with smaller numbers in [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-australia) and Northern Australia.\nItaly's [annexation](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-invasion-of-albania) of Albania marked a difficult time for Albanian Australians as many were thought by Australian authorities to pose a fascist threat.\nPost-war, the numbers of Albanian immigrants slowed due to immigration restrictions placed by the [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism-in-albania) in Albania.\nAlbanians from southwestern Yugoslavia (modern North Macedonia) arrived and settled in Melbourne in the 1960s-1970s.\nOther Albanian immigrants from Yugoslavia came from [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThe immigrants were mostly Muslims, but also Catholics among them including the relatives of the renowned Albanian nun and missionary [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa).\nAlbanian refugees from Kosovo settled in Australia following the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.\nIn the early twenty first century, Victoria has the highest concentration of Albanians and smaller Albanian communities exist in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.\nIn 2016, approximately 4,041 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), while 15,901 persons identified themselves as having [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.\nAlbanian migration to New Zealand occurred mid twentieth century following the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war).\nA small group of Albanian refugees originating mainly from Albania and the rest from Yugoslavian Kosovo and Macedonia settled in Auckland.\nDuring the [Kosovo crisis](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-crisis) (1999), up to 400 Kosovo Albanian refugees settled in New Zealand.\nIn the twenty first century, Albanian New Zealanders number 400-500 people and are mainly concentrated in [Auckland](https://bliptext.com/articles/auckland).\n# [The Albanian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George Historic District in South Boston, Massachusetts | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cathedral///of///St.///George///Historic///District///South///Boston///MA.jpg]\n# [Orthodox Albanian wedding in Bagnoo, New South Wales (1944) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Orthodox///Albanian///wedding///in///Bagnoo%2C///New///South///Wales%2C///1944.jpg]\n\n# Culture\n\n## Traditions\n\n### Tribal social structure\nThe [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes) form a historical mode of social organization (**farefisní**) in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and the southwestern [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) characterized by a common [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultur), often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared [social ties](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-ties).\nThe **fis** (**fis**i; commonly translated as \"tribe\", also as \"clan\" or \"kin\" community) stands at the center of Albanian organization based on [kinship](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinship) relations, a concept which can be found among southern Albanians also with the term **farë** (fara).\nInherited from ancient [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) social structures, Albanian tribal society emerged in the early Middle Ages as the dominant form of social organization among Albanians.\nIt also remained in a less developed system in [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) where large feudal estates and later trade and urban centres began to develop at the expense of tribal organization.\nOne of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), a code of Albanian oral [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law).\nMost tribes engaged in warfare against external forces like the Ottoman Empire.\nSome also engaged in limited inter-tribal struggle for the control of resources.\nUntil the early years of the 20th century, the Albanian tribal society remained largely intact until the rise to power of [communist regime](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) in 1944, and is considered as the only example of a tribal social system structured with tribal chiefs and councils, [blood feuds](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjakmarrja) and [oral customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), surviving in [Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) until the middle of the 20th century.\nMembers of the tribes of northern Albania believe their history is based on the notions of resistance and isolationism.\nSome scholars connect this belief with the concept of \"negotiated peripherality\".\nThroughout history the territory northern Albanian tribes occupy has been contested and peripheral so northern Albanian tribes often exploited their position and negotiated their peripherality in profitable ways.\nThis peripheral position also affected their national program which significance and challenges are different from those in southern Albania.\n# [Map of the northern Albanian tribal regions in the mid-20th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Northern///Albanian///Tribal///Regions.png]\n# [Picture of members of the Albanian Shkreli tribe, 1890s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ad061.jpg]\n\n### Kanun\nThe [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania) is a set of Albanian traditional [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law), which has directed all the aspects of the [Albanian tribal society](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes).\nFor at least the last five centuries and until today, Albanian customary laws have been kept alive only orally by the tribal elders.\nThe success in preserving them exclusively through [oral systems](https://bliptext.com/articles/oral-tradition) highlights their universal resilience and provides evidence of their likely ancient origins.\nStrong pre-Christian motifs mixed with motifs from the Christian era reflect the stratification of the Albanian customary law across various historical ages.\nOver time, Albanian customary laws have undergone their historical development, they have been changed and supplemented with new [norms](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-norm), in accordance with certain requirements of socio-economic development.\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) and nderi ([honour](https://bliptext.com/articles/honour)) are of major importance in Albanian customary law as the cornerstone of personal and social conduct.\nThe Kanun is based on four pillars – Honour, Hospitality , Right Conduct and Kin Loyalty.\n# [The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a Medieval Albanian lord, transcribed by Shtjefën Gjeçovi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kanuni///i///Lek%C3%AB///Dukagjinit.jpg]\n\n### Besa\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) (pledge of honor) is an Albanian cultural [precept](https://bliptext.com/articles/precept), usually translated as \"[faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith)\" or \"[oath](https://bliptext.com/articles/oath)\", that means \"to keep the promise\" and \"word of honor\".\nThe concept is based upon faithfulness toward one's word in the form of loyalty or as an allegiance guarantee.\nBesa contains mores toward obligations to the family and a friend, the demand to have internal commitment, loyalty and solidarity when conducting oneself with others and secrecy in relation to outsiders.\nThe besa is also the main element within the concept of the ancestor's will or pledge (amanet) where a demand for faithfulness to a cause is expected in situations that relate to unity, national liberation and independence that transcend a person and generations.\nThe concept of besa is included in the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), the [customary law](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law) of the Albanian people.\nThe besa was an important institution within the tribal society of the [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes), who swore oaths to jointly fight against invaders, and in this aspect the besa served to uphold tribal autonomy.\nThe besa was used toward regulating tribal affairs between and within the Albanian tribes.\n\n## Cuisine\nThe traditional [cuisine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-cuisine) of the Albanians is diverse and has been greatly influenced by traditions and their varied [environment](https://bliptext.com/articles/biophysical-environment) in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and turbulent history throughout the course of the centuries.\nThere is a considerable diversity between the [Mediterranean](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-cuisine) and [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of Albanians in the Western [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine) nations and the [Italian](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-cuisine) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of the [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and [Chams](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians).\nThe enjoyment of food has a high priority in the lives of Albanian peoples especially when celebrating [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival) such as [Ramadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/ramadan), [Eid](https://bliptext.com/articles/eid-al-fitr), Christmas, Easter, [Hanukkah](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanukkah) or [Novruz](https://bliptext.com/articles/novruz)\nIngredients include many varieties of fruits such as [lemons](https://bliptext.com/articles/lemon-fruit), oranges, [figs](https://bliptext.com/articles/figs-fruit) and [olives](https://bliptext.com/articles/olive-fruit), herbs such as [basil](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-herb), [lavender](https://bliptext.com/articles/lavender), [mint](https://bliptext.com/articles/spearmint), [oregano](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregano), [rosemary](https://bliptext.com/articles/rosemary) and [thyme](https://bliptext.com/articles/thyme) and vegetables such as garlic, onion, [peppers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bell-pepper), potatoes and tomatoes.\nAlbanian peoples who live closer to the [Mediterranean Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-sea), [Prespa Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/prespa-lake) and [Ohrid Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/ohrid-lake) are able to complement their diet with fish, [shellfish](https://bliptext.com/articles/shellfish) and other seafood.\nOtherwise, [lamb](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamb-food) is often considered the traditional meat for different [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival).\nPoultry, beef and pork are also in plentiful supply.\n[Tavë Kosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/tav-kosi) is a national dish in Albania consisting of garlic lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of [yogurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/yogurt).\n[Fërgesë](https://bliptext.com/articles/f-rges) is another national dish and is made with peppers, tomatoes and [cottage cheese](https://bliptext.com/articles/cottage-cheese).\nPite is a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of [spinach](https://bliptext.com/articles/spinach) and [gjizë](https://bliptext.com/articles/curd) or [mish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ground-meat).\nDesserts include [Flia](https://bliptext.com/articles/flia), consisting of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with crea; petulla, a traditionally fried dough, and Krofne, similar to [Berliner](https://bliptext.com/articles/berliner-doughnut).\n# [Bukë, kripë e zemër is a traditional welcoming custom traced back to medieval Albanian law. The Albanian code of honour, called Besa, resulted to look after guests as an act of hospitality. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Buk%C3%AB///kollomoqe%2C///buk%C3%AB///misri.JPG]\n\n## Visual arts\n\n### Painting\nThe earliest preserved relics of visual arts of the Albanian people are [sacred](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacred-art) in nature and represented by numerous [frescoes](https://bliptext.com/articles/fresco), [murals](https://bliptext.com/articles/mural) and [icons](https://bliptext.com/articles/icon) which has been created with an admirable use of color and gold.\nThey reveal a wealth of various influences and traditions that converged in the historical lands of the Albanian people throughout the course of the centuries.\nThe rise of the [Byzantines](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) and [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) during the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) was accompanied by a corresponding growth in [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-art) and [Islamic art](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamic-art) often apparent in examples of architecture and mosaics throughout Albania.\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and arts whereas artists sought to return to the ideals of [Impressionism](https://bliptext.com/articles/impressionism) and [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism-art).\n[Onufri](https://bliptext.com/articles/onufri), founder of the Berat School, [Kolë Idromeno](https://bliptext.com/articles/kol-idromeno), [David Selenica](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-selenica), [Kostandin Shpataraku](https://bliptext.com/articles/kostandin-shpataraku) and the [Zografi Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/zografi-brothers) are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.\nAlbanians in Italy and Croatia have been also active among others the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) influenced artists such as [Marco Basaiti](https://bliptext.com/articles/marco-basaiti), [Viktor Karpaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/vittore-carpaccio) and [Andrea Nikollë Aleksi](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-nikoll-aleksi).\nIn Greece, [Eleni Boukouras](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-boukouras) is noted as being the first great female painter of post [independence Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-war-of-independence).\nIn 1856, [Pjetër Marubi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-marubi) arrived in [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and established the first photography museum in Albania and probably the entire [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), the [Marubi Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-photography-marubi).\nThe collection of 150,000 photographs, captured by the Albanian-Italian Marubi dynasty, offers an ensemble of photographs depicting social rituals, traditional costumes, portraits of Albanian history.\nThe Kulla, a traditional [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n [dwelling](https://bliptext.com/articles/tower-house) constructed completely from natural materials, is a cultural relic from the medieval period particularly widespread in the southwestern region of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and northern region of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nThe rectangular shape of a Kulla is produced with irregular [stone](https://bliptext.com/articles/stone) ashlars, river pebbles and [chestnut](https://bliptext.com/articles/chestnut) woods, however, the size and number of floors depends on the size of the family and their financial resources.\n# [Kolë Idromeno is considered the most renowned painter of the Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Kol%C3%AB///Idromeno///%28i///ri%29.jpg]\n# [Medieval icon by Kostandin and Athanas Zografi in the Monastery of Ardenica. It illustrates the seven saints Clement, Naum, Sava, Angelar, Gorazd, Cyril, Method and the Albanian Jan Kukuzeli. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Sv///Sedmo%C4%8Dislenici///with///Jovan///Kukuzel///in///Ardenica.jpg]\n\n### Literature\nThe roots of [literature of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) with surviving works about history, theology and philosophy dating from the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance).\nThe earliest known use of written Albanian is a [baptismal formula](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-e-pag-zimit) (1462) written by the Archbishop of Durrës [Paulus Angelus](https://bliptext.com/articles/paulus-angelus).\nIn 1555, a Catholic clergyman [Gjon Buzuku](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-buzuku) from the Shestan region published the earliest known book written in Albanian titled [Meshari](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshari) (The Missal) regarding Catholic prayers and rites containing archaic medieval language, lexemes and expressions obsolete in contemporary Albanian.\nOther Christian clergy such as [Luca Matranga](https://bliptext.com/articles/luca-matranga) in the Arbëresh diaspora published (1592) in the Tosk dialect while other notable authors were from northern Albanian lands and included [Pjetër Budi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-budi), [Frang Bardhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/frang-bardhi), and [Pjetër Bogdani](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-bogdani).\nIn the 17th century and onwards, important contributions were made by the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) of [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) who played an influential role in encouraging the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nNotable among them was figures such as [Demetrio Camarda](https://bliptext.com/articles/demetrio-camarda), [Gabriele Dara](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabriele-dara), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Giulio Variboba](https://bliptext.com/articles/giulio-variboba) and [Giuseppe Serembe](https://bliptext.com/articles/giuseppe-serembe) who produced inspiring nationalist literature and worked to systematise the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Bejtexhinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/bejtexhinj) in the 18th century emerged as the result of the influences of [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and particularly [Sufism](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order) orders moving towards [Orientalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/orientalism).\nIndividuals such as [Nezim Frakulla](https://bliptext.com/articles/nezim-frakulla), [Hasan Zyko Kamberi](https://bliptext.com/articles/hasan-zyko-kamberi), [Shahin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shahin-frash-ri) and [Dalip Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalip-frash-ri) compiled literature infused with expressions, language and themes on the circumstances of the time, the insecurities of the future and their discontent at the conditions of the feudal system.\nThe Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century is important both for its valuable poetic achievement and for its variety within the Albanian literature.\nIt drew on the ideas of [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the interaction between nature and mankind.\n[Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Naim Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri), [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri) and [Pashko Vasa](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashko-vasa) maintained this movement and are remembered today for composing series of prominent works.\nThe 20th century was centred on the principles of [Modernism](https://bliptext.com/articles/modernism) and [Realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/realist-literature) and characterised by the development to a more distinctive and expressive form of Albanian literature.\nPioneers of the time include [Asdreni](https://bliptext.com/articles/asdreni), [Faik Konica](https://bliptext.com/articles/faik-konica), [Fan Noli](https://bliptext.com/articles/fan-noli), [Lasgush Poradeci](https://bliptext.com/articles/lasgush-poradeci), [Migjeni](https://bliptext.com/articles/migjeni) who chose to portray themes of contemporary life and most notably [Gjergj Fishta](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-fishta) who created the epic masterpiece Lahuta e Malcís.\nAfter World War II, Albania emerged as a communist state and Socialist realism became part of the literary scene.\nAuthors and poets emerged such as [Sejfulla Malëshova](https://bliptext.com/articles/sejfulla-mal-shova), [Dritero Agolli](https://bliptext.com/articles/dritero-agolli) and [Ismail Kadare](https://bliptext.com/articles/ismail-kadare) who has become an internationally acclaimed novelist and others who challenged the regime through various sociopolitical and historic themes in their works.\n[Martin Camaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-camaj) wrote in the diaspora while in neighbouring Yugoslavia, the emergence of Albanian cultural expression resulted in sociopolitical and poetic literature by notable authors like [Adem Demaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/adem-dema-i), [Rexhep Qosja](https://bliptext.com/articles/rexhep-qosja), [Jusuf Buxhovi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jusuf-buxhovi).\nThe literary scene of the 21st century remains vibrant producing new novelists, authors, poets and other writers.\n# [The Meshari is currently the earliest published book in the Albanian language written by Gjon Buzuku. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Meshari.jpg]\n# [The biography of Marin Barleti on Skanderbeg in Latin was translated into many different European languages. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Historia///de///vita///et///gestis///Scanderbegi%2C///Epirotarum///principis.jpg]\n\n## Performing arts\n\n### Apparel\nThe Albanian people have incorporated various natural materials from their local agriculture and livestock as a source of [attire](https://bliptext.com/articles/attire), clothing and fabrics.\nTheir [traditional apparel](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-national-clothing) was primarily influenced by [nature](https://bliptext.com/articles/nature), the [lifestyle](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology) and has continuously changed since ancient times.\nDifferent regions possesses their own exceptional clothing traditions and peculiarities varied occasionally in colour, material and shape.\nThe [traditional costume](https://bliptext.com/articles/traditional-costume) of Albanian men includes a white [skirt](https://bliptext.com/articles/skirt-garment) called [Fustanella](https://bliptext.com/articles/fustanella), a white shirt with wide [sleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/sleeve), and a thin black jacket or vest such as the [Xhamadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhamadan) or Xhurdia.\nIn winter, they add a warm [woolen](https://bliptext.com/articles/woolen) or [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur) coat known as Flokata or Dollama made from [sheepskin](https://bliptext.com/articles/sheepskin) or goat [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur).\nAnother authentic piece is called Tirq which is a tight pair of felt [trousers](https://bliptext.com/articles/trousers) mostly white, sometimes dark brown or black.\nThe Albanian women's costumes are much more elaborate, colorful and richer in ornamentation.\nIn all the Albanian regions the women's clothing often has been decorated with [filigree](https://bliptext.com/articles/filigree) [ironwork](https://bliptext.com/articles/ironwork), colorful embroidery, a lot of symbols and vivid accessories.\nA unique and ancient dress is called [Xhubleta](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhubleta), a bell shaped skirt reaching down to the calves and worn from the shoulders with two shoulder straps at the upper part.\nDifferent traditional handmade shoes and socks were worn by the Albanian people.\n[Opinga](https://bliptext.com/articles/opinga), leather shoes made from rough animal skin, were worn with [Çorape](https://bliptext.com/articles/orape), knitted woolen or cotton socks.\n[Headdresses](https://bliptext.com/articles/headdress) remain a contrasting and recognisable feature of Albanian traditional clothing.\nAlbanian men wore hats of various designs, shape and size.\nA common headgear is a [Plis](https://bliptext.com/articles/qeleshe) and Qylafë, in contrast, Albanian women wore a Kapica adorned with jewels or embroidery on the forehead, and a Lëvere or Kryqe which usually covers the head, shoulders and neck.\nWealthy Albanian women wore headdresses embellished with gems, gold or silver.\n# [Lord Byron dressed in the traditional Albanian costume traditionally consisting of the Fustanella and a Dollama decorated with filigree. Lord Byron in Albanian Dress by Thomas Phillips, 1813. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lord///Byron///in///Albanian///Dress///by///Phillips%2C///1813.jpg]\n\n### Music\nFor the Albanian people, [music](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-music) is a vital component to their [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture) and characterised by its own peculiar features and diverse melodic pattern reflecting the [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history), [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) and [way of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology).\nIt rather varies from region to another with two essential stylistic differences between the music of the [Ghegs](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nHence, their geographic position in Southeast Europe in combination with cultural, political and social issues is frequently expressed through music along with the accompanying [instruments](https://bliptext.com/articles/musical-instrument) and dances.\nAlbanian folk music is contrasted by the heroic tone of the Ghegs and the relaxed sounds of the Tosks.\nTraditional [iso-polyphony](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-iso-polyphony) perhaps represents the most noble and essential genre of the Tosks which was proclaimed a [Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-lists) by [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco).\nGhegs in contrast have a reputation for a distinctive variety of sung [epic poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-poetry) often about the tumultuous history of the Albanian people.\nThere are a number of internationally acclaimed singers of ethnic Albanian origin such as [Ava Max](https://bliptext.com/articles/ava-max), [Bebe Rexha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bebe-rexha), [Dua Lipa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dua-lipa), [Era Istrefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-istrefi), [Rita Ora](https://bliptext.com/articles/rita-ora), and rappers such as [Action Bronson](https://bliptext.com/articles/action-bronson), [Dardan](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardan-rapper), [Gashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gashi-rapper) and [Loredana Zefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/loredana-zefi).\nNotable singers of Albanian origin from the former [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) include [Selma Bajrami](https://bliptext.com/articles/selma-bajrami) and [Zana Nimani](https://bliptext.com/articles/zana-nimani).\nIn international competitions, [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) participated in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurovision-song-contest) for the first time in 2004.\nAlbanians have also represented other countries in the contest: [Anna Oxa](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-oxa) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 1989, [Adrian Gaxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/adrian-gaxha) for [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2008) in 2008, [Ermal Meta](https://bliptext.com/articles/ermal-meta) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 2018, [Eleni Foureira](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-foureira) for [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018) in 2018, as well as [Gjon Muharremaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-s-tears) for [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2021) in 2020 and 2021.\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) has never participated, but is currently applying to become a member of the [EBU](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-broadcasting-union) and therefore debut in the contest.\n# [Dua Lipa is the first Albanian to ever win a Grammy Award. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Dua///Lipa///with///Warner///Music///2.jpg]\n# [Southern Albanian polyphonic singers | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Fustanela///001.jpg]\n# [An Albanian bashi-bazouk singing and playing an oud. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1868. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Jean-L%C3%A9on///G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me///-///Bashi-Bazouk///Singing///-///Walters///37883.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nMany different [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) traditions, religious [faiths](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith) and [beliefs](https://bliptext.com/articles/belief) are practised by the Albanian people who historically have succeeded to coexist peacefully over the centuries in Southeast Europe.\nThey are traditionally both Christians and [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslims)—[Catholics](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism) and [Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/orthodoxy), [Sunnis](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunnism) and [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashism) and—but also to a lesser extent [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism), [Protestants](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestants) and [Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/judaism), constituting one of the most religiously diverse peoples of Europe.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century.\nThen, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054 after the schism, the north became identified with the [Roman Catholic Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic-church).\nSince that time all churches north of the Shkumbin river were Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Pope.\nVarious reasons have been put forward for the spread of Catholicism among northern Albanians.\nTraditional affiliation with the [Latin Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin-church) and Catholic missions in central Albania in the 12th century fortified the Catholic Church against Orthodoxy, while local leaders found an ally in Catholicism against Slavic Orthodox states.\nAfter the [Ottoman conquest of the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans), Christianity began to be overtaken by Islam, and Catholicism and Orthodoxy continued to be practiced with less frequency.\nDuring the [modern era](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-era), the monarchy and [communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) in Albania as well as the [socialism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialism) in Kosovo, historically part of [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), followed a systematic [secularisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/secularisation) of its people.\nThis policy was chiefly applied within the borders of both territories and produced a secular majority of its population.\nAll forms of Christianity, [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [pagan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pagan) practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture.\nThe current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the [Spring](https://bliptext.com/articles/spring-day) festival held yearly on 14 March in the city of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan).\nIt is a national holiday.\nThe communist regime which ruled Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions, and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [atheist state](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-atheism).\nReligious freedom returned to Albania following the regime's change in 1992.\nAlbanian Sunni Muslims are found throughout the country, [Albanian Orthodox Christians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-orthodox-church) as well as [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi) are concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics are found primarily in the north of the country.\nAccording to the 2011 Census, which has been recognised as unreliable by the [Council of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/council-of-europe), in Albania, 58.79% of the population adheres to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country.\nChristianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the second largest religion in the country.\nThe remaining population is either [irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligious) or belongs to other religious groups.\nBefore World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.\nToday, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.\nFor part of its history, [Albania has also had a Jewish community](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-jews-in-albania).\nMembers of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.\nMany left for Israel c. 1990–1992 when the borders were opened after the fall of the communist regime, but about 200 Jews still live in Albania.\n# [The Great Mosque of Tirana, Albania | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Great///Mosque///of///Tirana///%282020%29.jpg]\n# [The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Saint///Mother///Teresa///Cathedral///Prishtina8.jpg]\n# [Bektashi Tekke in Tetovo, North Macedonia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Arabati///Baba///Tekke.jpg]\n\n# Citations\n\n## Cited sources","wordIndex":125,"createdAt":"2025-03-25T18:40:23.776Z","user":{"id":"Em1dcdvj5Qux5MtUHVgPkybGQlaahaAr","name":"gicpr","image":"https://cdn.discordapp.com/avatars/188701483854725120/d87b9e85b92c2606f45890c019cdae99.png"}},{"id":"b835f6b5-1bbb-4eb5-9719-eb89f7456120","wordChanged":"Albanian","newWord":":::summary\n![Albanians](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Map///of///the///Albanian///Diaspora///in///the///World.svg)\n**Group:** Albanians \n**Native Name:** Shqiptarët \n**Native Name Lang:** sq \n**Pop:** c. 7 to 10 million \n**Popplace:** 🇦🇱 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) 2,182,917 (2023) · [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 1,797,856 (2021) \n**Tablehdr:** Other regions \n**Region 1:** 🇮🇹 [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy) \n**Pop 1:** 970,000 \n**Region 2:** 🇬🇷 [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) \n**Pop 2:** 500,000–600,000 \n**Region 3:** [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) \n**Pop 3:** 446,245 \n**Region 3 6:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 3 6:** 500,000–6,000,000 \n**Region 4:** 🇲🇪 [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) \n**Pop 4:** 30,439 \n**Region 5:** 🇷🇸 [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia) \n**Pop 5:** 61,687 \n**Region 6:** 🇭🇷 [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) \n**Pop 6:** 17,513 \n**Region 7:** 🇸🇮 [Slovenia](https://bliptext.com/articles/slovenia) \n**Pop 7:** 6,186 \n**Region 8:** 🇪🇸 [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) \n**Pop 8:** 3,998 \n**Region 9:** 🇵🇹 [Portugal](https://bliptext.com/articles/portugal) \n**Pop 9:** 99 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇸🇪 [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden) \n**Pop 1 0:** 54,000 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇳🇴 [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway) \n**Pop 1 1:** 19,891 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom) \n**Pop 1 2:** 13,000 \n**Region 1 4:** 🇫🇮 [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) \n**Pop 1 4:** 10,391 \n**Region 1 5:** 🇩🇰 [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) \n**Pop 1 5:** 8,223 \n**Region 1 6:** 🇮🇪 [Ireland](https://bliptext.com/articles/ireland) \n**Pop 1 6:** 953–2,133 \n**Region 1 7:** 🇷🇴 [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) \n**Pop 1 7:** 10,000 \n**Region 1 8:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 8:** 5,000 \n**Region 1 9:** 🇨🇿 [Czech Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/czech-republic) \n**Pop 1 9:** 1,512 \n**Region 2 0:** 🇱🇻 [Latvia](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvia) \n**Pop 2 0:** 17 - 31 \n**Region 2 1:** 🇩🇪 [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) \n**Pop 2 1:** 200,000–300,000 \n**Region 2 2:** 🇨🇭 [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) \n**Pop 2 2:** 200,000 \n**Region 2 3:** 🇦🇹 [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) \n**Pop 2 3:** 28,212 \n**Region 2 4:** 🇫🇷 [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) \n**Pop 2 4:** 27,200 (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** 🇳🇱 [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands) \n**Pop 2 5:** 12,969 \n**Region 2 6:** 🇧🇪 [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) \n**Pop 2 6:** 5,600–30,000 \n**Region 2 7:** 🇱🇺 [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) \n**Pop 2 7:** 2,155 \n**Region 2 8:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 2 8:** 194,028 \n**Region 2 9:** 🇦🇷 [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) \n**Pop 2 9:** 50,000 \n**Region 3 0:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 3 0:** 39,055 \n**Region 3 1:** 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://bliptext.com/articles/colombia) \n**Pop 3 1:** 348 \n**Region 3 2:** 🇨🇺 [Cuba](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuba) \n**Pop 3 2:** 101 \n**Region 3 3:** 🇵🇦 [Panama](https://bliptext.com/articles/panama) \n**Pop 3 3:** 9 \n**Region 3 4:** 🇦🇺 [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) \n**Pop 3 4:** 11,315 \n**Region 3 5:** 🇳🇿 [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand) \n**Pop 3 5:** 243 \n**Region 3 7:** 🇪🇬 [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) \n**Pop 3 7:** 18,000 \n**Region 3 8:** 🇶🇦 [Qatar](https://bliptext.com/articles/qatar) \n**Pop 3 8:** 1,200 \n**Region 3 9:** 🇨🇾 [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus) \n**Pop 3 9:** 275 \n**Region 4 0:** 🇿🇦 [South Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-africa) \n**Pop 4 0:** 268 \n**Region 4 1:** 🇦🇪 [United Arab Emirates](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-arab-emirates) \n**Pop 4 1:** 200–300 \n**Languages:** [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) \n**Rels:** Majority**: · Star and Crescent.svg [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) · [Sunni](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam)·[Bektashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order)·[Non-denominational](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominational-muslim) · Minority**: · Christian cross.svg [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity) · [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholic-church) (Latin Church·Eastern Rites Albanian Greek-Catholic Church·Italo-Albanian Church)·[Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) (Albanian Orthodox Church·Albanian American Orthodox Church)·[Protestantism](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestantism) (Albanian Protestant Church·Kosovan Protestant Church) · Other**: · [Irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Footnotes:** 502,546 Albanian citizens, an additional 43,751 [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians), 260,000 [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and 169,644 Albanians who have acquired the Italian citizenship · Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. Of those with full or partial Albanian ancestry and others who have adopted [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) language, culture and identity their number is estimated at 1,300,000–5,000,000 many whom do not speak Albanian. · The estimation contains [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians). \n:::\n\n# \nThe **Serbs** are an [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) who share a common Serbian [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry), [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture), [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history) and [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThey are the main ethnic group of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), and they also live in the neighboring countries of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro), [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-serbia), as well as in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy), [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-croatia), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-turkey).\nAlbanians also constitute a large [diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/diaspora) with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.\n[The language of the Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nAlbanians have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Paleo-Balkan group contributed to the [ethnogenesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first mention of the ethnonym [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi) occurred in the 2nd century AD by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) describing an [Illyrian tribe](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-tribe) who lived around present-day central Albania.\nThe first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from 11th century chronicler [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) who describes them as living in the [theme of Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme).\nThe [Shkumbin River](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin-river) roughly demarcates the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) between [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) dialects.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century AD. Then, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054, after the [Great Schism](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-west-schism), the north gradually became identified with [Roman Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism) and the south with [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy).\nIn 1190 Albanians established the [Principality of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon) in central Albania with the capital in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nThe [Albanian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) has its roots in migration from the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) initially across Southern Europe and eventually across wider Europe and the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world).\nBetween the 13th and 18th centuries, sizeable numbers migrated to escape various social, economic or political difficulties.\nAlbanian population groups settled in [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece) between the 13th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites).\nOther Albanian population groups settled across [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily) between the 11th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arbëreshë](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people).\nAlbanians have also migrated [to Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) since the late 16th century.\nIn the 18th century smaller Albanian population groups settled in [Southern Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia) (who came to be known as [Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people)), and pockets of [Southern Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-ukraine)..\n\"We can say that all in some way belong to a kind of ethnic category, and often more than one. As an example, I cite the case of Zadar Arbanasi. To understand the problem of the Albanians and their ethnolinguistic (ethnic and linguistic) identity, it is necessary to go into the history of their immigration that goes back to the beginning of the 18th century., etc more precisely: the period from the first migration of 1726, the period of the second migration of 1733, and until 1754, which is considered to be the final year of their immigration. All they moved from three villages from the area of Lake Scutari – Briska, Šestan and Livara. Fleeing from the Ottomans, plague and other troubles, the general provider Nicola Erizzo II allowed them to settle in the area of today's Arbanasa and Zemunik. One part of the population in Zemunik became assimilated with the local population, forgetting their language.\nThese are for example, today's Prenda, Šestani, Ćurkovići, Paleke etc. The second part of the population tried to maintain their ethnic and linguistic identity during these 280 years.\nOn 10 May 2006 marked the 280th anniversary of their arrival in the suburb of Zadar.\nIt was not easy, especially in the beginning, because they did not have their own church, school, etc., and is the only way to maintain their identity and language was verbally.\"\nBy the 15th century, the expanding [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh), a union of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) led by [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg).\nBy the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians [converted](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamisation-of-albania) to [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam), which offered them equal opportunities and advancement [within the Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire).\nThereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader [Muslim world](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim-world).\nInnumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than [40 Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers), and under the [Köprülü](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension.\nBetween the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century [Albanian Pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-pashaliks) were established by [Kara Mahmud](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-mahmud-pasha) [pasha of Scutari](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-scutari), [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) [pasha of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina), and [Ahmet Kurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/ahmet-kurt-pasha) [pasha of Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat), while the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) Muhammad [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors).\nDuring the 19th century, cultural developments, widely attributed to Albanians having gathered both spiritual and intellectual strength, conclusively led to the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nIn 1912 during the [Balkan Wars](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-wars), Albanians declared the [independence of their country](https://bliptext.com/articles/independent-albania).\nThe demarcation of the new Albanian state was established following the [Treaty of Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-bucharest-1913) and left about half of the ethnic Albanian population outside of its borders, [partitioned](https://bliptext.com/articles/partition-politics) between Greece, Montenegro and Serbia.\nAfter the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) up until the [Revolutions of 1991](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania), Albania was governed by a [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) under [Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) where Albania became largely isolated from the rest of Europe.\nIn neighbouring [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), Albanians underwent periods of discrimination and systematic oppression that concluded with the [War of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-of-kosovo) and eventually with [Kosovar independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThe Albanians and their country Albania have been identified by many [ethnonyms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym).\nThe most common native [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) is \"Shqiptar\", plural \"Shqiptarë\"; the name \"Albanians\" ([Byzantine Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-greek): Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; [Latin](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin): Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered [European Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-languages) from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English \"Albanians\"; Italian \"Albanesi\"; German \"Albaner\"; [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) \"Arvanites\", \"Alvanitis\" (Αλβανίτης) plural: \"Alvanites\" (Αλβανίτες), \"Alvanos\" (Αλβανός) plural: \"Alvanoi\" (Αλβανοί); [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkish-language) \"Arnaut\", \"Arnavut\"; [South Slavic languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavic-languages) \"Arbanasi\" (Арбанаси), \"Albanci\" (Албанци); [Aromanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanian-language) \"Arbinesh\" and so on.\nThe term \"Albanoi\" (Αλβανοί) is first encountered on the works of Ptolemy (2nd century CE) also is encountered twice in the works of Byzantine historian [Michael Attaliates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaliates), and the term \"Arvanitai\" (Αρβανίται) is used once by the same author.\nHe referred to the \"Albanoi\" as having taken part in a revolt against the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 1043, and to the \"Arbanitai\" as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium (modern [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s)).\nThese references have been disputed as to whether they refer to the people of Albania.\nHistorian E. Vranoussi believes that these \"Albanoi\" were Normans from Sicily.\nShe also notes that the same term (as \"Albani\") in medieval Latin meant \"foreigners\".\nThe reference to \"Arvanitai\" from Attaliates regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078 is undisputed.\nIn later Byzantine usage, the terms \"Arbanitai\" and \"Albanoi\" with a range of variants were used interchangeably, while sometimes the same groups were also called by the classicising name Illyrians.\nThe first reference to the Albanian language dates to the latter 13th century (around 1285).\nThe national ethnonym Albanian and its variants are derived from [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi), first mentioned as an [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) tribe in the 2nd century CE by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) with their centre at the city of [Albanopolis](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanopolis), located in modern-day central Albania, somewhere in the hinterland of [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s).\nLinguists believe that the alb part in the root word originates from an Indo-European term for a type of mountainous topography, from which other words such as [alps](https://bliptext.com/articles/alps) are derived.\nThrough the root word alban and its rhotacized equivalents arban, albar, and arbar, the term in Albanian became rendered as Arbëneshë/Arbëreshë for the people and Arbënia/Arbëria for the country.\nThe Albanian language was referred to as Arbnisht and Arbërisht.\nWhile the [exonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/exonym) Albania for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does have connotations to Classical Antiquity, the Albanian language employs a different ethnonym, with modern Albanians referring to themselves as Shqip(ë)tarë and to their country as Shqipëria.\nTwo etymologies have been proposed for this ethnonym: one, derived from the etymology from the Albanian word for eagle (shqipe, var., shqiponjë).\nIn Albanian [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology), this word denotes a bird [totem](https://bliptext.com/articles/totem), dating from the times of Skanderbeg as displayed on the [Albanian flag](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-flag).\nThe other is within scholarship that connects it to the verb 'to speak' (me shqiptue) from the Latin \"excipere\".\nIn this instance the Albanian endonym like [Slav](https://bliptext.com/articles/slav-ethnonym) [and others](https://bliptext.com/articles/endonym) would originally have been a term connoting \"those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]\".\nThe words Shqipëri and Shqiptar are attested from 14th century onward, but it was only at the end of 17th and beginning of the early 18th centuries that the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëreshë amongst [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) speakers.\nThat era brought about religious and other sociopolitical changes.\nAs such a new and generalised response by Albanians based on ethnic and linguistic consciousness to this new and different [Ottoman world](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) emerging around them was a change in ethnonym..\n\"The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptarë, their country Shqipëri, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could be a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains (ÇABEJ 1976). The name passed over the boundaries of the Illyrian tribe in central Albania, and was generalised for all the Albanians.\nThey called themselves arbënesh, arbëresh, the country Arbëni, Arbëri, and the language arbëneshe, arbëreshe.\nIn the foreign languages, the Middle Ages denominations of these names survived, but for the Albanians they were substituted by shqiptarë, Shqipëri and shqipe.\nThe primary root is the adverb shqip, meaning \"clearly, intelligibly\".\nThere is a very close semantic parallel to this in the German noun Deutsche, \"the Germans\" and \"the German language\" (Lloshi 1984) Shqip spread out from the north to the south, and Shqipni/Shqipëri is probably a collective noun, following the common pattern of Arbëni, Arbëri.\nThe change happened after the Ottoman conquest because of the conflict in the whole line of the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural spheres with a totally alien world of the Oriental type.\nA new and more generalised ethnic and linguistic consciousness of all these people responded to this.\"\n\n## Historical records\nLittle is known about the Albanian people prior to the 11th century, though a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the [Bulgarian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarian-language) contains a possible reference to them.\nIt is preserved in a [manuscript](https://bliptext.com/articles/manuscript) written in the [Serbo-Croatian Language](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian-language) traced back to the 17th century but published in the 20th century by Radoslav Grujic.\nIt is a fragment of a once longer text that endeavours to explain the origins of peoples and languages in a question-and-answer form similar to a [catechism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catechism).\nThe fragmented manuscript differentiated the world into 72 languages and three religious categories including Christians, half-believers and non-believers.\nGrujic dated it to the early 11th century and, if this and the identification of the Arbanasi as Albanians are correct, it would be the earliest written document referring to the Balkan Albanians as a people or language group.\n\"It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian (Georgian). There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), Arbanasi (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi and Germans.\"\n[Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080) mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nAs such, it is considered to be the first attestation of Albanians as an ethnic group in Byzantine historiography.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Vranoussi-Ducellier debate\", Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vranoussi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThis debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\n\n# Language\nAlbanians speak the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language), which is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nIt had its formative core in the Western Balkans after the [Indo-European migrations](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-migrations) in the region from about 3000 to 2500 BCE.\nThe Albanian language is spoken today by approximately 5 million people throughout the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) as well as by a more substantial number by [communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) around the Americas, Europe and Oceania.\nNumerous variants and dialects of Albanian are used as an [official language](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) in Albania, [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nThe language is also spoken in other countries whence it is officially recognised as a [minority language](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-language) in such countries as [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), Italy, [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are two principal [dialects](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-dialects) of the Albanian language traditionally represented by [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nThe ethnogeographical dividing line is traditionally considered to be the [Shkumbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin) river, with Gheg spoken in the north of it and Tosk in the south.\nDialects of linguistic minorities spoken in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-croatia) ([Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-dialect) and [Istrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/istrian-albanian)), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-albanians), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro) and northwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) are classified as Gheg, while those spoken in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), southwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) and Italy as Tosk.\nThe [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language) and [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika) dialects of the Albanian language, are spoken by the [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language)ë and [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) in [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece), respectively.\nThey retain elements of medieval Albanian vocabulary and pronunciation that are no longer used in modern Albanian; however, both varieties are classified as [endangered languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/endangered-language) in the [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco) [Red Book of Endangered Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/red-book-of-endangered-languages).\nThe [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) is spoken by the [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians), a community that originates from [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria) in what is currently north-western Greece and southern Albania; the use of the [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) in Greece is declining rapidly, while [Cham communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) in Albania and the diaspora have preserved it.\nMost of the Albanians in Albania and the [Former Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/former-yugoslavia) are [polyglot](https://bliptext.com/articles/polyglotism) and have the ability to understand, speak, read, or write a [foreign language](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-language).\nAs defined by the [Institute of Statistics of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/institute-of-statistics-albania), 39.9% of the 25 to 64 years old Albanians in Albania are able to use at least one foreign language including English (40%), Italian (27.8%) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) (22.9%).\nThe origin of the Albanian language remains a contentious subject that has given rise to numerous [hypotheses](https://bliptext.com/articles/hypothesis).\nThe hypothesis of Albanian being one of the descendant of the [Illyrian languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-languages) ([Messapic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/messapic-language)) is based on [geography](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) where the languages were spoken however not enough archaeological evidence is left behind to come therefore to a definite conclusion.\nAnother hypothesis associates the Albanian language with the [Thracian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/thracian-language).\nThis theory takes exception to the territory, since the language was spoken in an area distinct from Albania, and no significant population movements have been recorded in the period when the shift from one language to the other is supposed to have occurred.\n# [The dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Albanian///language///map///en.svg]\n# [Classification of Albanian in the Paleo-Balkanic branch as suggested by Brian D. Joseph and Adam Hyllested in \"The Indo-European Language Family\" (2022) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Classification///of///Albanian.png]\n\n# History\n\n## Late Antiquity\nThe [Komani-Kruja culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/komani-kruja-culture) is an archaeological culture attested from late antiquity to the Middle Ages in central and northern Albania, southern Montenegro and similar sites in the western parts of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nIt consists of settlements usually built below hillforts along the [Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/lezh) ([Praevalitana](https://bliptext.com/articles/praevalitana))-[Dardania](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardania-roman-province) and [Via Egnatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/via-egnatia) road networks which connected the Adriatic coastline with the central Balkan Roman provinces.\nIts [type site](https://bliptext.com/articles/type-site) is Komani and its fort on the nearby Dalmace hill in the Drin river valley.\n[Kruja](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruja) and Lezha represent significant sites of the culture.\nThe population of Komani-Kruja represents a local, western Balkan people which was linked to the Roman Justinianic military system of forts.\nThe development of Komani-Kruja is significant for the study of the transition between the [classical antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-antiquity) population of Albania to the medieval Albanians who were attested in historical records in the 11th century.\nWinnifrith (2020) recently described this population as the survival of a \"Latin-Illyrian\" culture which emerged later in historical records as Albanians and [Vlachs](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlachs) ([Eastern Romance](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-romance-languages)-speaking people).\nIn Winnifrith's narrative, the geographical conditions of northern Albania favored the continuation of the Albanian language in hilly and mountainous areas as opposed to lowland valleys.\n# [Glass necklace, 7th – 8th century, Shurdhah | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Glass///necklace%2C///7th///-///8th///century%2C///Shurdhah///-///Archeological///Museum///of///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Middle Ages\nThe Albanian people maintain a very chequered and tumultuous history behind them, a fact explained by their geographical position in the [Southeast of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/southeast-europe) at the cultural and political crossroad between the east and west, but they also have historically inhabited a hardly accessible mountainous region, which helped them preserve their peculiar culture and language.\nThe issue surrounding the [origin of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) has long been debated by historians and [linguists](https://bliptext.com/articles/linguist) for centuries.\nThey have [Paleo-Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages) origins, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Peleo-Balkan group contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080).\nAttaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Ducellier-Vrannousi\" debate, Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vrannousi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThe debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\nThe name reflects the Albanian endonym Arbër/n + esh which itself derives from the same root as the name of the [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi)\nHistorically known as the Arbër or Arbën by the 11th century and onwards, they traditionally inhabited the mountainous area to the west of [Lake Ochrida](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-ochrida) and the upper valley of the Shkumbin river.\nThough it was in 1190 when they established their first independent entity, the [Principality of Arbër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arb-r) (Arbanon), with its seat based in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nImmediately after the decline of the [Progon dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-progon) in 1216, the principality came under [Gregorios Kamonas](https://bliptext.com/articles/gregorios-kamonas) and next his son-in-law [Golem](https://bliptext.com/articles/golem-of-kruja).\nFinally, the Principality was dissolved in ca. 1255 by the [Empire of Nicea](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-of-nicea) followed by an unsuccessful [rebellion between 1257 and 1259](https://bliptext.com/articles/rebellion-of-arbanon) supported by the [Despotate of Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/despotate-of-epirus).\nIn the meantime [Manfred, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/manfred-king-of-sicily) profited from the situation and launched an invasion into Albania.\nHis forces, led by [Philippe Chinard](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippe-chinard), captured [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor), [Spinarizza](https://bliptext.com/articles/island-of-zv-rnec), their surroundings and the southern coastline of Albania from [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) to [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint).\nIn 1266 after [defeating Manfred's forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-benevento) and killing him, the [Treaty of Viterbo](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-viterbo) of 1267 was signed, with [Charles I, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-i-king-of-sicily) acquiring rights on Manfred's dominions in Albania.\nLocal noblemen such as [Andrea Vrana](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-vrana) refused to surrender Manfred's former domains, and in 1271 negotiations were initiated.\nIn 1272 the [Kingdom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-albania-medieval) was created after a delegation of Albanian noblemen from Durrës signed a treaty declaring union with the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles.\nCharles soon imposed military rule, new taxes, took sons of Albanian noblemen hostage to ensure loyalty, and confiscated lands for [Angevin](https://bliptext.com/articles/capetian-house-of-anjou) nobles.\nThis led to discontent among Albanian noblemen, several of whom turned to Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-viii).\nIn late 1274, Byzantine forces helped by local Albanian noblemen capture Berat and Butrint.\nCharles' attempt to advance towards Constantinople failed at the [Siege of Berat (1280–1281)](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-berat-1280-1281).\nA Byzantine counteroffensive ensued, which drove the Angevins out of the interior by 1281.\nThe [Sicilian Vespers](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicilian-vespers) rebellion further weakened the position of Charles, who died in 1285.\nBy the end of the 13th century, most of Albania was under Byzantine Emperor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](https://bliptext.com/articles/andronikos-ii-palaiologos).\nIn 1296 Serbian king [Stephen Milutin](https://bliptext.com/articles/stephen-milutin) captured Durrës.\nIn 1299 Andronikos II married his daughter Simonis to Milutin and the lands he had conquered were considered as [dowry](https://bliptext.com/articles/dowry).\nIn 1302, [Philip I, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/philip-i-prince-of-taranto), grandson of Charles, claimed his rights on the Albanian kingdom and gained the support of local Albanian Catholics who preferred him over the Orthodox Serbs and Greeks, as well as the support of [Pope Benedict XI](https://bliptext.com/articles/pope-benedict-xi).\nIn the summer of 1304, the Serbs were expelled from the city of Durrës by the locals who submitted themselves to Angevin rule.\nProminent Albanian leaders during this time were the [Thopia family](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), ruling in an area between the Mat and Shkumbin rivers, and the [Muzaka family](https://bliptext.com/articles/muzaka-family) in the territory between the Shkumbin and Vlorë.\nIn 1279, Gjon I Muzaka, who remained loyal to the Byzantines and resisted Angevin conquest of Albania, was captured by the forces of Charles but later released following pressure from Albanian nobles.\nThe Muzaka family continued to remain loyal to the Byzantines and resisted the expansion of the [Serbian Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-kingdom-medieval).\nIn 1335 the head of the family, Andrea II Muzaka, gained the title of [Despot](https://bliptext.com/articles/despot-court-title) and other Muzakas pursued careers in the Byzantine government in Constantinople.\nAndrea II soon endorsed an anti-Byzantine revolt in his domains between 1335–1341 and formed an alliance with [Robert, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-prince-of-taranto) in 1336.\nIn 1336, Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](https://bliptext.com/articles/stefan-du-an) captured Durrës, including the territory under the control of the Muzaka family.\nAlthough Angevins managed to recapture Durazzo, Dušan continued his expansion, and in the period of 1337–45 he had captured [Kanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanin) and [Valona](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) in southern Albania.\nAround 1340 forces of Andrea II defeated the Serbian army at the [Pelister](https://bliptext.com/articles/pelister) mountain.\nAfter the death of Stefan Dušan in 1355 the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire) disintegrated, and [Karl Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/karl-thopia) captured Durrës while the Muzaka family of Berat regained control over parts of southeastern Albania and over [Kastoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/kastoria) that Andrea II captured from [Prince Marko](https://bliptext.com/articles/prince-marko) after the [Battle of Marica](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-marica) in 1371.\nThe kingdom reinforced the influence of Catholicism and the conversion to its rite, not only in the region of Durrës but in other parts of the country.\nA new wave of Catholic dioceses, churches and monasteries were founded, papal missionaries and a number of different religious orders began spreading into the country.\nThose who were not Catholic in central and northern Albania converted and a great number of Albanian clerics and monks were present in the Dalmatian Catholic institutions.\nAround 1230 the two main centers of Albanian settlements were around [Devoll river](https://bliptext.com/articles/devoll-river) in what is now central Albania and the other around the region known as Arbanon.\nAlbanian presence in Croatia can be traced back to the beginning of the [Late Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-middle-ages).\nIn this period, there was a significant Albanian community in [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dubrovnik) with a number of families of Albanian origin inclusively the [Sorgo family](https://bliptext.com/articles/sorgo-family) who came from the [Cape of Rodon](https://bliptext.com/articles/cape-of-rodon) in central Albania, across [Kotor](https://bliptext.com/articles/kotor) in eastern Montenegro, to [Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia).\nBy the 13th century, Albanian merchants were trading directly with the peoples of the [Republic of Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) in Dalmatia which increased familiarity between Albanians and Ragusans.\nThe upcoming invasion of Albania by the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) and the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg) caused many Christian Albanians to flee to Dalmatia and surrounding countries.\nIn the 14th century a number of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) were created.\nThese included [Principality of Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti), [Principality of Dukagjini](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-dukagjini), [Princedom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval), and [Principality of Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-gjirokast-r).\nAt the beginning of the 15th century these principalities became stronger, especially because of the fall of the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire).\nSome of these principalities were united in 1444 under the anti-Ottoman military alliance called [League of Lezha](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh).\nAlbanians were recruited all over Europe as a light cavalry known as [stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti).\nThe stratioti were pioneers of light cavalry tactics during the 15th century.\nIn the early 16th century heavy cavalry in the European armies was principally remodeled after Albanian stradioti of the Venetian army, Hungarian [hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/hussar) and German mercenary cavalry units (Schwarzreitern).\n# [The city of Krujë served as the royal seat of the Principality of Arbanon and later as the noble residence of the Kastrioti family. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Kal-1.jpg]\n\n## Ottoman Empire\nPrior to the [Ottoman conquest of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire), the political situation of the Albanian people was characterised by a fragmented conglomeration of scattered [kingdoms](https://bliptext.com/articles/realm) and [principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/principalities-of-albania) such as the [Principalities of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon), [Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti) and [Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval).\nBefore and after the [fall of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-constantinople), the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) continued an extended period of conquest and expansion with its borders going deep into the [Southeast Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans).\nAs a consequence thousands of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus) and [Peloponnese](https://bliptext.com/articles/peloponnese) escaped to [Calabria](https://bliptext.com/articles/calabria), [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern), whereby others sought protection at the often inaccessible Mountains of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nUnder the leadership of [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg), a former governor of the Ottoman [Sanjak of Dibra](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-dibra), a prosperous and longstanding revolution erupted with the formation of the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh) in 1444 up until the [Siege of Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) ending in 1479, multiple times defeating the mightiest power of the time led by [Sultans](https://bliptext.com/articles/sultan) [Murad II](https://bliptext.com/articles/murad-ii) and [Mehmed II](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-the-conqueror).\nSkanderbeg managed to gather several of the Albanian principals, amongst them the [Arianitis](https://bliptext.com/articles/arianiti-family), [Dukagjinis](https://bliptext.com/articles/dukagjini-family), [Zaharias](https://bliptext.com/articles/zaharia-family) and [Thopias](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), and establish a centralised authority over most of the non-conquered territories and proclaiming himself the Lord of Albania (Dominus Albaniae in Latin).\nSkanderbeg consistently pursued the aim relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans.\nHis unequal fight against them won the esteem of Europe and financial and military aid from the [Papacy](https://bliptext.com/articles/papacy) and [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice) and [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa).\nThe Albanians, then predominantly Christian, were initially considered as an [inferior class](https://bliptext.com/articles/rayah) of people and as such were subjected to heavy [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/jizya) such as the [Devshirme](https://bliptext.com/articles/devshirme) system that allowed the state to collect a requisite percentage of Christian adolescents from the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and elsewhere to compose the [Janissary](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissary).\nSince the Albanians were seen as strategically important, they made up a significant proportion of the [Ottoman military](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-military) and bureaucracy.\nThey were therefore to be found within the imperial services as vital military and administrative retainers from [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) to [Algeria](https://bliptext.com/articles/algeria) and the rest of the [Maghreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/maghreb).\nIn the late 18th century, [Ali Pasha Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-tepelena) created the autonomous region of the [Pashalik of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina) within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) which was never recognised as such by the [High Porte](https://bliptext.com/articles/high-porte).\nThe territory he properly governed incorporated most of southern [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus), [Thessaly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thessaly) and southwestern [Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-region) region.\nDuring his rule, the town of [Janina](https://bliptext.com/articles/janina) blossomed into a cultural, political and economic hub for both Albanians and Greeks.\nThe ultimate goal of Ali Pasha Tepelena seems to have been the establishment of an independent rule in Albania and Epirus.\nThus, he obtained control of [Arta](https://bliptext.com/articles/arta-greece) and took control over the ports of [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint), [Preveza](https://bliptext.com/articles/preveza) and [Vonitsa](https://bliptext.com/articles/vonitsa).\nHe also gained control of the [pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik) of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan), [Delvina](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-delvina), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat) and [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-avlona).\nHis relations with the High Porte were always tense though he developed and maintained relations with the [British](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-empire), [French](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-french-empire) and [Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and formed alliances with them at various times.\nIn the 19th century, the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) [Muhammad Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century.\nAfter a brief [French invasion](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-egypt) led by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://bliptext.com/articles/napoleon-bonaparte) and the Ottomans and [Mameluks](https://bliptext.com/articles/mameluk) competing for power there, he managed collectively with his Albanian troops to become the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt.\nAs he revolutionised the military and economic spheres of Egypt, his empire attracted Albanian people contributing to the emergence of the [Albanian diaspora in Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-egypt) initially formed by Albanian soldiers and mercenaries.\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) arrived in the lands of the Albanian people gradually and grew widespread between at least the 17th and 18th centuries.\nThe new religion brought many transformations into Albanian society and henceforth offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nWith the advent of increasing suppression on [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism), the Ottomans initially focused their conversions on the Catholic Albanians of the north in the 17th century and followed suit in the 18th century on the Orthodox Albanians of the south.\nAt this point, the urban centers of [central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-albania) and [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) had largely adopted the religion of the growing Muslim Albanian elite.\nMany mosques and [takyas](https://bliptext.com/articles/takya) were constructed throughout those urban centers and cities such as [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjirokast-r), [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) started to flourish.\nIn the far [north](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-albania), the spread of Islam was slower due to Catholic Albanian resistance and the inaccessible and rather remote mountainous terrain.\nThe motives for [conversion](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-conversion) to Islam are subject to differing interpretations according to scholars depending on the context though the lack of sources does not help when investigating such issues.\nReasons included the incentive to escape high [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxation-in-the-ottoman-empire) levied on non-Muslims subjects, [ecclesiastical](https://bliptext.com/articles/ecclesiastical) decay, coercion by Ottoman authorities in times of war, and the privileged legal and social position Muslims within the Ottoman administrative and political machinery had over that of non-Muslims.\nAs Muslims, the Albanians attained powerful positions in the Ottoman administration including over three dozen [Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers) of Albanian origin, among them [Zagan Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagan-pasha), [Bayezid Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-pasha) and members of the [Köprülü family](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), and regional rulers such as [Muhammad Ali of Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) and [Ali Pasha of Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-tepelena).\nThe Ottoman sultans [Bayezid II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-ii) and [Mehmed III](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-iii) were both Albanian on their [maternal side](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-mothers-of-the-ottoman-sultans).\nAreas such as Albania, western North Macedonia, southern Serbia, Kosovo, parts of northern Greece and southern Montenegro in Ottoman sources were referred to as Arnavudluk or Albania.\n# [Albanian pashaliks in 1815–1821 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Albanian///Pashaliks%2C///1815-1821.png]\n# [Albanian Chief, lithography by Alphonse-Léon Noël, 1828 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Chef///Albanais%2C///G.10376%282%29.jpg]\n\n## Albanian Renaissance\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) characterised a period wherein the Albanian people gathered both [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) and intellectual strength to establish their rights for an independent political and social life, culture and education.\nBy the late 18th century and the early 19th century, its foundation arose within the [Albanian communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy) and [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) and was frequently linked to the influences of the [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) principles.\nAlbania was under the rule of the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) for almost five centuries and the Ottoman authorities suppressed any expression of unity or national conscience by the Albanian people.\nA number of thoroughly intellectual Albanians, among them [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Thimi Mitko](https://bliptext.com/articles/thimi-mitko), [Naim](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri) and [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri), made a conscious effort to awaken feelings of pride and unity among their people by working to develop [Albanian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) that would call to mind the rich history and hopes for a more decent future.\nThe Albanians had poor or often no schools or other institutions in place to protect and preserve their [cultural heritage](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-heritage).\nThe need for schools was preached initially by the increasing number of Albanians educated abroad.\nThe Albanian communities in Italy and elsewhere were particularly active in promoting the Albanian cause, especially in education which finally resulted with the foundation of the [Mësonjëtorja](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-sonj-torja) in [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor), the first secular school in the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Turkish yoke](https://bliptext.com/articles/rise-of-nationalism-in-the-ottoman-empire) had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the people in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), and their march toward independence quickened.\nDue to the more substantial of Islamic influence, the Albanians internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian territories to the emerging neighbouring states, [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria) and [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece), were among the last peoples in the Balkans to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.\nThe national awakening as a coherent political movement emerged after the [Treaty of San Stefano](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-san-stefano), according to which Albanian-inhabited territories were to be ceded to the neighbouring states, and focused on preventing that partition.\nIt was the impetus for the nation-building movement, which was based more on fear of partition than national identity.\nEven after the [declaration of independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania), national identity was fragmented and possibly non-existent in much of the newly proposed country.\nThe state of disunity and fragmentation would remain until the communist period following [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war), when the communist nation-building project would achieve greater success in nation-building and reach more people than any previous regime, thus creating Albanian national communist identity.\n# [Naum Veqilharxhi was one of the earliest figures of the early Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/NaumVeqilharxhi.jpg]\n# [Naim Frashëri was a well known rilindas and is considered to be the pioneer of modern Albanian literature. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Naim///Frash%C3%ABri.jpg]\n\n## Communism in Albania\n[Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) of the Communist [Party of Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/party-of-labour-of-albania) took power in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) in 1946.\nAlbania established an alliance with the [Eastern Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-bloc) which provided Albania with many advantages in the form of economic assistance and military protection from the [Western Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-bloc) during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nThe Albanians experienced a period of several beneficial political and economic changes.\nThe [government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-albania) defended the territorial [integrity](https://bliptext.com/articles/integrity) and [sovereignty](https://bliptext.com/articles/sovereignty) of Albania, diversified the economy through a programme of industrialisation which led to a higher [standard of living](https://bliptext.com/articles/standard-of-living) and followed improvements in areas such as health, education and infrastructure.\nIt subsequently followed a period wherein the Albanians lived within an extreme isolation from the rest of the world for the next four decades.\nBy 1967, the established government had officially proclaimed Albania to be the first [atheistic state](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheistic-state) in the world as they beforehand confiscated [churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-church), [monasteries](https://bliptext.com/articles/monasteries) and mosques, and any religious expression instantly became grounds for imprisonment.\nProtests coinciding with the emerging [revolutions of 1989](https://bliptext.com/articles/revolutions-of-1989) began to break out in various cities throughout Albania including [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and [Tirana](https://bliptext.com/articles/tirana) which eventually lead to the [fall of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania).\nSignificant internal and external migration waves of Albanians to such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy followed.\n[Bunkerisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunkerisation) is arguably the most visible and memorable legacy of communism in Albania.\nNearly 175,000 reinforced concrete [bunkers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunker) were built on strategic locations across [Albania's territory](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) including near borders, within towns, on the seashores or mountains.\nThese bunkers were never used for their intended purpose or for sheltering the population from attacks or an invasion by a neighbor.\nHowever, they were abandoned after the breakup of communism and have been sometimes reused for a variety of purposes.\n# [Albanian partisans, with their leader Enver Hoxha in the center, after the liberation of Tirana on 17 November 1944 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Partisans///in///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Independence of Kosovo\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) declared [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo) from Serbia on 17 February 2008, after years of strained relations between the Serb and predominantly [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) population of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo).\nIt has been officially recognised by Australia, Canada, the United States and major [European Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-union) countries, while Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence, claiming it as [Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija](https://bliptext.com/articles/autonomous-province-of-kosovo-and-metohija) under [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1244).\nThe overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population is ethnically Albanian with nearly 1.7 million people.\nTheir presence as well as in the adjacent regions of [Toplica](https://bliptext.com/articles/toplica-district) and [Morava](https://bliptext.com/articles/moravac) is recorded since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nAs the Serbs expelled many Albanians from the wider Toplica and Morava regions in Southern Serbia, which the 1878 [Congress of Berlin](https://bliptext.com/articles/congress-of-berlin) had given to the [Principality of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-serbia), many of them settled in Kosovo.\nAfter being an integral section of the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-yugoslavia), Kosovo including its Albanian population went through a period of discrimination, economic and political persecution.\nRights to use the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) were guaranteed by the constitution of the later formed [Socialist Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia) and was widely used in Macedonia and Montenegro prior to the [dissolution of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-yugoslavia).\nIn 1989, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity of Yugoslavia with rights similar to those of the six other republics and eventually became part of [Serbia and Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia-and-montenegro).\nIn 1998, tensions between the [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) and [Serb](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbs-in-kosovo) population of Kosovo culminated in the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war), which led to the external and internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo)s.\nSerbian paramilitary forces committed war crimes in Kosovo, although the [government of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/government-of-serbia) claims that the army was only going after suspected Albanian terrorists.\n[NATO](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato) launched a [78-day air campaign](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia) in 1999, which eventually led to an end to the war.\n# [The Newborn monument in Pristina was unveiled at the celebration of the Independence of Kosovo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Geb%C3%A4ude///der///UNMIK///NEW///BORN///SIGN///PRISTINA///KOSOVO///Giv///Owned///Image///23///August///2008.jpg]\n\n# Distribution\n\n## Balkans\nApproximately five million [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns are geographically distributed across the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) with about half this number living in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia) and [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) as well as to a more lesser extent in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are also significant Albanian populations in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece).\nApproximately 1.8 million Albanians are concentrated in the partially recognised [Republic of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-kosovo).\nThey are geographically distributed south of the [municipality](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-kosovo) of [North Mitrovica](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-mitrovica) and constitute the overall majority ethnic group of the territory.\nIn [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 30,000 forming one of the constituent ethnic [minority groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-group) of the country.\nThey predominantly live in the [coastal region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) of Montenegro around the municipalities of [Ulcinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulcinj-municipality) and [Bar](https://bliptext.com/articles/bar-municipality) but also Tuz and around [Plav](https://bliptext.com/articles/plav-municipality) in the [northern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) as well as in the capital city of [Podgorica](https://bliptext.com/articles/podgorica) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro).\nIn [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia), there are more than approximately 500,000 Albanians constituting the largest ethnic minority group in the country.\nThe vast majority of the Albanians are chiefly concentrated around the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-the-republic-of-macedonia) of [Tetovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/tetovo-municipality) and [Gostivar](https://bliptext.com/articles/gostivar-municipality) in the [northwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/polog-statistical-region), [Struga](https://bliptext.com/articles/struga-municipality) and [Debar](https://bliptext.com/articles/debar-municipality) in the [southwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/southwestern-statistical-region) as well as around the capital of [Skopje](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje-statistical-region).\nIn [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), the number of Albanians stands at approximately 17.500 mostly concentrated in the [counties](https://bliptext.com/articles/counties-of-croatia) of [Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/istria-county), [Split-Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/split-dalmatia-county) and most notably in the capital city of [Zagreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagreb).\nThe [Arbanasi people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people) who historically migrated to [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) live in scattered communities across [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and Southern [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine).\nIn [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), the Albanians are an officially recognised ethnic minority group with a population of around 70,000.\nThey are significantly concentrated in the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-and-cities-of-serbia) of [Bujanovac](https://bliptext.com/articles/bujanovac) and [Preševo](https://bliptext.com/articles/pre-evo) in the [Pčinja District](https://bliptext.com/articles/p-inja-district).\nIn [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania), the number of Albanians is unofficially estimated from 500 to 10,000 mainly distributed in [Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucharest).\nThey are recognised as an ethnic minority group and are respectively represented in [Parliament of Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/parliament-of-romania).\n# [American ethnographic map of the Balkan Peninsula, 1914; Albanian-inhabited areas are colored in light orange. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Balkan%2BMikrasia///1914.jpg]\n# [The historical settlement of the Arbanasi people is presently a neighborhood of Zadar in Croatia. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Aerial///view///of///the///historical///center///of///Zadar%2C///Croatia///%2848607312728%29.jpg]\n\n## Italy\nThe [Italian Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-peninsula) across the [Adriatic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/adriatic-sea) has attracted Albanian people for more than half a millennium often due to its immediate proximity.\nAlbanians in Italy later became important in establishing the fundamentals of the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) and maintaining the [Albanian culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture).\nThe [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) came sporadically in several small and large cycles initially as [Stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti) mercenaries in service of the kingdoms of [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern) and the [Republic of Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice).\nLarger migration waves occurred after the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/skanderbeg) and the capture of [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-kruj-1478) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) by the [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) to escape the forthcoming political and religious changes.\nToday, Arbëreshë constitute one of the largest [ethnolinguistic](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnolinguistic-group) minority groups and their language is recognized and protected constitutionally under the provisions of the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages).\nThe total number of [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) is approximately 260,000 scattered across [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily), Calabria and [Apulia](https://bliptext.com/articles/apulia).\nThere are Italian Albanians in the Americas especially in such countries as [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina), Chile, [Uruguay](https://bliptext.com/articles/uruguay), Canada and the United States.\nAfter 1991, a mass migration of Albanians towards Italy occurred.\nBetween 2015 and 2016, the number of Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence in Italy was numbered to be around 480,000 and 500,000.\n[Tuscany](https://bliptext.com/articles/tuscany), Lombardy and [Emilia-Romagna](https://bliptext.com/articles/emilia-romagna) represent the [regions](https://bliptext.com/articles/regions-of-italy) with the strongest presence of the modern Albanian population in Italy.\nAs of 2022, 433,000 Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence lived in Italy and were the second largest migrant community in Italy after Romanians.\nAs of 2018, an additional ca. 200,000 Albanian migrants have obtained Italian citizenship (children born in Italy not included).\nAs of 2012, 41.5% of the Albanian in Italy population were counted as [Muslim](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim), 38.9% as [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) including 27.7% as [Roman Catholic](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic) and 11% as [Eastern Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox) and 17.8% as [Irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion).\n# [Giovanni Francesco Albani was of Albanian origin and served as the Pope from 1700 to 1721. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CLEMENS///XI.PNG]\n# [Arbëreshë in traditional costume in the Piana degli Albanesi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Pasqua///Piana///degli///Albanesi.jpg]\n\n## Greece\nThe [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) and [Albanians of Western Thrace](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-western-thrace) are a group descended from [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosks) who migrated to southern and central Greece between the 13th and 16th centuries.\nThey are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of [Tosk Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) known as [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika), they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify as Albanians.\n.\n\"First, we can explain the astonishing persistence of Albanian village culture from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries through the ethnic and religious tolerance characteristic of Islamic empires and so lacking in their Christian equivalents. Ottoman control rested upon allowing local communities to keep their religion, language, local laws, and representatives, provided that taxes were paid (the millet system). There was no pressure for Greeks and Albanians to conform to each other's language or other behavior. Clear signs of change are revealed in the travel diaries of the German scholar Ludwig Ross (1851), when he accompanied the Bavarian Otto, whom the Allies had foisted as king upon the newly freed Greek nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence in the 1830s. Ross praises the well-built Greek villages of central Greece with their healthy, happy, dancing inhabitants, and contrasts them specifically with the hovels and sickly inhabitants of Albanian villages.\nIn fact, recent scholarship has underlined how far it was the West that built modem Greece in its own fanciful image as the land of a long-oppressed people who were the direct descendants of Pericles.\nThus from the late nineteenth century onward the children of the inhabitants of the new \"nation-state\" were taught in Greek, history confined itself to the episodes of pure Greekness, and the tolerant Ottoman attitude to cultural diversity yielded to a deliberate policy of total Hellenization of the populace—effective enough to fool the casual observer.\nOne is rather amazed at the persistence today of such dual-speaking populations in much of the Albanian colonization zone.\nHowever, apart from the provinciality of this essentially agricultural province, a high rate of illiteracy until well into this century has also helped to preserve Arvanitika in the Boeotian villagers (Meijs 1993).\"; p. 140. \"In contrast therefore to the more openly problematic issue of Slav speakers in northern Greece, Arvanitic speakers in central Greece lack any signs of an assertive ethnicity.\nI would like to suggest that they possess what we might term a passive ethnicity.\nAs a result of a number of historical factors, much of the rural population in central Greece was Albanian-speaking by the time of the creation of the modern Greek state in the 1830s.\nUntil this century, most of these people were illiterate and unschooled, yet there existed sufficient knowledge of Greek to communicate with officials and townspeople, itinerant traders, and so on, to limit the need to transform rural language usage.\nLife was extremely provincial, with just one major carriage-road passing through the center of the large province of Boeotia even in the 1930s (beyond which horseback and cart took over; van Effenterre 1989).\nEven in the 1960s, Arvanitic village children could be figures of fun for their Greek peers in the schools of Thebes (One of the two regional towns) (K. Sarri, personal communication, 2000).\nIt was not a matter of cultural resistance but simple conservatism and provinciality, the extreme narrowness of rural life, that allowed Arvanitic language and local historic memories to survive so effectively to the very recent period.\" . \"For the time being, the Greeks of free Greece could indulge in defining their brethren of unredeemed Greece, primarily the Slav Macedonians and secondarily the Orthodox Albanians and the Vlachs.\nPrimary school students were taught, in the 1880s, that 'Greeks [are] our kinsmen, of common descent, speaking the language we speak and professing the religion we profess'.\" But this definition, it seems, was reserved for small children who could not possibly understand the intricate arguments of their parents on the question of Greek identity. What was essential to understand at that tender age was that modern Greeks descended from the ancient Greeks. Grown up children, however, must have been no less confused than adults on the criteria for defining modern Greek identity. Did the Greeks constitute a 'race' apart from the Albanians, the Slavs and the Vlachs? Yes and no. High school students were told that the 'other races', i.e. the Slavs, the Albanians and the Vlachs, 'having been Hellenized with the years in terms of mores and customs, are now being assimilated into the Greeks'. On the Slavs of Macedonia there seems to have been no consensus.\nWere they Bulgars, Slavicized Greeks or early Slavs?\nThey 'were' Bulgars until the 1870s and Slavicized Greeks, or Hellenized Slavs subsequently, according to the needs of the dominant theory.\nThere was no consensus, either, on the Vlachs.\nWere they Latinized Greek mountaineers of late immigrants from Vlachia?\nAs in the case of the Slavs of Macedonia, Vlach descent shifted from the southern Balkans to the Danube, until the Romanians claimed the Vlachs for their brethren; which made the latter irrevocably indigenous to the southern Balkan mountains.\nThe Albanians or 'Arvanites', were readily 'adopted' as brethren of common descent for at least three reasons.\nFirstly, the Albanians had been living in southern Greece, as far south as the Peloponnese, in considerable numbers.\nSecondly, Christian Albanians had fought with distinction and in considerable numbers in the War of Independence.\nThirdly, credible Albanian claims for the establishment of an Albanian nation state materialized too Late for Greek national theorists to abandon well-entrenched positions.\nCommenting on a geography textbook for primary schools in 1901, a state committee found it inadequate and misleading.\nOne of its principal shortcomings concerned the Albanians, who were described as 'close kinsmen of the Greeks'.\n'These are unacceptable from the point of view of our national claims and as far as historical truth is concerned', commented the committee.\n'it must have been maintained that they are of common descent with the Greeks (Pelasgians), that they speak a language akin to that of the Greeks and that they participated in all struggles for national liberation of the common fatherland.'\" Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.\nThe [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) were a group that formerly inhabited a region of [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) known as [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria), nowadays [Thesprotia](https://bliptext.com/articles/thesprotia) in northwestern Greece.\nMany Cham Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman era.\nMuslim Chams were [expelled](https://bliptext.com/articles/expulsion-of-cham-albanians) from Greece during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), by an [anti-communist resistance group](https://bliptext.com/articles/edes) (EDES).\nThe causes of the expulsion were multifaceted and remain a matter of debate among historians.\nDifferent narratives in historiography argue that the causes involved pre-existing Greek policies which targeted the minority and sought its elimination, the Cham [collaboration](https://bliptext.com/articles/axis-cham-albanian-collaboration) with the Axis forces and local property disputes which were instrumentalized after WWII.\nThe estimated number of Cham Albanians expelled from Epirus to Albania and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) varies: figures include 14,000, 19,000, 20,000, 25,000 and 30,000.\nAccording to Cham reports this number should be raised to c. 35,000.\nLarge-scale migration from Albania to Greece occurred after 1991.\nDuring this period, at least 500,000 Albanians have migrated and relocated to Greece.\nDespite the lack of exact statistics, it is estimated that at least 700,000 Albanians have moved to Greece during the last 25 years.\nThe Albanian government estimates 500,000 Albanians in Greece at the very least without accounting for their children.\nThe 2011 Greece census indicated that Albanians consisted the biggest group of migrants in Greece, numbered roughly 480,000, but taking into consideration the current population of Greece (11 million) and the fact that the census failed to account for illegal foreigners, it was estimated that Albanians consist of 5% of the population (at least 550,000).\nBy 2005, around 600,000 Albanians lived in Greece, forming the largest immigrant community in the country.\nThey are economic migrants whose migration began in 1991, following the collapse of the [Socialist People's Republic of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-people-s-republic-of-albania).\n, in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years.\nIn recent years, many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece in search of better opportunities elsewhere in Europe.\nAs of 2022, there c. 292,000 Albanian immigrants are holders of legal permits to live and work in Greece, down from c. 423,000 in 2021.\nAlbanians in Greece have a long history of [Hellenisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/hellenisation), assimilation and integration.\nMany ethnic Albanians have been naturalised as Greek nationals, others have self-declared as Greek since arrival and a considerable number live and work across both countries seasonally hence the number of Albanians in the country has often fluctuated.\n# [Painting of Albanian palikars displayed in the British Museum, London | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Albanian///Palikars///in///pursuit///of///an///enemy///--///Charles///Robert///Cockerell%2C///1813-1814///--///British///Museum%2C///inv.///1923%2C0113.30.jpg]\n# [Cham Albanians in Filiates in 1915, by Fred Boissonas | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Chams///on///Filiates///1915.jpg]\n\n# Diaspora\nDiaspora based Albanians may self identify as Albanian, use hybrid identification or identify with their nationality, often creating an obstacle in establishing a total figure of the population.\n\n## Europe\nDuring the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, the [conflicts in the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslav-wars) and the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) set in motion large population movements of Albanians to [Central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-europe), [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe) and Northern Europe.\nThe gradual [collapse of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania) in Albania triggered as well a new wave of migration and contributed to the emergence of a new diaspora, mainly in Southern Europe, in such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy.\nIn Central Europe, there are approximately 200,000 Albanians in [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) with the particular concentration in the [cantons](https://bliptext.com/articles/cantons-of-switzerland) of [Zürich](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-z-rich), [Basel](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-basel-stadt), [Lucerne](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-lucerne), [Bern](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-bern) and [St. Gallen](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-st-gallen).\nThe neighbouring Germany is home to around 250,000 to 300,000 Albanians while in [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) there are around 40,000 to 80,000 Albanians concentrated in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-austria) of [Vienna](https://bliptext.com/articles/vienna), [Styria](https://bliptext.com/articles/styria), [Salzburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-of-salzburg), [Lower](https://bliptext.com/articles/lower-austria) and Upper [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria).\nIn [Western Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe), the Albanian population of approximately 10,000 people living in the [Benelux countries](https://bliptext.com/articles/benelux-countries) is in comparison to other regions relatively limited.\nThere are more than 6,000 Albanian people living in [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) and 2,800 in the nearby [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands).\nThe most lesser number of Albanian people in the Benelux region is to be found in [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) with a population of 2,100.\nWithin Northern Europe, Sweden possesses the most sizeable population of Albanians in [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) however there is no exact answer to their number in the country.\nThe populations also tend to be lower in [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway), [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) and [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) with more than 18,000, 10,000 and 8,000 Albanians respectively.\nThe population of Albanians in the [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-the-united-kingdom) is officially estimated to be around 39,000 whiles in Ireland there are less than 2,500 Albanians.\n# [Albanians in Vienna celebrating the declaration of independence of Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kosova///independence///Vienna///17-02-2008///b.jpg]\n\n## Asia and Africa\nThe Albanian diaspora in Africa and Asia, in such countries as [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt), [Syria](https://bliptext.com/articles/syria) or [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), was predominantly formed during the Ottoman period through economic [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) and early years of the Republic of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) through [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) due to sociopolitical discrimination and violence experienced by Albanians in [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans).\nIn [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), the exact numbers of the Albanian population of the country are difficult to correctly estimate.\nAccording to a 2008 report, there were approximately 1.300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.\nAs of that report, more than 500,000 Albanian descendants still recognise their [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry) and or their language, culture and traditions.\nThere are also other estimates that range from being 3 to 4 million people up to a total of 5 million in number, although most of these are Turkish citizens of either full or partial Albanian ancestry being no longer fluent in Albanian, comparable to the [German Americans](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-americans).\nThis was due to various degrees of either linguistic and or [cultural assimilation](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) occurring amongst the Albanian diaspora in Turkey.\nAlbanians are active in the civic life of Turkey.\nIn [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk) speakers.\nMany are descendants of the [Janissaries](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissaries) of [Muhammad Ali Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt), an Albanian who became [Wāli](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-li), and self-declared [Khedive](https://bliptext.com/articles/khedive) of Egypt and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/sudan).\nIn addition to the [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that he established, a large part of the former Egyptian and Sudanese [aristocracy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristocracy) was of Albanian origin.\nAlbanian Sunnis, Bektashis and Orthodox Christians were all represented in this diaspora, whose members at some point included major [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) figures (Rilindasit), including Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, Andon Zako Çajupi, Milo Duçi, Fan Noli and others who lived in Egypt for a time.\nWith the ascension of [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://bliptext.com/articles/gamal-abdel-nasser) in Egypt and rise of [Arab nationalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-nationalism), the last remnants of Albanian community there were forced to leave.\nAlbanians have been present in [Arab](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-world) countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and for about five centuries as a legacy of [Ottoman Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-turk) rule.\n# [Painting of an Arnaut by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1870s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Jean-Leon///Gerome///-///An///Arnaut///N08542-8-lr-1.jpg]\n# [The Albanian Sentinel in Cairo by Charles Bargue, 1877 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Charles///Bargue///%E2%80%93///La///sentinelle///albanaise///en///Caire%2C///1877.jpg]\n\n## Americas and Oceania\nThe first Albanian migration to North America began in the 19th and 20th centuries not long after gaining [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania) from the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nHowever the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) from [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) were the first Albanian people to arrive in the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world), many of them migrating after the wars that accompanied the [Risorgimento](https://bliptext.com/articles/risorgimento).\nSince then several Albanian migration waves have occurred throughout the 20th century as for instance after the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) with Albanians mostly from [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) rather than from [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania), then after the Breakup of [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania) in 1990 and finally following the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) in 1998.\nThe most sizeable Albanian population in the Americas is predominantly to be found in the United States.\n[New York metropolitan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-metropolitan-area) in the [State of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) is home to the most sizeable Albanian population of the United States.\nAs of 2017, there are approximately 205,000 Albanians in the country with the main concentration in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-the-united-states) of New York, [Michigan](https://bliptext.com/articles/michigan), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts) and [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois).\nThe number could be higher counting the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) as well; they are often distinguishable from other Albanian Americans with regard to their [Italianized](https://bliptext.com/articles/italianization) names, nationality and a common [religion](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism).\nIn Canada, there are approximately 39,000 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns in the country, including 36,185 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and 2,870 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), predominantly distributed in a multitude of [provinces](https://bliptext.com/articles/provinces-and-territories-of-canada) such as [Ontario](https://bliptext.com/articles/ontario), Quebec, [Alberta](https://bliptext.com/articles/alberta) and [British Columbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-columbia).\nCanada's largest cities such as [Toronto](https://bliptext.com/articles/toronto), Montreal and [Edmonton](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmonton) were besides the United States a major centre of Albanian migration to North America.\nToronto is home to around 17,000 Albanians.\nAlbanian immigration to Australia began in the late 19th century and most took place during the 20th century.\nPeople who planned to immigrate chose Australia after the US introduced immigration quotas on southern Europeans.\nMost were from southern Albania, of Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds and tended to live in [Victoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/victoria-australia) and [Queensland](https://bliptext.com/articles/queensland-australia), with smaller numbers in [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-australia) and Northern Australia.\nItaly's [annexation](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-invasion-of-albania) of Albania marked a difficult time for Albanian Australians as many were thought by Australian authorities to pose a fascist threat.\nPost-war, the numbers of Albanian immigrants slowed due to immigration restrictions placed by the [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism-in-albania) in Albania.\nAlbanians from southwestern Yugoslavia (modern North Macedonia) arrived and settled in Melbourne in the 1960s-1970s.\nOther Albanian immigrants from Yugoslavia came from [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThe immigrants were mostly Muslims, but also Catholics among them including the relatives of the renowned Albanian nun and missionary [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa).\nAlbanian refugees from Kosovo settled in Australia following the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.\nIn the early twenty first century, Victoria has the highest concentration of Albanians and smaller Albanian communities exist in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.\nIn 2016, approximately 4,041 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), while 15,901 persons identified themselves as having [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.\nAlbanian migration to New Zealand occurred mid twentieth century following the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war).\nA small group of Albanian refugees originating mainly from Albania and the rest from Yugoslavian Kosovo and Macedonia settled in Auckland.\nDuring the [Kosovo crisis](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-crisis) (1999), up to 400 Kosovo Albanian refugees settled in New Zealand.\nIn the twenty first century, Albanian New Zealanders number 400-500 people and are mainly concentrated in [Auckland](https://bliptext.com/articles/auckland).\n# [The Albanian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George Historic District in South Boston, Massachusetts | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cathedral///of///St.///George///Historic///District///South///Boston///MA.jpg]\n# [Orthodox Albanian wedding in Bagnoo, New South Wales (1944) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Orthodox///Albanian///wedding///in///Bagnoo%2C///New///South///Wales%2C///1944.jpg]\n\n# Culture\n\n## Traditions\n\n### Tribal social structure\nThe [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes) form a historical mode of social organization (**farefisní**) in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and the southwestern [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) characterized by a common [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultur), often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared [social ties](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-ties).\nThe **fis** (**fis**i; commonly translated as \"tribe\", also as \"clan\" or \"kin\" community) stands at the center of Albanian organization based on [kinship](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinship) relations, a concept which can be found among southern Albanians also with the term **farë** (fara).\nInherited from ancient [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) social structures, Albanian tribal society emerged in the early Middle Ages as the dominant form of social organization among Albanians.\nIt also remained in a less developed system in [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) where large feudal estates and later trade and urban centres began to develop at the expense of tribal organization.\nOne of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), a code of Albanian oral [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law).\nMost tribes engaged in warfare against external forces like the Ottoman Empire.\nSome also engaged in limited inter-tribal struggle for the control of resources.\nUntil the early years of the 20th century, the Albanian tribal society remained largely intact until the rise to power of [communist regime](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) in 1944, and is considered as the only example of a tribal social system structured with tribal chiefs and councils, [blood feuds](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjakmarrja) and [oral customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), surviving in [Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) until the middle of the 20th century.\nMembers of the tribes of northern Albania believe their history is based on the notions of resistance and isolationism.\nSome scholars connect this belief with the concept of \"negotiated peripherality\".\nThroughout history the territory northern Albanian tribes occupy has been contested and peripheral so northern Albanian tribes often exploited their position and negotiated their peripherality in profitable ways.\nThis peripheral position also affected their national program which significance and challenges are different from those in southern Albania.\n# [Map of the northern Albanian tribal regions in the mid-20th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Northern///Albanian///Tribal///Regions.png]\n# [Picture of members of the Albanian Shkreli tribe, 1890s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ad061.jpg]\n\n### Kanun\nThe [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania) is a set of Albanian traditional [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law), which has directed all the aspects of the [Albanian tribal society](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes).\nFor at least the last five centuries and until today, Albanian customary laws have been kept alive only orally by the tribal elders.\nThe success in preserving them exclusively through [oral systems](https://bliptext.com/articles/oral-tradition) highlights their universal resilience and provides evidence of their likely ancient origins.\nStrong pre-Christian motifs mixed with motifs from the Christian era reflect the stratification of the Albanian customary law across various historical ages.\nOver time, Albanian customary laws have undergone their historical development, they have been changed and supplemented with new [norms](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-norm), in accordance with certain requirements of socio-economic development.\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) and nderi ([honour](https://bliptext.com/articles/honour)) are of major importance in Albanian customary law as the cornerstone of personal and social conduct.\nThe Kanun is based on four pillars – Honour, Hospitality , Right Conduct and Kin Loyalty.\n# [The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a Medieval Albanian lord, transcribed by Shtjefën Gjeçovi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kanuni///i///Lek%C3%AB///Dukagjinit.jpg]\n\n### Besa\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) (pledge of honor) is an Albanian cultural [precept](https://bliptext.com/articles/precept), usually translated as \"[faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith)\" or \"[oath](https://bliptext.com/articles/oath)\", that means \"to keep the promise\" and \"word of honor\".\nThe concept is based upon faithfulness toward one's word in the form of loyalty or as an allegiance guarantee.\nBesa contains mores toward obligations to the family and a friend, the demand to have internal commitment, loyalty and solidarity when conducting oneself with others and secrecy in relation to outsiders.\nThe besa is also the main element within the concept of the ancestor's will or pledge (amanet) where a demand for faithfulness to a cause is expected in situations that relate to unity, national liberation and independence that transcend a person and generations.\nThe concept of besa is included in the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), the [customary law](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law) of the Albanian people.\nThe besa was an important institution within the tribal society of the [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes), who swore oaths to jointly fight against invaders, and in this aspect the besa served to uphold tribal autonomy.\nThe besa was used toward regulating tribal affairs between and within the Albanian tribes.\n\n## Cuisine\nThe traditional [cuisine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-cuisine) of the Albanians is diverse and has been greatly influenced by traditions and their varied [environment](https://bliptext.com/articles/biophysical-environment) in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and turbulent history throughout the course of the centuries.\nThere is a considerable diversity between the [Mediterranean](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-cuisine) and [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of Albanians in the Western [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine) nations and the [Italian](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-cuisine) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of the [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and [Chams](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians).\nThe enjoyment of food has a high priority in the lives of Albanian peoples especially when celebrating [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival) such as [Ramadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/ramadan), [Eid](https://bliptext.com/articles/eid-al-fitr), Christmas, Easter, [Hanukkah](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanukkah) or [Novruz](https://bliptext.com/articles/novruz)\nIngredients include many varieties of fruits such as [lemons](https://bliptext.com/articles/lemon-fruit), oranges, [figs](https://bliptext.com/articles/figs-fruit) and [olives](https://bliptext.com/articles/olive-fruit), herbs such as [basil](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-herb), [lavender](https://bliptext.com/articles/lavender), [mint](https://bliptext.com/articles/spearmint), [oregano](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregano), [rosemary](https://bliptext.com/articles/rosemary) and [thyme](https://bliptext.com/articles/thyme) and vegetables such as garlic, onion, [peppers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bell-pepper), potatoes and tomatoes.\nAlbanian peoples who live closer to the [Mediterranean Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-sea), [Prespa Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/prespa-lake) and [Ohrid Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/ohrid-lake) are able to complement their diet with fish, [shellfish](https://bliptext.com/articles/shellfish) and other seafood.\nOtherwise, [lamb](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamb-food) is often considered the traditional meat for different [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival).\nPoultry, beef and pork are also in plentiful supply.\n[Tavë Kosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/tav-kosi) is a national dish in Albania consisting of garlic lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of [yogurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/yogurt).\n[Fërgesë](https://bliptext.com/articles/f-rges) is another national dish and is made with peppers, tomatoes and [cottage cheese](https://bliptext.com/articles/cottage-cheese).\nPite is a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of [spinach](https://bliptext.com/articles/spinach) and [gjizë](https://bliptext.com/articles/curd) or [mish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ground-meat).\nDesserts include [Flia](https://bliptext.com/articles/flia), consisting of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with crea; petulla, a traditionally fried dough, and Krofne, similar to [Berliner](https://bliptext.com/articles/berliner-doughnut).\n# [Bukë, kripë e zemër is a traditional welcoming custom traced back to medieval Albanian law. The Albanian code of honour, called Besa, resulted to look after guests as an act of hospitality. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Buk%C3%AB///kollomoqe%2C///buk%C3%AB///misri.JPG]\n\n## Visual arts\n\n### Painting\nThe earliest preserved relics of visual arts of the Albanian people are [sacred](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacred-art) in nature and represented by numerous [frescoes](https://bliptext.com/articles/fresco), [murals](https://bliptext.com/articles/mural) and [icons](https://bliptext.com/articles/icon) which has been created with an admirable use of color and gold.\nThey reveal a wealth of various influences and traditions that converged in the historical lands of the Albanian people throughout the course of the centuries.\nThe rise of the [Byzantines](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) and [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) during the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) was accompanied by a corresponding growth in [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-art) and [Islamic art](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamic-art) often apparent in examples of architecture and mosaics throughout Albania.\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and arts whereas artists sought to return to the ideals of [Impressionism](https://bliptext.com/articles/impressionism) and [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism-art).\n[Onufri](https://bliptext.com/articles/onufri), founder of the Berat School, [Kolë Idromeno](https://bliptext.com/articles/kol-idromeno), [David Selenica](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-selenica), [Kostandin Shpataraku](https://bliptext.com/articles/kostandin-shpataraku) and the [Zografi Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/zografi-brothers) are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.\nAlbanians in Italy and Croatia have been also active among others the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) influenced artists such as [Marco Basaiti](https://bliptext.com/articles/marco-basaiti), [Viktor Karpaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/vittore-carpaccio) and [Andrea Nikollë Aleksi](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-nikoll-aleksi).\nIn Greece, [Eleni Boukouras](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-boukouras) is noted as being the first great female painter of post [independence Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-war-of-independence).\nIn 1856, [Pjetër Marubi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-marubi) arrived in [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and established the first photography museum in Albania and probably the entire [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), the [Marubi Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-photography-marubi).\nThe collection of 150,000 photographs, captured by the Albanian-Italian Marubi dynasty, offers an ensemble of photographs depicting social rituals, traditional costumes, portraits of Albanian history.\nThe Kulla, a traditional [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n [dwelling](https://bliptext.com/articles/tower-house) constructed completely from natural materials, is a cultural relic from the medieval period particularly widespread in the southwestern region of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and northern region of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nThe rectangular shape of a Kulla is produced with irregular [stone](https://bliptext.com/articles/stone) ashlars, river pebbles and [chestnut](https://bliptext.com/articles/chestnut) woods, however, the size and number of floors depends on the size of the family and their financial resources.\n# [Kolë Idromeno is considered the most renowned painter of the Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Kol%C3%AB///Idromeno///%28i///ri%29.jpg]\n# [Medieval icon by Kostandin and Athanas Zografi in the Monastery of Ardenica. It illustrates the seven saints Clement, Naum, Sava, Angelar, Gorazd, Cyril, Method and the Albanian Jan Kukuzeli. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Sv///Sedmo%C4%8Dislenici///with///Jovan///Kukuzel///in///Ardenica.jpg]\n\n### Literature\nThe roots of [literature of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) with surviving works about history, theology and philosophy dating from the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance).\nThe earliest known use of written Albanian is a [baptismal formula](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-e-pag-zimit) (1462) written by the Archbishop of Durrës [Paulus Angelus](https://bliptext.com/articles/paulus-angelus).\nIn 1555, a Catholic clergyman [Gjon Buzuku](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-buzuku) from the Shestan region published the earliest known book written in Albanian titled [Meshari](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshari) (The Missal) regarding Catholic prayers and rites containing archaic medieval language, lexemes and expressions obsolete in contemporary Albanian.\nOther Christian clergy such as [Luca Matranga](https://bliptext.com/articles/luca-matranga) in the Arbëresh diaspora published (1592) in the Tosk dialect while other notable authors were from northern Albanian lands and included [Pjetër Budi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-budi), [Frang Bardhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/frang-bardhi), and [Pjetër Bogdani](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-bogdani).\nIn the 17th century and onwards, important contributions were made by the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) of [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) who played an influential role in encouraging the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nNotable among them was figures such as [Demetrio Camarda](https://bliptext.com/articles/demetrio-camarda), [Gabriele Dara](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabriele-dara), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Giulio Variboba](https://bliptext.com/articles/giulio-variboba) and [Giuseppe Serembe](https://bliptext.com/articles/giuseppe-serembe) who produced inspiring nationalist literature and worked to systematise the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Bejtexhinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/bejtexhinj) in the 18th century emerged as the result of the influences of [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and particularly [Sufism](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order) orders moving towards [Orientalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/orientalism).\nIndividuals such as [Nezim Frakulla](https://bliptext.com/articles/nezim-frakulla), [Hasan Zyko Kamberi](https://bliptext.com/articles/hasan-zyko-kamberi), [Shahin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shahin-frash-ri) and [Dalip Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalip-frash-ri) compiled literature infused with expressions, language and themes on the circumstances of the time, the insecurities of the future and their discontent at the conditions of the feudal system.\nThe Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century is important both for its valuable poetic achievement and for its variety within the Albanian literature.\nIt drew on the ideas of [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the interaction between nature and mankind.\n[Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Naim Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri), [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri) and [Pashko Vasa](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashko-vasa) maintained this movement and are remembered today for composing series of prominent works.\nThe 20th century was centred on the principles of [Modernism](https://bliptext.com/articles/modernism) and [Realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/realist-literature) and characterised by the development to a more distinctive and expressive form of Albanian literature.\nPioneers of the time include [Asdreni](https://bliptext.com/articles/asdreni), [Faik Konica](https://bliptext.com/articles/faik-konica), [Fan Noli](https://bliptext.com/articles/fan-noli), [Lasgush Poradeci](https://bliptext.com/articles/lasgush-poradeci), [Migjeni](https://bliptext.com/articles/migjeni) who chose to portray themes of contemporary life and most notably [Gjergj Fishta](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-fishta) who created the epic masterpiece Lahuta e Malcís.\nAfter World War II, Albania emerged as a communist state and Socialist realism became part of the literary scene.\nAuthors and poets emerged such as [Sejfulla Malëshova](https://bliptext.com/articles/sejfulla-mal-shova), [Dritero Agolli](https://bliptext.com/articles/dritero-agolli) and [Ismail Kadare](https://bliptext.com/articles/ismail-kadare) who has become an internationally acclaimed novelist and others who challenged the regime through various sociopolitical and historic themes in their works.\n[Martin Camaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-camaj) wrote in the diaspora while in neighbouring Yugoslavia, the emergence of Albanian cultural expression resulted in sociopolitical and poetic literature by notable authors like [Adem Demaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/adem-dema-i), [Rexhep Qosja](https://bliptext.com/articles/rexhep-qosja), [Jusuf Buxhovi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jusuf-buxhovi).\nThe literary scene of the 21st century remains vibrant producing new novelists, authors, poets and other writers.\n# [The Meshari is currently the earliest published book in the Albanian language written by Gjon Buzuku. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Meshari.jpg]\n# [The biography of Marin Barleti on Skanderbeg in Latin was translated into many different European languages. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Historia///de///vita///et///gestis///Scanderbegi%2C///Epirotarum///principis.jpg]\n\n## Performing arts\n\n### Apparel\nThe Albanian people have incorporated various natural materials from their local agriculture and livestock as a source of [attire](https://bliptext.com/articles/attire), clothing and fabrics.\nTheir [traditional apparel](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-national-clothing) was primarily influenced by [nature](https://bliptext.com/articles/nature), the [lifestyle](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology) and has continuously changed since ancient times.\nDifferent regions possesses their own exceptional clothing traditions and peculiarities varied occasionally in colour, material and shape.\nThe [traditional costume](https://bliptext.com/articles/traditional-costume) of Albanian men includes a white [skirt](https://bliptext.com/articles/skirt-garment) called [Fustanella](https://bliptext.com/articles/fustanella), a white shirt with wide [sleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/sleeve), and a thin black jacket or vest such as the [Xhamadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhamadan) or Xhurdia.\nIn winter, they add a warm [woolen](https://bliptext.com/articles/woolen) or [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur) coat known as Flokata or Dollama made from [sheepskin](https://bliptext.com/articles/sheepskin) or goat [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur).\nAnother authentic piece is called Tirq which is a tight pair of felt [trousers](https://bliptext.com/articles/trousers) mostly white, sometimes dark brown or black.\nThe Albanian women's costumes are much more elaborate, colorful and richer in ornamentation.\nIn all the Albanian regions the women's clothing often has been decorated with [filigree](https://bliptext.com/articles/filigree) [ironwork](https://bliptext.com/articles/ironwork), colorful embroidery, a lot of symbols and vivid accessories.\nA unique and ancient dress is called [Xhubleta](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhubleta), a bell shaped skirt reaching down to the calves and worn from the shoulders with two shoulder straps at the upper part.\nDifferent traditional handmade shoes and socks were worn by the Albanian people.\n[Opinga](https://bliptext.com/articles/opinga), leather shoes made from rough animal skin, were worn with [Çorape](https://bliptext.com/articles/orape), knitted woolen or cotton socks.\n[Headdresses](https://bliptext.com/articles/headdress) remain a contrasting and recognisable feature of Albanian traditional clothing.\nAlbanian men wore hats of various designs, shape and size.\nA common headgear is a [Plis](https://bliptext.com/articles/qeleshe) and Qylafë, in contrast, Albanian women wore a Kapica adorned with jewels or embroidery on the forehead, and a Lëvere or Kryqe which usually covers the head, shoulders and neck.\nWealthy Albanian women wore headdresses embellished with gems, gold or silver.\n# [Lord Byron dressed in the traditional Albanian costume traditionally consisting of the Fustanella and a Dollama decorated with filigree. Lord Byron in Albanian Dress by Thomas Phillips, 1813. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lord///Byron///in///Albanian///Dress///by///Phillips%2C///1813.jpg]\n\n### Music\nFor the Albanian people, [music](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-music) is a vital component to their [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture) and characterised by its own peculiar features and diverse melodic pattern reflecting the [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history), [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) and [way of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology).\nIt rather varies from region to another with two essential stylistic differences between the music of the [Ghegs](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nHence, their geographic position in Southeast Europe in combination with cultural, political and social issues is frequently expressed through music along with the accompanying [instruments](https://bliptext.com/articles/musical-instrument) and dances.\nAlbanian folk music is contrasted by the heroic tone of the Ghegs and the relaxed sounds of the Tosks.\nTraditional [iso-polyphony](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-iso-polyphony) perhaps represents the most noble and essential genre of the Tosks which was proclaimed a [Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-lists) by [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco).\nGhegs in contrast have a reputation for a distinctive variety of sung [epic poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-poetry) often about the tumultuous history of the Albanian people.\nThere are a number of internationally acclaimed singers of ethnic Albanian origin such as [Ava Max](https://bliptext.com/articles/ava-max), [Bebe Rexha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bebe-rexha), [Dua Lipa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dua-lipa), [Era Istrefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-istrefi), [Rita Ora](https://bliptext.com/articles/rita-ora), and rappers such as [Action Bronson](https://bliptext.com/articles/action-bronson), [Dardan](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardan-rapper), [Gashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gashi-rapper) and [Loredana Zefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/loredana-zefi).\nNotable singers of Albanian origin from the former [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) include [Selma Bajrami](https://bliptext.com/articles/selma-bajrami) and [Zana Nimani](https://bliptext.com/articles/zana-nimani).\nIn international competitions, [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) participated in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurovision-song-contest) for the first time in 2004.\nAlbanians have also represented other countries in the contest: [Anna Oxa](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-oxa) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 1989, [Adrian Gaxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/adrian-gaxha) for [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2008) in 2008, [Ermal Meta](https://bliptext.com/articles/ermal-meta) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 2018, [Eleni Foureira](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-foureira) for [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018) in 2018, as well as [Gjon Muharremaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-s-tears) for [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2021) in 2020 and 2021.\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) has never participated, but is currently applying to become a member of the [EBU](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-broadcasting-union) and therefore debut in the contest.\n# [Dua Lipa is the first Albanian to ever win a Grammy Award. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Dua///Lipa///with///Warner///Music///2.jpg]\n# [Southern Albanian polyphonic singers | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Fustanela///001.jpg]\n# [An Albanian bashi-bazouk singing and playing an oud. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1868. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Jean-L%C3%A9on///G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me///-///Bashi-Bazouk///Singing///-///Walters///37883.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nMany different [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) traditions, religious [faiths](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith) and [beliefs](https://bliptext.com/articles/belief) are practised by the Albanian people who historically have succeeded to coexist peacefully over the centuries in Southeast Europe.\nThey are traditionally both Christians and [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslims)—[Catholics](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism) and [Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/orthodoxy), [Sunnis](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunnism) and [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashism) and—but also to a lesser extent [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism), [Protestants](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestants) and [Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/judaism), constituting one of the most religiously diverse peoples of Europe.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century.\nThen, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054 after the schism, the north became identified with the [Roman Catholic Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic-church).\nSince that time all churches north of the Shkumbin river were Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Pope.\nVarious reasons have been put forward for the spread of Catholicism among northern Albanians.\nTraditional affiliation with the [Latin Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin-church) and Catholic missions in central Albania in the 12th century fortified the Catholic Church against Orthodoxy, while local leaders found an ally in Catholicism against Slavic Orthodox states.\nAfter the [Ottoman conquest of the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans), Christianity began to be overtaken by Islam, and Catholicism and Orthodoxy continued to be practiced with less frequency.\nDuring the [modern era](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-era), the monarchy and [communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) in Albania as well as the [socialism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialism) in Kosovo, historically part of [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), followed a systematic [secularisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/secularisation) of its people.\nThis policy was chiefly applied within the borders of both territories and produced a secular majority of its population.\nAll forms of Christianity, [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [pagan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pagan) practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture.\nThe current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the [Spring](https://bliptext.com/articles/spring-day) festival held yearly on 14 March in the city of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan).\nIt is a national holiday.\nThe communist regime which ruled Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions, and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [atheist state](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-atheism).\nReligious freedom returned to Albania following the regime's change in 1992.\nAlbanian Sunni Muslims are found throughout the country, [Albanian Orthodox Christians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-orthodox-church) as well as [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi) are concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics are found primarily in the north of the country.\nAccording to the 2011 Census, which has been recognised as unreliable by the [Council of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/council-of-europe), in Albania, 58.79% of the population adheres to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country.\nChristianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the second largest religion in the country.\nThe remaining population is either [irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligious) or belongs to other religious groups.\nBefore World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.\nToday, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.\nFor part of its history, [Albania has also had a Jewish community](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-jews-in-albania).\nMembers of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.\nMany left for Israel c. 1990–1992 when the borders were opened after the fall of the communist regime, but about 200 Jews still live in Albania.\n# [The Great Mosque of Tirana, Albania | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Great///Mosque///of///Tirana///%282020%29.jpg]\n# [The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Saint///Mother///Teresa///Cathedral///Prishtina8.jpg]\n# [Bektashi Tekke in Tetovo, North Macedonia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Arabati///Baba///Tekke.jpg]\n\n# Citations\n\n## Cited sources","wordIndex":14,"createdAt":"2025-03-25T18:37:52.727Z","user":{"id":"Em1dcdvj5Qux5MtUHVgPkybGQlaahaAr","name":"gicpr","image":"https://cdn.discordapp.com/avatars/188701483854725120/d87b9e85b92c2606f45890c019cdae99.png"}},{"id":"d02ad9a4-5e10-40ba-a5a2-27354c03d75f","wordChanged":"Serbs","newWord":":::summary\n![Albanians](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Map///of///the///Albanian///Diaspora///in///the///World.svg)\n**Group:** Albanians \n**Native Name:** Shqiptarët \n**Native Name Lang:** sq \n**Pop:** c. 7 to 10 million \n**Popplace:** 🇦🇱 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) 2,182,917 (2023) · [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 1,797,856 (2021) \n**Tablehdr:** Other regions \n**Region 1:** 🇮🇹 [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy) \n**Pop 1:** 970,000 \n**Region 2:** 🇬🇷 [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) \n**Pop 2:** 500,000–600,000 \n**Region 3:** [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) \n**Pop 3:** 446,245 \n**Region 3 6:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 3 6:** 500,000–6,000,000 \n**Region 4:** 🇲🇪 [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) \n**Pop 4:** 30,439 \n**Region 5:** 🇷🇸 [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia) \n**Pop 5:** 61,687 \n**Region 6:** 🇭🇷 [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) \n**Pop 6:** 17,513 \n**Region 7:** 🇸🇮 [Slovenia](https://bliptext.com/articles/slovenia) \n**Pop 7:** 6,186 \n**Region 8:** 🇪🇸 [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) \n**Pop 8:** 3,998 \n**Region 9:** 🇵🇹 [Portugal](https://bliptext.com/articles/portugal) \n**Pop 9:** 99 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇸🇪 [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden) \n**Pop 1 0:** 54,000 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇳🇴 [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway) \n**Pop 1 1:** 19,891 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom) \n**Pop 1 2:** 13,000 \n**Region 1 4:** 🇫🇮 [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) \n**Pop 1 4:** 10,391 \n**Region 1 5:** 🇩🇰 [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) \n**Pop 1 5:** 8,223 \n**Region 1 6:** 🇮🇪 [Ireland](https://bliptext.com/articles/ireland) \n**Pop 1 6:** 953–2,133 \n**Region 1 7:** 🇷🇴 [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) \n**Pop 1 7:** 10,000 \n**Region 1 8:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 8:** 5,000 \n**Region 1 9:** 🇨🇿 [Czech Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/czech-republic) \n**Pop 1 9:** 1,512 \n**Region 2 0:** 🇱🇻 [Latvia](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvia) \n**Pop 2 0:** 17 - 31 \n**Region 2 1:** 🇩🇪 [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) \n**Pop 2 1:** 200,000–300,000 \n**Region 2 2:** 🇨🇭 [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) \n**Pop 2 2:** 200,000 \n**Region 2 3:** 🇦🇹 [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) \n**Pop 2 3:** 28,212 \n**Region 2 4:** 🇫🇷 [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) \n**Pop 2 4:** 27,200 (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** 🇳🇱 [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands) \n**Pop 2 5:** 12,969 \n**Region 2 6:** 🇧🇪 [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) \n**Pop 2 6:** 5,600–30,000 \n**Region 2 7:** 🇱🇺 [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) \n**Pop 2 7:** 2,155 \n**Region 2 8:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 2 8:** 194,028 \n**Region 2 9:** 🇦🇷 [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) \n**Pop 2 9:** 50,000 \n**Region 3 0:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 3 0:** 39,055 \n**Region 3 1:** 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://bliptext.com/articles/colombia) \n**Pop 3 1:** 348 \n**Region 3 2:** 🇨🇺 [Cuba](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuba) \n**Pop 3 2:** 101 \n**Region 3 3:** 🇵🇦 [Panama](https://bliptext.com/articles/panama) \n**Pop 3 3:** 9 \n**Region 3 4:** 🇦🇺 [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) \n**Pop 3 4:** 11,315 \n**Region 3 5:** 🇳🇿 [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand) \n**Pop 3 5:** 243 \n**Region 3 7:** 🇪🇬 [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) \n**Pop 3 7:** 18,000 \n**Region 3 8:** 🇶🇦 [Qatar](https://bliptext.com/articles/qatar) \n**Pop 3 8:** 1,200 \n**Region 3 9:** 🇨🇾 [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus) \n**Pop 3 9:** 275 \n**Region 4 0:** 🇿🇦 [South Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-africa) \n**Pop 4 0:** 268 \n**Region 4 1:** 🇦🇪 [United Arab Emirates](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-arab-emirates) \n**Pop 4 1:** 200–300 \n**Languages:** [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) \n**Rels:** Majority**: · Star and Crescent.svg [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) · [Sunni](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam)·[Bektashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order)·[Non-denominational](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominational-muslim) · Minority**: · Christian cross.svg [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity) · [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholic-church) (Latin Church·Eastern Rites Albanian Greek-Catholic Church·Italo-Albanian Church)·[Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) (Albanian Orthodox Church·Albanian American Orthodox Church)·[Protestantism](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestantism) (Albanian Protestant Church·Kosovan Protestant Church) · Other**: · [Irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Footnotes:** 502,546 Albanian citizens, an additional 43,751 [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians), 260,000 [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and 169,644 Albanians who have acquired the Italian citizenship · Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. Of those with full or partial Albanian ancestry and others who have adopted [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) language, culture and identity their number is estimated at 1,300,000–5,000,000 many whom do not speak Albanian. · The estimation contains [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians). \n:::\n\n# \nThe **Serbs** are an [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) who share a common Albanian [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry), [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture), [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history) and [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThey are the main ethnic group of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), and they also live in the neighboring countries of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro), [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-serbia), as well as in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy), [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-croatia), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-turkey).\nAlbanians also constitute a large [diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/diaspora) with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.\n[The language of the Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nAlbanians have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Paleo-Balkan group contributed to the [ethnogenesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first mention of the ethnonym [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi) occurred in the 2nd century AD by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) describing an [Illyrian tribe](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-tribe) who lived around present-day central Albania.\nThe first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from 11th century chronicler [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) who describes them as living in the [theme of Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme).\nThe [Shkumbin River](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin-river) roughly demarcates the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) between [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) dialects.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century AD. Then, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054, after the [Great Schism](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-west-schism), the north gradually became identified with [Roman Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism) and the south with [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy).\nIn 1190 Albanians established the [Principality of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon) in central Albania with the capital in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nThe [Albanian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) has its roots in migration from the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) initially across Southern Europe and eventually across wider Europe and the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world).\nBetween the 13th and 18th centuries, sizeable numbers migrated to escape various social, economic or political difficulties.\nAlbanian population groups settled in [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece) between the 13th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites).\nOther Albanian population groups settled across [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily) between the 11th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arbëreshë](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people).\nAlbanians have also migrated [to Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) since the late 16th century.\nIn the 18th century smaller Albanian population groups settled in [Southern Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia) (who came to be known as [Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people)), and pockets of [Southern Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-ukraine)..\n\"We can say that all in some way belong to a kind of ethnic category, and often more than one. As an example, I cite the case of Zadar Arbanasi. To understand the problem of the Albanians and their ethnolinguistic (ethnic and linguistic) identity, it is necessary to go into the history of their immigration that goes back to the beginning of the 18th century., etc more precisely: the period from the first migration of 1726, the period of the second migration of 1733, and until 1754, which is considered to be the final year of their immigration. All they moved from three villages from the area of Lake Scutari – Briska, Šestan and Livara. Fleeing from the Ottomans, plague and other troubles, the general provider Nicola Erizzo II allowed them to settle in the area of today's Arbanasa and Zemunik. One part of the population in Zemunik became assimilated with the local population, forgetting their language.\nThese are for example, today's Prenda, Šestani, Ćurkovići, Paleke etc. The second part of the population tried to maintain their ethnic and linguistic identity during these 280 years.\nOn 10 May 2006 marked the 280th anniversary of their arrival in the suburb of Zadar.\nIt was not easy, especially in the beginning, because they did not have their own church, school, etc., and is the only way to maintain their identity and language was verbally.\"\nBy the 15th century, the expanding [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh), a union of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) led by [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg).\nBy the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians [converted](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamisation-of-albania) to [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam), which offered them equal opportunities and advancement [within the Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire).\nThereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader [Muslim world](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim-world).\nInnumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than [40 Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers), and under the [Köprülü](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension.\nBetween the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century [Albanian Pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-pashaliks) were established by [Kara Mahmud](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-mahmud-pasha) [pasha of Scutari](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-scutari), [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) [pasha of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina), and [Ahmet Kurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/ahmet-kurt-pasha) [pasha of Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat), while the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) Muhammad [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors).\nDuring the 19th century, cultural developments, widely attributed to Albanians having gathered both spiritual and intellectual strength, conclusively led to the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nIn 1912 during the [Balkan Wars](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-wars), Albanians declared the [independence of their country](https://bliptext.com/articles/independent-albania).\nThe demarcation of the new Albanian state was established following the [Treaty of Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-bucharest-1913) and left about half of the ethnic Albanian population outside of its borders, [partitioned](https://bliptext.com/articles/partition-politics) between Greece, Montenegro and Serbia.\nAfter the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) up until the [Revolutions of 1991](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania), Albania was governed by a [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) under [Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) where Albania became largely isolated from the rest of Europe.\nIn neighbouring [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), Albanians underwent periods of discrimination and systematic oppression that concluded with the [War of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-of-kosovo) and eventually with [Kosovar independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThe Albanians and their country Albania have been identified by many [ethnonyms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym).\nThe most common native [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) is \"Shqiptar\", plural \"Shqiptarë\"; the name \"Albanians\" ([Byzantine Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-greek): Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; [Latin](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin): Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered [European Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-languages) from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English \"Albanians\"; Italian \"Albanesi\"; German \"Albaner\"; [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) \"Arvanites\", \"Alvanitis\" (Αλβανίτης) plural: \"Alvanites\" (Αλβανίτες), \"Alvanos\" (Αλβανός) plural: \"Alvanoi\" (Αλβανοί); [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkish-language) \"Arnaut\", \"Arnavut\"; [South Slavic languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavic-languages) \"Arbanasi\" (Арбанаси), \"Albanci\" (Албанци); [Aromanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanian-language) \"Arbinesh\" and so on.\nThe term \"Albanoi\" (Αλβανοί) is first encountered on the works of Ptolemy (2nd century CE) also is encountered twice in the works of Byzantine historian [Michael Attaliates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaliates), and the term \"Arvanitai\" (Αρβανίται) is used once by the same author.\nHe referred to the \"Albanoi\" as having taken part in a revolt against the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 1043, and to the \"Arbanitai\" as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium (modern [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s)).\nThese references have been disputed as to whether they refer to the people of Albania.\nHistorian E. Vranoussi believes that these \"Albanoi\" were Normans from Sicily.\nShe also notes that the same term (as \"Albani\") in medieval Latin meant \"foreigners\".\nThe reference to \"Arvanitai\" from Attaliates regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078 is undisputed.\nIn later Byzantine usage, the terms \"Arbanitai\" and \"Albanoi\" with a range of variants were used interchangeably, while sometimes the same groups were also called by the classicising name Illyrians.\nThe first reference to the Albanian language dates to the latter 13th century (around 1285).\nThe national ethnonym Albanian and its variants are derived from [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi), first mentioned as an [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) tribe in the 2nd century CE by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) with their centre at the city of [Albanopolis](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanopolis), located in modern-day central Albania, somewhere in the hinterland of [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s).\nLinguists believe that the alb part in the root word originates from an Indo-European term for a type of mountainous topography, from which other words such as [alps](https://bliptext.com/articles/alps) are derived.\nThrough the root word alban and its rhotacized equivalents arban, albar, and arbar, the term in Albanian became rendered as Arbëneshë/Arbëreshë for the people and Arbënia/Arbëria for the country.\nThe Albanian language was referred to as Arbnisht and Arbërisht.\nWhile the [exonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/exonym) Albania for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does have connotations to Classical Antiquity, the Albanian language employs a different ethnonym, with modern Albanians referring to themselves as Shqip(ë)tarë and to their country as Shqipëria.\nTwo etymologies have been proposed for this ethnonym: one, derived from the etymology from the Albanian word for eagle (shqipe, var., shqiponjë).\nIn Albanian [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology), this word denotes a bird [totem](https://bliptext.com/articles/totem), dating from the times of Skanderbeg as displayed on the [Albanian flag](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-flag).\nThe other is within scholarship that connects it to the verb 'to speak' (me shqiptue) from the Latin \"excipere\".\nIn this instance the Albanian endonym like [Slav](https://bliptext.com/articles/slav-ethnonym) [and others](https://bliptext.com/articles/endonym) would originally have been a term connoting \"those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]\".\nThe words Shqipëri and Shqiptar are attested from 14th century onward, but it was only at the end of 17th and beginning of the early 18th centuries that the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëreshë amongst [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) speakers.\nThat era brought about religious and other sociopolitical changes.\nAs such a new and generalised response by Albanians based on ethnic and linguistic consciousness to this new and different [Ottoman world](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) emerging around them was a change in ethnonym..\n\"The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptarë, their country Shqipëri, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could be a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains (ÇABEJ 1976). The name passed over the boundaries of the Illyrian tribe in central Albania, and was generalised for all the Albanians.\nThey called themselves arbënesh, arbëresh, the country Arbëni, Arbëri, and the language arbëneshe, arbëreshe.\nIn the foreign languages, the Middle Ages denominations of these names survived, but for the Albanians they were substituted by shqiptarë, Shqipëri and shqipe.\nThe primary root is the adverb shqip, meaning \"clearly, intelligibly\".\nThere is a very close semantic parallel to this in the German noun Deutsche, \"the Germans\" and \"the German language\" (Lloshi 1984) Shqip spread out from the north to the south, and Shqipni/Shqipëri is probably a collective noun, following the common pattern of Arbëni, Arbëri.\nThe change happened after the Ottoman conquest because of the conflict in the whole line of the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural spheres with a totally alien world of the Oriental type.\nA new and more generalised ethnic and linguistic consciousness of all these people responded to this.\"\n\n## Historical records\nLittle is known about the Albanian people prior to the 11th century, though a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the [Bulgarian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarian-language) contains a possible reference to them.\nIt is preserved in a [manuscript](https://bliptext.com/articles/manuscript) written in the [Serbo-Croatian Language](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian-language) traced back to the 17th century but published in the 20th century by Radoslav Grujic.\nIt is a fragment of a once longer text that endeavours to explain the origins of peoples and languages in a question-and-answer form similar to a [catechism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catechism).\nThe fragmented manuscript differentiated the world into 72 languages and three religious categories including Christians, half-believers and non-believers.\nGrujic dated it to the early 11th century and, if this and the identification of the Arbanasi as Albanians are correct, it would be the earliest written document referring to the Balkan Albanians as a people or language group.\n\"It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian (Georgian). There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), Arbanasi (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi and Germans.\"\n[Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080) mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nAs such, it is considered to be the first attestation of Albanians as an ethnic group in Byzantine historiography.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Vranoussi-Ducellier debate\", Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vranoussi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThis debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\n\n# Language\nAlbanians speak the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language), which is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nIt had its formative core in the Western Balkans after the [Indo-European migrations](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-migrations) in the region from about 3000 to 2500 BCE.\nThe Albanian language is spoken today by approximately 5 million people throughout the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) as well as by a more substantial number by [communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) around the Americas, Europe and Oceania.\nNumerous variants and dialects of Albanian are used as an [official language](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) in Albania, [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nThe language is also spoken in other countries whence it is officially recognised as a [minority language](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-language) in such countries as [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), Italy, [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are two principal [dialects](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-dialects) of the Albanian language traditionally represented by [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nThe ethnogeographical dividing line is traditionally considered to be the [Shkumbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin) river, with Gheg spoken in the north of it and Tosk in the south.\nDialects of linguistic minorities spoken in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-croatia) ([Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-dialect) and [Istrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/istrian-albanian)), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-albanians), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro) and northwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) are classified as Gheg, while those spoken in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), southwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) and Italy as Tosk.\nThe [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language) and [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika) dialects of the Albanian language, are spoken by the [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language)ë and [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) in [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece), respectively.\nThey retain elements of medieval Albanian vocabulary and pronunciation that are no longer used in modern Albanian; however, both varieties are classified as [endangered languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/endangered-language) in the [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco) [Red Book of Endangered Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/red-book-of-endangered-languages).\nThe [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) is spoken by the [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians), a community that originates from [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria) in what is currently north-western Greece and southern Albania; the use of the [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) in Greece is declining rapidly, while [Cham communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) in Albania and the diaspora have preserved it.\nMost of the Albanians in Albania and the [Former Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/former-yugoslavia) are [polyglot](https://bliptext.com/articles/polyglotism) and have the ability to understand, speak, read, or write a [foreign language](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-language).\nAs defined by the [Institute of Statistics of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/institute-of-statistics-albania), 39.9% of the 25 to 64 years old Albanians in Albania are able to use at least one foreign language including English (40%), Italian (27.8%) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) (22.9%).\nThe origin of the Albanian language remains a contentious subject that has given rise to numerous [hypotheses](https://bliptext.com/articles/hypothesis).\nThe hypothesis of Albanian being one of the descendant of the [Illyrian languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-languages) ([Messapic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/messapic-language)) is based on [geography](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) where the languages were spoken however not enough archaeological evidence is left behind to come therefore to a definite conclusion.\nAnother hypothesis associates the Albanian language with the [Thracian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/thracian-language).\nThis theory takes exception to the territory, since the language was spoken in an area distinct from Albania, and no significant population movements have been recorded in the period when the shift from one language to the other is supposed to have occurred.\n# [The dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Albanian///language///map///en.svg]\n# [Classification of Albanian in the Paleo-Balkanic branch as suggested by Brian D. Joseph and Adam Hyllested in \"The Indo-European Language Family\" (2022) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Classification///of///Albanian.png]\n\n# History\n\n## Late Antiquity\nThe [Komani-Kruja culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/komani-kruja-culture) is an archaeological culture attested from late antiquity to the Middle Ages in central and northern Albania, southern Montenegro and similar sites in the western parts of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nIt consists of settlements usually built below hillforts along the [Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/lezh) ([Praevalitana](https://bliptext.com/articles/praevalitana))-[Dardania](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardania-roman-province) and [Via Egnatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/via-egnatia) road networks which connected the Adriatic coastline with the central Balkan Roman provinces.\nIts [type site](https://bliptext.com/articles/type-site) is Komani and its fort on the nearby Dalmace hill in the Drin river valley.\n[Kruja](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruja) and Lezha represent significant sites of the culture.\nThe population of Komani-Kruja represents a local, western Balkan people which was linked to the Roman Justinianic military system of forts.\nThe development of Komani-Kruja is significant for the study of the transition between the [classical antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-antiquity) population of Albania to the medieval Albanians who were attested in historical records in the 11th century.\nWinnifrith (2020) recently described this population as the survival of a \"Latin-Illyrian\" culture which emerged later in historical records as Albanians and [Vlachs](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlachs) ([Eastern Romance](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-romance-languages)-speaking people).\nIn Winnifrith's narrative, the geographical conditions of northern Albania favored the continuation of the Albanian language in hilly and mountainous areas as opposed to lowland valleys.\n# [Glass necklace, 7th – 8th century, Shurdhah | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Glass///necklace%2C///7th///-///8th///century%2C///Shurdhah///-///Archeological///Museum///of///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Middle Ages\nThe Albanian people maintain a very chequered and tumultuous history behind them, a fact explained by their geographical position in the [Southeast of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/southeast-europe) at the cultural and political crossroad between the east and west, but they also have historically inhabited a hardly accessible mountainous region, which helped them preserve their peculiar culture and language.\nThe issue surrounding the [origin of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) has long been debated by historians and [linguists](https://bliptext.com/articles/linguist) for centuries.\nThey have [Paleo-Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages) origins, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Peleo-Balkan group contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080).\nAttaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Ducellier-Vrannousi\" debate, Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vrannousi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThe debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\nThe name reflects the Albanian endonym Arbër/n + esh which itself derives from the same root as the name of the [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi)\nHistorically known as the Arbër or Arbën by the 11th century and onwards, they traditionally inhabited the mountainous area to the west of [Lake Ochrida](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-ochrida) and the upper valley of the Shkumbin river.\nThough it was in 1190 when they established their first independent entity, the [Principality of Arbër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arb-r) (Arbanon), with its seat based in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nImmediately after the decline of the [Progon dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-progon) in 1216, the principality came under [Gregorios Kamonas](https://bliptext.com/articles/gregorios-kamonas) and next his son-in-law [Golem](https://bliptext.com/articles/golem-of-kruja).\nFinally, the Principality was dissolved in ca. 1255 by the [Empire of Nicea](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-of-nicea) followed by an unsuccessful [rebellion between 1257 and 1259](https://bliptext.com/articles/rebellion-of-arbanon) supported by the [Despotate of Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/despotate-of-epirus).\nIn the meantime [Manfred, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/manfred-king-of-sicily) profited from the situation and launched an invasion into Albania.\nHis forces, led by [Philippe Chinard](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippe-chinard), captured [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor), [Spinarizza](https://bliptext.com/articles/island-of-zv-rnec), their surroundings and the southern coastline of Albania from [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) to [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint).\nIn 1266 after [defeating Manfred's forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-benevento) and killing him, the [Treaty of Viterbo](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-viterbo) of 1267 was signed, with [Charles I, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-i-king-of-sicily) acquiring rights on Manfred's dominions in Albania.\nLocal noblemen such as [Andrea Vrana](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-vrana) refused to surrender Manfred's former domains, and in 1271 negotiations were initiated.\nIn 1272 the [Kingdom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-albania-medieval) was created after a delegation of Albanian noblemen from Durrës signed a treaty declaring union with the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles.\nCharles soon imposed military rule, new taxes, took sons of Albanian noblemen hostage to ensure loyalty, and confiscated lands for [Angevin](https://bliptext.com/articles/capetian-house-of-anjou) nobles.\nThis led to discontent among Albanian noblemen, several of whom turned to Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-viii).\nIn late 1274, Byzantine forces helped by local Albanian noblemen capture Berat and Butrint.\nCharles' attempt to advance towards Constantinople failed at the [Siege of Berat (1280–1281)](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-berat-1280-1281).\nA Byzantine counteroffensive ensued, which drove the Angevins out of the interior by 1281.\nThe [Sicilian Vespers](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicilian-vespers) rebellion further weakened the position of Charles, who died in 1285.\nBy the end of the 13th century, most of Albania was under Byzantine Emperor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](https://bliptext.com/articles/andronikos-ii-palaiologos).\nIn 1296 Serbian king [Stephen Milutin](https://bliptext.com/articles/stephen-milutin) captured Durrës.\nIn 1299 Andronikos II married his daughter Simonis to Milutin and the lands he had conquered were considered as [dowry](https://bliptext.com/articles/dowry).\nIn 1302, [Philip I, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/philip-i-prince-of-taranto), grandson of Charles, claimed his rights on the Albanian kingdom and gained the support of local Albanian Catholics who preferred him over the Orthodox Serbs and Greeks, as well as the support of [Pope Benedict XI](https://bliptext.com/articles/pope-benedict-xi).\nIn the summer of 1304, the Serbs were expelled from the city of Durrës by the locals who submitted themselves to Angevin rule.\nProminent Albanian leaders during this time were the [Thopia family](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), ruling in an area between the Mat and Shkumbin rivers, and the [Muzaka family](https://bliptext.com/articles/muzaka-family) in the territory between the Shkumbin and Vlorë.\nIn 1279, Gjon I Muzaka, who remained loyal to the Byzantines and resisted Angevin conquest of Albania, was captured by the forces of Charles but later released following pressure from Albanian nobles.\nThe Muzaka family continued to remain loyal to the Byzantines and resisted the expansion of the [Serbian Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-kingdom-medieval).\nIn 1335 the head of the family, Andrea II Muzaka, gained the title of [Despot](https://bliptext.com/articles/despot-court-title) and other Muzakas pursued careers in the Byzantine government in Constantinople.\nAndrea II soon endorsed an anti-Byzantine revolt in his domains between 1335–1341 and formed an alliance with [Robert, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-prince-of-taranto) in 1336.\nIn 1336, Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](https://bliptext.com/articles/stefan-du-an) captured Durrës, including the territory under the control of the Muzaka family.\nAlthough Angevins managed to recapture Durazzo, Dušan continued his expansion, and in the period of 1337–45 he had captured [Kanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanin) and [Valona](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) in southern Albania.\nAround 1340 forces of Andrea II defeated the Serbian army at the [Pelister](https://bliptext.com/articles/pelister) mountain.\nAfter the death of Stefan Dušan in 1355 the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire) disintegrated, and [Karl Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/karl-thopia) captured Durrës while the Muzaka family of Berat regained control over parts of southeastern Albania and over [Kastoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/kastoria) that Andrea II captured from [Prince Marko](https://bliptext.com/articles/prince-marko) after the [Battle of Marica](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-marica) in 1371.\nThe kingdom reinforced the influence of Catholicism and the conversion to its rite, not only in the region of Durrës but in other parts of the country.\nA new wave of Catholic dioceses, churches and monasteries were founded, papal missionaries and a number of different religious orders began spreading into the country.\nThose who were not Catholic in central and northern Albania converted and a great number of Albanian clerics and monks were present in the Dalmatian Catholic institutions.\nAround 1230 the two main centers of Albanian settlements were around [Devoll river](https://bliptext.com/articles/devoll-river) in what is now central Albania and the other around the region known as Arbanon.\nAlbanian presence in Croatia can be traced back to the beginning of the [Late Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-middle-ages).\nIn this period, there was a significant Albanian community in [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dubrovnik) with a number of families of Albanian origin inclusively the [Sorgo family](https://bliptext.com/articles/sorgo-family) who came from the [Cape of Rodon](https://bliptext.com/articles/cape-of-rodon) in central Albania, across [Kotor](https://bliptext.com/articles/kotor) in eastern Montenegro, to [Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia).\nBy the 13th century, Albanian merchants were trading directly with the peoples of the [Republic of Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) in Dalmatia which increased familiarity between Albanians and Ragusans.\nThe upcoming invasion of Albania by the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) and the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg) caused many Christian Albanians to flee to Dalmatia and surrounding countries.\nIn the 14th century a number of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) were created.\nThese included [Principality of Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti), [Principality of Dukagjini](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-dukagjini), [Princedom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval), and [Principality of Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-gjirokast-r).\nAt the beginning of the 15th century these principalities became stronger, especially because of the fall of the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire).\nSome of these principalities were united in 1444 under the anti-Ottoman military alliance called [League of Lezha](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh).\nAlbanians were recruited all over Europe as a light cavalry known as [stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti).\nThe stratioti were pioneers of light cavalry tactics during the 15th century.\nIn the early 16th century heavy cavalry in the European armies was principally remodeled after Albanian stradioti of the Venetian army, Hungarian [hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/hussar) and German mercenary cavalry units (Schwarzreitern).\n# [The city of Krujë served as the royal seat of the Principality of Arbanon and later as the noble residence of the Kastrioti family. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Kal-1.jpg]\n\n## Ottoman Empire\nPrior to the [Ottoman conquest of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire), the political situation of the Albanian people was characterised by a fragmented conglomeration of scattered [kingdoms](https://bliptext.com/articles/realm) and [principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/principalities-of-albania) such as the [Principalities of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon), [Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti) and [Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval).\nBefore and after the [fall of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-constantinople), the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) continued an extended period of conquest and expansion with its borders going deep into the [Southeast Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans).\nAs a consequence thousands of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus) and [Peloponnese](https://bliptext.com/articles/peloponnese) escaped to [Calabria](https://bliptext.com/articles/calabria), [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern), whereby others sought protection at the often inaccessible Mountains of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nUnder the leadership of [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg), a former governor of the Ottoman [Sanjak of Dibra](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-dibra), a prosperous and longstanding revolution erupted with the formation of the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh) in 1444 up until the [Siege of Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) ending in 1479, multiple times defeating the mightiest power of the time led by [Sultans](https://bliptext.com/articles/sultan) [Murad II](https://bliptext.com/articles/murad-ii) and [Mehmed II](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-the-conqueror).\nSkanderbeg managed to gather several of the Albanian principals, amongst them the [Arianitis](https://bliptext.com/articles/arianiti-family), [Dukagjinis](https://bliptext.com/articles/dukagjini-family), [Zaharias](https://bliptext.com/articles/zaharia-family) and [Thopias](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), and establish a centralised authority over most of the non-conquered territories and proclaiming himself the Lord of Albania (Dominus Albaniae in Latin).\nSkanderbeg consistently pursued the aim relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans.\nHis unequal fight against them won the esteem of Europe and financial and military aid from the [Papacy](https://bliptext.com/articles/papacy) and [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice) and [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa).\nThe Albanians, then predominantly Christian, were initially considered as an [inferior class](https://bliptext.com/articles/rayah) of people and as such were subjected to heavy [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/jizya) such as the [Devshirme](https://bliptext.com/articles/devshirme) system that allowed the state to collect a requisite percentage of Christian adolescents from the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and elsewhere to compose the [Janissary](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissary).\nSince the Albanians were seen as strategically important, they made up a significant proportion of the [Ottoman military](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-military) and bureaucracy.\nThey were therefore to be found within the imperial services as vital military and administrative retainers from [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) to [Algeria](https://bliptext.com/articles/algeria) and the rest of the [Maghreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/maghreb).\nIn the late 18th century, [Ali Pasha Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-tepelena) created the autonomous region of the [Pashalik of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina) within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) which was never recognised as such by the [High Porte](https://bliptext.com/articles/high-porte).\nThe territory he properly governed incorporated most of southern [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus), [Thessaly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thessaly) and southwestern [Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-region) region.\nDuring his rule, the town of [Janina](https://bliptext.com/articles/janina) blossomed into a cultural, political and economic hub for both Albanians and Greeks.\nThe ultimate goal of Ali Pasha Tepelena seems to have been the establishment of an independent rule in Albania and Epirus.\nThus, he obtained control of [Arta](https://bliptext.com/articles/arta-greece) and took control over the ports of [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint), [Preveza](https://bliptext.com/articles/preveza) and [Vonitsa](https://bliptext.com/articles/vonitsa).\nHe also gained control of the [pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik) of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan), [Delvina](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-delvina), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat) and [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-avlona).\nHis relations with the High Porte were always tense though he developed and maintained relations with the [British](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-empire), [French](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-french-empire) and [Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and formed alliances with them at various times.\nIn the 19th century, the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) [Muhammad Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century.\nAfter a brief [French invasion](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-egypt) led by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://bliptext.com/articles/napoleon-bonaparte) and the Ottomans and [Mameluks](https://bliptext.com/articles/mameluk) competing for power there, he managed collectively with his Albanian troops to become the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt.\nAs he revolutionised the military and economic spheres of Egypt, his empire attracted Albanian people contributing to the emergence of the [Albanian diaspora in Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-egypt) initially formed by Albanian soldiers and mercenaries.\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) arrived in the lands of the Albanian people gradually and grew widespread between at least the 17th and 18th centuries.\nThe new religion brought many transformations into Albanian society and henceforth offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nWith the advent of increasing suppression on [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism), the Ottomans initially focused their conversions on the Catholic Albanians of the north in the 17th century and followed suit in the 18th century on the Orthodox Albanians of the south.\nAt this point, the urban centers of [central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-albania) and [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) had largely adopted the religion of the growing Muslim Albanian elite.\nMany mosques and [takyas](https://bliptext.com/articles/takya) were constructed throughout those urban centers and cities such as [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjirokast-r), [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) started to flourish.\nIn the far [north](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-albania), the spread of Islam was slower due to Catholic Albanian resistance and the inaccessible and rather remote mountainous terrain.\nThe motives for [conversion](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-conversion) to Islam are subject to differing interpretations according to scholars depending on the context though the lack of sources does not help when investigating such issues.\nReasons included the incentive to escape high [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxation-in-the-ottoman-empire) levied on non-Muslims subjects, [ecclesiastical](https://bliptext.com/articles/ecclesiastical) decay, coercion by Ottoman authorities in times of war, and the privileged legal and social position Muslims within the Ottoman administrative and political machinery had over that of non-Muslims.\nAs Muslims, the Albanians attained powerful positions in the Ottoman administration including over three dozen [Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers) of Albanian origin, among them [Zagan Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagan-pasha), [Bayezid Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-pasha) and members of the [Köprülü family](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), and regional rulers such as [Muhammad Ali of Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) and [Ali Pasha of Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-tepelena).\nThe Ottoman sultans [Bayezid II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-ii) and [Mehmed III](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-iii) were both Albanian on their [maternal side](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-mothers-of-the-ottoman-sultans).\nAreas such as Albania, western North Macedonia, southern Serbia, Kosovo, parts of northern Greece and southern Montenegro in Ottoman sources were referred to as Arnavudluk or Albania.\n# [Albanian pashaliks in 1815–1821 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Albanian///Pashaliks%2C///1815-1821.png]\n# [Albanian Chief, lithography by Alphonse-Léon Noël, 1828 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Chef///Albanais%2C///G.10376%282%29.jpg]\n\n## Albanian Renaissance\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) characterised a period wherein the Albanian people gathered both [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) and intellectual strength to establish their rights for an independent political and social life, culture and education.\nBy the late 18th century and the early 19th century, its foundation arose within the [Albanian communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy) and [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) and was frequently linked to the influences of the [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) principles.\nAlbania was under the rule of the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) for almost five centuries and the Ottoman authorities suppressed any expression of unity or national conscience by the Albanian people.\nA number of thoroughly intellectual Albanians, among them [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Thimi Mitko](https://bliptext.com/articles/thimi-mitko), [Naim](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri) and [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri), made a conscious effort to awaken feelings of pride and unity among their people by working to develop [Albanian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) that would call to mind the rich history and hopes for a more decent future.\nThe Albanians had poor or often no schools or other institutions in place to protect and preserve their [cultural heritage](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-heritage).\nThe need for schools was preached initially by the increasing number of Albanians educated abroad.\nThe Albanian communities in Italy and elsewhere were particularly active in promoting the Albanian cause, especially in education which finally resulted with the foundation of the [Mësonjëtorja](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-sonj-torja) in [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor), the first secular school in the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Turkish yoke](https://bliptext.com/articles/rise-of-nationalism-in-the-ottoman-empire) had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the people in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), and their march toward independence quickened.\nDue to the more substantial of Islamic influence, the Albanians internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian territories to the emerging neighbouring states, [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria) and [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece), were among the last peoples in the Balkans to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.\nThe national awakening as a coherent political movement emerged after the [Treaty of San Stefano](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-san-stefano), according to which Albanian-inhabited territories were to be ceded to the neighbouring states, and focused on preventing that partition.\nIt was the impetus for the nation-building movement, which was based more on fear of partition than national identity.\nEven after the [declaration of independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania), national identity was fragmented and possibly non-existent in much of the newly proposed country.\nThe state of disunity and fragmentation would remain until the communist period following [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war), when the communist nation-building project would achieve greater success in nation-building and reach more people than any previous regime, thus creating Albanian national communist identity.\n# [Naum Veqilharxhi was one of the earliest figures of the early Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/NaumVeqilharxhi.jpg]\n# [Naim Frashëri was a well known rilindas and is considered to be the pioneer of modern Albanian literature. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Naim///Frash%C3%ABri.jpg]\n\n## Communism in Albania\n[Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) of the Communist [Party of Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/party-of-labour-of-albania) took power in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) in 1946.\nAlbania established an alliance with the [Eastern Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-bloc) which provided Albania with many advantages in the form of economic assistance and military protection from the [Western Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-bloc) during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nThe Albanians experienced a period of several beneficial political and economic changes.\nThe [government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-albania) defended the territorial [integrity](https://bliptext.com/articles/integrity) and [sovereignty](https://bliptext.com/articles/sovereignty) of Albania, diversified the economy through a programme of industrialisation which led to a higher [standard of living](https://bliptext.com/articles/standard-of-living) and followed improvements in areas such as health, education and infrastructure.\nIt subsequently followed a period wherein the Albanians lived within an extreme isolation from the rest of the world for the next four decades.\nBy 1967, the established government had officially proclaimed Albania to be the first [atheistic state](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheistic-state) in the world as they beforehand confiscated [churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-church), [monasteries](https://bliptext.com/articles/monasteries) and mosques, and any religious expression instantly became grounds for imprisonment.\nProtests coinciding with the emerging [revolutions of 1989](https://bliptext.com/articles/revolutions-of-1989) began to break out in various cities throughout Albania including [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and [Tirana](https://bliptext.com/articles/tirana) which eventually lead to the [fall of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania).\nSignificant internal and external migration waves of Albanians to such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy followed.\n[Bunkerisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunkerisation) is arguably the most visible and memorable legacy of communism in Albania.\nNearly 175,000 reinforced concrete [bunkers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunker) were built on strategic locations across [Albania's territory](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) including near borders, within towns, on the seashores or mountains.\nThese bunkers were never used for their intended purpose or for sheltering the population from attacks or an invasion by a neighbor.\nHowever, they were abandoned after the breakup of communism and have been sometimes reused for a variety of purposes.\n# [Albanian partisans, with their leader Enver Hoxha in the center, after the liberation of Tirana on 17 November 1944 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Partisans///in///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Independence of Kosovo\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) declared [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo) from Serbia on 17 February 2008, after years of strained relations between the Serb and predominantly [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) population of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo).\nIt has been officially recognised by Australia, Canada, the United States and major [European Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-union) countries, while Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence, claiming it as [Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija](https://bliptext.com/articles/autonomous-province-of-kosovo-and-metohija) under [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1244).\nThe overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population is ethnically Albanian with nearly 1.7 million people.\nTheir presence as well as in the adjacent regions of [Toplica](https://bliptext.com/articles/toplica-district) and [Morava](https://bliptext.com/articles/moravac) is recorded since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nAs the Serbs expelled many Albanians from the wider Toplica and Morava regions in Southern Serbia, which the 1878 [Congress of Berlin](https://bliptext.com/articles/congress-of-berlin) had given to the [Principality of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-serbia), many of them settled in Kosovo.\nAfter being an integral section of the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-yugoslavia), Kosovo including its Albanian population went through a period of discrimination, economic and political persecution.\nRights to use the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) were guaranteed by the constitution of the later formed [Socialist Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia) and was widely used in Macedonia and Montenegro prior to the [dissolution of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-yugoslavia).\nIn 1989, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity of Yugoslavia with rights similar to those of the six other republics and eventually became part of [Serbia and Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia-and-montenegro).\nIn 1998, tensions between the [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) and [Serb](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbs-in-kosovo) population of Kosovo culminated in the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war), which led to the external and internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo)s.\nSerbian paramilitary forces committed war crimes in Kosovo, although the [government of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/government-of-serbia) claims that the army was only going after suspected Albanian terrorists.\n[NATO](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato) launched a [78-day air campaign](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia) in 1999, which eventually led to an end to the war.\n# [The Newborn monument in Pristina was unveiled at the celebration of the Independence of Kosovo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Geb%C3%A4ude///der///UNMIK///NEW///BORN///SIGN///PRISTINA///KOSOVO///Giv///Owned///Image///23///August///2008.jpg]\n\n# Distribution\n\n## Balkans\nApproximately five million [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns are geographically distributed across the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) with about half this number living in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia) and [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) as well as to a more lesser extent in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are also significant Albanian populations in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece).\nApproximately 1.8 million Albanians are concentrated in the partially recognised [Republic of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-kosovo).\nThey are geographically distributed south of the [municipality](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-kosovo) of [North Mitrovica](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-mitrovica) and constitute the overall majority ethnic group of the territory.\nIn [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 30,000 forming one of the constituent ethnic [minority groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-group) of the country.\nThey predominantly live in the [coastal region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) of Montenegro around the municipalities of [Ulcinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulcinj-municipality) and [Bar](https://bliptext.com/articles/bar-municipality) but also Tuz and around [Plav](https://bliptext.com/articles/plav-municipality) in the [northern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) as well as in the capital city of [Podgorica](https://bliptext.com/articles/podgorica) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro).\nIn [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia), there are more than approximately 500,000 Albanians constituting the largest ethnic minority group in the country.\nThe vast majority of the Albanians are chiefly concentrated around the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-the-republic-of-macedonia) of [Tetovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/tetovo-municipality) and [Gostivar](https://bliptext.com/articles/gostivar-municipality) in the [northwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/polog-statistical-region), [Struga](https://bliptext.com/articles/struga-municipality) and [Debar](https://bliptext.com/articles/debar-municipality) in the [southwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/southwestern-statistical-region) as well as around the capital of [Skopje](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje-statistical-region).\nIn [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), the number of Albanians stands at approximately 17.500 mostly concentrated in the [counties](https://bliptext.com/articles/counties-of-croatia) of [Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/istria-county), [Split-Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/split-dalmatia-county) and most notably in the capital city of [Zagreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagreb).\nThe [Arbanasi people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people) who historically migrated to [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) live in scattered communities across [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and Southern [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine).\nIn [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), the Albanians are an officially recognised ethnic minority group with a population of around 70,000.\nThey are significantly concentrated in the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-and-cities-of-serbia) of [Bujanovac](https://bliptext.com/articles/bujanovac) and [Preševo](https://bliptext.com/articles/pre-evo) in the [Pčinja District](https://bliptext.com/articles/p-inja-district).\nIn [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania), the number of Albanians is unofficially estimated from 500 to 10,000 mainly distributed in [Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucharest).\nThey are recognised as an ethnic minority group and are respectively represented in [Parliament of Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/parliament-of-romania).\n# [American ethnographic map of the Balkan Peninsula, 1914; Albanian-inhabited areas are colored in light orange. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Balkan%2BMikrasia///1914.jpg]\n# [The historical settlement of the Arbanasi people is presently a neighborhood of Zadar in Croatia. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Aerial///view///of///the///historical///center///of///Zadar%2C///Croatia///%2848607312728%29.jpg]\n\n## Italy\nThe [Italian Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-peninsula) across the [Adriatic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/adriatic-sea) has attracted Albanian people for more than half a millennium often due to its immediate proximity.\nAlbanians in Italy later became important in establishing the fundamentals of the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) and maintaining the [Albanian culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture).\nThe [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) came sporadically in several small and large cycles initially as [Stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti) mercenaries in service of the kingdoms of [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern) and the [Republic of Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice).\nLarger migration waves occurred after the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/skanderbeg) and the capture of [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-kruj-1478) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) by the [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) to escape the forthcoming political and religious changes.\nToday, Arbëreshë constitute one of the largest [ethnolinguistic](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnolinguistic-group) minority groups and their language is recognized and protected constitutionally under the provisions of the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages).\nThe total number of [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) is approximately 260,000 scattered across [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily), Calabria and [Apulia](https://bliptext.com/articles/apulia).\nThere are Italian Albanians in the Americas especially in such countries as [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina), Chile, [Uruguay](https://bliptext.com/articles/uruguay), Canada and the United States.\nAfter 1991, a mass migration of Albanians towards Italy occurred.\nBetween 2015 and 2016, the number of Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence in Italy was numbered to be around 480,000 and 500,000.\n[Tuscany](https://bliptext.com/articles/tuscany), Lombardy and [Emilia-Romagna](https://bliptext.com/articles/emilia-romagna) represent the [regions](https://bliptext.com/articles/regions-of-italy) with the strongest presence of the modern Albanian population in Italy.\nAs of 2022, 433,000 Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence lived in Italy and were the second largest migrant community in Italy after Romanians.\nAs of 2018, an additional ca. 200,000 Albanian migrants have obtained Italian citizenship (children born in Italy not included).\nAs of 2012, 41.5% of the Albanian in Italy population were counted as [Muslim](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim), 38.9% as [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) including 27.7% as [Roman Catholic](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic) and 11% as [Eastern Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox) and 17.8% as [Irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion).\n# [Giovanni Francesco Albani was of Albanian origin and served as the Pope from 1700 to 1721. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CLEMENS///XI.PNG]\n# [Arbëreshë in traditional costume in the Piana degli Albanesi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Pasqua///Piana///degli///Albanesi.jpg]\n\n## Greece\nThe [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) and [Albanians of Western Thrace](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-western-thrace) are a group descended from [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosks) who migrated to southern and central Greece between the 13th and 16th centuries.\nThey are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of [Tosk Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) known as [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika), they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify as Albanians.\n.\n\"First, we can explain the astonishing persistence of Albanian village culture from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries through the ethnic and religious tolerance characteristic of Islamic empires and so lacking in their Christian equivalents. Ottoman control rested upon allowing local communities to keep their religion, language, local laws, and representatives, provided that taxes were paid (the millet system). There was no pressure for Greeks and Albanians to conform to each other's language or other behavior. Clear signs of change are revealed in the travel diaries of the German scholar Ludwig Ross (1851), when he accompanied the Bavarian Otto, whom the Allies had foisted as king upon the newly freed Greek nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence in the 1830s. Ross praises the well-built Greek villages of central Greece with their healthy, happy, dancing inhabitants, and contrasts them specifically with the hovels and sickly inhabitants of Albanian villages.\nIn fact, recent scholarship has underlined how far it was the West that built modem Greece in its own fanciful image as the land of a long-oppressed people who were the direct descendants of Pericles.\nThus from the late nineteenth century onward the children of the inhabitants of the new \"nation-state\" were taught in Greek, history confined itself to the episodes of pure Greekness, and the tolerant Ottoman attitude to cultural diversity yielded to a deliberate policy of total Hellenization of the populace—effective enough to fool the casual observer.\nOne is rather amazed at the persistence today of such dual-speaking populations in much of the Albanian colonization zone.\nHowever, apart from the provinciality of this essentially agricultural province, a high rate of illiteracy until well into this century has also helped to preserve Arvanitika in the Boeotian villagers (Meijs 1993).\"; p. 140. \"In contrast therefore to the more openly problematic issue of Slav speakers in northern Greece, Arvanitic speakers in central Greece lack any signs of an assertive ethnicity.\nI would like to suggest that they possess what we might term a passive ethnicity.\nAs a result of a number of historical factors, much of the rural population in central Greece was Albanian-speaking by the time of the creation of the modern Greek state in the 1830s.\nUntil this century, most of these people were illiterate and unschooled, yet there existed sufficient knowledge of Greek to communicate with officials and townspeople, itinerant traders, and so on, to limit the need to transform rural language usage.\nLife was extremely provincial, with just one major carriage-road passing through the center of the large province of Boeotia even in the 1930s (beyond which horseback and cart took over; van Effenterre 1989).\nEven in the 1960s, Arvanitic village children could be figures of fun for their Greek peers in the schools of Thebes (One of the two regional towns) (K. Sarri, personal communication, 2000).\nIt was not a matter of cultural resistance but simple conservatism and provinciality, the extreme narrowness of rural life, that allowed Arvanitic language and local historic memories to survive so effectively to the very recent period.\" . \"For the time being, the Greeks of free Greece could indulge in defining their brethren of unredeemed Greece, primarily the Slav Macedonians and secondarily the Orthodox Albanians and the Vlachs.\nPrimary school students were taught, in the 1880s, that 'Greeks [are] our kinsmen, of common descent, speaking the language we speak and professing the religion we profess'.\" But this definition, it seems, was reserved for small children who could not possibly understand the intricate arguments of their parents on the question of Greek identity. What was essential to understand at that tender age was that modern Greeks descended from the ancient Greeks. Grown up children, however, must have been no less confused than adults on the criteria for defining modern Greek identity. Did the Greeks constitute a 'race' apart from the Albanians, the Slavs and the Vlachs? Yes and no. High school students were told that the 'other races', i.e. the Slavs, the Albanians and the Vlachs, 'having been Hellenized with the years in terms of mores and customs, are now being assimilated into the Greeks'. On the Slavs of Macedonia there seems to have been no consensus.\nWere they Bulgars, Slavicized Greeks or early Slavs?\nThey 'were' Bulgars until the 1870s and Slavicized Greeks, or Hellenized Slavs subsequently, according to the needs of the dominant theory.\nThere was no consensus, either, on the Vlachs.\nWere they Latinized Greek mountaineers of late immigrants from Vlachia?\nAs in the case of the Slavs of Macedonia, Vlach descent shifted from the southern Balkans to the Danube, until the Romanians claimed the Vlachs for their brethren; which made the latter irrevocably indigenous to the southern Balkan mountains.\nThe Albanians or 'Arvanites', were readily 'adopted' as brethren of common descent for at least three reasons.\nFirstly, the Albanians had been living in southern Greece, as far south as the Peloponnese, in considerable numbers.\nSecondly, Christian Albanians had fought with distinction and in considerable numbers in the War of Independence.\nThirdly, credible Albanian claims for the establishment of an Albanian nation state materialized too Late for Greek national theorists to abandon well-entrenched positions.\nCommenting on a geography textbook for primary schools in 1901, a state committee found it inadequate and misleading.\nOne of its principal shortcomings concerned the Albanians, who were described as 'close kinsmen of the Greeks'.\n'These are unacceptable from the point of view of our national claims and as far as historical truth is concerned', commented the committee.\n'it must have been maintained that they are of common descent with the Greeks (Pelasgians), that they speak a language akin to that of the Greeks and that they participated in all struggles for national liberation of the common fatherland.'\" Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.\nThe [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) were a group that formerly inhabited a region of [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) known as [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria), nowadays [Thesprotia](https://bliptext.com/articles/thesprotia) in northwestern Greece.\nMany Cham Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman era.\nMuslim Chams were [expelled](https://bliptext.com/articles/expulsion-of-cham-albanians) from Greece during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), by an [anti-communist resistance group](https://bliptext.com/articles/edes) (EDES).\nThe causes of the expulsion were multifaceted and remain a matter of debate among historians.\nDifferent narratives in historiography argue that the causes involved pre-existing Greek policies which targeted the minority and sought its elimination, the Cham [collaboration](https://bliptext.com/articles/axis-cham-albanian-collaboration) with the Axis forces and local property disputes which were instrumentalized after WWII.\nThe estimated number of Cham Albanians expelled from Epirus to Albania and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) varies: figures include 14,000, 19,000, 20,000, 25,000 and 30,000.\nAccording to Cham reports this number should be raised to c. 35,000.\nLarge-scale migration from Albania to Greece occurred after 1991.\nDuring this period, at least 500,000 Albanians have migrated and relocated to Greece.\nDespite the lack of exact statistics, it is estimated that at least 700,000 Albanians have moved to Greece during the last 25 years.\nThe Albanian government estimates 500,000 Albanians in Greece at the very least without accounting for their children.\nThe 2011 Greece census indicated that Albanians consisted the biggest group of migrants in Greece, numbered roughly 480,000, but taking into consideration the current population of Greece (11 million) and the fact that the census failed to account for illegal foreigners, it was estimated that Albanians consist of 5% of the population (at least 550,000).\nBy 2005, around 600,000 Albanians lived in Greece, forming the largest immigrant community in the country.\nThey are economic migrants whose migration began in 1991, following the collapse of the [Socialist People's Republic of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-people-s-republic-of-albania).\n, in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years.\nIn recent years, many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece in search of better opportunities elsewhere in Europe.\nAs of 2022, there c. 292,000 Albanian immigrants are holders of legal permits to live and work in Greece, down from c. 423,000 in 2021.\nAlbanians in Greece have a long history of [Hellenisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/hellenisation), assimilation and integration.\nMany ethnic Albanians have been naturalised as Greek nationals, others have self-declared as Greek since arrival and a considerable number live and work across both countries seasonally hence the number of Albanians in the country has often fluctuated.\n# [Painting of Albanian palikars displayed in the British Museum, London | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Albanian///Palikars///in///pursuit///of///an///enemy///--///Charles///Robert///Cockerell%2C///1813-1814///--///British///Museum%2C///inv.///1923%2C0113.30.jpg]\n# [Cham Albanians in Filiates in 1915, by Fred Boissonas | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Chams///on///Filiates///1915.jpg]\n\n# Diaspora\nDiaspora based Albanians may self identify as Albanian, use hybrid identification or identify with their nationality, often creating an obstacle in establishing a total figure of the population.\n\n## Europe\nDuring the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, the [conflicts in the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslav-wars) and the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) set in motion large population movements of Albanians to [Central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-europe), [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe) and Northern Europe.\nThe gradual [collapse of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania) in Albania triggered as well a new wave of migration and contributed to the emergence of a new diaspora, mainly in Southern Europe, in such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy.\nIn Central Europe, there are approximately 200,000 Albanians in [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) with the particular concentration in the [cantons](https://bliptext.com/articles/cantons-of-switzerland) of [Zürich](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-z-rich), [Basel](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-basel-stadt), [Lucerne](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-lucerne), [Bern](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-bern) and [St. Gallen](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-st-gallen).\nThe neighbouring Germany is home to around 250,000 to 300,000 Albanians while in [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) there are around 40,000 to 80,000 Albanians concentrated in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-austria) of [Vienna](https://bliptext.com/articles/vienna), [Styria](https://bliptext.com/articles/styria), [Salzburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-of-salzburg), [Lower](https://bliptext.com/articles/lower-austria) and Upper [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria).\nIn [Western Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe), the Albanian population of approximately 10,000 people living in the [Benelux countries](https://bliptext.com/articles/benelux-countries) is in comparison to other regions relatively limited.\nThere are more than 6,000 Albanian people living in [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) and 2,800 in the nearby [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands).\nThe most lesser number of Albanian people in the Benelux region is to be found in [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) with a population of 2,100.\nWithin Northern Europe, Sweden possesses the most sizeable population of Albanians in [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) however there is no exact answer to their number in the country.\nThe populations also tend to be lower in [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway), [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) and [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) with more than 18,000, 10,000 and 8,000 Albanians respectively.\nThe population of Albanians in the [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-the-united-kingdom) is officially estimated to be around 39,000 whiles in Ireland there are less than 2,500 Albanians.\n# [Albanians in Vienna celebrating the declaration of independence of Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kosova///independence///Vienna///17-02-2008///b.jpg]\n\n## Asia and Africa\nThe Albanian diaspora in Africa and Asia, in such countries as [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt), [Syria](https://bliptext.com/articles/syria) or [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), was predominantly formed during the Ottoman period through economic [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) and early years of the Republic of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) through [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) due to sociopolitical discrimination and violence experienced by Albanians in [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans).\nIn [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), the exact numbers of the Albanian population of the country are difficult to correctly estimate.\nAccording to a 2008 report, there were approximately 1.300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.\nAs of that report, more than 500,000 Albanian descendants still recognise their [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry) and or their language, culture and traditions.\nThere are also other estimates that range from being 3 to 4 million people up to a total of 5 million in number, although most of these are Turkish citizens of either full or partial Albanian ancestry being no longer fluent in Albanian, comparable to the [German Americans](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-americans).\nThis was due to various degrees of either linguistic and or [cultural assimilation](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) occurring amongst the Albanian diaspora in Turkey.\nAlbanians are active in the civic life of Turkey.\nIn [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk) speakers.\nMany are descendants of the [Janissaries](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissaries) of [Muhammad Ali Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt), an Albanian who became [Wāli](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-li), and self-declared [Khedive](https://bliptext.com/articles/khedive) of Egypt and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/sudan).\nIn addition to the [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that he established, a large part of the former Egyptian and Sudanese [aristocracy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristocracy) was of Albanian origin.\nAlbanian Sunnis, Bektashis and Orthodox Christians were all represented in this diaspora, whose members at some point included major [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) figures (Rilindasit), including Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, Andon Zako Çajupi, Milo Duçi, Fan Noli and others who lived in Egypt for a time.\nWith the ascension of [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://bliptext.com/articles/gamal-abdel-nasser) in Egypt and rise of [Arab nationalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-nationalism), the last remnants of Albanian community there were forced to leave.\nAlbanians have been present in [Arab](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-world) countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and for about five centuries as a legacy of [Ottoman Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-turk) rule.\n# [Painting of an Arnaut by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1870s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Jean-Leon///Gerome///-///An///Arnaut///N08542-8-lr-1.jpg]\n# [The Albanian Sentinel in Cairo by Charles Bargue, 1877 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Charles///Bargue///%E2%80%93///La///sentinelle///albanaise///en///Caire%2C///1877.jpg]\n\n## Americas and Oceania\nThe first Albanian migration to North America began in the 19th and 20th centuries not long after gaining [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania) from the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nHowever the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) from [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) were the first Albanian people to arrive in the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world), many of them migrating after the wars that accompanied the [Risorgimento](https://bliptext.com/articles/risorgimento).\nSince then several Albanian migration waves have occurred throughout the 20th century as for instance after the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) with Albanians mostly from [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) rather than from [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania), then after the Breakup of [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania) in 1990 and finally following the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) in 1998.\nThe most sizeable Albanian population in the Americas is predominantly to be found in the United States.\n[New York metropolitan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-metropolitan-area) in the [State of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) is home to the most sizeable Albanian population of the United States.\nAs of 2017, there are approximately 205,000 Albanians in the country with the main concentration in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-the-united-states) of New York, [Michigan](https://bliptext.com/articles/michigan), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts) and [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois).\nThe number could be higher counting the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) as well; they are often distinguishable from other Albanian Americans with regard to their [Italianized](https://bliptext.com/articles/italianization) names, nationality and a common [religion](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism).\nIn Canada, there are approximately 39,000 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns in the country, including 36,185 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and 2,870 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), predominantly distributed in a multitude of [provinces](https://bliptext.com/articles/provinces-and-territories-of-canada) such as [Ontario](https://bliptext.com/articles/ontario), Quebec, [Alberta](https://bliptext.com/articles/alberta) and [British Columbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-columbia).\nCanada's largest cities such as [Toronto](https://bliptext.com/articles/toronto), Montreal and [Edmonton](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmonton) were besides the United States a major centre of Albanian migration to North America.\nToronto is home to around 17,000 Albanians.\nAlbanian immigration to Australia began in the late 19th century and most took place during the 20th century.\nPeople who planned to immigrate chose Australia after the US introduced immigration quotas on southern Europeans.\nMost were from southern Albania, of Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds and tended to live in [Victoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/victoria-australia) and [Queensland](https://bliptext.com/articles/queensland-australia), with smaller numbers in [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-australia) and Northern Australia.\nItaly's [annexation](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-invasion-of-albania) of Albania marked a difficult time for Albanian Australians as many were thought by Australian authorities to pose a fascist threat.\nPost-war, the numbers of Albanian immigrants slowed due to immigration restrictions placed by the [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism-in-albania) in Albania.\nAlbanians from southwestern Yugoslavia (modern North Macedonia) arrived and settled in Melbourne in the 1960s-1970s.\nOther Albanian immigrants from Yugoslavia came from [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThe immigrants were mostly Muslims, but also Catholics among them including the relatives of the renowned Albanian nun and missionary [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa).\nAlbanian refugees from Kosovo settled in Australia following the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.\nIn the early twenty first century, Victoria has the highest concentration of Albanians and smaller Albanian communities exist in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.\nIn 2016, approximately 4,041 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), while 15,901 persons identified themselves as having [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.\nAlbanian migration to New Zealand occurred mid twentieth century following the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war).\nA small group of Albanian refugees originating mainly from Albania and the rest from Yugoslavian Kosovo and Macedonia settled in Auckland.\nDuring the [Kosovo crisis](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-crisis) (1999), up to 400 Kosovo Albanian refugees settled in New Zealand.\nIn the twenty first century, Albanian New Zealanders number 400-500 people and are mainly concentrated in [Auckland](https://bliptext.com/articles/auckland).\n# [The Albanian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George Historic District in South Boston, Massachusetts | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cathedral///of///St.///George///Historic///District///South///Boston///MA.jpg]\n# [Orthodox Albanian wedding in Bagnoo, New South Wales (1944) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Orthodox///Albanian///wedding///in///Bagnoo%2C///New///South///Wales%2C///1944.jpg]\n\n# Culture\n\n## Traditions\n\n### Tribal social structure\nThe [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes) form a historical mode of social organization (**farefisní**) in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and the southwestern [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) characterized by a common [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultur), often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared [social ties](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-ties).\nThe **fis** (**fis**i; commonly translated as \"tribe\", also as \"clan\" or \"kin\" community) stands at the center of Albanian organization based on [kinship](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinship) relations, a concept which can be found among southern Albanians also with the term **farë** (fara).\nInherited from ancient [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) social structures, Albanian tribal society emerged in the early Middle Ages as the dominant form of social organization among Albanians.\nIt also remained in a less developed system in [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) where large feudal estates and later trade and urban centres began to develop at the expense of tribal organization.\nOne of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), a code of Albanian oral [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law).\nMost tribes engaged in warfare against external forces like the Ottoman Empire.\nSome also engaged in limited inter-tribal struggle for the control of resources.\nUntil the early years of the 20th century, the Albanian tribal society remained largely intact until the rise to power of [communist regime](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) in 1944, and is considered as the only example of a tribal social system structured with tribal chiefs and councils, [blood feuds](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjakmarrja) and [oral customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), surviving in [Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) until the middle of the 20th century.\nMembers of the tribes of northern Albania believe their history is based on the notions of resistance and isolationism.\nSome scholars connect this belief with the concept of \"negotiated peripherality\".\nThroughout history the territory northern Albanian tribes occupy has been contested and peripheral so northern Albanian tribes often exploited their position and negotiated their peripherality in profitable ways.\nThis peripheral position also affected their national program which significance and challenges are different from those in southern Albania.\n# [Map of the northern Albanian tribal regions in the mid-20th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Northern///Albanian///Tribal///Regions.png]\n# [Picture of members of the Albanian Shkreli tribe, 1890s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ad061.jpg]\n\n### Kanun\nThe [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania) is a set of Albanian traditional [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law), which has directed all the aspects of the [Albanian tribal society](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes).\nFor at least the last five centuries and until today, Albanian customary laws have been kept alive only orally by the tribal elders.\nThe success in preserving them exclusively through [oral systems](https://bliptext.com/articles/oral-tradition) highlights their universal resilience and provides evidence of their likely ancient origins.\nStrong pre-Christian motifs mixed with motifs from the Christian era reflect the stratification of the Albanian customary law across various historical ages.\nOver time, Albanian customary laws have undergone their historical development, they have been changed and supplemented with new [norms](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-norm), in accordance with certain requirements of socio-economic development.\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) and nderi ([honour](https://bliptext.com/articles/honour)) are of major importance in Albanian customary law as the cornerstone of personal and social conduct.\nThe Kanun is based on four pillars – Honour, Hospitality , Right Conduct and Kin Loyalty.\n# [The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a Medieval Albanian lord, transcribed by Shtjefën Gjeçovi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kanuni///i///Lek%C3%AB///Dukagjinit.jpg]\n\n### Besa\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) (pledge of honor) is an Albanian cultural [precept](https://bliptext.com/articles/precept), usually translated as \"[faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith)\" or \"[oath](https://bliptext.com/articles/oath)\", that means \"to keep the promise\" and \"word of honor\".\nThe concept is based upon faithfulness toward one's word in the form of loyalty or as an allegiance guarantee.\nBesa contains mores toward obligations to the family and a friend, the demand to have internal commitment, loyalty and solidarity when conducting oneself with others and secrecy in relation to outsiders.\nThe besa is also the main element within the concept of the ancestor's will or pledge (amanet) where a demand for faithfulness to a cause is expected in situations that relate to unity, national liberation and independence that transcend a person and generations.\nThe concept of besa is included in the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), the [customary law](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law) of the Albanian people.\nThe besa was an important institution within the tribal society of the [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes), who swore oaths to jointly fight against invaders, and in this aspect the besa served to uphold tribal autonomy.\nThe besa was used toward regulating tribal affairs between and within the Albanian tribes.\n\n## Cuisine\nThe traditional [cuisine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-cuisine) of the Albanians is diverse and has been greatly influenced by traditions and their varied [environment](https://bliptext.com/articles/biophysical-environment) in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and turbulent history throughout the course of the centuries.\nThere is a considerable diversity between the [Mediterranean](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-cuisine) and [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of Albanians in the Western [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine) nations and the [Italian](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-cuisine) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of the [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and [Chams](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians).\nThe enjoyment of food has a high priority in the lives of Albanian peoples especially when celebrating [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival) such as [Ramadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/ramadan), [Eid](https://bliptext.com/articles/eid-al-fitr), Christmas, Easter, [Hanukkah](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanukkah) or [Novruz](https://bliptext.com/articles/novruz)\nIngredients include many varieties of fruits such as [lemons](https://bliptext.com/articles/lemon-fruit), oranges, [figs](https://bliptext.com/articles/figs-fruit) and [olives](https://bliptext.com/articles/olive-fruit), herbs such as [basil](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-herb), [lavender](https://bliptext.com/articles/lavender), [mint](https://bliptext.com/articles/spearmint), [oregano](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregano), [rosemary](https://bliptext.com/articles/rosemary) and [thyme](https://bliptext.com/articles/thyme) and vegetables such as garlic, onion, [peppers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bell-pepper), potatoes and tomatoes.\nAlbanian peoples who live closer to the [Mediterranean Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-sea), [Prespa Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/prespa-lake) and [Ohrid Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/ohrid-lake) are able to complement their diet with fish, [shellfish](https://bliptext.com/articles/shellfish) and other seafood.\nOtherwise, [lamb](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamb-food) is often considered the traditional meat for different [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival).\nPoultry, beef and pork are also in plentiful supply.\n[Tavë Kosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/tav-kosi) is a national dish in Albania consisting of garlic lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of [yogurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/yogurt).\n[Fërgesë](https://bliptext.com/articles/f-rges) is another national dish and is made with peppers, tomatoes and [cottage cheese](https://bliptext.com/articles/cottage-cheese).\nPite is a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of [spinach](https://bliptext.com/articles/spinach) and [gjizë](https://bliptext.com/articles/curd) or [mish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ground-meat).\nDesserts include [Flia](https://bliptext.com/articles/flia), consisting of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with crea; petulla, a traditionally fried dough, and Krofne, similar to [Berliner](https://bliptext.com/articles/berliner-doughnut).\n# [Bukë, kripë e zemër is a traditional welcoming custom traced back to medieval Albanian law. The Albanian code of honour, called Besa, resulted to look after guests as an act of hospitality. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Buk%C3%AB///kollomoqe%2C///buk%C3%AB///misri.JPG]\n\n## Visual arts\n\n### Painting\nThe earliest preserved relics of visual arts of the Albanian people are [sacred](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacred-art) in nature and represented by numerous [frescoes](https://bliptext.com/articles/fresco), [murals](https://bliptext.com/articles/mural) and [icons](https://bliptext.com/articles/icon) which has been created with an admirable use of color and gold.\nThey reveal a wealth of various influences and traditions that converged in the historical lands of the Albanian people throughout the course of the centuries.\nThe rise of the [Byzantines](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) and [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) during the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) was accompanied by a corresponding growth in [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-art) and [Islamic art](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamic-art) often apparent in examples of architecture and mosaics throughout Albania.\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and arts whereas artists sought to return to the ideals of [Impressionism](https://bliptext.com/articles/impressionism) and [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism-art).\n[Onufri](https://bliptext.com/articles/onufri), founder of the Berat School, [Kolë Idromeno](https://bliptext.com/articles/kol-idromeno), [David Selenica](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-selenica), [Kostandin Shpataraku](https://bliptext.com/articles/kostandin-shpataraku) and the [Zografi Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/zografi-brothers) are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.\nAlbanians in Italy and Croatia have been also active among others the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) influenced artists such as [Marco Basaiti](https://bliptext.com/articles/marco-basaiti), [Viktor Karpaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/vittore-carpaccio) and [Andrea Nikollë Aleksi](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-nikoll-aleksi).\nIn Greece, [Eleni Boukouras](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-boukouras) is noted as being the first great female painter of post [independence Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-war-of-independence).\nIn 1856, [Pjetër Marubi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-marubi) arrived in [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and established the first photography museum in Albania and probably the entire [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), the [Marubi Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-photography-marubi).\nThe collection of 150,000 photographs, captured by the Albanian-Italian Marubi dynasty, offers an ensemble of photographs depicting social rituals, traditional costumes, portraits of Albanian history.\nThe Kulla, a traditional [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n [dwelling](https://bliptext.com/articles/tower-house) constructed completely from natural materials, is a cultural relic from the medieval period particularly widespread in the southwestern region of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and northern region of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nThe rectangular shape of a Kulla is produced with irregular [stone](https://bliptext.com/articles/stone) ashlars, river pebbles and [chestnut](https://bliptext.com/articles/chestnut) woods, however, the size and number of floors depends on the size of the family and their financial resources.\n# [Kolë Idromeno is considered the most renowned painter of the Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Kol%C3%AB///Idromeno///%28i///ri%29.jpg]\n# [Medieval icon by Kostandin and Athanas Zografi in the Monastery of Ardenica. It illustrates the seven saints Clement, Naum, Sava, Angelar, Gorazd, Cyril, Method and the Albanian Jan Kukuzeli. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Sv///Sedmo%C4%8Dislenici///with///Jovan///Kukuzel///in///Ardenica.jpg]\n\n### Literature\nThe roots of [literature of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) with surviving works about history, theology and philosophy dating from the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance).\nThe earliest known use of written Albanian is a [baptismal formula](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-e-pag-zimit) (1462) written by the Archbishop of Durrës [Paulus Angelus](https://bliptext.com/articles/paulus-angelus).\nIn 1555, a Catholic clergyman [Gjon Buzuku](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-buzuku) from the Shestan region published the earliest known book written in Albanian titled [Meshari](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshari) (The Missal) regarding Catholic prayers and rites containing archaic medieval language, lexemes and expressions obsolete in contemporary Albanian.\nOther Christian clergy such as [Luca Matranga](https://bliptext.com/articles/luca-matranga) in the Arbëresh diaspora published (1592) in the Tosk dialect while other notable authors were from northern Albanian lands and included [Pjetër Budi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-budi), [Frang Bardhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/frang-bardhi), and [Pjetër Bogdani](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-bogdani).\nIn the 17th century and onwards, important contributions were made by the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) of [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) who played an influential role in encouraging the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nNotable among them was figures such as [Demetrio Camarda](https://bliptext.com/articles/demetrio-camarda), [Gabriele Dara](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabriele-dara), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Giulio Variboba](https://bliptext.com/articles/giulio-variboba) and [Giuseppe Serembe](https://bliptext.com/articles/giuseppe-serembe) who produced inspiring nationalist literature and worked to systematise the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Bejtexhinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/bejtexhinj) in the 18th century emerged as the result of the influences of [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and particularly [Sufism](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order) orders moving towards [Orientalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/orientalism).\nIndividuals such as [Nezim Frakulla](https://bliptext.com/articles/nezim-frakulla), [Hasan Zyko Kamberi](https://bliptext.com/articles/hasan-zyko-kamberi), [Shahin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shahin-frash-ri) and [Dalip Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalip-frash-ri) compiled literature infused with expressions, language and themes on the circumstances of the time, the insecurities of the future and their discontent at the conditions of the feudal system.\nThe Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century is important both for its valuable poetic achievement and for its variety within the Albanian literature.\nIt drew on the ideas of [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the interaction between nature and mankind.\n[Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Naim Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri), [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri) and [Pashko Vasa](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashko-vasa) maintained this movement and are remembered today for composing series of prominent works.\nThe 20th century was centred on the principles of [Modernism](https://bliptext.com/articles/modernism) and [Realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/realist-literature) and characterised by the development to a more distinctive and expressive form of Albanian literature.\nPioneers of the time include [Asdreni](https://bliptext.com/articles/asdreni), [Faik Konica](https://bliptext.com/articles/faik-konica), [Fan Noli](https://bliptext.com/articles/fan-noli), [Lasgush Poradeci](https://bliptext.com/articles/lasgush-poradeci), [Migjeni](https://bliptext.com/articles/migjeni) who chose to portray themes of contemporary life and most notably [Gjergj Fishta](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-fishta) who created the epic masterpiece Lahuta e Malcís.\nAfter World War II, Albania emerged as a communist state and Socialist realism became part of the literary scene.\nAuthors and poets emerged such as [Sejfulla Malëshova](https://bliptext.com/articles/sejfulla-mal-shova), [Dritero Agolli](https://bliptext.com/articles/dritero-agolli) and [Ismail Kadare](https://bliptext.com/articles/ismail-kadare) who has become an internationally acclaimed novelist and others who challenged the regime through various sociopolitical and historic themes in their works.\n[Martin Camaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-camaj) wrote in the diaspora while in neighbouring Yugoslavia, the emergence of Albanian cultural expression resulted in sociopolitical and poetic literature by notable authors like [Adem Demaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/adem-dema-i), [Rexhep Qosja](https://bliptext.com/articles/rexhep-qosja), [Jusuf Buxhovi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jusuf-buxhovi).\nThe literary scene of the 21st century remains vibrant producing new novelists, authors, poets and other writers.\n# [The Meshari is currently the earliest published book in the Albanian language written by Gjon Buzuku. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Meshari.jpg]\n# [The biography of Marin Barleti on Skanderbeg in Latin was translated into many different European languages. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Historia///de///vita///et///gestis///Scanderbegi%2C///Epirotarum///principis.jpg]\n\n## Performing arts\n\n### Apparel\nThe Albanian people have incorporated various natural materials from their local agriculture and livestock as a source of [attire](https://bliptext.com/articles/attire), clothing and fabrics.\nTheir [traditional apparel](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-national-clothing) was primarily influenced by [nature](https://bliptext.com/articles/nature), the [lifestyle](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology) and has continuously changed since ancient times.\nDifferent regions possesses their own exceptional clothing traditions and peculiarities varied occasionally in colour, material and shape.\nThe [traditional costume](https://bliptext.com/articles/traditional-costume) of Albanian men includes a white [skirt](https://bliptext.com/articles/skirt-garment) called [Fustanella](https://bliptext.com/articles/fustanella), a white shirt with wide [sleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/sleeve), and a thin black jacket or vest such as the [Xhamadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhamadan) or Xhurdia.\nIn winter, they add a warm [woolen](https://bliptext.com/articles/woolen) or [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur) coat known as Flokata or Dollama made from [sheepskin](https://bliptext.com/articles/sheepskin) or goat [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur).\nAnother authentic piece is called Tirq which is a tight pair of felt [trousers](https://bliptext.com/articles/trousers) mostly white, sometimes dark brown or black.\nThe Albanian women's costumes are much more elaborate, colorful and richer in ornamentation.\nIn all the Albanian regions the women's clothing often has been decorated with [filigree](https://bliptext.com/articles/filigree) [ironwork](https://bliptext.com/articles/ironwork), colorful embroidery, a lot of symbols and vivid accessories.\nA unique and ancient dress is called [Xhubleta](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhubleta), a bell shaped skirt reaching down to the calves and worn from the shoulders with two shoulder straps at the upper part.\nDifferent traditional handmade shoes and socks were worn by the Albanian people.\n[Opinga](https://bliptext.com/articles/opinga), leather shoes made from rough animal skin, were worn with [Çorape](https://bliptext.com/articles/orape), knitted woolen or cotton socks.\n[Headdresses](https://bliptext.com/articles/headdress) remain a contrasting and recognisable feature of Albanian traditional clothing.\nAlbanian men wore hats of various designs, shape and size.\nA common headgear is a [Plis](https://bliptext.com/articles/qeleshe) and Qylafë, in contrast, Albanian women wore a Kapica adorned with jewels or embroidery on the forehead, and a Lëvere or Kryqe which usually covers the head, shoulders and neck.\nWealthy Albanian women wore headdresses embellished with gems, gold or silver.\n# [Lord Byron dressed in the traditional Albanian costume traditionally consisting of the Fustanella and a Dollama decorated with filigree. Lord Byron in Albanian Dress by Thomas Phillips, 1813. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lord///Byron///in///Albanian///Dress///by///Phillips%2C///1813.jpg]\n\n### Music\nFor the Albanian people, [music](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-music) is a vital component to their [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture) and characterised by its own peculiar features and diverse melodic pattern reflecting the [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history), [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) and [way of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology).\nIt rather varies from region to another with two essential stylistic differences between the music of the [Ghegs](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nHence, their geographic position in Southeast Europe in combination with cultural, political and social issues is frequently expressed through music along with the accompanying [instruments](https://bliptext.com/articles/musical-instrument) and dances.\nAlbanian folk music is contrasted by the heroic tone of the Ghegs and the relaxed sounds of the Tosks.\nTraditional [iso-polyphony](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-iso-polyphony) perhaps represents the most noble and essential genre of the Tosks which was proclaimed a [Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-lists) by [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco).\nGhegs in contrast have a reputation for a distinctive variety of sung [epic poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-poetry) often about the tumultuous history of the Albanian people.\nThere are a number of internationally acclaimed singers of ethnic Albanian origin such as [Ava Max](https://bliptext.com/articles/ava-max), [Bebe Rexha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bebe-rexha), [Dua Lipa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dua-lipa), [Era Istrefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-istrefi), [Rita Ora](https://bliptext.com/articles/rita-ora), and rappers such as [Action Bronson](https://bliptext.com/articles/action-bronson), [Dardan](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardan-rapper), [Gashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gashi-rapper) and [Loredana Zefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/loredana-zefi).\nNotable singers of Albanian origin from the former [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) include [Selma Bajrami](https://bliptext.com/articles/selma-bajrami) and [Zana Nimani](https://bliptext.com/articles/zana-nimani).\nIn international competitions, [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) participated in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurovision-song-contest) for the first time in 2004.\nAlbanians have also represented other countries in the contest: [Anna Oxa](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-oxa) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 1989, [Adrian Gaxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/adrian-gaxha) for [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2008) in 2008, [Ermal Meta](https://bliptext.com/articles/ermal-meta) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 2018, [Eleni Foureira](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-foureira) for [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018) in 2018, as well as [Gjon Muharremaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-s-tears) for [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2021) in 2020 and 2021.\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) has never participated, but is currently applying to become a member of the [EBU](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-broadcasting-union) and therefore debut in the contest.\n# [Dua Lipa is the first Albanian to ever win a Grammy Award. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Dua///Lipa///with///Warner///Music///2.jpg]\n# [Southern Albanian polyphonic singers | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Fustanela///001.jpg]\n# [An Albanian bashi-bazouk singing and playing an oud. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1868. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Jean-L%C3%A9on///G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me///-///Bashi-Bazouk///Singing///-///Walters///37883.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nMany different [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) traditions, religious [faiths](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith) and [beliefs](https://bliptext.com/articles/belief) are practised by the Albanian people who historically have succeeded to coexist peacefully over the centuries in Southeast Europe.\nThey are traditionally both Christians and [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslims)—[Catholics](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism) and [Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/orthodoxy), [Sunnis](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunnism) and [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashism) and—but also to a lesser extent [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism), [Protestants](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestants) and [Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/judaism), constituting one of the most religiously diverse peoples of Europe.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century.\nThen, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054 after the schism, the north became identified with the [Roman Catholic Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic-church).\nSince that time all churches north of the Shkumbin river were Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Pope.\nVarious reasons have been put forward for the spread of Catholicism among northern Albanians.\nTraditional affiliation with the [Latin Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin-church) and Catholic missions in central Albania in the 12th century fortified the Catholic Church against Orthodoxy, while local leaders found an ally in Catholicism against Slavic Orthodox states.\nAfter the [Ottoman conquest of the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans), Christianity began to be overtaken by Islam, and Catholicism and Orthodoxy continued to be practiced with less frequency.\nDuring the [modern era](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-era), the monarchy and [communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) in Albania as well as the [socialism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialism) in Kosovo, historically part of [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), followed a systematic [secularisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/secularisation) of its people.\nThis policy was chiefly applied within the borders of both territories and produced a secular majority of its population.\nAll forms of Christianity, [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [pagan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pagan) practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture.\nThe current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the [Spring](https://bliptext.com/articles/spring-day) festival held yearly on 14 March in the city of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan).\nIt is a national holiday.\nThe communist regime which ruled Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions, and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [atheist state](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-atheism).\nReligious freedom returned to Albania following the regime's change in 1992.\nAlbanian Sunni Muslims are found throughout the country, [Albanian Orthodox Christians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-orthodox-church) as well as [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi) are concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics are found primarily in the north of the country.\nAccording to the 2011 Census, which has been recognised as unreliable by the [Council of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/council-of-europe), in Albania, 58.79% of the population adheres to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country.\nChristianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the second largest religion in the country.\nThe remaining population is either [irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligious) or belongs to other religious groups.\nBefore World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.\nToday, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.\nFor part of its history, [Albania has also had a Jewish community](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-jews-in-albania).\nMembers of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.\nMany left for Israel c. 1990–1992 when the borders were opened after the fall of the communist regime, but about 200 Jews still live in Albania.\n# [The Great Mosque of Tirana, Albania | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Great///Mosque///of///Tirana///%282020%29.jpg]\n# [The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Saint///Mother///Teresa///Cathedral///Prishtina8.jpg]\n# [Bektashi Tekke in Tetovo, North Macedonia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Arabati///Baba///Tekke.jpg]\n\n# Citations\n\n## Cited sources","wordIndex":2,"createdAt":"2025-03-25T18:36:46.850Z","user":{"id":"Em1dcdvj5Qux5MtUHVgPkybGQlaahaAr","name":"gicpr","image":"https://cdn.discordapp.com/avatars/188701483854725120/d87b9e85b92c2606f45890c019cdae99.png"}},{"id":"0f60a333-dcdf-4aad-b3cc-74843f854b2e","wordChanged":"**Albanians**","newWord":":::summary\n![Albanians](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Map///of///the///Albanian///Diaspora///in///the///World.svg)\n**Group:** Albanians \n**Native Name:** Shqiptarët \n**Native Name Lang:** sq \n**Pop:** c. 7 to 10 million \n**Popplace:** 🇦🇱 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) 2,182,917 (2023) · [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 1,797,856 (2021) \n**Tablehdr:** Other regions \n**Region 1:** 🇮🇹 [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy) \n**Pop 1:** 970,000 \n**Region 2:** 🇬🇷 [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) \n**Pop 2:** 500,000–600,000 \n**Region 3:** [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) \n**Pop 3:** 446,245 \n**Region 3 6:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 3 6:** 500,000–6,000,000 \n**Region 4:** 🇲🇪 [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) \n**Pop 4:** 30,439 \n**Region 5:** 🇷🇸 [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia) \n**Pop 5:** 61,687 \n**Region 6:** 🇭🇷 [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) \n**Pop 6:** 17,513 \n**Region 7:** 🇸🇮 [Slovenia](https://bliptext.com/articles/slovenia) \n**Pop 7:** 6,186 \n**Region 8:** 🇪🇸 [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) \n**Pop 8:** 3,998 \n**Region 9:** 🇵🇹 [Portugal](https://bliptext.com/articles/portugal) \n**Pop 9:** 99 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇸🇪 [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden) \n**Pop 1 0:** 54,000 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇳🇴 [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway) \n**Pop 1 1:** 19,891 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom) \n**Pop 1 2:** 13,000 \n**Region 1 4:** 🇫🇮 [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) \n**Pop 1 4:** 10,391 \n**Region 1 5:** 🇩🇰 [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) \n**Pop 1 5:** 8,223 \n**Region 1 6:** 🇮🇪 [Ireland](https://bliptext.com/articles/ireland) \n**Pop 1 6:** 953–2,133 \n**Region 1 7:** 🇷🇴 [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) \n**Pop 1 7:** 10,000 \n**Region 1 8:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 8:** 5,000 \n**Region 1 9:** 🇨🇿 [Czech Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/czech-republic) \n**Pop 1 9:** 1,512 \n**Region 2 0:** 🇱🇻 [Latvia](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvia) \n**Pop 2 0:** 17 - 31 \n**Region 2 1:** 🇩🇪 [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) \n**Pop 2 1:** 200,000–300,000 \n**Region 2 2:** 🇨🇭 [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) \n**Pop 2 2:** 200,000 \n**Region 2 3:** 🇦🇹 [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) \n**Pop 2 3:** 28,212 \n**Region 2 4:** 🇫🇷 [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) \n**Pop 2 4:** 27,200 (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** 🇳🇱 [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands) \n**Pop 2 5:** 12,969 \n**Region 2 6:** 🇧🇪 [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) \n**Pop 2 6:** 5,600–30,000 \n**Region 2 7:** 🇱🇺 [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) \n**Pop 2 7:** 2,155 \n**Region 2 8:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 2 8:** 194,028 \n**Region 2 9:** 🇦🇷 [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) \n**Pop 2 9:** 50,000 \n**Region 3 0:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 3 0:** 39,055 \n**Region 3 1:** 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://bliptext.com/articles/colombia) \n**Pop 3 1:** 348 \n**Region 3 2:** 🇨🇺 [Cuba](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuba) \n**Pop 3 2:** 101 \n**Region 3 3:** 🇵🇦 [Panama](https://bliptext.com/articles/panama) \n**Pop 3 3:** 9 \n**Region 3 4:** 🇦🇺 [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) \n**Pop 3 4:** 11,315 \n**Region 3 5:** 🇳🇿 [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand) \n**Pop 3 5:** 243 \n**Region 3 7:** 🇪🇬 [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) \n**Pop 3 7:** 18,000 \n**Region 3 8:** 🇶🇦 [Qatar](https://bliptext.com/articles/qatar) \n**Pop 3 8:** 1,200 \n**Region 3 9:** 🇨🇾 [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus) \n**Pop 3 9:** 275 \n**Region 4 0:** 🇿🇦 [South Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-africa) \n**Pop 4 0:** 268 \n**Region 4 1:** 🇦🇪 [United Arab Emirates](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-arab-emirates) \n**Pop 4 1:** 200–300 \n**Languages:** [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) \n**Rels:** Majority**: · Star and Crescent.svg [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) · [Sunni](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam)·[Bektashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order)·[Non-denominational](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominational-muslim) · Minority**: · Christian cross.svg [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity) · [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholic-church) (Latin Church·Eastern Rites Albanian Greek-Catholic Church·Italo-Albanian Church)·[Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) (Albanian Orthodox Church·Albanian American Orthodox Church)·[Protestantism](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestantism) (Albanian Protestant Church·Kosovan Protestant Church) · Other**: · [Irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Footnotes:** 502,546 Albanian citizens, an additional 43,751 [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians), 260,000 [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and 169,644 Albanians who have acquired the Italian citizenship · Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. Of those with full or partial Albanian ancestry and others who have adopted [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) language, culture and identity their number is estimated at 1,300,000–5,000,000 many whom do not speak Albanian. · The estimation contains [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians). \n:::\n\n# \nThe Serbs are an [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) who share a common Albanian [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry), [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture), [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history) and [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThey are the main ethnic group of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), and they also live in the neighboring countries of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro), [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-serbia), as well as in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy), [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-croatia), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-turkey).\nAlbanians also constitute a large [diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/diaspora) with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.\n[The language of the Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nAlbanians have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Paleo-Balkan group contributed to the [ethnogenesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first mention of the ethnonym [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi) occurred in the 2nd century AD by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) describing an [Illyrian tribe](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-tribe) who lived around present-day central Albania.\nThe first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from 11th century chronicler [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) who describes them as living in the [theme of Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme).\nThe [Shkumbin River](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin-river) roughly demarcates the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) between [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) dialects.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century AD. Then, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054, after the [Great Schism](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-west-schism), the north gradually became identified with [Roman Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism) and the south with [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy).\nIn 1190 Albanians established the [Principality of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon) in central Albania with the capital in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nThe [Albanian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) has its roots in migration from the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) initially across Southern Europe and eventually across wider Europe and the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world).\nBetween the 13th and 18th centuries, sizeable numbers migrated to escape various social, economic or political difficulties.\nAlbanian population groups settled in [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece) between the 13th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites).\nOther Albanian population groups settled across [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily) between the 11th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arbëreshë](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people).\nAlbanians have also migrated [to Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) since the late 16th century.\nIn the 18th century smaller Albanian population groups settled in [Southern Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia) (who came to be known as [Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people)), and pockets of [Southern Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-ukraine)..\n\"We can say that all in some way belong to a kind of ethnic category, and often more than one. As an example, I cite the case of Zadar Arbanasi. To understand the problem of the Albanians and their ethnolinguistic (ethnic and linguistic) identity, it is necessary to go into the history of their immigration that goes back to the beginning of the 18th century., etc more precisely: the period from the first migration of 1726, the period of the second migration of 1733, and until 1754, which is considered to be the final year of their immigration. All they moved from three villages from the area of Lake Scutari – Briska, Šestan and Livara. Fleeing from the Ottomans, plague and other troubles, the general provider Nicola Erizzo II allowed them to settle in the area of today's Arbanasa and Zemunik. One part of the population in Zemunik became assimilated with the local population, forgetting their language.\nThese are for example, today's Prenda, Šestani, Ćurkovići, Paleke etc. The second part of the population tried to maintain their ethnic and linguistic identity during these 280 years.\nOn 10 May 2006 marked the 280th anniversary of their arrival in the suburb of Zadar.\nIt was not easy, especially in the beginning, because they did not have their own church, school, etc., and is the only way to maintain their identity and language was verbally.\"\nBy the 15th century, the expanding [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh), a union of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) led by [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg).\nBy the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians [converted](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamisation-of-albania) to [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam), which offered them equal opportunities and advancement [within the Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire).\nThereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader [Muslim world](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim-world).\nInnumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than [40 Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers), and under the [Köprülü](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension.\nBetween the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century [Albanian Pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-pashaliks) were established by [Kara Mahmud](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-mahmud-pasha) [pasha of Scutari](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-scutari), [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) [pasha of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina), and [Ahmet Kurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/ahmet-kurt-pasha) [pasha of Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat), while the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) Muhammad [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors).\nDuring the 19th century, cultural developments, widely attributed to Albanians having gathered both spiritual and intellectual strength, conclusively led to the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nIn 1912 during the [Balkan Wars](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-wars), Albanians declared the [independence of their country](https://bliptext.com/articles/independent-albania).\nThe demarcation of the new Albanian state was established following the [Treaty of Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-bucharest-1913) and left about half of the ethnic Albanian population outside of its borders, [partitioned](https://bliptext.com/articles/partition-politics) between Greece, Montenegro and Serbia.\nAfter the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) up until the [Revolutions of 1991](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania), Albania was governed by a [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) under [Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) where Albania became largely isolated from the rest of Europe.\nIn neighbouring [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), Albanians underwent periods of discrimination and systematic oppression that concluded with the [War of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-of-kosovo) and eventually with [Kosovar independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThe Albanians and their country Albania have been identified by many [ethnonyms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym).\nThe most common native [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) is \"Shqiptar\", plural \"Shqiptarë\"; the name \"Albanians\" ([Byzantine Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-greek): Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; [Latin](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin): Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered [European Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-languages) from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English \"Albanians\"; Italian \"Albanesi\"; German \"Albaner\"; [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) \"Arvanites\", \"Alvanitis\" (Αλβανίτης) plural: \"Alvanites\" (Αλβανίτες), \"Alvanos\" (Αλβανός) plural: \"Alvanoi\" (Αλβανοί); [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkish-language) \"Arnaut\", \"Arnavut\"; [South Slavic languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavic-languages) \"Arbanasi\" (Арбанаси), \"Albanci\" (Албанци); [Aromanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanian-language) \"Arbinesh\" and so on.\nThe term \"Albanoi\" (Αλβανοί) is first encountered on the works of Ptolemy (2nd century CE) also is encountered twice in the works of Byzantine historian [Michael Attaliates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaliates), and the term \"Arvanitai\" (Αρβανίται) is used once by the same author.\nHe referred to the \"Albanoi\" as having taken part in a revolt against the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 1043, and to the \"Arbanitai\" as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium (modern [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s)).\nThese references have been disputed as to whether they refer to the people of Albania.\nHistorian E. Vranoussi believes that these \"Albanoi\" were Normans from Sicily.\nShe also notes that the same term (as \"Albani\") in medieval Latin meant \"foreigners\".\nThe reference to \"Arvanitai\" from Attaliates regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078 is undisputed.\nIn later Byzantine usage, the terms \"Arbanitai\" and \"Albanoi\" with a range of variants were used interchangeably, while sometimes the same groups were also called by the classicising name Illyrians.\nThe first reference to the Albanian language dates to the latter 13th century (around 1285).\nThe national ethnonym Albanian and its variants are derived from [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi), first mentioned as an [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) tribe in the 2nd century CE by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) with their centre at the city of [Albanopolis](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanopolis), located in modern-day central Albania, somewhere in the hinterland of [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s).\nLinguists believe that the alb part in the root word originates from an Indo-European term for a type of mountainous topography, from which other words such as [alps](https://bliptext.com/articles/alps) are derived.\nThrough the root word alban and its rhotacized equivalents arban, albar, and arbar, the term in Albanian became rendered as Arbëneshë/Arbëreshë for the people and Arbënia/Arbëria for the country.\nThe Albanian language was referred to as Arbnisht and Arbërisht.\nWhile the [exonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/exonym) Albania for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does have connotations to Classical Antiquity, the Albanian language employs a different ethnonym, with modern Albanians referring to themselves as Shqip(ë)tarë and to their country as Shqipëria.\nTwo etymologies have been proposed for this ethnonym: one, derived from the etymology from the Albanian word for eagle (shqipe, var., shqiponjë).\nIn Albanian [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology), this word denotes a bird [totem](https://bliptext.com/articles/totem), dating from the times of Skanderbeg as displayed on the [Albanian flag](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-flag).\nThe other is within scholarship that connects it to the verb 'to speak' (me shqiptue) from the Latin \"excipere\".\nIn this instance the Albanian endonym like [Slav](https://bliptext.com/articles/slav-ethnonym) [and others](https://bliptext.com/articles/endonym) would originally have been a term connoting \"those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]\".\nThe words Shqipëri and Shqiptar are attested from 14th century onward, but it was only at the end of 17th and beginning of the early 18th centuries that the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëreshë amongst [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) speakers.\nThat era brought about religious and other sociopolitical changes.\nAs such a new and generalised response by Albanians based on ethnic and linguistic consciousness to this new and different [Ottoman world](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) emerging around them was a change in ethnonym..\n\"The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptarë, their country Shqipëri, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could be a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains (ÇABEJ 1976). The name passed over the boundaries of the Illyrian tribe in central Albania, and was generalised for all the Albanians.\nThey called themselves arbënesh, arbëresh, the country Arbëni, Arbëri, and the language arbëneshe, arbëreshe.\nIn the foreign languages, the Middle Ages denominations of these names survived, but for the Albanians they were substituted by shqiptarë, Shqipëri and shqipe.\nThe primary root is the adverb shqip, meaning \"clearly, intelligibly\".\nThere is a very close semantic parallel to this in the German noun Deutsche, \"the Germans\" and \"the German language\" (Lloshi 1984) Shqip spread out from the north to the south, and Shqipni/Shqipëri is probably a collective noun, following the common pattern of Arbëni, Arbëri.\nThe change happened after the Ottoman conquest because of the conflict in the whole line of the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural spheres with a totally alien world of the Oriental type.\nA new and more generalised ethnic and linguistic consciousness of all these people responded to this.\"\n\n## Historical records\nLittle is known about the Albanian people prior to the 11th century, though a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the [Bulgarian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarian-language) contains a possible reference to them.\nIt is preserved in a [manuscript](https://bliptext.com/articles/manuscript) written in the [Serbo-Croatian Language](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian-language) traced back to the 17th century but published in the 20th century by Radoslav Grujic.\nIt is a fragment of a once longer text that endeavours to explain the origins of peoples and languages in a question-and-answer form similar to a [catechism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catechism).\nThe fragmented manuscript differentiated the world into 72 languages and three religious categories including Christians, half-believers and non-believers.\nGrujic dated it to the early 11th century and, if this and the identification of the Arbanasi as Albanians are correct, it would be the earliest written document referring to the Balkan Albanians as a people or language group.\n\"It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian (Georgian). There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), Arbanasi (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi and Germans.\"\n[Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080) mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nAs such, it is considered to be the first attestation of Albanians as an ethnic group in Byzantine historiography.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Vranoussi-Ducellier debate\", Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vranoussi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThis debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\n\n# Language\nAlbanians speak the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language), which is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nIt had its formative core in the Western Balkans after the [Indo-European migrations](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-migrations) in the region from about 3000 to 2500 BCE.\nThe Albanian language is spoken today by approximately 5 million people throughout the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) as well as by a more substantial number by [communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) around the Americas, Europe and Oceania.\nNumerous variants and dialects of Albanian are used as an [official language](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) in Albania, [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nThe language is also spoken in other countries whence it is officially recognised as a [minority language](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-language) in such countries as [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), Italy, [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are two principal [dialects](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-dialects) of the Albanian language traditionally represented by [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nThe ethnogeographical dividing line is traditionally considered to be the [Shkumbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin) river, with Gheg spoken in the north of it and Tosk in the south.\nDialects of linguistic minorities spoken in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-croatia) ([Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-dialect) and [Istrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/istrian-albanian)), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-albanians), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro) and northwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) are classified as Gheg, while those spoken in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), southwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) and Italy as Tosk.\nThe [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language) and [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika) dialects of the Albanian language, are spoken by the [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language)ë and [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) in [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece), respectively.\nThey retain elements of medieval Albanian vocabulary and pronunciation that are no longer used in modern Albanian; however, both varieties are classified as [endangered languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/endangered-language) in the [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco) [Red Book of Endangered Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/red-book-of-endangered-languages).\nThe [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) is spoken by the [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians), a community that originates from [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria) in what is currently north-western Greece and southern Albania; the use of the [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) in Greece is declining rapidly, while [Cham communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) in Albania and the diaspora have preserved it.\nMost of the Albanians in Albania and the [Former Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/former-yugoslavia) are [polyglot](https://bliptext.com/articles/polyglotism) and have the ability to understand, speak, read, or write a [foreign language](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-language).\nAs defined by the [Institute of Statistics of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/institute-of-statistics-albania), 39.9% of the 25 to 64 years old Albanians in Albania are able to use at least one foreign language including English (40%), Italian (27.8%) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) (22.9%).\nThe origin of the Albanian language remains a contentious subject that has given rise to numerous [hypotheses](https://bliptext.com/articles/hypothesis).\nThe hypothesis of Albanian being one of the descendant of the [Illyrian languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-languages) ([Messapic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/messapic-language)) is based on [geography](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) where the languages were spoken however not enough archaeological evidence is left behind to come therefore to a definite conclusion.\nAnother hypothesis associates the Albanian language with the [Thracian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/thracian-language).\nThis theory takes exception to the territory, since the language was spoken in an area distinct from Albania, and no significant population movements have been recorded in the period when the shift from one language to the other is supposed to have occurred.\n# [The dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Albanian///language///map///en.svg]\n# [Classification of Albanian in the Paleo-Balkanic branch as suggested by Brian D. Joseph and Adam Hyllested in \"The Indo-European Language Family\" (2022) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Classification///of///Albanian.png]\n\n# History\n\n## Late Antiquity\nThe [Komani-Kruja culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/komani-kruja-culture) is an archaeological culture attested from late antiquity to the Middle Ages in central and northern Albania, southern Montenegro and similar sites in the western parts of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nIt consists of settlements usually built below hillforts along the [Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/lezh) ([Praevalitana](https://bliptext.com/articles/praevalitana))-[Dardania](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardania-roman-province) and [Via Egnatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/via-egnatia) road networks which connected the Adriatic coastline with the central Balkan Roman provinces.\nIts [type site](https://bliptext.com/articles/type-site) is Komani and its fort on the nearby Dalmace hill in the Drin river valley.\n[Kruja](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruja) and Lezha represent significant sites of the culture.\nThe population of Komani-Kruja represents a local, western Balkan people which was linked to the Roman Justinianic military system of forts.\nThe development of Komani-Kruja is significant for the study of the transition between the [classical antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-antiquity) population of Albania to the medieval Albanians who were attested in historical records in the 11th century.\nWinnifrith (2020) recently described this population as the survival of a \"Latin-Illyrian\" culture which emerged later in historical records as Albanians and [Vlachs](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlachs) ([Eastern Romance](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-romance-languages)-speaking people).\nIn Winnifrith's narrative, the geographical conditions of northern Albania favored the continuation of the Albanian language in hilly and mountainous areas as opposed to lowland valleys.\n# [Glass necklace, 7th – 8th century, Shurdhah | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Glass///necklace%2C///7th///-///8th///century%2C///Shurdhah///-///Archeological///Museum///of///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Middle Ages\nThe Albanian people maintain a very chequered and tumultuous history behind them, a fact explained by their geographical position in the [Southeast of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/southeast-europe) at the cultural and political crossroad between the east and west, but they also have historically inhabited a hardly accessible mountainous region, which helped them preserve their peculiar culture and language.\nThe issue surrounding the [origin of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) has long been debated by historians and [linguists](https://bliptext.com/articles/linguist) for centuries.\nThey have [Paleo-Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages) origins, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Peleo-Balkan group contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080).\nAttaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Ducellier-Vrannousi\" debate, Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vrannousi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThe debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\nThe name reflects the Albanian endonym Arbër/n + esh which itself derives from the same root as the name of the [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi)\nHistorically known as the Arbër or Arbën by the 11th century and onwards, they traditionally inhabited the mountainous area to the west of [Lake Ochrida](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-ochrida) and the upper valley of the Shkumbin river.\nThough it was in 1190 when they established their first independent entity, the [Principality of Arbër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arb-r) (Arbanon), with its seat based in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nImmediately after the decline of the [Progon dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-progon) in 1216, the principality came under [Gregorios Kamonas](https://bliptext.com/articles/gregorios-kamonas) and next his son-in-law [Golem](https://bliptext.com/articles/golem-of-kruja).\nFinally, the Principality was dissolved in ca. 1255 by the [Empire of Nicea](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-of-nicea) followed by an unsuccessful [rebellion between 1257 and 1259](https://bliptext.com/articles/rebellion-of-arbanon) supported by the [Despotate of Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/despotate-of-epirus).\nIn the meantime [Manfred, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/manfred-king-of-sicily) profited from the situation and launched an invasion into Albania.\nHis forces, led by [Philippe Chinard](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippe-chinard), captured [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor), [Spinarizza](https://bliptext.com/articles/island-of-zv-rnec), their surroundings and the southern coastline of Albania from [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) to [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint).\nIn 1266 after [defeating Manfred's forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-benevento) and killing him, the [Treaty of Viterbo](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-viterbo) of 1267 was signed, with [Charles I, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-i-king-of-sicily) acquiring rights on Manfred's dominions in Albania.\nLocal noblemen such as [Andrea Vrana](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-vrana) refused to surrender Manfred's former domains, and in 1271 negotiations were initiated.\nIn 1272 the [Kingdom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-albania-medieval) was created after a delegation of Albanian noblemen from Durrës signed a treaty declaring union with the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles.\nCharles soon imposed military rule, new taxes, took sons of Albanian noblemen hostage to ensure loyalty, and confiscated lands for [Angevin](https://bliptext.com/articles/capetian-house-of-anjou) nobles.\nThis led to discontent among Albanian noblemen, several of whom turned to Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-viii).\nIn late 1274, Byzantine forces helped by local Albanian noblemen capture Berat and Butrint.\nCharles' attempt to advance towards Constantinople failed at the [Siege of Berat (1280–1281)](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-berat-1280-1281).\nA Byzantine counteroffensive ensued, which drove the Angevins out of the interior by 1281.\nThe [Sicilian Vespers](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicilian-vespers) rebellion further weakened the position of Charles, who died in 1285.\nBy the end of the 13th century, most of Albania was under Byzantine Emperor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](https://bliptext.com/articles/andronikos-ii-palaiologos).\nIn 1296 Serbian king [Stephen Milutin](https://bliptext.com/articles/stephen-milutin) captured Durrës.\nIn 1299 Andronikos II married his daughter Simonis to Milutin and the lands he had conquered were considered as [dowry](https://bliptext.com/articles/dowry).\nIn 1302, [Philip I, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/philip-i-prince-of-taranto), grandson of Charles, claimed his rights on the Albanian kingdom and gained the support of local Albanian Catholics who preferred him over the Orthodox Serbs and Greeks, as well as the support of [Pope Benedict XI](https://bliptext.com/articles/pope-benedict-xi).\nIn the summer of 1304, the Serbs were expelled from the city of Durrës by the locals who submitted themselves to Angevin rule.\nProminent Albanian leaders during this time were the [Thopia family](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), ruling in an area between the Mat and Shkumbin rivers, and the [Muzaka family](https://bliptext.com/articles/muzaka-family) in the territory between the Shkumbin and Vlorë.\nIn 1279, Gjon I Muzaka, who remained loyal to the Byzantines and resisted Angevin conquest of Albania, was captured by the forces of Charles but later released following pressure from Albanian nobles.\nThe Muzaka family continued to remain loyal to the Byzantines and resisted the expansion of the [Serbian Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-kingdom-medieval).\nIn 1335 the head of the family, Andrea II Muzaka, gained the title of [Despot](https://bliptext.com/articles/despot-court-title) and other Muzakas pursued careers in the Byzantine government in Constantinople.\nAndrea II soon endorsed an anti-Byzantine revolt in his domains between 1335–1341 and formed an alliance with [Robert, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-prince-of-taranto) in 1336.\nIn 1336, Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](https://bliptext.com/articles/stefan-du-an) captured Durrës, including the territory under the control of the Muzaka family.\nAlthough Angevins managed to recapture Durazzo, Dušan continued his expansion, and in the period of 1337–45 he had captured [Kanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanin) and [Valona](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) in southern Albania.\nAround 1340 forces of Andrea II defeated the Serbian army at the [Pelister](https://bliptext.com/articles/pelister) mountain.\nAfter the death of Stefan Dušan in 1355 the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire) disintegrated, and [Karl Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/karl-thopia) captured Durrës while the Muzaka family of Berat regained control over parts of southeastern Albania and over [Kastoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/kastoria) that Andrea II captured from [Prince Marko](https://bliptext.com/articles/prince-marko) after the [Battle of Marica](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-marica) in 1371.\nThe kingdom reinforced the influence of Catholicism and the conversion to its rite, not only in the region of Durrës but in other parts of the country.\nA new wave of Catholic dioceses, churches and monasteries were founded, papal missionaries and a number of different religious orders began spreading into the country.\nThose who were not Catholic in central and northern Albania converted and a great number of Albanian clerics and monks were present in the Dalmatian Catholic institutions.\nAround 1230 the two main centers of Albanian settlements were around [Devoll river](https://bliptext.com/articles/devoll-river) in what is now central Albania and the other around the region known as Arbanon.\nAlbanian presence in Croatia can be traced back to the beginning of the [Late Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-middle-ages).\nIn this period, there was a significant Albanian community in [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dubrovnik) with a number of families of Albanian origin inclusively the [Sorgo family](https://bliptext.com/articles/sorgo-family) who came from the [Cape of Rodon](https://bliptext.com/articles/cape-of-rodon) in central Albania, across [Kotor](https://bliptext.com/articles/kotor) in eastern Montenegro, to [Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia).\nBy the 13th century, Albanian merchants were trading directly with the peoples of the [Republic of Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) in Dalmatia which increased familiarity between Albanians and Ragusans.\nThe upcoming invasion of Albania by the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) and the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg) caused many Christian Albanians to flee to Dalmatia and surrounding countries.\nIn the 14th century a number of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) were created.\nThese included [Principality of Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti), [Principality of Dukagjini](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-dukagjini), [Princedom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval), and [Principality of Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-gjirokast-r).\nAt the beginning of the 15th century these principalities became stronger, especially because of the fall of the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire).\nSome of these principalities were united in 1444 under the anti-Ottoman military alliance called [League of Lezha](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh).\nAlbanians were recruited all over Europe as a light cavalry known as [stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti).\nThe stratioti were pioneers of light cavalry tactics during the 15th century.\nIn the early 16th century heavy cavalry in the European armies was principally remodeled after Albanian stradioti of the Venetian army, Hungarian [hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/hussar) and German mercenary cavalry units (Schwarzreitern).\n# [The city of Krujë served as the royal seat of the Principality of Arbanon and later as the noble residence of the Kastrioti family. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Kal-1.jpg]\n\n## Ottoman Empire\nPrior to the [Ottoman conquest of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire), the political situation of the Albanian people was characterised by a fragmented conglomeration of scattered [kingdoms](https://bliptext.com/articles/realm) and [principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/principalities-of-albania) such as the [Principalities of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon), [Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti) and [Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval).\nBefore and after the [fall of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-constantinople), the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) continued an extended period of conquest and expansion with its borders going deep into the [Southeast Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans).\nAs a consequence thousands of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus) and [Peloponnese](https://bliptext.com/articles/peloponnese) escaped to [Calabria](https://bliptext.com/articles/calabria), [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern), whereby others sought protection at the often inaccessible Mountains of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nUnder the leadership of [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg), a former governor of the Ottoman [Sanjak of Dibra](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-dibra), a prosperous and longstanding revolution erupted with the formation of the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh) in 1444 up until the [Siege of Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) ending in 1479, multiple times defeating the mightiest power of the time led by [Sultans](https://bliptext.com/articles/sultan) [Murad II](https://bliptext.com/articles/murad-ii) and [Mehmed II](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-the-conqueror).\nSkanderbeg managed to gather several of the Albanian principals, amongst them the [Arianitis](https://bliptext.com/articles/arianiti-family), [Dukagjinis](https://bliptext.com/articles/dukagjini-family), [Zaharias](https://bliptext.com/articles/zaharia-family) and [Thopias](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), and establish a centralised authority over most of the non-conquered territories and proclaiming himself the Lord of Albania (Dominus Albaniae in Latin).\nSkanderbeg consistently pursued the aim relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans.\nHis unequal fight against them won the esteem of Europe and financial and military aid from the [Papacy](https://bliptext.com/articles/papacy) and [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice) and [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa).\nThe Albanians, then predominantly Christian, were initially considered as an [inferior class](https://bliptext.com/articles/rayah) of people and as such were subjected to heavy [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/jizya) such as the [Devshirme](https://bliptext.com/articles/devshirme) system that allowed the state to collect a requisite percentage of Christian adolescents from the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and elsewhere to compose the [Janissary](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissary).\nSince the Albanians were seen as strategically important, they made up a significant proportion of the [Ottoman military](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-military) and bureaucracy.\nThey were therefore to be found within the imperial services as vital military and administrative retainers from [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) to [Algeria](https://bliptext.com/articles/algeria) and the rest of the [Maghreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/maghreb).\nIn the late 18th century, [Ali Pasha Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-tepelena) created the autonomous region of the [Pashalik of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina) within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) which was never recognised as such by the [High Porte](https://bliptext.com/articles/high-porte).\nThe territory he properly governed incorporated most of southern [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus), [Thessaly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thessaly) and southwestern [Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-region) region.\nDuring his rule, the town of [Janina](https://bliptext.com/articles/janina) blossomed into a cultural, political and economic hub for both Albanians and Greeks.\nThe ultimate goal of Ali Pasha Tepelena seems to have been the establishment of an independent rule in Albania and Epirus.\nThus, he obtained control of [Arta](https://bliptext.com/articles/arta-greece) and took control over the ports of [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint), [Preveza](https://bliptext.com/articles/preveza) and [Vonitsa](https://bliptext.com/articles/vonitsa).\nHe also gained control of the [pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik) of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan), [Delvina](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-delvina), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat) and [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-avlona).\nHis relations with the High Porte were always tense though he developed and maintained relations with the [British](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-empire), [French](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-french-empire) and [Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and formed alliances with them at various times.\nIn the 19th century, the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) [Muhammad Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century.\nAfter a brief [French invasion](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-egypt) led by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://bliptext.com/articles/napoleon-bonaparte) and the Ottomans and [Mameluks](https://bliptext.com/articles/mameluk) competing for power there, he managed collectively with his Albanian troops to become the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt.\nAs he revolutionised the military and economic spheres of Egypt, his empire attracted Albanian people contributing to the emergence of the [Albanian diaspora in Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-egypt) initially formed by Albanian soldiers and mercenaries.\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) arrived in the lands of the Albanian people gradually and grew widespread between at least the 17th and 18th centuries.\nThe new religion brought many transformations into Albanian society and henceforth offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nWith the advent of increasing suppression on [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism), the Ottomans initially focused their conversions on the Catholic Albanians of the north in the 17th century and followed suit in the 18th century on the Orthodox Albanians of the south.\nAt this point, the urban centers of [central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-albania) and [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) had largely adopted the religion of the growing Muslim Albanian elite.\nMany mosques and [takyas](https://bliptext.com/articles/takya) were constructed throughout those urban centers and cities such as [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjirokast-r), [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) started to flourish.\nIn the far [north](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-albania), the spread of Islam was slower due to Catholic Albanian resistance and the inaccessible and rather remote mountainous terrain.\nThe motives for [conversion](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-conversion) to Islam are subject to differing interpretations according to scholars depending on the context though the lack of sources does not help when investigating such issues.\nReasons included the incentive to escape high [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxation-in-the-ottoman-empire) levied on non-Muslims subjects, [ecclesiastical](https://bliptext.com/articles/ecclesiastical) decay, coercion by Ottoman authorities in times of war, and the privileged legal and social position Muslims within the Ottoman administrative and political machinery had over that of non-Muslims.\nAs Muslims, the Albanians attained powerful positions in the Ottoman administration including over three dozen [Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers) of Albanian origin, among them [Zagan Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagan-pasha), [Bayezid Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-pasha) and members of the [Köprülü family](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), and regional rulers such as [Muhammad Ali of Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) and [Ali Pasha of Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-tepelena).\nThe Ottoman sultans [Bayezid II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-ii) and [Mehmed III](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-iii) were both Albanian on their [maternal side](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-mothers-of-the-ottoman-sultans).\nAreas such as Albania, western North Macedonia, southern Serbia, Kosovo, parts of northern Greece and southern Montenegro in Ottoman sources were referred to as Arnavudluk or Albania.\n# [Albanian pashaliks in 1815–1821 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Albanian///Pashaliks%2C///1815-1821.png]\n# [Albanian Chief, lithography by Alphonse-Léon Noël, 1828 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Chef///Albanais%2C///G.10376%282%29.jpg]\n\n## Albanian Renaissance\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) characterised a period wherein the Albanian people gathered both [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) and intellectual strength to establish their rights for an independent political and social life, culture and education.\nBy the late 18th century and the early 19th century, its foundation arose within the [Albanian communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy) and [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) and was frequently linked to the influences of the [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) principles.\nAlbania was under the rule of the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) for almost five centuries and the Ottoman authorities suppressed any expression of unity or national conscience by the Albanian people.\nA number of thoroughly intellectual Albanians, among them [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Thimi Mitko](https://bliptext.com/articles/thimi-mitko), [Naim](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri) and [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri), made a conscious effort to awaken feelings of pride and unity among their people by working to develop [Albanian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) that would call to mind the rich history and hopes for a more decent future.\nThe Albanians had poor or often no schools or other institutions in place to protect and preserve their [cultural heritage](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-heritage).\nThe need for schools was preached initially by the increasing number of Albanians educated abroad.\nThe Albanian communities in Italy and elsewhere were particularly active in promoting the Albanian cause, especially in education which finally resulted with the foundation of the [Mësonjëtorja](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-sonj-torja) in [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor), the first secular school in the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Turkish yoke](https://bliptext.com/articles/rise-of-nationalism-in-the-ottoman-empire) had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the people in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), and their march toward independence quickened.\nDue to the more substantial of Islamic influence, the Albanians internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian territories to the emerging neighbouring states, [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria) and [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece), were among the last peoples in the Balkans to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.\nThe national awakening as a coherent political movement emerged after the [Treaty of San Stefano](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-san-stefano), according to which Albanian-inhabited territories were to be ceded to the neighbouring states, and focused on preventing that partition.\nIt was the impetus for the nation-building movement, which was based more on fear of partition than national identity.\nEven after the [declaration of independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania), national identity was fragmented and possibly non-existent in much of the newly proposed country.\nThe state of disunity and fragmentation would remain until the communist period following [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war), when the communist nation-building project would achieve greater success in nation-building and reach more people than any previous regime, thus creating Albanian national communist identity.\n# [Naum Veqilharxhi was one of the earliest figures of the early Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/NaumVeqilharxhi.jpg]\n# [Naim Frashëri was a well known rilindas and is considered to be the pioneer of modern Albanian literature. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Naim///Frash%C3%ABri.jpg]\n\n## Communism in Albania\n[Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) of the Communist [Party of Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/party-of-labour-of-albania) took power in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) in 1946.\nAlbania established an alliance with the [Eastern Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-bloc) which provided Albania with many advantages in the form of economic assistance and military protection from the [Western Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-bloc) during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nThe Albanians experienced a period of several beneficial political and economic changes.\nThe [government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-albania) defended the territorial [integrity](https://bliptext.com/articles/integrity) and [sovereignty](https://bliptext.com/articles/sovereignty) of Albania, diversified the economy through a programme of industrialisation which led to a higher [standard of living](https://bliptext.com/articles/standard-of-living) and followed improvements in areas such as health, education and infrastructure.\nIt subsequently followed a period wherein the Albanians lived within an extreme isolation from the rest of the world for the next four decades.\nBy 1967, the established government had officially proclaimed Albania to be the first [atheistic state](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheistic-state) in the world as they beforehand confiscated [churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-church), [monasteries](https://bliptext.com/articles/monasteries) and mosques, and any religious expression instantly became grounds for imprisonment.\nProtests coinciding with the emerging [revolutions of 1989](https://bliptext.com/articles/revolutions-of-1989) began to break out in various cities throughout Albania including [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and [Tirana](https://bliptext.com/articles/tirana) which eventually lead to the [fall of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania).\nSignificant internal and external migration waves of Albanians to such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy followed.\n[Bunkerisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunkerisation) is arguably the most visible and memorable legacy of communism in Albania.\nNearly 175,000 reinforced concrete [bunkers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunker) were built on strategic locations across [Albania's territory](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) including near borders, within towns, on the seashores or mountains.\nThese bunkers were never used for their intended purpose or for sheltering the population from attacks or an invasion by a neighbor.\nHowever, they were abandoned after the breakup of communism and have been sometimes reused for a variety of purposes.\n# [Albanian partisans, with their leader Enver Hoxha in the center, after the liberation of Tirana on 17 November 1944 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Partisans///in///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Independence of Kosovo\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) declared [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo) from Serbia on 17 February 2008, after years of strained relations between the Serb and predominantly [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) population of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo).\nIt has been officially recognised by Australia, Canada, the United States and major [European Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-union) countries, while Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence, claiming it as [Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija](https://bliptext.com/articles/autonomous-province-of-kosovo-and-metohija) under [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1244).\nThe overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population is ethnically Albanian with nearly 1.7 million people.\nTheir presence as well as in the adjacent regions of [Toplica](https://bliptext.com/articles/toplica-district) and [Morava](https://bliptext.com/articles/moravac) is recorded since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nAs the Serbs expelled many Albanians from the wider Toplica and Morava regions in Southern Serbia, which the 1878 [Congress of Berlin](https://bliptext.com/articles/congress-of-berlin) had given to the [Principality of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-serbia), many of them settled in Kosovo.\nAfter being an integral section of the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-yugoslavia), Kosovo including its Albanian population went through a period of discrimination, economic and political persecution.\nRights to use the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) were guaranteed by the constitution of the later formed [Socialist Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia) and was widely used in Macedonia and Montenegro prior to the [dissolution of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-yugoslavia).\nIn 1989, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity of Yugoslavia with rights similar to those of the six other republics and eventually became part of [Serbia and Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia-and-montenegro).\nIn 1998, tensions between the [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) and [Serb](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbs-in-kosovo) population of Kosovo culminated in the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war), which led to the external and internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo)s.\nSerbian paramilitary forces committed war crimes in Kosovo, although the [government of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/government-of-serbia) claims that the army was only going after suspected Albanian terrorists.\n[NATO](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato) launched a [78-day air campaign](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia) in 1999, which eventually led to an end to the war.\n# [The Newborn monument in Pristina was unveiled at the celebration of the Independence of Kosovo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Geb%C3%A4ude///der///UNMIK///NEW///BORN///SIGN///PRISTINA///KOSOVO///Giv///Owned///Image///23///August///2008.jpg]\n\n# Distribution\n\n## Balkans\nApproximately five million [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns are geographically distributed across the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) with about half this number living in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia) and [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) as well as to a more lesser extent in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are also significant Albanian populations in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece).\nApproximately 1.8 million Albanians are concentrated in the partially recognised [Republic of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-kosovo).\nThey are geographically distributed south of the [municipality](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-kosovo) of [North Mitrovica](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-mitrovica) and constitute the overall majority ethnic group of the territory.\nIn [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 30,000 forming one of the constituent ethnic [minority groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-group) of the country.\nThey predominantly live in the [coastal region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) of Montenegro around the municipalities of [Ulcinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulcinj-municipality) and [Bar](https://bliptext.com/articles/bar-municipality) but also Tuz and around [Plav](https://bliptext.com/articles/plav-municipality) in the [northern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) as well as in the capital city of [Podgorica](https://bliptext.com/articles/podgorica) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro).\nIn [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia), there are more than approximately 500,000 Albanians constituting the largest ethnic minority group in the country.\nThe vast majority of the Albanians are chiefly concentrated around the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-the-republic-of-macedonia) of [Tetovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/tetovo-municipality) and [Gostivar](https://bliptext.com/articles/gostivar-municipality) in the [northwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/polog-statistical-region), [Struga](https://bliptext.com/articles/struga-municipality) and [Debar](https://bliptext.com/articles/debar-municipality) in the [southwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/southwestern-statistical-region) as well as around the capital of [Skopje](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje-statistical-region).\nIn [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), the number of Albanians stands at approximately 17.500 mostly concentrated in the [counties](https://bliptext.com/articles/counties-of-croatia) of [Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/istria-county), [Split-Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/split-dalmatia-county) and most notably in the capital city of [Zagreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagreb).\nThe [Arbanasi people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people) who historically migrated to [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) live in scattered communities across [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and Southern [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine).\nIn [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), the Albanians are an officially recognised ethnic minority group with a population of around 70,000.\nThey are significantly concentrated in the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-and-cities-of-serbia) of [Bujanovac](https://bliptext.com/articles/bujanovac) and [Preševo](https://bliptext.com/articles/pre-evo) in the [Pčinja District](https://bliptext.com/articles/p-inja-district).\nIn [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania), the number of Albanians is unofficially estimated from 500 to 10,000 mainly distributed in [Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucharest).\nThey are recognised as an ethnic minority group and are respectively represented in [Parliament of Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/parliament-of-romania).\n# [American ethnographic map of the Balkan Peninsula, 1914; Albanian-inhabited areas are colored in light orange. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Balkan%2BMikrasia///1914.jpg]\n# [The historical settlement of the Arbanasi people is presently a neighborhood of Zadar in Croatia. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Aerial///view///of///the///historical///center///of///Zadar%2C///Croatia///%2848607312728%29.jpg]\n\n## Italy\nThe [Italian Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-peninsula) across the [Adriatic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/adriatic-sea) has attracted Albanian people for more than half a millennium often due to its immediate proximity.\nAlbanians in Italy later became important in establishing the fundamentals of the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) and maintaining the [Albanian culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture).\nThe [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) came sporadically in several small and large cycles initially as [Stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti) mercenaries in service of the kingdoms of [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern) and the [Republic of Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice).\nLarger migration waves occurred after the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/skanderbeg) and the capture of [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-kruj-1478) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) by the [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) to escape the forthcoming political and religious changes.\nToday, Arbëreshë constitute one of the largest [ethnolinguistic](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnolinguistic-group) minority groups and their language is recognized and protected constitutionally under the provisions of the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages).\nThe total number of [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) is approximately 260,000 scattered across [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily), Calabria and [Apulia](https://bliptext.com/articles/apulia).\nThere are Italian Albanians in the Americas especially in such countries as [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina), Chile, [Uruguay](https://bliptext.com/articles/uruguay), Canada and the United States.\nAfter 1991, a mass migration of Albanians towards Italy occurred.\nBetween 2015 and 2016, the number of Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence in Italy was numbered to be around 480,000 and 500,000.\n[Tuscany](https://bliptext.com/articles/tuscany), Lombardy and [Emilia-Romagna](https://bliptext.com/articles/emilia-romagna) represent the [regions](https://bliptext.com/articles/regions-of-italy) with the strongest presence of the modern Albanian population in Italy.\nAs of 2022, 433,000 Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence lived in Italy and were the second largest migrant community in Italy after Romanians.\nAs of 2018, an additional ca. 200,000 Albanian migrants have obtained Italian citizenship (children born in Italy not included).\nAs of 2012, 41.5% of the Albanian in Italy population were counted as [Muslim](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim), 38.9% as [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) including 27.7% as [Roman Catholic](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic) and 11% as [Eastern Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox) and 17.8% as [Irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion).\n# [Giovanni Francesco Albani was of Albanian origin and served as the Pope from 1700 to 1721. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CLEMENS///XI.PNG]\n# [Arbëreshë in traditional costume in the Piana degli Albanesi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Pasqua///Piana///degli///Albanesi.jpg]\n\n## Greece\nThe [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) and [Albanians of Western Thrace](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-western-thrace) are a group descended from [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosks) who migrated to southern and central Greece between the 13th and 16th centuries.\nThey are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of [Tosk Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) known as [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika), they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify as Albanians.\n.\n\"First, we can explain the astonishing persistence of Albanian village culture from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries through the ethnic and religious tolerance characteristic of Islamic empires and so lacking in their Christian equivalents. Ottoman control rested upon allowing local communities to keep their religion, language, local laws, and representatives, provided that taxes were paid (the millet system). There was no pressure for Greeks and Albanians to conform to each other's language or other behavior. Clear signs of change are revealed in the travel diaries of the German scholar Ludwig Ross (1851), when he accompanied the Bavarian Otto, whom the Allies had foisted as king upon the newly freed Greek nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence in the 1830s. Ross praises the well-built Greek villages of central Greece with their healthy, happy, dancing inhabitants, and contrasts them specifically with the hovels and sickly inhabitants of Albanian villages.\nIn fact, recent scholarship has underlined how far it was the West that built modem Greece in its own fanciful image as the land of a long-oppressed people who were the direct descendants of Pericles.\nThus from the late nineteenth century onward the children of the inhabitants of the new \"nation-state\" were taught in Greek, history confined itself to the episodes of pure Greekness, and the tolerant Ottoman attitude to cultural diversity yielded to a deliberate policy of total Hellenization of the populace—effective enough to fool the casual observer.\nOne is rather amazed at the persistence today of such dual-speaking populations in much of the Albanian colonization zone.\nHowever, apart from the provinciality of this essentially agricultural province, a high rate of illiteracy until well into this century has also helped to preserve Arvanitika in the Boeotian villagers (Meijs 1993).\"; p. 140. \"In contrast therefore to the more openly problematic issue of Slav speakers in northern Greece, Arvanitic speakers in central Greece lack any signs of an assertive ethnicity.\nI would like to suggest that they possess what we might term a passive ethnicity.\nAs a result of a number of historical factors, much of the rural population in central Greece was Albanian-speaking by the time of the creation of the modern Greek state in the 1830s.\nUntil this century, most of these people were illiterate and unschooled, yet there existed sufficient knowledge of Greek to communicate with officials and townspeople, itinerant traders, and so on, to limit the need to transform rural language usage.\nLife was extremely provincial, with just one major carriage-road passing through the center of the large province of Boeotia even in the 1930s (beyond which horseback and cart took over; van Effenterre 1989).\nEven in the 1960s, Arvanitic village children could be figures of fun for their Greek peers in the schools of Thebes (One of the two regional towns) (K. Sarri, personal communication, 2000).\nIt was not a matter of cultural resistance but simple conservatism and provinciality, the extreme narrowness of rural life, that allowed Arvanitic language and local historic memories to survive so effectively to the very recent period.\" . \"For the time being, the Greeks of free Greece could indulge in defining their brethren of unredeemed Greece, primarily the Slav Macedonians and secondarily the Orthodox Albanians and the Vlachs.\nPrimary school students were taught, in the 1880s, that 'Greeks [are] our kinsmen, of common descent, speaking the language we speak and professing the religion we profess'.\" But this definition, it seems, was reserved for small children who could not possibly understand the intricate arguments of their parents on the question of Greek identity. What was essential to understand at that tender age was that modern Greeks descended from the ancient Greeks. Grown up children, however, must have been no less confused than adults on the criteria for defining modern Greek identity. Did the Greeks constitute a 'race' apart from the Albanians, the Slavs and the Vlachs? Yes and no. High school students were told that the 'other races', i.e. the Slavs, the Albanians and the Vlachs, 'having been Hellenized with the years in terms of mores and customs, are now being assimilated into the Greeks'. On the Slavs of Macedonia there seems to have been no consensus.\nWere they Bulgars, Slavicized Greeks or early Slavs?\nThey 'were' Bulgars until the 1870s and Slavicized Greeks, or Hellenized Slavs subsequently, according to the needs of the dominant theory.\nThere was no consensus, either, on the Vlachs.\nWere they Latinized Greek mountaineers of late immigrants from Vlachia?\nAs in the case of the Slavs of Macedonia, Vlach descent shifted from the southern Balkans to the Danube, until the Romanians claimed the Vlachs for their brethren; which made the latter irrevocably indigenous to the southern Balkan mountains.\nThe Albanians or 'Arvanites', were readily 'adopted' as brethren of common descent for at least three reasons.\nFirstly, the Albanians had been living in southern Greece, as far south as the Peloponnese, in considerable numbers.\nSecondly, Christian Albanians had fought with distinction and in considerable numbers in the War of Independence.\nThirdly, credible Albanian claims for the establishment of an Albanian nation state materialized too Late for Greek national theorists to abandon well-entrenched positions.\nCommenting on a geography textbook for primary schools in 1901, a state committee found it inadequate and misleading.\nOne of its principal shortcomings concerned the Albanians, who were described as 'close kinsmen of the Greeks'.\n'These are unacceptable from the point of view of our national claims and as far as historical truth is concerned', commented the committee.\n'it must have been maintained that they are of common descent with the Greeks (Pelasgians), that they speak a language akin to that of the Greeks and that they participated in all struggles for national liberation of the common fatherland.'\" Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.\nThe [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) were a group that formerly inhabited a region of [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) known as [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria), nowadays [Thesprotia](https://bliptext.com/articles/thesprotia) in northwestern Greece.\nMany Cham Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman era.\nMuslim Chams were [expelled](https://bliptext.com/articles/expulsion-of-cham-albanians) from Greece during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), by an [anti-communist resistance group](https://bliptext.com/articles/edes) (EDES).\nThe causes of the expulsion were multifaceted and remain a matter of debate among historians.\nDifferent narratives in historiography argue that the causes involved pre-existing Greek policies which targeted the minority and sought its elimination, the Cham [collaboration](https://bliptext.com/articles/axis-cham-albanian-collaboration) with the Axis forces and local property disputes which were instrumentalized after WWII.\nThe estimated number of Cham Albanians expelled from Epirus to Albania and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) varies: figures include 14,000, 19,000, 20,000, 25,000 and 30,000.\nAccording to Cham reports this number should be raised to c. 35,000.\nLarge-scale migration from Albania to Greece occurred after 1991.\nDuring this period, at least 500,000 Albanians have migrated and relocated to Greece.\nDespite the lack of exact statistics, it is estimated that at least 700,000 Albanians have moved to Greece during the last 25 years.\nThe Albanian government estimates 500,000 Albanians in Greece at the very least without accounting for their children.\nThe 2011 Greece census indicated that Albanians consisted the biggest group of migrants in Greece, numbered roughly 480,000, but taking into consideration the current population of Greece (11 million) and the fact that the census failed to account for illegal foreigners, it was estimated that Albanians consist of 5% of the population (at least 550,000).\nBy 2005, around 600,000 Albanians lived in Greece, forming the largest immigrant community in the country.\nThey are economic migrants whose migration began in 1991, following the collapse of the [Socialist People's Republic of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-people-s-republic-of-albania).\n, in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years.\nIn recent years, many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece in search of better opportunities elsewhere in Europe.\nAs of 2022, there c. 292,000 Albanian immigrants are holders of legal permits to live and work in Greece, down from c. 423,000 in 2021.\nAlbanians in Greece have a long history of [Hellenisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/hellenisation), assimilation and integration.\nMany ethnic Albanians have been naturalised as Greek nationals, others have self-declared as Greek since arrival and a considerable number live and work across both countries seasonally hence the number of Albanians in the country has often fluctuated.\n# [Painting of Albanian palikars displayed in the British Museum, London | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Albanian///Palikars///in///pursuit///of///an///enemy///--///Charles///Robert///Cockerell%2C///1813-1814///--///British///Museum%2C///inv.///1923%2C0113.30.jpg]\n# [Cham Albanians in Filiates in 1915, by Fred Boissonas | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Chams///on///Filiates///1915.jpg]\n\n# Diaspora\nDiaspora based Albanians may self identify as Albanian, use hybrid identification or identify with their nationality, often creating an obstacle in establishing a total figure of the population.\n\n## Europe\nDuring the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, the [conflicts in the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslav-wars) and the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) set in motion large population movements of Albanians to [Central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-europe), [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe) and Northern Europe.\nThe gradual [collapse of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania) in Albania triggered as well a new wave of migration and contributed to the emergence of a new diaspora, mainly in Southern Europe, in such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy.\nIn Central Europe, there are approximately 200,000 Albanians in [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) with the particular concentration in the [cantons](https://bliptext.com/articles/cantons-of-switzerland) of [Zürich](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-z-rich), [Basel](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-basel-stadt), [Lucerne](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-lucerne), [Bern](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-bern) and [St. Gallen](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-st-gallen).\nThe neighbouring Germany is home to around 250,000 to 300,000 Albanians while in [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) there are around 40,000 to 80,000 Albanians concentrated in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-austria) of [Vienna](https://bliptext.com/articles/vienna), [Styria](https://bliptext.com/articles/styria), [Salzburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-of-salzburg), [Lower](https://bliptext.com/articles/lower-austria) and Upper [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria).\nIn [Western Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe), the Albanian population of approximately 10,000 people living in the [Benelux countries](https://bliptext.com/articles/benelux-countries) is in comparison to other regions relatively limited.\nThere are more than 6,000 Albanian people living in [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) and 2,800 in the nearby [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands).\nThe most lesser number of Albanian people in the Benelux region is to be found in [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) with a population of 2,100.\nWithin Northern Europe, Sweden possesses the most sizeable population of Albanians in [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) however there is no exact answer to their number in the country.\nThe populations also tend to be lower in [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway), [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) and [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) with more than 18,000, 10,000 and 8,000 Albanians respectively.\nThe population of Albanians in the [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-the-united-kingdom) is officially estimated to be around 39,000 whiles in Ireland there are less than 2,500 Albanians.\n# [Albanians in Vienna celebrating the declaration of independence of Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kosova///independence///Vienna///17-02-2008///b.jpg]\n\n## Asia and Africa\nThe Albanian diaspora in Africa and Asia, in such countries as [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt), [Syria](https://bliptext.com/articles/syria) or [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), was predominantly formed during the Ottoman period through economic [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) and early years of the Republic of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) through [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) due to sociopolitical discrimination and violence experienced by Albanians in [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans).\nIn [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), the exact numbers of the Albanian population of the country are difficult to correctly estimate.\nAccording to a 2008 report, there were approximately 1.300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.\nAs of that report, more than 500,000 Albanian descendants still recognise their [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry) and or their language, culture and traditions.\nThere are also other estimates that range from being 3 to 4 million people up to a total of 5 million in number, although most of these are Turkish citizens of either full or partial Albanian ancestry being no longer fluent in Albanian, comparable to the [German Americans](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-americans).\nThis was due to various degrees of either linguistic and or [cultural assimilation](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) occurring amongst the Albanian diaspora in Turkey.\nAlbanians are active in the civic life of Turkey.\nIn [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk) speakers.\nMany are descendants of the [Janissaries](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissaries) of [Muhammad Ali Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt), an Albanian who became [Wāli](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-li), and self-declared [Khedive](https://bliptext.com/articles/khedive) of Egypt and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/sudan).\nIn addition to the [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that he established, a large part of the former Egyptian and Sudanese [aristocracy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristocracy) was of Albanian origin.\nAlbanian Sunnis, Bektashis and Orthodox Christians were all represented in this diaspora, whose members at some point included major [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) figures (Rilindasit), including Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, Andon Zako Çajupi, Milo Duçi, Fan Noli and others who lived in Egypt for a time.\nWith the ascension of [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://bliptext.com/articles/gamal-abdel-nasser) in Egypt and rise of [Arab nationalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-nationalism), the last remnants of Albanian community there were forced to leave.\nAlbanians have been present in [Arab](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-world) countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and for about five centuries as a legacy of [Ottoman Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-turk) rule.\n# [Painting of an Arnaut by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1870s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Jean-Leon///Gerome///-///An///Arnaut///N08542-8-lr-1.jpg]\n# [The Albanian Sentinel in Cairo by Charles Bargue, 1877 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Charles///Bargue///%E2%80%93///La///sentinelle///albanaise///en///Caire%2C///1877.jpg]\n\n## Americas and Oceania\nThe first Albanian migration to North America began in the 19th and 20th centuries not long after gaining [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania) from the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nHowever the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) from [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) were the first Albanian people to arrive in the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world), many of them migrating after the wars that accompanied the [Risorgimento](https://bliptext.com/articles/risorgimento).\nSince then several Albanian migration waves have occurred throughout the 20th century as for instance after the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) with Albanians mostly from [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) rather than from [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania), then after the Breakup of [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania) in 1990 and finally following the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) in 1998.\nThe most sizeable Albanian population in the Americas is predominantly to be found in the United States.\n[New York metropolitan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-metropolitan-area) in the [State of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) is home to the most sizeable Albanian population of the United States.\nAs of 2017, there are approximately 205,000 Albanians in the country with the main concentration in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-the-united-states) of New York, [Michigan](https://bliptext.com/articles/michigan), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts) and [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois).\nThe number could be higher counting the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) as well; they are often distinguishable from other Albanian Americans with regard to their [Italianized](https://bliptext.com/articles/italianization) names, nationality and a common [religion](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism).\nIn Canada, there are approximately 39,000 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns in the country, including 36,185 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and 2,870 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), predominantly distributed in a multitude of [provinces](https://bliptext.com/articles/provinces-and-territories-of-canada) such as [Ontario](https://bliptext.com/articles/ontario), Quebec, [Alberta](https://bliptext.com/articles/alberta) and [British Columbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-columbia).\nCanada's largest cities such as [Toronto](https://bliptext.com/articles/toronto), Montreal and [Edmonton](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmonton) were besides the United States a major centre of Albanian migration to North America.\nToronto is home to around 17,000 Albanians.\nAlbanian immigration to Australia began in the late 19th century and most took place during the 20th century.\nPeople who planned to immigrate chose Australia after the US introduced immigration quotas on southern Europeans.\nMost were from southern Albania, of Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds and tended to live in [Victoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/victoria-australia) and [Queensland](https://bliptext.com/articles/queensland-australia), with smaller numbers in [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-australia) and Northern Australia.\nItaly's [annexation](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-invasion-of-albania) of Albania marked a difficult time for Albanian Australians as many were thought by Australian authorities to pose a fascist threat.\nPost-war, the numbers of Albanian immigrants slowed due to immigration restrictions placed by the [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism-in-albania) in Albania.\nAlbanians from southwestern Yugoslavia (modern North Macedonia) arrived and settled in Melbourne in the 1960s-1970s.\nOther Albanian immigrants from Yugoslavia came from [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThe immigrants were mostly Muslims, but also Catholics among them including the relatives of the renowned Albanian nun and missionary [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa).\nAlbanian refugees from Kosovo settled in Australia following the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.\nIn the early twenty first century, Victoria has the highest concentration of Albanians and smaller Albanian communities exist in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.\nIn 2016, approximately 4,041 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), while 15,901 persons identified themselves as having [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.\nAlbanian migration to New Zealand occurred mid twentieth century following the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war).\nA small group of Albanian refugees originating mainly from Albania and the rest from Yugoslavian Kosovo and Macedonia settled in Auckland.\nDuring the [Kosovo crisis](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-crisis) (1999), up to 400 Kosovo Albanian refugees settled in New Zealand.\nIn the twenty first century, Albanian New Zealanders number 400-500 people and are mainly concentrated in [Auckland](https://bliptext.com/articles/auckland).\n# [The Albanian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George Historic District in South Boston, Massachusetts | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cathedral///of///St.///George///Historic///District///South///Boston///MA.jpg]\n# [Orthodox Albanian wedding in Bagnoo, New South Wales (1944) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Orthodox///Albanian///wedding///in///Bagnoo%2C///New///South///Wales%2C///1944.jpg]\n\n# Culture\n\n## Traditions\n\n### Tribal social structure\nThe [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes) form a historical mode of social organization (**farefisní**) in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and the southwestern [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) characterized by a common [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultur), often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared [social ties](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-ties).\nThe **fis** (**fis**i; commonly translated as \"tribe\", also as \"clan\" or \"kin\" community) stands at the center of Albanian organization based on [kinship](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinship) relations, a concept which can be found among southern Albanians also with the term **farë** (fara).\nInherited from ancient [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) social structures, Albanian tribal society emerged in the early Middle Ages as the dominant form of social organization among Albanians.\nIt also remained in a less developed system in [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) where large feudal estates and later trade and urban centres began to develop at the expense of tribal organization.\nOne of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), a code of Albanian oral [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law).\nMost tribes engaged in warfare against external forces like the Ottoman Empire.\nSome also engaged in limited inter-tribal struggle for the control of resources.\nUntil the early years of the 20th century, the Albanian tribal society remained largely intact until the rise to power of [communist regime](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) in 1944, and is considered as the only example of a tribal social system structured with tribal chiefs and councils, [blood feuds](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjakmarrja) and [oral customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), surviving in [Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) until the middle of the 20th century.\nMembers of the tribes of northern Albania believe their history is based on the notions of resistance and isolationism.\nSome scholars connect this belief with the concept of \"negotiated peripherality\".\nThroughout history the territory northern Albanian tribes occupy has been contested and peripheral so northern Albanian tribes often exploited their position and negotiated their peripherality in profitable ways.\nThis peripheral position also affected their national program which significance and challenges are different from those in southern Albania.\n# [Map of the northern Albanian tribal regions in the mid-20th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Northern///Albanian///Tribal///Regions.png]\n# [Picture of members of the Albanian Shkreli tribe, 1890s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ad061.jpg]\n\n### Kanun\nThe [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania) is a set of Albanian traditional [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law), which has directed all the aspects of the [Albanian tribal society](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes).\nFor at least the last five centuries and until today, Albanian customary laws have been kept alive only orally by the tribal elders.\nThe success in preserving them exclusively through [oral systems](https://bliptext.com/articles/oral-tradition) highlights their universal resilience and provides evidence of their likely ancient origins.\nStrong pre-Christian motifs mixed with motifs from the Christian era reflect the stratification of the Albanian customary law across various historical ages.\nOver time, Albanian customary laws have undergone their historical development, they have been changed and supplemented with new [norms](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-norm), in accordance with certain requirements of socio-economic development.\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) and nderi ([honour](https://bliptext.com/articles/honour)) are of major importance in Albanian customary law as the cornerstone of personal and social conduct.\nThe Kanun is based on four pillars – Honour, Hospitality , Right Conduct and Kin Loyalty.\n# [The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a Medieval Albanian lord, transcribed by Shtjefën Gjeçovi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kanuni///i///Lek%C3%AB///Dukagjinit.jpg]\n\n### Besa\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) (pledge of honor) is an Albanian cultural [precept](https://bliptext.com/articles/precept), usually translated as \"[faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith)\" or \"[oath](https://bliptext.com/articles/oath)\", that means \"to keep the promise\" and \"word of honor\".\nThe concept is based upon faithfulness toward one's word in the form of loyalty or as an allegiance guarantee.\nBesa contains mores toward obligations to the family and a friend, the demand to have internal commitment, loyalty and solidarity when conducting oneself with others and secrecy in relation to outsiders.\nThe besa is also the main element within the concept of the ancestor's will or pledge (amanet) where a demand for faithfulness to a cause is expected in situations that relate to unity, national liberation and independence that transcend a person and generations.\nThe concept of besa is included in the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), the [customary law](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law) of the Albanian people.\nThe besa was an important institution within the tribal society of the [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes), who swore oaths to jointly fight against invaders, and in this aspect the besa served to uphold tribal autonomy.\nThe besa was used toward regulating tribal affairs between and within the Albanian tribes.\n\n## Cuisine\nThe traditional [cuisine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-cuisine) of the Albanians is diverse and has been greatly influenced by traditions and their varied [environment](https://bliptext.com/articles/biophysical-environment) in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and turbulent history throughout the course of the centuries.\nThere is a considerable diversity between the [Mediterranean](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-cuisine) and [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of Albanians in the Western [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine) nations and the [Italian](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-cuisine) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of the [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and [Chams](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians).\nThe enjoyment of food has a high priority in the lives of Albanian peoples especially when celebrating [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival) such as [Ramadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/ramadan), [Eid](https://bliptext.com/articles/eid-al-fitr), Christmas, Easter, [Hanukkah](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanukkah) or [Novruz](https://bliptext.com/articles/novruz)\nIngredients include many varieties of fruits such as [lemons](https://bliptext.com/articles/lemon-fruit), oranges, [figs](https://bliptext.com/articles/figs-fruit) and [olives](https://bliptext.com/articles/olive-fruit), herbs such as [basil](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-herb), [lavender](https://bliptext.com/articles/lavender), [mint](https://bliptext.com/articles/spearmint), [oregano](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregano), [rosemary](https://bliptext.com/articles/rosemary) and [thyme](https://bliptext.com/articles/thyme) and vegetables such as garlic, onion, [peppers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bell-pepper), potatoes and tomatoes.\nAlbanian peoples who live closer to the [Mediterranean Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-sea), [Prespa Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/prespa-lake) and [Ohrid Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/ohrid-lake) are able to complement their diet with fish, [shellfish](https://bliptext.com/articles/shellfish) and other seafood.\nOtherwise, [lamb](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamb-food) is often considered the traditional meat for different [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival).\nPoultry, beef and pork are also in plentiful supply.\n[Tavë Kosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/tav-kosi) is a national dish in Albania consisting of garlic lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of [yogurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/yogurt).\n[Fërgesë](https://bliptext.com/articles/f-rges) is another national dish and is made with peppers, tomatoes and [cottage cheese](https://bliptext.com/articles/cottage-cheese).\nPite is a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of [spinach](https://bliptext.com/articles/spinach) and [gjizë](https://bliptext.com/articles/curd) or [mish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ground-meat).\nDesserts include [Flia](https://bliptext.com/articles/flia), consisting of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with crea; petulla, a traditionally fried dough, and Krofne, similar to [Berliner](https://bliptext.com/articles/berliner-doughnut).\n# [Bukë, kripë e zemër is a traditional welcoming custom traced back to medieval Albanian law. The Albanian code of honour, called Besa, resulted to look after guests as an act of hospitality. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Buk%C3%AB///kollomoqe%2C///buk%C3%AB///misri.JPG]\n\n## Visual arts\n\n### Painting\nThe earliest preserved relics of visual arts of the Albanian people are [sacred](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacred-art) in nature and represented by numerous [frescoes](https://bliptext.com/articles/fresco), [murals](https://bliptext.com/articles/mural) and [icons](https://bliptext.com/articles/icon) which has been created with an admirable use of color and gold.\nThey reveal a wealth of various influences and traditions that converged in the historical lands of the Albanian people throughout the course of the centuries.\nThe rise of the [Byzantines](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) and [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) during the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) was accompanied by a corresponding growth in [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-art) and [Islamic art](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamic-art) often apparent in examples of architecture and mosaics throughout Albania.\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and arts whereas artists sought to return to the ideals of [Impressionism](https://bliptext.com/articles/impressionism) and [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism-art).\n[Onufri](https://bliptext.com/articles/onufri), founder of the Berat School, [Kolë Idromeno](https://bliptext.com/articles/kol-idromeno), [David Selenica](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-selenica), [Kostandin Shpataraku](https://bliptext.com/articles/kostandin-shpataraku) and the [Zografi Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/zografi-brothers) are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.\nAlbanians in Italy and Croatia have been also active among others the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) influenced artists such as [Marco Basaiti](https://bliptext.com/articles/marco-basaiti), [Viktor Karpaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/vittore-carpaccio) and [Andrea Nikollë Aleksi](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-nikoll-aleksi).\nIn Greece, [Eleni Boukouras](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-boukouras) is noted as being the first great female painter of post [independence Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-war-of-independence).\nIn 1856, [Pjetër Marubi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-marubi) arrived in [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and established the first photography museum in Albania and probably the entire [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), the [Marubi Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-photography-marubi).\nThe collection of 150,000 photographs, captured by the Albanian-Italian Marubi dynasty, offers an ensemble of photographs depicting social rituals, traditional costumes, portraits of Albanian history.\nThe Kulla, a traditional [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n [dwelling](https://bliptext.com/articles/tower-house) constructed completely from natural materials, is a cultural relic from the medieval period particularly widespread in the southwestern region of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and northern region of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nThe rectangular shape of a Kulla is produced with irregular [stone](https://bliptext.com/articles/stone) ashlars, river pebbles and [chestnut](https://bliptext.com/articles/chestnut) woods, however, the size and number of floors depends on the size of the family and their financial resources.\n# [Kolë Idromeno is considered the most renowned painter of the Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Kol%C3%AB///Idromeno///%28i///ri%29.jpg]\n# [Medieval icon by Kostandin and Athanas Zografi in the Monastery of Ardenica. It illustrates the seven saints Clement, Naum, Sava, Angelar, Gorazd, Cyril, Method and the Albanian Jan Kukuzeli. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Sv///Sedmo%C4%8Dislenici///with///Jovan///Kukuzel///in///Ardenica.jpg]\n\n### Literature\nThe roots of [literature of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) with surviving works about history, theology and philosophy dating from the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance).\nThe earliest known use of written Albanian is a [baptismal formula](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-e-pag-zimit) (1462) written by the Archbishop of Durrës [Paulus Angelus](https://bliptext.com/articles/paulus-angelus).\nIn 1555, a Catholic clergyman [Gjon Buzuku](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-buzuku) from the Shestan region published the earliest known book written in Albanian titled [Meshari](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshari) (The Missal) regarding Catholic prayers and rites containing archaic medieval language, lexemes and expressions obsolete in contemporary Albanian.\nOther Christian clergy such as [Luca Matranga](https://bliptext.com/articles/luca-matranga) in the Arbëresh diaspora published (1592) in the Tosk dialect while other notable authors were from northern Albanian lands and included [Pjetër Budi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-budi), [Frang Bardhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/frang-bardhi), and [Pjetër Bogdani](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-bogdani).\nIn the 17th century and onwards, important contributions were made by the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) of [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) who played an influential role in encouraging the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nNotable among them was figures such as [Demetrio Camarda](https://bliptext.com/articles/demetrio-camarda), [Gabriele Dara](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabriele-dara), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Giulio Variboba](https://bliptext.com/articles/giulio-variboba) and [Giuseppe Serembe](https://bliptext.com/articles/giuseppe-serembe) who produced inspiring nationalist literature and worked to systematise the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Bejtexhinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/bejtexhinj) in the 18th century emerged as the result of the influences of [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and particularly [Sufism](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order) orders moving towards [Orientalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/orientalism).\nIndividuals such as [Nezim Frakulla](https://bliptext.com/articles/nezim-frakulla), [Hasan Zyko Kamberi](https://bliptext.com/articles/hasan-zyko-kamberi), [Shahin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shahin-frash-ri) and [Dalip Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalip-frash-ri) compiled literature infused with expressions, language and themes on the circumstances of the time, the insecurities of the future and their discontent at the conditions of the feudal system.\nThe Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century is important both for its valuable poetic achievement and for its variety within the Albanian literature.\nIt drew on the ideas of [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the interaction between nature and mankind.\n[Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Naim Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri), [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri) and [Pashko Vasa](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashko-vasa) maintained this movement and are remembered today for composing series of prominent works.\nThe 20th century was centred on the principles of [Modernism](https://bliptext.com/articles/modernism) and [Realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/realist-literature) and characterised by the development to a more distinctive and expressive form of Albanian literature.\nPioneers of the time include [Asdreni](https://bliptext.com/articles/asdreni), [Faik Konica](https://bliptext.com/articles/faik-konica), [Fan Noli](https://bliptext.com/articles/fan-noli), [Lasgush Poradeci](https://bliptext.com/articles/lasgush-poradeci), [Migjeni](https://bliptext.com/articles/migjeni) who chose to portray themes of contemporary life and most notably [Gjergj Fishta](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-fishta) who created the epic masterpiece Lahuta e Malcís.\nAfter World War II, Albania emerged as a communist state and Socialist realism became part of the literary scene.\nAuthors and poets emerged such as [Sejfulla Malëshova](https://bliptext.com/articles/sejfulla-mal-shova), [Dritero Agolli](https://bliptext.com/articles/dritero-agolli) and [Ismail Kadare](https://bliptext.com/articles/ismail-kadare) who has become an internationally acclaimed novelist and others who challenged the regime through various sociopolitical and historic themes in their works.\n[Martin Camaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-camaj) wrote in the diaspora while in neighbouring Yugoslavia, the emergence of Albanian cultural expression resulted in sociopolitical and poetic literature by notable authors like [Adem Demaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/adem-dema-i), [Rexhep Qosja](https://bliptext.com/articles/rexhep-qosja), [Jusuf Buxhovi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jusuf-buxhovi).\nThe literary scene of the 21st century remains vibrant producing new novelists, authors, poets and other writers.\n# [The Meshari is currently the earliest published book in the Albanian language written by Gjon Buzuku. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Meshari.jpg]\n# [The biography of Marin Barleti on Skanderbeg in Latin was translated into many different European languages. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Historia///de///vita///et///gestis///Scanderbegi%2C///Epirotarum///principis.jpg]\n\n## Performing arts\n\n### Apparel\nThe Albanian people have incorporated various natural materials from their local agriculture and livestock as a source of [attire](https://bliptext.com/articles/attire), clothing and fabrics.\nTheir [traditional apparel](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-national-clothing) was primarily influenced by [nature](https://bliptext.com/articles/nature), the [lifestyle](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology) and has continuously changed since ancient times.\nDifferent regions possesses their own exceptional clothing traditions and peculiarities varied occasionally in colour, material and shape.\nThe [traditional costume](https://bliptext.com/articles/traditional-costume) of Albanian men includes a white [skirt](https://bliptext.com/articles/skirt-garment) called [Fustanella](https://bliptext.com/articles/fustanella), a white shirt with wide [sleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/sleeve), and a thin black jacket or vest such as the [Xhamadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhamadan) or Xhurdia.\nIn winter, they add a warm [woolen](https://bliptext.com/articles/woolen) or [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur) coat known as Flokata or Dollama made from [sheepskin](https://bliptext.com/articles/sheepskin) or goat [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur).\nAnother authentic piece is called Tirq which is a tight pair of felt [trousers](https://bliptext.com/articles/trousers) mostly white, sometimes dark brown or black.\nThe Albanian women's costumes are much more elaborate, colorful and richer in ornamentation.\nIn all the Albanian regions the women's clothing often has been decorated with [filigree](https://bliptext.com/articles/filigree) [ironwork](https://bliptext.com/articles/ironwork), colorful embroidery, a lot of symbols and vivid accessories.\nA unique and ancient dress is called [Xhubleta](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhubleta), a bell shaped skirt reaching down to the calves and worn from the shoulders with two shoulder straps at the upper part.\nDifferent traditional handmade shoes and socks were worn by the Albanian people.\n[Opinga](https://bliptext.com/articles/opinga), leather shoes made from rough animal skin, were worn with [Çorape](https://bliptext.com/articles/orape), knitted woolen or cotton socks.\n[Headdresses](https://bliptext.com/articles/headdress) remain a contrasting and recognisable feature of Albanian traditional clothing.\nAlbanian men wore hats of various designs, shape and size.\nA common headgear is a [Plis](https://bliptext.com/articles/qeleshe) and Qylafë, in contrast, Albanian women wore a Kapica adorned with jewels or embroidery on the forehead, and a Lëvere or Kryqe which usually covers the head, shoulders and neck.\nWealthy Albanian women wore headdresses embellished with gems, gold or silver.\n# [Lord Byron dressed in the traditional Albanian costume traditionally consisting of the Fustanella and a Dollama decorated with filigree. Lord Byron in Albanian Dress by Thomas Phillips, 1813. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lord///Byron///in///Albanian///Dress///by///Phillips%2C///1813.jpg]\n\n### Music\nFor the Albanian people, [music](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-music) is a vital component to their [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture) and characterised by its own peculiar features and diverse melodic pattern reflecting the [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history), [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) and [way of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology).\nIt rather varies from region to another with two essential stylistic differences between the music of the [Ghegs](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nHence, their geographic position in Southeast Europe in combination with cultural, political and social issues is frequently expressed through music along with the accompanying [instruments](https://bliptext.com/articles/musical-instrument) and dances.\nAlbanian folk music is contrasted by the heroic tone of the Ghegs and the relaxed sounds of the Tosks.\nTraditional [iso-polyphony](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-iso-polyphony) perhaps represents the most noble and essential genre of the Tosks which was proclaimed a [Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-lists) by [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco).\nGhegs in contrast have a reputation for a distinctive variety of sung [epic poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-poetry) often about the tumultuous history of the Albanian people.\nThere are a number of internationally acclaimed singers of ethnic Albanian origin such as [Ava Max](https://bliptext.com/articles/ava-max), [Bebe Rexha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bebe-rexha), [Dua Lipa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dua-lipa), [Era Istrefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-istrefi), [Rita Ora](https://bliptext.com/articles/rita-ora), and rappers such as [Action Bronson](https://bliptext.com/articles/action-bronson), [Dardan](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardan-rapper), [Gashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gashi-rapper) and [Loredana Zefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/loredana-zefi).\nNotable singers of Albanian origin from the former [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) include [Selma Bajrami](https://bliptext.com/articles/selma-bajrami) and [Zana Nimani](https://bliptext.com/articles/zana-nimani).\nIn international competitions, [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) participated in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurovision-song-contest) for the first time in 2004.\nAlbanians have also represented other countries in the contest: [Anna Oxa](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-oxa) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 1989, [Adrian Gaxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/adrian-gaxha) for [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2008) in 2008, [Ermal Meta](https://bliptext.com/articles/ermal-meta) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 2018, [Eleni Foureira](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-foureira) for [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018) in 2018, as well as [Gjon Muharremaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-s-tears) for [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2021) in 2020 and 2021.\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) has never participated, but is currently applying to become a member of the [EBU](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-broadcasting-union) and therefore debut in the contest.\n# [Dua Lipa is the first Albanian to ever win a Grammy Award. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Dua///Lipa///with///Warner///Music///2.jpg]\n# [Southern Albanian polyphonic singers | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Fustanela///001.jpg]\n# [An Albanian bashi-bazouk singing and playing an oud. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1868. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Jean-L%C3%A9on///G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me///-///Bashi-Bazouk///Singing///-///Walters///37883.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nMany different [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) traditions, religious [faiths](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith) and [beliefs](https://bliptext.com/articles/belief) are practised by the Albanian people who historically have succeeded to coexist peacefully over the centuries in Southeast Europe.\nThey are traditionally both Christians and [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslims)—[Catholics](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism) and [Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/orthodoxy), [Sunnis](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunnism) and [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashism) and—but also to a lesser extent [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism), [Protestants](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestants) and [Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/judaism), constituting one of the most religiously diverse peoples of Europe.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century.\nThen, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054 after the schism, the north became identified with the [Roman Catholic Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic-church).\nSince that time all churches north of the Shkumbin river were Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Pope.\nVarious reasons have been put forward for the spread of Catholicism among northern Albanians.\nTraditional affiliation with the [Latin Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin-church) and Catholic missions in central Albania in the 12th century fortified the Catholic Church against Orthodoxy, while local leaders found an ally in Catholicism against Slavic Orthodox states.\nAfter the [Ottoman conquest of the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans), Christianity began to be overtaken by Islam, and Catholicism and Orthodoxy continued to be practiced with less frequency.\nDuring the [modern era](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-era), the monarchy and [communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) in Albania as well as the [socialism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialism) in Kosovo, historically part of [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), followed a systematic [secularisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/secularisation) of its people.\nThis policy was chiefly applied within the borders of both territories and produced a secular majority of its population.\nAll forms of Christianity, [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [pagan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pagan) practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture.\nThe current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the [Spring](https://bliptext.com/articles/spring-day) festival held yearly on 14 March in the city of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan).\nIt is a national holiday.\nThe communist regime which ruled Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions, and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [atheist state](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-atheism).\nReligious freedom returned to Albania following the regime's change in 1992.\nAlbanian Sunni Muslims are found throughout the country, [Albanian Orthodox Christians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-orthodox-church) as well as [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi) are concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics are found primarily in the north of the country.\nAccording to the 2011 Census, which has been recognised as unreliable by the [Council of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/council-of-europe), in Albania, 58.79% of the population adheres to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country.\nChristianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the second largest religion in the country.\nThe remaining population is either [irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligious) or belongs to other religious groups.\nBefore World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.\nToday, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.\nFor part of its history, [Albania has also had a Jewish community](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-jews-in-albania).\nMembers of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.\nMany left for Israel c. 1990–1992 when the borders were opened after the fall of the communist regime, but about 200 Jews still live in Albania.\n# [The Great Mosque of Tirana, Albania | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Great///Mosque///of///Tirana///%282020%29.jpg]\n# [The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Saint///Mother///Teresa///Cathedral///Prishtina8.jpg]\n# [Bektashi Tekke in Tetovo, North Macedonia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Arabati///Baba///Tekke.jpg]\n\n# Citations\n\n## Cited sources","wordIndex":2,"createdAt":"2025-03-25T18:35:59.733Z","user":{"id":"Em1dcdvj5Qux5MtUHVgPkybGQlaahaAr","name":"gicpr","image":"https://cdn.discordapp.com/avatars/188701483854725120/d87b9e85b92c2606f45890c019cdae99.png"}}],"article":{"id":"dc07c6be-1321-4893-9f21-f5890d0f70d7","title":"Albanians","slug":"albanians","content":":::summary\n![Albanians](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Map///of///the///Albanian///Diaspora///in///the///World.svg)\n**Group:** Albanians \n**Native Name:** Shqiptarët \n**Native Name Lang:** sq \n**Pop:** c. 7 to 10 million \n**Popplace:** 🇦🇱 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) 2,182,917 (2023) · [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 1,797,856 (2021) \n**Tablehdr:** Other regions \n**Region 1:** 🇮🇹 [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy) \n**Pop 1:** 970,000 \n**Region 2:** 🇬🇷 [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) \n**Pop 2:** 500,000–600,000 \n**Region 3:** [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) \n**Pop 3:** 446,245 \n**Region 3 6:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 3 6:** 500,000–6,000,000 \n**Region 4:** 🇲🇪 [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) \n**Pop 4:** 30,439 \n**Region 5:** 🇷🇸 [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia) \n**Pop 5:** 61,687 \n**Region 6:** 🇭🇷 [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) \n**Pop 6:** 17,513 \n**Region 7:** 🇸🇮 [Slovenia](https://bliptext.com/articles/slovenia) \n**Pop 7:** 6,186 \n**Region 8:** 🇪🇸 [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) \n**Pop 8:** 3,998 \n**Region 9:** 🇵🇹 [Portugal](https://bliptext.com/articles/portugal) \n**Pop 9:** 99 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇸🇪 [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden) \n**Pop 1 0:** 54,000 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇳🇴 [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway) \n**Pop 1 1:** 19,891 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom) \n**Pop 1 2:** 13,000 \n**Region 1 4:** 🇫🇮 [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) \n**Pop 1 4:** 10,391 \n**Region 1 5:** 🇩🇰 [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) \n**Pop 1 5:** 8,223 \n**Region 1 6:** 🇮🇪 [Ireland](https://bliptext.com/articles/ireland) \n**Pop 1 6:** 953–2,133 \n**Region 1 7:** 🇷🇴 [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) \n**Pop 1 7:** 10,000 \n**Region 1 8:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 8:** 5,000 \n**Region 1 9:** 🇨🇿 [Czech Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/czech-republic) \n**Pop 1 9:** 1,512 \n**Region 2 0:** 🇱🇻 [Latvia](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvia) \n**Pop 2 0:** 17 - 31 \n**Region 2 1:** 🇩🇪 [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) \n**Pop 2 1:** 200,000–300,000 \n**Region 2 2:** 🇨🇭 [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) \n**Pop 2 2:** 200,000 \n**Region 2 3:** 🇦🇹 [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) \n**Pop 2 3:** 28,212 \n**Region 2 4:** 🇫🇷 [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) \n**Pop 2 4:** 27,200 (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** 🇳🇱 [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands) \n**Pop 2 5:** 12,969 \n**Region 2 6:** 🇧🇪 [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) \n**Pop 2 6:** 5,600–30,000 \n**Region 2 7:** 🇱🇺 [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) \n**Pop 2 7:** 2,155 \n**Region 2 8:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 2 8:** 194,028 \n**Region 2 9:** 🇦🇷 [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) \n**Pop 2 9:** 50,000 \n**Region 3 0:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 3 0:** 39,055 \n**Region 3 1:** 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://bliptext.com/articles/colombia) \n**Pop 3 1:** 348 \n**Region 3 2:** 🇨🇺 [Cuba](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuba) \n**Pop 3 2:** 101 \n**Region 3 3:** 🇵🇦 [Panama](https://bliptext.com/articles/panama) \n**Pop 3 3:** 9 \n**Region 3 4:** 🇦🇺 [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) \n**Pop 3 4:** 11,315 \n**Region 3 5:** 🇳🇿 [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand) \n**Pop 3 5:** 243 \n**Region 3 7:** 🇪🇬 [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) \n**Pop 3 7:** 18,000 \n**Region 3 8:** 🇶🇦 [Qatar](https://bliptext.com/articles/qatar) \n**Pop 3 8:** 1,200 \n**Region 3 9:** 🇨🇾 [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus) \n**Pop 3 9:** 275 \n**Region 4 0:** 🇿🇦 [South Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-africa) \n**Pop 4 0:** 268 \n**Region 4 1:** 🇦🇪 [United Arab Emirates](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-arab-emirates) \n**Pop 4 1:** 200–300 \n**Languages:** [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) \n**Rels:** Majority**: · Star and Crescent.svg [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) · [Sunni](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam)·[Bektashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order)·[Non-denominational](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominational-muslim) · Minority**: · Christian cross.svg [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity) · [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholic-church) (Latin Church·Eastern Rites Albanian Greek-Catholic Church·Italo-Albanian Church)·[Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) (Albanian Orthodox Church·Albanian American Orthodox Church)·[Protestantism](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestantism) (Albanian Protestant Church·Kosovan Protestant Church) · Other**: · [Irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Footnotes:** 502,546 Albanian citizens, an additional 43,751 [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians), 260,000 [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and 169,644 Albanians who have acquired the Italian citizenship · Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. Of those with full or partial Albanian ancestry and others who have adopted [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) language, culture and identity their number is estimated at 1,300,000–5,000,000 many whom do not speak Albanian. · The estimation contains [Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians). \n:::\n\n# \nThe **Serbs** are an [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) who share a common Serbian [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry), [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture), [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history) and [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThey are the main ethnic group of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), and they also live in the neighboring countries of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro), [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-serbia), as well as in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy), [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-croatia), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-turkey).\nAlbanians also constitute a large [diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/diaspora) with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.\n[The language of the Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nAlbanians have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the serbiaontop, but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Paleo-Balkan group contributed to the [ethnogenesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first mention of the ethnonym [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi) occurred in the 2nd century AD by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) describing an [Illyrian tribe](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-tribe) who lived around present-day central Albania.\nThe first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from 11th century chronicler [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) who describes them as living in the [theme of Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme).\nThe [Shkumbin River](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin-river) roughly demarcates the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) between [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) dialects.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century AD. Then, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054, after the [Great Schism](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-west-schism), the north gradually became identified with [Roman Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism) and the south with [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy).\nIn 1190 Albanians established the [Principality of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon) in central Albania with the capital in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nThe [Albanian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) has its roots in migration from the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) initially across Southern Europe and eventually across wider Europe and the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world).\nBetween the 13th and 18th centuries, sizeable numbers migrated to escape various social, economic or political difficulties.\nAlbanian population groups settled in [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece) between the 13th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites).\nOther Albanian population groups settled across [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily) between the 11th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arbëreshë](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people).\nAlbanians have also migrated [to Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) since the late 16th century.\nIn the 18th century smaller Albanian population groups settled in [Southern Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia) (who came to be known as [Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people)), and pockets of [Southern Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-ukraine)..\n\"We can say that all in some way belong to a kind of ethnic category, and often more than one. As an example, I cite the case of Zadar Arbanasi. To understand the problem of the Albanians and their ethnolinguistic (ethnic and linguistic) identity, it is necessary to go into the history of their immigration that goes back to the beginning of the 18th century., etc more precisely: the period from the first migration of 1726, the period of the second migration of 1733, and until 1754, which is considered to be the final year of their immigration. All they moved from three villages from the area of Lake Scutari – Briska, Šestan and Livara. Fleeing from the Ottomans, plague and other troubles, the general provider Nicola Erizzo II allowed them to settle in the area of today's Arbanasa and Zemunik. One part of the population in Zemunik became assimilated with the local population, forgetting their language.\nThese are for example, today's Prenda, Šestani, Ćurkovići, Paleke etc. The second part of the population tried to maintain their ethnic and linguistic identity during these 280 years.\nOn 10 May 2006 marked the 280th anniversary of their arrival in the suburb of Zadar.\nIt was not easy, especially in the beginning, because they did not have their own church, school, etc., and is the only way to maintain their identity and language was verbally.\"\nBy the 15th century, the expanding [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh), a union of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) led by [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg).\nBy the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians [converted](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamisation-of-albania) to [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam), which offered them equal opportunities and advancement [within the Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire).\nThereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader [Muslim world](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim-world).\nInnumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than [40 Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers), and under the [Köprülü](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension.\nBetween the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century [Albanian Pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-pashaliks) were established by [Kara Mahmud](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-mahmud-pasha) [pasha of Scutari](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-scutari), [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) [pasha of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina), and [Ahmet Kurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/ahmet-kurt-pasha) [pasha of Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat), while the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) Muhammad [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors).\nDuring the 19th century, cultural developments, widely attributed to Albanians having gathered both spiritual and intellectual strength, conclusively led to the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nIn 1912 during the [Balkan Wars](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-wars), Albanians declared the [independence of their country](https://bliptext.com/articles/independent-albania).\nThe demarcation of the new Albanian state was established following the [Treaty of Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-bucharest-1913) and left about half of the ethnic Albanian population outside of its borders, [partitioned](https://bliptext.com/articles/partition-politics) between Greece, Montenegro and Serbia.\nAfter the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) up until the [Revolutions of 1991](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania), Albania was governed by a [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) under [Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) where Albania became largely isolated from the rest of Europe.\nIn neighbouring [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), Albanians underwent periods of discrimination and systematic oppression that concluded with the [War of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-of-kosovo) and eventually with [Kosovar independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThe Albanians and their country Albania have been identified by many [ethnonyms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym).\nThe most common native [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) is \"Shqiptar\", plural \"Shqiptarë\"; the name \"Albanians\" ([Byzantine Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-greek): Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; [Latin](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin): Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered [European Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-languages) from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English \"Albanians\"; Italian \"Albanesi\"; German \"Albaner\"; [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) \"Arvanites\", \"Alvanitis\" (Αλβανίτης) plural: \"Alvanites\" (Αλβανίτες), \"Alvanos\" (Αλβανός) plural: \"Alvanoi\" (Αλβανοί); [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkish-language) \"Arnaut\", \"Arnavut\"; [South Slavic languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavic-languages) \"Arbanasi\" (Арбанаси), \"Albanci\" (Албанци); [Aromanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanian-language) \"Arbinesh\" and so on.\nThe term \"Albanoi\" (Αλβανοί) is first encountered on the works of Ptolemy (2nd century CE) also is encountered twice in the works of Byzantine historian [Michael Attaliates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaliates), and the term \"Arvanitai\" (Αρβανίται) is used once by the same author.\nHe referred to the \"Albanoi\" as having taken part in a revolt against the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 1043, and to the \"Arbanitai\" as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium (modern [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s)).\nThese references have been disputed as to whether they refer to the people of Albania.\nHistorian E. Vranoussi believes that these \"Albanoi\" were Normans from Sicily.\nShe also notes that the same term (as \"Albani\") in medieval Latin meant \"foreigners\".\nThe reference to \"Arvanitai\" from Attaliates regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078 is undisputed.\nIn later Byzantine usage, the terms \"Arbanitai\" and \"Albanoi\" with a range of variants were used interchangeably, while sometimes the same groups were also called by the classicising name Illyrians.\nThe first reference to the Albanian language dates to the latter 13th century (around 1285).\nThe national ethnonym Albanian and its variants are derived from [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi), first mentioned as an [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) tribe in the 2nd century CE by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) with their centre at the city of [Albanopolis](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanopolis), located in modern-day central Albania, somewhere in the hinterland of [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s).\nLinguists believe that the alb part in the root word originates from an Indo-European term for a type of mountainous topography, from which other words such as [alps](https://bliptext.com/articles/alps) are derived.\nThrough the root word alban and its rhotacized equivalents arban, albar, and arbar, the term in Albanian became rendered as Arbëneshë/Arbëreshë for the people and Arbënia/Arbëria for the country.\nThe Albanian language was referred to as Arbnisht and Arbërisht.\nWhile the [exonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/exonym) Albania for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does have connotations to Classical Antiquity, the Albanian language employs a different ethnonym, with modern Albanians referring to themselves as Shqip(ë)tarë and to their country as Shqipëria.\nTwo etymologies have been proposed for this ethnonym: one, derived from the etymology from the Albanian word for eagle (shqipe, var., shqiponjë).\nIn Albanian [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology), this word denotes a bird [totem](https://bliptext.com/articles/totem), dating from the times of Skanderbeg as displayed on the [Albanian flag](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-flag).\nThe other is within scholarship that connects it to the verb 'to speak' (me shqiptue) from the Latin \"excipere\".\nIn this instance the Albanian endonym like [Slav](https://bliptext.com/articles/slav-ethnonym) [and others](https://bliptext.com/articles/endonym) would originally have been a term connoting \"those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]\".\nThe words Shqipëri and Shqiptar are attested from 14th century onward, but it was only at the end of 17th and beginning of the early 18th centuries that the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëreshë amongst [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) speakers.\nThat era brought about religious and other sociopolitical changes.\nAs such a new and generalised response by Albanians based on ethnic and linguistic consciousness to this new and different [Ottoman world](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) emerging around them was a change in ethnonym..\n\"The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptarë, their country Shqipëri, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could be a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains (ÇABEJ 1976). The name passed over the boundaries of the Illyrian tribe in central Albania, and was generalised for all the Albanians.\nThey called themselves arbënesh, arbëresh, the country Arbëni, Arbëri, and the language arbëneshe, arbëreshe.\nIn the foreign languages, the Middle Ages denominations of these names survived, but for the Albanians they were substituted by shqiptarë, Shqipëri and shqipe.\nThe primary root is the adverb shqip, meaning \"clearly, intelligibly\".\nThere is a very close semantic parallel to this in the German noun Deutsche, \"the Germans\" and \"the German language\" (Lloshi 1984) Shqip spread out from the north to the south, and Shqipni/Shqipëri is probably a collective noun, following the common pattern of Arbëni, Arbëri.\nThe change happened after the Ottoman conquest because of the conflict in the whole line of the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural spheres with a totally alien world of the Oriental type.\nA new and more generalised ethnic and linguistic consciousness of all these people responded to this.\"\n\n## Historical records\nLittle is known about the Albanian people prior to the 11th century, though a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the [Bulgarian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarian-language) contains a possible reference to them.\nIt is preserved in a [manuscript](https://bliptext.com/articles/manuscript) written in the [Serbo-Croatian Language](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian-language) traced back to the 17th century but published in the 20th century by Radoslav Grujic.\nIt is a fragment of a once longer text that endeavours to explain the origins of peoples and languages in a question-and-answer form similar to a [catechism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catechism).\nThe fragmented manuscript differentiated the world into 72 languages and three religious categories including Christians, half-believers and non-believers.\nGrujic dated it to the early 11th century and, if this and the identification of the Arbanasi as Albanians are correct, it would be the earliest written document referring to the Balkan Albanians as a people or language group.\n\"It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian (Georgian). There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), Arbanasi (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi and Germans.\"\n[Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080) mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nAs such, it is considered to be the first attestation of Albanians as an ethnic group in Byzantine historiography.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Vranoussi-Ducellier debate\", Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vranoussi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThis debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\n\n# Language\nAlbanians speak the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language), which is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nIt had its formative core in the Western Balkans after the [Indo-European migrations](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-migrations) in the region from about 3000 to 2500 BCE.\nThe Albanian language is spoken today by approximately 5 million people throughout the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) as well as by a more substantial number by [communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) around the Americas, Europe and Oceania.\nNumerous variants and dialects of Albanian are used as an [official language](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) in Albania, [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nThe language is also spoken in other countries whence it is officially recognised as a [minority language](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-language) in such countries as [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), Italy, [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are two principal [dialects](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-dialects) of the Albanian language traditionally represented by [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nThe ethnogeographical dividing line is traditionally considered to be the [Shkumbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin) river, with Gheg spoken in the north of it and Tosk in the south.\nDialects of linguistic minorities spoken in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-croatia) ([Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-dialect) and [Istrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/istrian-albanian)), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-albanians), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro) and northwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) are classified as Gheg, while those spoken in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), southwestern [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) and Italy as Tosk.\nThe [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language) and [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika) dialects of the Albanian language, are spoken by the [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language)ë and [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) in [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece), respectively.\nThey retain elements of medieval Albanian vocabulary and pronunciation that are no longer used in modern Albanian; however, both varieties are classified as [endangered languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/endangered-language) in the [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco) [Red Book of Endangered Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/red-book-of-endangered-languages).\nThe [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) is spoken by the [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians), a community that originates from [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria) in what is currently north-western Greece and southern Albania; the use of the [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) in Greece is declining rapidly, while [Cham communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) in Albania and the diaspora have preserved it.\nMost of the Albanians in Albania and the [Former Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/former-yugoslavia) are [polyglot](https://bliptext.com/articles/polyglotism) and have the ability to understand, speak, read, or write a [foreign language](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-language).\nAs defined by the [Institute of Statistics of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/institute-of-statistics-albania), 39.9% of the 25 to 64 years old Albanians in Albania are able to use at least one foreign language including English (40%), Italian (27.8%) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) (22.9%).\nThe origin of the Albanian language remains a contentious subject that has given rise to numerous [hypotheses](https://bliptext.com/articles/hypothesis).\nThe hypothesis of Albanian being one of the descendant of the [Illyrian languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-languages) ([Messapic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/messapic-language)) is based on [geography](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) where the languages were spoken however not enough archaeological evidence is left behind to come therefore to a definite conclusion.\nAnother hypothesis associates the Albanian language with the [Thracian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/thracian-language).\nThis theory takes exception to the territory, since the language was spoken in an area distinct from Albania, and no significant population movements have been recorded in the period when the shift from one language to the other is supposed to have occurred.\n# [The dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Albanian///language///map///en.svg]\n# [Classification of Albanian in the Paleo-Balkanic branch as suggested by Brian D. Joseph and Adam Hyllested in \"The Indo-European Language Family\" (2022) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Classification///of///Albanian.png]\n\n# History\n\n## Late Antiquity\nThe [Komani-Kruja culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/komani-kruja-culture) is an archaeological culture attested from late antiquity to the Middle Ages in central and northern Albania, southern Montenegro and similar sites in the western parts of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nIt consists of settlements usually built below hillforts along the [Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/lezh) ([Praevalitana](https://bliptext.com/articles/praevalitana))-[Dardania](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardania-roman-province) and [Via Egnatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/via-egnatia) road networks which connected the Adriatic coastline with the central Balkan Roman provinces.\nIts [type site](https://bliptext.com/articles/type-site) is Komani and its fort on the nearby Dalmace hill in the Drin river valley.\n[Kruja](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruja) and Lezha represent significant sites of the culture.\nThe population of Komani-Kruja represents a local, western Balkan people which was linked to the Roman Justinianic military system of forts.\nThe development of Komani-Kruja is significant for the study of the transition between the [classical antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-antiquity) population of Albania to the medieval Albanians who were attested in historical records in the 11th century.\nWinnifrith (2020) recently described this population as the survival of a \"Latin-Illyrian\" culture which emerged later in historical records as Albanians and [Vlachs](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlachs) ([Eastern Romance](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-romance-languages)-speaking people).\nIn Winnifrith's narrative, the geographical conditions of northern Albania favored the continuation of the Albanian language in hilly and mountainous areas as opposed to lowland valleys.\n# [Glass necklace, 7th – 8th century, Shurdhah | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Glass///necklace%2C///7th///-///8th///century%2C///Shurdhah///-///Archeological///Museum///of///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Middle Ages\nThe Albanian people maintain a very chequered and tumultuous history behind them, a fact explained by their geographical position in the [Southeast of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/southeast-europe) at the cultural and political crossroad between the east and west, but they also have historically inhabited a hardly accessible mountainous region, which helped them preserve their peculiar culture and language.\nThe issue surrounding the [origin of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) has long been debated by historians and [linguists](https://bliptext.com/articles/linguist) for centuries.\nThey have [Paleo-Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages) origins, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Peleo-Balkan group contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080).\nAttaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Ducellier-Vrannousi\" debate, Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vrannousi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThe debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\nThe name reflects the Albanian endonym Arbër/n + esh which itself derives from the same root as the name of the [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi)\nHistorically known as the Arbër or Arbën by the 11th century and onwards, they traditionally inhabited the mountainous area to the west of [Lake Ochrida](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-ochrida) and the upper valley of the Shkumbin river.\nThough it was in 1190 when they established their first independent entity, the [Principality of Arbër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arb-r) (Arbanon), with its seat based in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nImmediately after the decline of the [Progon dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-progon) in 1216, the principality came under [Gregorios Kamonas](https://bliptext.com/articles/gregorios-kamonas) and next his son-in-law [Golem](https://bliptext.com/articles/golem-of-kruja).\nFinally, the Principality was dissolved in ca. 1255 by the [Empire of Nicea](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-of-nicea) followed by an unsuccessful [rebellion between 1257 and 1259](https://bliptext.com/articles/rebellion-of-arbanon) supported by the [Despotate of Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/despotate-of-epirus).\nIn the meantime [Manfred, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/manfred-king-of-sicily) profited from the situation and launched an invasion into Albania.\nHis forces, led by [Philippe Chinard](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippe-chinard), captured [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor), [Spinarizza](https://bliptext.com/articles/island-of-zv-rnec), their surroundings and the southern coastline of Albania from [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) to [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint).\nIn 1266 after [defeating Manfred's forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-benevento) and killing him, the [Treaty of Viterbo](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-viterbo) of 1267 was signed, with [Charles I, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-i-king-of-sicily) acquiring rights on Manfred's dominions in Albania.\nLocal noblemen such as [Andrea Vrana](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-vrana) refused to surrender Manfred's former domains, and in 1271 negotiations were initiated.\nIn 1272 the [Kingdom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-albania-medieval) was created after a delegation of Albanian noblemen from Durrës signed a treaty declaring union with the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles.\nCharles soon imposed military rule, new taxes, took sons of Albanian noblemen hostage to ensure loyalty, and confiscated lands for [Angevin](https://bliptext.com/articles/capetian-house-of-anjou) nobles.\nThis led to discontent among Albanian noblemen, several of whom turned to Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-viii).\nIn late 1274, Byzantine forces helped by local Albanian noblemen capture Berat and Butrint.\nCharles' attempt to advance towards Constantinople failed at the [Siege of Berat (1280–1281)](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-berat-1280-1281).\nA Byzantine counteroffensive ensued, which drove the Angevins out of the interior by 1281.\nThe [Sicilian Vespers](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicilian-vespers) rebellion further weakened the position of Charles, who died in 1285.\nBy the end of the 13th century, most of Albania was under Byzantine Emperor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](https://bliptext.com/articles/andronikos-ii-palaiologos).\nIn 1296 Serbian king [Stephen Milutin](https://bliptext.com/articles/stephen-milutin) captured Durrës.\nIn 1299 Andronikos II married his daughter Simonis to Milutin and the lands he had conquered were considered as [dowry](https://bliptext.com/articles/dowry).\nIn 1302, [Philip I, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/philip-i-prince-of-taranto), grandson of Charles, claimed his rights on the Albanian kingdom and gained the support of local Albanian Catholics who preferred him over the Orthodox Serbs and Greeks, as well as the support of [Pope Benedict XI](https://bliptext.com/articles/pope-benedict-xi).\nIn the summer of 1304, the Serbs were expelled from the city of Durrës by the locals who submitted themselves to Angevin rule.\nProminent Albanian leaders during this time were the [Thopia family](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), ruling in an area between the Mat and Shkumbin rivers, and the [Muzaka family](https://bliptext.com/articles/muzaka-family) in the territory between the Shkumbin and Vlorë.\nIn 1279, Gjon I Muzaka, who remained loyal to the Byzantines and resisted Angevin conquest of Albania, was captured by the forces of Charles but later released following pressure from Albanian nobles.\nThe Muzaka family continued to remain loyal to the Byzantines and resisted the expansion of the [Serbian Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-kingdom-medieval).\nIn 1335 the head of the family, Andrea II Muzaka, gained the title of [Despot](https://bliptext.com/articles/despot-court-title) and other Muzakas pursued careers in the Byzantine government in Constantinople.\nAndrea II soon endorsed an anti-Byzantine revolt in his domains between 1335–1341 and formed an alliance with [Robert, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-prince-of-taranto) in 1336.\nIn 1336, Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](https://bliptext.com/articles/stefan-du-an) captured Durrës, including the territory under the control of the Muzaka family.\nAlthough Angevins managed to recapture Durazzo, Dušan continued his expansion, and in the period of 1337–45 he had captured [Kanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanin) and [Valona](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) in southern Albania.\nAround 1340 forces of Andrea II defeated the Serbian army at the [Pelister](https://bliptext.com/articles/pelister) mountain.\nAfter the death of Stefan Dušan in 1355 the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire) disintegrated, and [Karl Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/karl-thopia) captured Durrës while the Muzaka family of Berat regained control over parts of southeastern Albania and over [Kastoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/kastoria) that Andrea II captured from [Prince Marko](https://bliptext.com/articles/prince-marko) after the [Battle of Marica](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-marica) in 1371.\nThe kingdom reinforced the influence of Catholicism and the conversion to its rite, not only in the region of Durrës but in other parts of the country.\nA new wave of Catholic dioceses, churches and monasteries were founded, papal missionaries and a number of different religious orders began spreading into the country.\nThose who were not Catholic in central and northern Albania converted and a great number of Albanian clerics and monks were present in the Dalmatian Catholic institutions.\nAround 1230 the two main centers of Albanian settlements were around [Devoll river](https://bliptext.com/articles/devoll-river) in what is now central Albania and the other around the region known as Arbanon.\nAlbanian presence in Croatia can be traced back to the beginning of the [Late Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-middle-ages).\nIn this period, there was a significant Albanian community in [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dubrovnik) with a number of families of Albanian origin inclusively the [Sorgo family](https://bliptext.com/articles/sorgo-family) who came from the [Cape of Rodon](https://bliptext.com/articles/cape-of-rodon) in central Albania, across [Kotor](https://bliptext.com/articles/kotor) in eastern Montenegro, to [Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia).\nBy the 13th century, Albanian merchants were trading directly with the peoples of the [Republic of Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) in Dalmatia which increased familiarity between Albanians and Ragusans.\nThe upcoming invasion of Albania by the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) and the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg) caused many Christian Albanians to flee to Dalmatia and surrounding countries.\nIn the 14th century a number of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) were created.\nThese included [Principality of Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti), [Principality of Dukagjini](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-dukagjini), [Princedom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval), and [Principality of Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-gjirokast-r).\nAt the beginning of the 15th century these principalities became stronger, especially because of the fall of the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire).\nSome of these principalities were united in 1444 under the anti-Ottoman military alliance called [League of Lezha](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh).\nAlbanians were recruited all over Europe as a light cavalry known as [stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti).\nThe stratioti were pioneers of light cavalry tactics during the 15th century.\nIn the early 16th century heavy cavalry in the European armies was principally remodeled after Albanian stradioti of the Venetian army, Hungarian [hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/hussar) and German mercenary cavalry units (Schwarzreitern).\n# [The city of Krujë served as the royal seat of the Principality of Arbanon and later as the noble residence of the Kastrioti family. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Kal-1.jpg]\n\n## Ottoman Empire\nPrior to the [Ottoman conquest of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire), the political situation of the Albanian people was characterised by a fragmented conglomeration of scattered [kingdoms](https://bliptext.com/articles/realm) and [principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/principalities-of-albania) such as the [Principalities of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon), [Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti) and [Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval).\nBefore and after the [fall of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-constantinople), the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) continued an extended period of conquest and expansion with its borders going deep into the [Southeast Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans).\nAs a consequence thousands of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus) and [Peloponnese](https://bliptext.com/articles/peloponnese) escaped to [Calabria](https://bliptext.com/articles/calabria), [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern), whereby others sought protection at the often inaccessible Mountains of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nUnder the leadership of [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg), a former governor of the Ottoman [Sanjak of Dibra](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-dibra), a prosperous and longstanding revolution erupted with the formation of the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh) in 1444 up until the [Siege of Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) ending in 1479, multiple times defeating the mightiest power of the time led by [Sultans](https://bliptext.com/articles/sultan) [Murad II](https://bliptext.com/articles/murad-ii) and [Mehmed II](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-the-conqueror).\nSkanderbeg managed to gather several of the Albanian principals, amongst them the [Arianitis](https://bliptext.com/articles/arianiti-family), [Dukagjinis](https://bliptext.com/articles/dukagjini-family), [Zaharias](https://bliptext.com/articles/zaharia-family) and [Thopias](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), and establish a centralised authority over most of the non-conquered territories and proclaiming himself the Lord of Albania (Dominus Albaniae in Latin).\nSkanderbeg consistently pursued the aim relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans.\nHis unequal fight against them won the esteem of Europe and financial and military aid from the [Papacy](https://bliptext.com/articles/papacy) and [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice) and [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa).\nThe Albanians, then predominantly Christian, were initially considered as an [inferior class](https://bliptext.com/articles/rayah) of people and as such were subjected to heavy [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/jizya) such as the [Devshirme](https://bliptext.com/articles/devshirme) system that allowed the state to collect a requisite percentage of Christian adolescents from the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and elsewhere to compose the [Janissary](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissary).\nSince the Albanians were seen as strategically important, they made up a significant proportion of the [Ottoman military](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-military) and bureaucracy.\nThey were therefore to be found within the imperial services as vital military and administrative retainers from [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) to [Algeria](https://bliptext.com/articles/algeria) and the rest of the [Maghreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/maghreb).\nIn the late 18th century, [Ali Pasha Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-tepelena) created the autonomous region of the [Pashalik of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina) within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) which was never recognised as such by the [High Porte](https://bliptext.com/articles/high-porte).\nThe territory he properly governed incorporated most of southern [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus), [Thessaly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thessaly) and southwestern [Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-region) region.\nDuring his rule, the town of [Janina](https://bliptext.com/articles/janina) blossomed into a cultural, political and economic hub for both Albanians and Greeks.\nThe ultimate goal of Ali Pasha Tepelena seems to have been the establishment of an independent rule in Albania and Epirus.\nThus, he obtained control of [Arta](https://bliptext.com/articles/arta-greece) and took control over the ports of [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint), [Preveza](https://bliptext.com/articles/preveza) and [Vonitsa](https://bliptext.com/articles/vonitsa).\nHe also gained control of the [pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik) of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan), [Delvina](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-delvina), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat) and [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-avlona).\nHis relations with the High Porte were always tense though he developed and maintained relations with the [British](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-empire), [French](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-french-empire) and [Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and formed alliances with them at various times.\nIn the 19th century, the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) [Muhammad Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century.\nAfter a brief [French invasion](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-egypt) led by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://bliptext.com/articles/napoleon-bonaparte) and the Ottomans and [Mameluks](https://bliptext.com/articles/mameluk) competing for power there, he managed collectively with his Albanian troops to become the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt.\nAs he revolutionised the military and economic spheres of Egypt, his empire attracted Albanian people contributing to the emergence of the [Albanian diaspora in Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-egypt) initially formed by Albanian soldiers and mercenaries.\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) arrived in the lands of the Albanian people gradually and grew widespread between at least the 17th and 18th centuries.\nThe new religion brought many transformations into Albanian society and henceforth offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nWith the advent of increasing suppression on [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism), the Ottomans initially focused their conversions on the Catholic Albanians of the north in the 17th century and followed suit in the 18th century on the Orthodox Albanians of the south.\nAt this point, the urban centers of [central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-albania) and [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) had largely adopted the religion of the growing Muslim Albanian elite.\nMany mosques and [takyas](https://bliptext.com/articles/takya) were constructed throughout those urban centers and cities such as [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjirokast-r), [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) started to flourish.\nIn the far [north](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-albania), the spread of Islam was slower due to Catholic Albanian resistance and the inaccessible and rather remote mountainous terrain.\nThe motives for [conversion](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-conversion) to Islam are subject to differing interpretations according to scholars depending on the context though the lack of sources does not help when investigating such issues.\nReasons included the incentive to escape high [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxation-in-the-ottoman-empire) levied on non-Muslims subjects, [ecclesiastical](https://bliptext.com/articles/ecclesiastical) decay, coercion by Ottoman authorities in times of war, and the privileged legal and social position Muslims within the Ottoman administrative and political machinery had over that of non-Muslims.\nAs Muslims, the Albanians attained powerful positions in the Ottoman administration including over three dozen [Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers) of Albanian origin, among them [Zagan Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagan-pasha), [Bayezid Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-pasha) and members of the [Köprülü family](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), and regional rulers such as [Muhammad Ali of Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) and [Ali Pasha of Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-tepelena).\nThe Ottoman sultans [Bayezid II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-ii) and [Mehmed III](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-iii) were both Albanian on their [maternal side](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-mothers-of-the-ottoman-sultans).\nAreas such as Albania, western North Macedonia, southern Serbia, Kosovo, parts of northern Greece and southern Montenegro in Ottoman sources were referred to as Arnavudluk or Albania.\n# [Albanian pashaliks in 1815–1821 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Albanian///Pashaliks%2C///1815-1821.png]\n# [Albanian Chief, lithography by Alphonse-Léon Noël, 1828 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Chef///Albanais%2C///G.10376%282%29.jpg]\n\n## Albanian Renaissance\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) characterised a period wherein the Albanian people gathered both [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) and intellectual strength to establish their rights for an independent political and social life, culture and education.\nBy the late 18th century and the early 19th century, its foundation arose within the [Albanian communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy) and [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) and was frequently linked to the influences of the [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) principles.\nAlbania was under the rule of the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) for almost five centuries and the Ottoman authorities suppressed any expression of unity or national conscience by the Albanian people.\nA number of thoroughly intellectual Albanians, among them [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Thimi Mitko](https://bliptext.com/articles/thimi-mitko), [Naim](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri) and [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri), made a conscious effort to awaken feelings of pride and unity among their people by working to develop [Albanian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) that would call to mind the rich history and hopes for a more decent future.\nThe Albanians had poor or often no schools or other institutions in place to protect and preserve their [cultural heritage](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-heritage).\nThe need for schools was preached initially by the increasing number of Albanians educated abroad.\nThe Albanian communities in Italy and elsewhere were particularly active in promoting the Albanian cause, especially in education which finally resulted with the foundation of the [Mësonjëtorja](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-sonj-torja) in [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor), the first secular school in the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Turkish yoke](https://bliptext.com/articles/rise-of-nationalism-in-the-ottoman-empire) had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the people in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), and their march toward independence quickened.\nDue to the more substantial of Islamic influence, the Albanians internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian territories to the emerging neighbouring states, [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria) and [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece), were among the last peoples in the Balkans to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.\nThe national awakening as a coherent political movement emerged after the [Treaty of San Stefano](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-san-stefano), according to which Albanian-inhabited territories were to be ceded to the neighbouring states, and focused on preventing that partition.\nIt was the impetus for the nation-building movement, which was based more on fear of partition than national identity.\nEven after the [declaration of independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania), national identity was fragmented and possibly non-existent in much of the newly proposed country.\nThe state of disunity and fragmentation would remain until the communist period following [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war), when the communist nation-building project would achieve greater success in nation-building and reach more people than any previous regime, thus creating Albanian national communist identity.\n# [Naum Veqilharxhi was one of the earliest figures of the early Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/NaumVeqilharxhi.jpg]\n# [Naim Frashëri was a well known rilindas and is considered to be the pioneer of modern Albanian literature. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Naim///Frash%C3%ABri.jpg]\n\n## Communism in Albania\n[Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) of the Communist [Party of Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/party-of-labour-of-albania) took power in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) in 1946.\nAlbania established an alliance with the [Eastern Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-bloc) which provided Albania with many advantages in the form of economic assistance and military protection from the [Western Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-bloc) during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nThe Albanians experienced a period of several beneficial political and economic changes.\nThe [government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-albania) defended the territorial [integrity](https://bliptext.com/articles/integrity) and [sovereignty](https://bliptext.com/articles/sovereignty) of Albania, diversified the economy through a programme of industrialisation which led to a higher [standard of living](https://bliptext.com/articles/standard-of-living) and followed improvements in areas such as health, education and infrastructure.\nIt subsequently followed a period wherein the Albanians lived within an extreme isolation from the rest of the world for the next four decades.\nBy 1967, the established government had officially proclaimed Albania to be the first [atheistic state](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheistic-state) in the world as they beforehand confiscated [churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-church), [monasteries](https://bliptext.com/articles/monasteries) and mosques, and any religious expression instantly became grounds for imprisonment.\nProtests coinciding with the emerging [revolutions of 1989](https://bliptext.com/articles/revolutions-of-1989) began to break out in various cities throughout Albania including [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and [Tirana](https://bliptext.com/articles/tirana) which eventually lead to the [fall of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania).\nSignificant internal and external migration waves of Albanians to such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy followed.\n[Bunkerisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunkerisation) is arguably the most visible and memorable legacy of communism in Albania.\nNearly 175,000 reinforced concrete [bunkers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunker) were built on strategic locations across [Albania's territory](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) including near borders, within towns, on the seashores or mountains.\nThese bunkers were never used for their intended purpose or for sheltering the population from attacks or an invasion by a neighbor.\nHowever, they were abandoned after the breakup of communism and have been sometimes reused for a variety of purposes.\n# [Albanian partisans, with their leader Enver Hoxha in the center, after the liberation of Tirana on 17 November 1944 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Partisans///in///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Independence of Kosovo\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) declared [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo) from Serbia on 17 February 2008, after years of strained relations between the Serb and predominantly [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) population of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo).\nIt has been officially recognised by Australia, Canada, the United States and major [European Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-union) countries, while Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence, claiming it as [Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija](https://bliptext.com/articles/autonomous-province-of-kosovo-and-metohija) under [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1244).\nThe overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population is ethnically Albanian with nearly 1.7 million people.\nTheir presence as well as in the adjacent regions of [Toplica](https://bliptext.com/articles/toplica-district) and [Morava](https://bliptext.com/articles/moravac) is recorded since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nAs the Serbs expelled many Albanians from the wider Toplica and Morava regions in Southern Serbia, which the 1878 [Congress of Berlin](https://bliptext.com/articles/congress-of-berlin) had given to the [Principality of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-serbia), many of them settled in Kosovo.\nAfter being an integral section of the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-yugoslavia), Kosovo including its Albanian population went through a period of discrimination, economic and political persecution.\nRights to use the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) were guaranteed by the constitution of the later formed [Socialist Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia) and was widely used in Macedonia and Montenegro prior to the [dissolution of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-yugoslavia).\nIn 1989, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity of Yugoslavia with rights similar to those of the six other republics and eventually became part of [Serbia and Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia-and-montenegro).\nIn 1998, tensions between the [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) and [Serb](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbs-in-kosovo) population of Kosovo culminated in the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war), which led to the external and internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo)s.\nSerbian paramilitary forces committed war crimes in Kosovo, although the [government of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/government-of-serbia) claims that the army was only going after suspected Albanian terrorists.\n[NATO](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato) launched a [78-day air campaign](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia) in 1999, which eventually led to an end to the war.\n# [The Newborn monument in Pristina was unveiled at the celebration of the Independence of Kosovo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Geb%C3%A4ude///der///UNMIK///NEW///BORN///SIGN///PRISTINA///KOSOVO///Giv///Owned///Image///23///August///2008.jpg]\n\n# Distribution\n\n## Balkans\nApproximately five million [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns are geographically distributed across the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) with about half this number living in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia) and [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) as well as to a more lesser extent in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are also significant Albanian populations in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece).\nApproximately 1.8 million Albanians are concentrated in the partially recognised [Republic of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-kosovo).\nThey are geographically distributed south of the [municipality](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-kosovo) of [North Mitrovica](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-mitrovica) and constitute the overall majority ethnic group of the territory.\nIn [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 30,000 forming one of the constituent ethnic [minority groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-group) of the country.\nThey predominantly live in the [coastal region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) of Montenegro around the municipalities of [Ulcinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulcinj-municipality) and [Bar](https://bliptext.com/articles/bar-municipality) but also Tuz and around [Plav](https://bliptext.com/articles/plav-municipality) in the [northern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) as well as in the capital city of [Podgorica](https://bliptext.com/articles/podgorica) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro).\nIn [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia), there are more than approximately 500,000 Albanians constituting the largest ethnic minority group in the country.\nThe vast majority of the Albanians are chiefly concentrated around the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-the-republic-of-macedonia) of [Tetovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/tetovo-municipality) and [Gostivar](https://bliptext.com/articles/gostivar-municipality) in the [northwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/polog-statistical-region), [Struga](https://bliptext.com/articles/struga-municipality) and [Debar](https://bliptext.com/articles/debar-municipality) in the [southwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/southwestern-statistical-region) as well as around the capital of [Skopje](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje-statistical-region).\nIn [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), the number of Albanians stands at approximately 17.500 mostly concentrated in the [counties](https://bliptext.com/articles/counties-of-croatia) of [Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/istria-county), [Split-Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/split-dalmatia-county) and most notably in the capital city of [Zagreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagreb).\nThe [Arbanasi people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people) who historically migrated to [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) live in scattered communities across [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and Southern [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine).\nIn [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), the Albanians are an officially recognised ethnic minority group with a population of around 70,000.\nThey are significantly concentrated in the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-and-cities-of-serbia) of [Bujanovac](https://bliptext.com/articles/bujanovac) and [Preševo](https://bliptext.com/articles/pre-evo) in the [Pčinja District](https://bliptext.com/articles/p-inja-district).\nIn [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania), the number of Albanians is unofficially estimated from 500 to 10,000 mainly distributed in [Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucharest).\nThey are recognised as an ethnic minority group and are respectively represented in [Parliament of Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/parliament-of-romania).\n# [American ethnographic map of the Balkan Peninsula, 1914; Albanian-inhabited areas are colored in light orange. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Balkan%2BMikrasia///1914.jpg]\n# [The historical settlement of the Arbanasi people is presently a neighborhood of Zadar in Croatia. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Aerial///view///of///the///historical///center///of///Zadar%2C///Croatia///%2848607312728%29.jpg]\n\n## Italy\nThe [Italian Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-peninsula) across the [Adriatic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/adriatic-sea) has attracted Albanian people for more than half a millennium often due to its immediate proximity.\nAlbanians in Italy later became important in establishing the fundamentals of the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) and maintaining the [Albanian culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture).\nThe [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) came sporadically in several small and large cycles initially as [Stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti) mercenaries in service of the kingdoms of [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern) and the [Republic of Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice).\nLarger migration waves occurred after the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/skanderbeg) and the capture of [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-kruj-1478) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) by the [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) to escape the forthcoming political and religious changes.\nToday, Arbëreshë constitute one of the largest [ethnolinguistic](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnolinguistic-group) minority groups and their language is recognized and protected constitutionally under the provisions of the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages).\nThe total number of [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) is approximately 260,000 scattered across [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily), Calabria and [Apulia](https://bliptext.com/articles/apulia).\nThere are Italian Albanians in the Americas especially in such countries as [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina), Chile, [Uruguay](https://bliptext.com/articles/uruguay), Canada and the United States.\nAfter 1991, a mass migration of Albanians towards Italy occurred.\nBetween 2015 and 2016, the number of Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence in Italy was numbered to be around 480,000 and 500,000.\n[Tuscany](https://bliptext.com/articles/tuscany), Lombardy and [Emilia-Romagna](https://bliptext.com/articles/emilia-romagna) represent the [regions](https://bliptext.com/articles/regions-of-italy) with the strongest presence of the modern Albanian population in Italy.\nAs of 2022, 433,000 Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence lived in Italy and were the second largest migrant community in Italy after Romanians.\nAs of 2018, an additional ca. 200,000 Albanian migrants have obtained Italian citizenship (children born in Italy not included).\nAs of 2012, 41.5% of the Albanian in Italy population were counted as [Muslim](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim), 38.9% as [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) including 27.7% as [Roman Catholic](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic) and 11% as [Eastern Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox) and 17.8% as [Irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion).\n# [Giovanni Francesco Albani was of Albanian origin and served as the Pope from 1700 to 1721. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CLEMENS///XI.PNG]\n# [Arbëreshë in traditional costume in the Piana degli Albanesi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Pasqua///Piana///degli///Albanesi.jpg]\n\n## Greece\nThe [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) and [Albanians of Western Thrace](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-western-thrace) are a group descended from [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosks) who migrated to southern and central Greece between the 13th and 16th centuries.\nThey are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of [Tosk Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) known as [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika), they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify as Albanians.\n.\n\"First, we can explain the astonishing persistence of Albanian village culture from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries through the ethnic and religious tolerance characteristic of Islamic empires and so lacking in their Christian equivalents. Ottoman control rested upon allowing local communities to keep their religion, language, local laws, and representatives, provided that taxes were paid (the millet system). There was no pressure for Greeks and Albanians to conform to each other's language or other behavior. Clear signs of change are revealed in the travel diaries of the German scholar Ludwig Ross (1851), when he accompanied the Bavarian Otto, whom the Allies had foisted as king upon the newly freed Greek nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence in the 1830s. Ross praises the well-built Greek villages of central Greece with their healthy, happy, dancing inhabitants, and contrasts them specifically with the hovels and sickly inhabitants of Albanian villages.\nIn fact, recent scholarship has underlined how far it was the West that built modem Greece in its own fanciful image as the land of a long-oppressed people who were the direct descendants of Pericles.\nThus from the late nineteenth century onward the children of the inhabitants of the new \"nation-state\" were taught in Greek, history confined itself to the episodes of pure Greekness, and the tolerant Ottoman attitude to cultural diversity yielded to a deliberate policy of total Hellenization of the populace—effective enough to fool the casual observer.\nOne is rather amazed at the persistence today of such dual-speaking populations in much of the Albanian colonization zone.\nHowever, apart from the provinciality of this essentially agricultural province, a high rate of illiteracy until well into this century has also helped to preserve Arvanitika in the Boeotian villagers (Meijs 1993).\"; p. 140. \"In contrast therefore to the more openly problematic issue of Slav speakers in northern Greece, Arvanitic speakers in central Greece lack any signs of an assertive ethnicity.\nI would like to suggest that they possess what we might term a passive ethnicity.\nAs a result of a number of historical factors, much of the rural population in central Greece was Albanian-speaking by the time of the creation of the modern Greek state in the 1830s.\nUntil this century, most of these people were illiterate and unschooled, yet there existed sufficient knowledge of Greek to communicate with officials and townspeople, itinerant traders, and so on, to limit the need to transform rural language usage.\nLife was extremely provincial, with just one major carriage-road passing through the center of the large province of Boeotia even in the 1930s (beyond which horseback and cart took over; van Effenterre 1989).\nEven in the 1960s, Arvanitic village children could be figures of fun for their Greek peers in the schools of Thebes (One of the two regional towns) (K. Sarri, personal communication, 2000).\nIt was not a matter of cultural resistance but simple conservatism and provinciality, the extreme narrowness of rural life, that allowed Arvanitic language and local historic memories to survive so effectively to the very recent period.\" . \"For the time being, the Greeks of free Greece could indulge in defining their brethren of unredeemed Greece, primarily the Slav Macedonians and secondarily the Orthodox Albanians and the Vlachs.\nPrimary school students were taught, in the 1880s, that 'Greeks [are] our kinsmen, of common descent, speaking the language we speak and professing the religion we profess'.\" But this definition, it seems, was reserved for small children who could not possibly understand the intricate arguments of their parents on the question of Greek identity. What was essential to understand at that tender age was that modern Greeks descended from the ancient Greeks. Grown up children, however, must have been no less confused than adults on the criteria for defining modern Greek identity. Did the Greeks constitute a 'race' apart from the Albanians, the Slavs and the Vlachs? Yes and no. High school students were told that the 'other races', i.e. the Slavs, the Albanians and the Vlachs, 'having been Hellenized with the years in terms of mores and customs, are now being assimilated into the Greeks'. On the Slavs of Macedonia there seems to have been no consensus.\nWere they Bulgars, Slavicized Greeks or early Slavs?\nThey 'were' Bulgars until the 1870s and Slavicized Greeks, or Hellenized Slavs subsequently, according to the needs of the dominant theory.\nThere was no consensus, either, on the Vlachs.\nWere they Latinized Greek mountaineers of late immigrants from Vlachia?\nAs in the case of the Slavs of Macedonia, Vlach descent shifted from the southern Balkans to the Danube, until the Romanians claimed the Vlachs for their brethren; which made the latter irrevocably indigenous to the southern Balkan mountains.\nThe Albanians or 'Arvanites', were readily 'adopted' as brethren of common descent for at least three reasons.\nFirstly, the Albanians had been living in southern Greece, as far south as the Peloponnese, in considerable numbers.\nSecondly, Christian Albanians had fought with distinction and in considerable numbers in the War of Independence.\nThirdly, credible Albanian claims for the establishment of an Albanian nation state materialized too Late for Greek national theorists to abandon well-entrenched positions.\nCommenting on a geography textbook for primary schools in 1901, a state committee found it inadequate and misleading.\nOne of its principal shortcomings concerned the Albanians, who were described as 'close kinsmen of the Greeks'.\n'These are unacceptable from the point of view of our national claims and as far as historical truth is concerned', commented the committee.\n'it must have been maintained that they are of common descent with the Greeks (Pelasgians), that they speak a language akin to that of the Greeks and that they participated in all struggles for national liberation of the common fatherland.'\" Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.\nThe [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) were a group that formerly inhabited a region of [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) known as [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria), nowadays [Thesprotia](https://bliptext.com/articles/thesprotia) in northwestern Greece.\nMany Cham Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman era.\nMuslim Chams were [expelled](https://bliptext.com/articles/expulsion-of-cham-albanians) from Greece during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), by an [anti-communist resistance group](https://bliptext.com/articles/edes) (EDES).\nThe causes of the expulsion were multifaceted and remain a matter of debate among historians.\nDifferent narratives in historiography argue that the causes involved pre-existing Greek policies which targeted the minority and sought its elimination, the Cham [collaboration](https://bliptext.com/articles/axis-cham-albanian-collaboration) with the Axis forces and local property disputes which were instrumentalized after WWII.\nThe estimated number of Cham Albanians expelled from Epirus to Albania and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) varies: figures include 14,000, 19,000, 20,000, 25,000 and 30,000.\nAccording to Cham reports this number should be raised to c. 35,000.\nLarge-scale migration from Albania to Greece occurred after 1991.\nDuring this period, at least 500,000 Albanians have migrated and relocated to Greece.\nDespite the lack of exact statistics, it is estimated that at least 700,000 Albanians have moved to Greece during the last 25 years.\nThe Albanian government estimates 500,000 Albanians in Greece at the very least without accounting for their children.\nThe 2011 Greece census indicated that Albanians consisted the biggest group of migrants in Greece, numbered roughly 480,000, but taking into consideration the current population of Greece (11 million) and the fact that the census failed to account for illegal foreigners, it was estimated that Albanians consist of 5% of the population (at least 550,000).\nBy 2005, around 600,000 Albanians lived in Greece, forming the largest immigrant community in the country.\nThey are economic migrants whose migration began in 1991, following the collapse of the [Socialist People's Republic of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-people-s-republic-of-albania).\n, in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years.\nIn recent years, many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece in search of better opportunities elsewhere in Europe.\nAs of 2022, there c. 292,000 Albanian immigrants are holders of legal permits to live and work in Greece, down from c. 423,000 in 2021.\nAlbanians in Greece have a long history of [Hellenisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/hellenisation), assimilation and integration.\nMany ethnic Albanians have been naturalised as Greek nationals, others have self-declared as Greek since arrival and a considerable number live and work across both countries seasonally hence the number of Albanians in the country has often fluctuated.\n# [Painting of Albanian palikars displayed in the British Museum, London | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Albanian///Palikars///in///pursuit///of///an///enemy///--///Charles///Robert///Cockerell%2C///1813-1814///--///British///Museum%2C///inv.///1923%2C0113.30.jpg]\n# [Cham Albanians in Filiates in 1915, by Fred Boissonas | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Chams///on///Filiates///1915.jpg]\n\n# Diaspora\nDiaspora based Albanians may self identify as Albanian, use hybrid identification or identify with their nationality, often creating an obstacle in establishing a total figure of the population.\n\n## Europe\nDuring the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, the [conflicts in the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslav-wars) and the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) set in motion large population movements of Albanians to [Central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-europe), [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe) and Northern Europe.\nThe gradual [collapse of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania) in Albania triggered as well a new wave of migration and contributed to the emergence of a new diaspora, mainly in Southern Europe, in such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy.\nIn Central Europe, there are approximately 200,000 Albanians in [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) with the particular concentration in the [cantons](https://bliptext.com/articles/cantons-of-switzerland) of [Zürich](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-z-rich), [Basel](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-basel-stadt), [Lucerne](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-lucerne), [Bern](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-bern) and [St. Gallen](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-st-gallen).\nThe neighbouring Germany is home to around 250,000 to 300,000 Albanians while in [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) there are around 40,000 to 80,000 Albanians concentrated in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-austria) of [Vienna](https://bliptext.com/articles/vienna), [Styria](https://bliptext.com/articles/styria), [Salzburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-of-salzburg), [Lower](https://bliptext.com/articles/lower-austria) and Upper [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria).\nIn [Western Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe), the Albanian population of approximately 10,000 people living in the [Benelux countries](https://bliptext.com/articles/benelux-countries) is in comparison to other regions relatively limited.\nThere are more than 6,000 Albanian people living in [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) and 2,800 in the nearby [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands).\nThe most lesser number of Albanian people in the Benelux region is to be found in [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) with a population of 2,100.\nWithin Northern Europe, Sweden possesses the most sizeable population of Albanians in [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) however there is no exact answer to their number in the country.\nThe populations also tend to be lower in [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway), [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) and [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) with more than 18,000, 10,000 and 8,000 Albanians respectively.\nThe population of Albanians in the [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-the-united-kingdom) is officially estimated to be around 39,000 whiles in Ireland there are less than 2,500 Albanians.\n# [Albanians in Vienna celebrating the declaration of independence of Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kosova///independence///Vienna///17-02-2008///b.jpg]\n\n## Asia and Africa\nThe Albanian diaspora in Africa and Asia, in such countries as [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt), [Syria](https://bliptext.com/articles/syria) or [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), was predominantly formed during the Ottoman period through economic [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) and early years of the Republic of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) through [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) due to sociopolitical discrimination and violence experienced by Albanians in [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans).\nIn [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), the exact numbers of the Albanian population of the country are difficult to correctly estimate.\nAccording to a 2008 report, there were approximately 1.300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.\nAs of that report, more than 500,000 Albanian descendants still recognise their [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry) and or their language, culture and traditions.\nThere are also other estimates that range from being 3 to 4 million people up to a total of 5 million in number, although most of these are Turkish citizens of either full or partial Albanian ancestry being no longer fluent in Albanian, comparable to the [German Americans](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-americans).\nThis was due to various degrees of either linguistic and or [cultural assimilation](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) occurring amongst the Albanian diaspora in Turkey.\nAlbanians are active in the civic life of Turkey.\nIn [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk) speakers.\nMany are descendants of the [Janissaries](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissaries) of [Muhammad Ali Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt), an Albanian who became [Wāli](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-li), and self-declared [Khedive](https://bliptext.com/articles/khedive) of Egypt and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/sudan).\nIn addition to the [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that he established, a large part of the former Egyptian and Sudanese [aristocracy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristocracy) was of Albanian origin.\nAlbanian Sunnis, Bektashis and Orthodox Christians were all represented in this diaspora, whose members at some point included major [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) figures (Rilindasit), including Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, Andon Zako Çajupi, Milo Duçi, Fan Noli and others who lived in Egypt for a time.\nWith the ascension of [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://bliptext.com/articles/gamal-abdel-nasser) in Egypt and rise of [Arab nationalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-nationalism), the last remnants of Albanian community there were forced to leave.\nAlbanians have been present in [Arab](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-world) countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and for about five centuries as a legacy of [Ottoman Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-turk) rule.\n# [Painting of an Arnaut by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1870s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Jean-Leon///Gerome///-///An///Arnaut///N08542-8-lr-1.jpg]\n# [The Albanian Sentinel in Cairo by Charles Bargue, 1877 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Charles///Bargue///%E2%80%93///La///sentinelle///albanaise///en///Caire%2C///1877.jpg]\n\n## Americas and Oceania\nThe first Albanian migration to North America began in the 19th and 20th centuries not long after gaining [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania) from the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nHowever the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) from [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) were the first Albanian people to arrive in the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world), many of them migrating after the wars that accompanied the [Risorgimento](https://bliptext.com/articles/risorgimento).\nSince then several Albanian migration waves have occurred throughout the 20th century as for instance after the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) with Albanians mostly from [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) rather than from [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania), then after the Breakup of [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania) in 1990 and finally following the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) in 1998.\nThe most sizeable Albanian population in the Americas is predominantly to be found in the United States.\n[New York metropolitan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-metropolitan-area) in the [State of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) is home to the most sizeable Albanian population of the United States.\nAs of 2017, there are approximately 205,000 Albanians in the country with the main concentration in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-the-united-states) of New York, [Michigan](https://bliptext.com/articles/michigan), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts) and [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois).\nThe number could be higher counting the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) as well; they are often distinguishable from other Albanian Americans with regard to their [Italianized](https://bliptext.com/articles/italianization) names, nationality and a common [religion](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism).\nIn Canada, there are approximately 39,000 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns in the country, including 36,185 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and 2,870 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), predominantly distributed in a multitude of [provinces](https://bliptext.com/articles/provinces-and-territories-of-canada) such as [Ontario](https://bliptext.com/articles/ontario), Quebec, [Alberta](https://bliptext.com/articles/alberta) and [British Columbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-columbia).\nCanada's largest cities such as [Toronto](https://bliptext.com/articles/toronto), Montreal and [Edmonton](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmonton) were besides the United States a major centre of Albanian migration to North America.\nToronto is home to around 17,000 Albanians.\nAlbanian immigration to Australia began in the late 19th century and most took place during the 20th century.\nPeople who planned to immigrate chose Australia after the US introduced immigration quotas on southern Europeans.\nMost were from southern Albania, of Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds and tended to live in [Victoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/victoria-australia) and [Queensland](https://bliptext.com/articles/queensland-australia), with smaller numbers in [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-australia) and Northern Australia.\nItaly's [annexation](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-invasion-of-albania) of Albania marked a difficult time for Albanian Australians as many were thought by Australian authorities to pose a fascist threat.\nPost-war, the numbers of Albanian immigrants slowed due to immigration restrictions placed by the [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism-in-albania) in Albania.\nAlbanians from southwestern Yugoslavia (modern North Macedonia) arrived and settled in Melbourne in the 1960s-1970s.\nOther Albanian immigrants from Yugoslavia came from [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThe immigrants were mostly Muslims, but also Catholics among them including the relatives of the renowned Albanian nun and missionary [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa).\nAlbanian refugees from Kosovo settled in Australia following the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.\nIn the early twenty first century, Victoria has the highest concentration of Albanians and smaller Albanian communities exist in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.\nIn 2016, approximately 4,041 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), while 15,901 persons identified themselves as having [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.\nAlbanian migration to New Zealand occurred mid twentieth century following the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war).\nA small group of Albanian refugees originating mainly from Albania and the rest from Yugoslavian Kosovo and Macedonia settled in Auckland.\nDuring the [Kosovo crisis](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-crisis) (1999), up to 400 Kosovo Albanian refugees settled in New Zealand.\nIn the twenty first century, Albanian New Zealanders number 400-500 people and are mainly concentrated in [Auckland](https://bliptext.com/articles/auckland).\n# [The Albanian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George Historic District in South Boston, Massachusetts | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cathedral///of///St.///George///Historic///District///South///Boston///MA.jpg]\n# [Orthodox Albanian wedding in Bagnoo, New South Wales (1944) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Orthodox///Albanian///wedding///in///Bagnoo%2C///New///South///Wales%2C///1944.jpg]\n\n# Culture\n\n## Traditions\n\n### Tribal social structure\nThe [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes) form a historical mode of social organization (**farefisní**) in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and the southwestern [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) characterized by a common [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultur), often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared [social ties](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-ties).\nThe **fis** (**fis**i; commonly translated as \"tribe\", also as \"clan\" or \"kin\" community) stands at the center of Albanian organization based on [kinship](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinship) relations, a concept which can be found among southern Albanians also with the term **farë** (fara).\nInherited from ancient [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) social structures, Albanian tribal society emerged in the early Middle Ages as the dominant form of social organization among Albanians.\nIt also remained in a less developed system in [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) where large feudal estates and later trade and urban centres began to develop at the expense of tribal organization.\nOne of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), a code of Albanian oral [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law).\nMost tribes engaged in warfare against external forces like the Ottoman Empire.\nSome also engaged in limited inter-tribal struggle for the control of resources.\nUntil the early years of the 20th century, the Albanian tribal society remained largely intact until the rise to power of [communist regime](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) in 1944, and is considered as the only example of a tribal social system structured with tribal chiefs and councils, [blood feuds](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjakmarrja) and [oral customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), surviving in [Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) until the middle of the 20th century.\nMembers of the tribes of northern Albania believe their history is based on the notions of resistance and isolationism.\nSome scholars connect this belief with the concept of \"negotiated peripherality\".\nThroughout history the territory northern Albanian tribes occupy has been contested and peripheral so northern Albanian tribes often exploited their position and negotiated their peripherality in profitable ways.\nThis peripheral position also affected their national program which significance and challenges are different from those in southern Albania.\n# [Map of the northern Albanian tribal regions in the mid-20th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Northern///Albanian///Tribal///Regions.png]\n# [Picture of members of the Albanian Shkreli tribe, 1890s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ad061.jpg]\n\n### Kanun\nThe [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania) is a set of Albanian traditional [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law), which has directed all the aspects of the [Albanian tribal society](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes).\nFor at least the last five centuries and until today, Albanian customary laws have been kept alive only orally by the tribal elders.\nThe success in preserving them exclusively through [oral systems](https://bliptext.com/articles/oral-tradition) highlights their universal resilience and provides evidence of their likely ancient origins.\nStrong pre-Christian motifs mixed with motifs from the Christian era reflect the stratification of the Albanian customary law across various historical ages.\nOver time, Albanian customary laws have undergone their historical development, they have been changed and supplemented with new [norms](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-norm), in accordance with certain requirements of socio-economic development.\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) and nderi ([honour](https://bliptext.com/articles/honour)) are of major importance in Albanian customary law as the cornerstone of personal and social conduct.\nThe Kanun is based on four pillars – Honour, Hospitality , Right Conduct and Kin Loyalty.\n# [The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a Medieval Albanian lord, transcribed by Shtjefën Gjeçovi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kanuni///i///Lek%C3%AB///Dukagjinit.jpg]\n\n### Besa\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) (pledge of honor) is an Albanian cultural [precept](https://bliptext.com/articles/precept), usually translated as \"[faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith)\" or \"[oath](https://bliptext.com/articles/oath)\", that means \"to keep the promise\" and \"word of honor\".\nThe concept is based upon faithfulness toward one's word in the form of loyalty or as an allegiance guarantee.\nBesa contains mores toward obligations to the family and a friend, the demand to have internal commitment, loyalty and solidarity when conducting oneself with others and secrecy in relation to outsiders.\nThe besa is also the main element within the concept of the ancestor's will or pledge (amanet) where a demand for faithfulness to a cause is expected in situations that relate to unity, national liberation and independence that transcend a person and generations.\nThe concept of besa is included in the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), the [customary law](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law) of the Albanian people.\nThe besa was an important institution within the tribal society of the [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes), who swore oaths to jointly fight against invaders, and in this aspect the besa served to uphold tribal autonomy.\nThe besa was used toward regulating tribal affairs between and within the Albanian tribes.\n\n## Cuisine\nThe traditional [cuisine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-cuisine) of the Albanians is diverse and has been greatly influenced by traditions and their varied [environment](https://bliptext.com/articles/biophysical-environment) in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and turbulent history throughout the course of the centuries.\nThere is a considerable diversity between the [Mediterranean](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-cuisine) and [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of Albanians in the Western [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine) nations and the [Italian](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-cuisine) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of the [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and [Chams](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians).\nThe enjoyment of food has a high priority in the lives of Albanian peoples especially when celebrating [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival) such as [Ramadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/ramadan), [Eid](https://bliptext.com/articles/eid-al-fitr), Christmas, Easter, [Hanukkah](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanukkah) or [Novruz](https://bliptext.com/articles/novruz)\nIngredients include many varieties of fruits such as [lemons](https://bliptext.com/articles/lemon-fruit), oranges, [figs](https://bliptext.com/articles/figs-fruit) and [olives](https://bliptext.com/articles/olive-fruit), herbs such as [basil](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-herb), [lavender](https://bliptext.com/articles/lavender), [mint](https://bliptext.com/articles/spearmint), [oregano](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregano), [rosemary](https://bliptext.com/articles/rosemary) and [thyme](https://bliptext.com/articles/thyme) and vegetables such as garlic, onion, [peppers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bell-pepper), potatoes and tomatoes.\nAlbanian peoples who live closer to the [Mediterranean Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-sea), [Prespa Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/prespa-lake) and [Ohrid Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/ohrid-lake) are able to complement their diet with fish, [shellfish](https://bliptext.com/articles/shellfish) and other seafood.\nOtherwise, [lamb](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamb-food) is often considered the traditional meat for different [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival).\nPoultry, beef and pork are also in plentiful supply.\n[Tavë Kosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/tav-kosi) is a national dish in Albania consisting of garlic lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of [yogurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/yogurt).\n[Fërgesë](https://bliptext.com/articles/f-rges) is another national dish and is made with peppers, tomatoes and [cottage cheese](https://bliptext.com/articles/cottage-cheese).\nPite is a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of [spinach](https://bliptext.com/articles/spinach) and [gjizë](https://bliptext.com/articles/curd) or [mish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ground-meat).\nDesserts include [Flia](https://bliptext.com/articles/flia), consisting of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with crea; petulla, a traditionally fried dough, and Krofne, similar to [Berliner](https://bliptext.com/articles/berliner-doughnut).\n# [Bukë, kripë e zemër is a traditional welcoming custom traced back to medieval Albanian law. The Albanian code of honour, called Besa, resulted to look after guests as an act of hospitality. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Buk%C3%AB///kollomoqe%2C///buk%C3%AB///misri.JPG]\n\n## Visual arts\n\n### Painting\nThe earliest preserved relics of visual arts of the Albanian people are [sacred](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacred-art) in nature and represented by numerous [frescoes](https://bliptext.com/articles/fresco), [murals](https://bliptext.com/articles/mural) and [icons](https://bliptext.com/articles/icon) which has been created with an admirable use of color and gold.\nThey reveal a wealth of various influences and traditions that converged in the historical lands of the Albanian people throughout the course of the centuries.\nThe rise of the [Byzantines](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) and [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) during the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) was accompanied by a corresponding growth in [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-art) and [Islamic art](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamic-art) often apparent in examples of architecture and mosaics throughout Albania.\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and arts whereas artists sought to return to the ideals of [Impressionism](https://bliptext.com/articles/impressionism) and [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism-art).\n[Onufri](https://bliptext.com/articles/onufri), founder of the Berat School, [Kolë Idromeno](https://bliptext.com/articles/kol-idromeno), [David Selenica](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-selenica), [Kostandin Shpataraku](https://bliptext.com/articles/kostandin-shpataraku) and the [Zografi Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/zografi-brothers) are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.\nAlbanians in Italy and Croatia have been also active among others the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) influenced artists such as [Marco Basaiti](https://bliptext.com/articles/marco-basaiti), [Viktor Karpaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/vittore-carpaccio) and [Andrea Nikollë Aleksi](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-nikoll-aleksi).\nIn Greece, [Eleni Boukouras](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-boukouras) is noted as being the first great female painter of post [independence Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-war-of-independence).\nIn 1856, [Pjetër Marubi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-marubi) arrived in [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and established the first photography museum in Albania and probably the entire [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), the [Marubi Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-photography-marubi).\nThe collection of 150,000 photographs, captured by the Albanian-Italian Marubi dynasty, offers an ensemble of photographs depicting social rituals, traditional costumes, portraits of Albanian history.\nThe Kulla, a traditional [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n [dwelling](https://bliptext.com/articles/tower-house) constructed completely from natural materials, is a cultural relic from the medieval period particularly widespread in the southwestern region of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and northern region of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nThe rectangular shape of a Kulla is produced with irregular [stone](https://bliptext.com/articles/stone) ashlars, river pebbles and [chestnut](https://bliptext.com/articles/chestnut) woods, however, the size and number of floors depends on the size of the family and their financial resources.\n# [Kolë Idromeno is considered the most renowned painter of the Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Kol%C3%AB///Idromeno///%28i///ri%29.jpg]\n# [Medieval icon by Kostandin and Athanas Zografi in the Monastery of Ardenica. It illustrates the seven saints Clement, Naum, Sava, Angelar, Gorazd, Cyril, Method and the Albanian Jan Kukuzeli. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Sv///Sedmo%C4%8Dislenici///with///Jovan///Kukuzel///in///Ardenica.jpg]\n\n### Literature\nThe roots of [literature of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) with surviving works about history, theology and philosophy dating from the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance).\nThe earliest known use of written Albanian is a [baptismal formula](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-e-pag-zimit) (1462) written by the Archbishop of Durrës [Paulus Angelus](https://bliptext.com/articles/paulus-angelus).\nIn 1555, a Catholic clergyman [Gjon Buzuku](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-buzuku) from the Shestan region published the earliest known book written in Albanian titled [Meshari](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshari) (The Missal) regarding Catholic prayers and rites containing archaic medieval language, lexemes and expressions obsolete in contemporary Albanian.\nOther Christian clergy such as [Luca Matranga](https://bliptext.com/articles/luca-matranga) in the Arbëresh diaspora published (1592) in the Tosk dialect while other notable authors were from northern Albanian lands and included [Pjetër Budi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-budi), [Frang Bardhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/frang-bardhi), and [Pjetër Bogdani](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-bogdani).\nIn the 17th century and onwards, important contributions were made by the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) of [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) who played an influential role in encouraging the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nNotable among them was figures such as [Demetrio Camarda](https://bliptext.com/articles/demetrio-camarda), [Gabriele Dara](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabriele-dara), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Giulio Variboba](https://bliptext.com/articles/giulio-variboba) and [Giuseppe Serembe](https://bliptext.com/articles/giuseppe-serembe) who produced inspiring nationalist literature and worked to systematise the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Bejtexhinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/bejtexhinj) in the 18th century emerged as the result of the influences of [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and particularly [Sufism](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order) orders moving towards [Orientalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/orientalism).\nIndividuals such as [Nezim Frakulla](https://bliptext.com/articles/nezim-frakulla), [Hasan Zyko Kamberi](https://bliptext.com/articles/hasan-zyko-kamberi), [Shahin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shahin-frash-ri) and [Dalip Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalip-frash-ri) compiled literature infused with expressions, language and themes on the circumstances of the time, the insecurities of the future and their discontent at the conditions of the feudal system.\nThe Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century is important both for its valuable poetic achievement and for its variety within the Albanian literature.\nIt drew on the ideas of [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the interaction between nature and mankind.\n[Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Naim Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri), [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri) and [Pashko Vasa](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashko-vasa) maintained this movement and are remembered today for composing series of prominent works.\nThe 20th century was centred on the principles of [Modernism](https://bliptext.com/articles/modernism) and [Realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/realist-literature) and characterised by the development to a more distinctive and expressive form of Albanian literature.\nPioneers of the time include [Asdreni](https://bliptext.com/articles/asdreni), [Faik Konica](https://bliptext.com/articles/faik-konica), [Fan Noli](https://bliptext.com/articles/fan-noli), [Lasgush Poradeci](https://bliptext.com/articles/lasgush-poradeci), [Migjeni](https://bliptext.com/articles/migjeni) who chose to portray themes of contemporary life and most notably [Gjergj Fishta](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-fishta) who created the epic masterpiece Lahuta e Malcís.\nAfter World War II, Albania emerged as a communist state and Socialist realism became part of the literary scene.\nAuthors and poets emerged such as [Sejfulla Malëshova](https://bliptext.com/articles/sejfulla-mal-shova), [Dritero Agolli](https://bliptext.com/articles/dritero-agolli) and [Ismail Kadare](https://bliptext.com/articles/ismail-kadare) who has become an internationally acclaimed novelist and others who challenged the regime through various sociopolitical and historic themes in their works.\n[Martin Camaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-camaj) wrote in the diaspora while in neighbouring Yugoslavia, the emergence of Albanian cultural expression resulted in sociopolitical and poetic literature by notable authors like [Adem Demaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/adem-dema-i), [Rexhep Qosja](https://bliptext.com/articles/rexhep-qosja), [Jusuf Buxhovi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jusuf-buxhovi).\nThe literary scene of the 21st century remains vibrant producing new novelists, authors, poets and other writers.\n# [The Meshari is currently the earliest published book in the Albanian language written by Gjon Buzuku. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Meshari.jpg]\n# [The biography of Marin Barleti on Skanderbeg in Latin was translated into many different European languages. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Historia///de///vita///et///gestis///Scanderbegi%2C///Epirotarum///principis.jpg]\n\n## Performing arts\n\n### Apparel\nThe Albanian people have incorporated various natural materials from their local agriculture and livestock as a source of [attire](https://bliptext.com/articles/attire), clothing and fabrics.\nTheir [traditional apparel](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-national-clothing) was primarily influenced by [nature](https://bliptext.com/articles/nature), the [lifestyle](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology) and has continuously changed since ancient times.\nDifferent regions possesses their own exceptional clothing traditions and peculiarities varied occasionally in colour, material and shape.\nThe [traditional costume](https://bliptext.com/articles/traditional-costume) of Albanian men includes a white [skirt](https://bliptext.com/articles/skirt-garment) called [Fustanella](https://bliptext.com/articles/fustanella), a white shirt with wide [sleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/sleeve), and a thin black jacket or vest such as the [Xhamadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhamadan) or Xhurdia.\nIn winter, they add a warm [woolen](https://bliptext.com/articles/woolen) or [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur) coat known as Flokata or Dollama made from [sheepskin](https://bliptext.com/articles/sheepskin) or goat [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur).\nAnother authentic piece is called Tirq which is a tight pair of felt [trousers](https://bliptext.com/articles/trousers) mostly white, sometimes dark brown or black.\nThe Albanian women's costumes are much more elaborate, colorful and richer in ornamentation.\nIn all the Albanian regions the women's clothing often has been decorated with [filigree](https://bliptext.com/articles/filigree) [ironwork](https://bliptext.com/articles/ironwork), colorful embroidery, a lot of symbols and vivid accessories.\nA unique and ancient dress is called [Xhubleta](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhubleta), a bell shaped skirt reaching down to the calves and worn from the shoulders with two shoulder straps at the upper part.\nDifferent traditional handmade shoes and socks were worn by the Albanian people.\n[Opinga](https://bliptext.com/articles/opinga), leather shoes made from rough animal skin, were worn with [Çorape](https://bliptext.com/articles/orape), knitted woolen or cotton socks.\n[Headdresses](https://bliptext.com/articles/headdress) remain a contrasting and recognisable feature of Albanian traditional clothing.\nAlbanian men wore hats of various designs, shape and size.\nA common headgear is a [Plis](https://bliptext.com/articles/qeleshe) and Qylafë, in contrast, Albanian women wore a Kapica adorned with jewels or embroidery on the forehead, and a Lëvere or Kryqe which usually covers the head, shoulders and neck.\nWealthy Albanian women wore headdresses embellished with gems, gold or silver.\n# [Lord Byron dressed in the traditional Albanian costume traditionally consisting of the Fustanella and a Dollama decorated with filigree. Lord Byron in Albanian Dress by Thomas Phillips, 1813. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lord///Byron///in///Albanian///Dress///by///Phillips%2C///1813.jpg]\n\n### Music\nFor the Albanian people, [music](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-music) is a vital component to their [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture) and characterised by its own peculiar features and diverse melodic pattern reflecting the [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history), [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) and [way of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology).\nIt rather varies from region to another with two essential stylistic differences between the music of the [Ghegs](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nHence, their geographic position in Southeast Europe in combination with cultural, political and social issues is frequently expressed through music along with the accompanying [instruments](https://bliptext.com/articles/musical-instrument) and dances.\nAlbanian folk music is contrasted by the heroic tone of the Ghegs and the relaxed sounds of the Tosks.\nTraditional [iso-polyphony](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-iso-polyphony) perhaps represents the most noble and essential genre of the Tosks which was proclaimed a [Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-lists) by [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco).\nGhegs in contrast have a reputation for a distinctive variety of sung [epic poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-poetry) often about the tumultuous history of the Albanian people.\nThere are a number of internationally acclaimed singers of ethnic Albanian origin such as [Ava Max](https://bliptext.com/articles/ava-max), [Bebe Rexha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bebe-rexha), [Dua Lipa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dua-lipa), [Era Istrefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-istrefi), [Rita Ora](https://bliptext.com/articles/rita-ora), and rappers such as [Action Bronson](https://bliptext.com/articles/action-bronson), [Dardan](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardan-rapper), [Gashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gashi-rapper) and [Loredana Zefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/loredana-zefi).\nNotable singers of Albanian origin from the former [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) include [Selma Bajrami](https://bliptext.com/articles/selma-bajrami) and [Zana Nimani](https://bliptext.com/articles/zana-nimani).\nIn international competitions, [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) participated in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurovision-song-contest) for the first time in 2004.\nAlbanians have also represented other countries in the contest: [Anna Oxa](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-oxa) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 1989, [Adrian Gaxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/adrian-gaxha) for [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2008) in 2008, [Ermal Meta](https://bliptext.com/articles/ermal-meta) for [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 2018, [Eleni Foureira](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-foureira) for [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018) in 2018, as well as [Gjon Muharremaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-s-tears) for [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2021) in 2020 and 2021.\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) has never participated, but is currently applying to become a member of the [EBU](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-broadcasting-union) and therefore debut in the contest.\n# [Dua Lipa is the first Albanian to ever win a Grammy Award. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Dua///Lipa///with///Warner///Music///2.jpg]\n# [Southern Albanian polyphonic singers | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Fustanela///001.jpg]\n# [An Albanian bashi-bazouk singing and playing an oud. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1868. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Jean-L%C3%A9on///G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me///-///Bashi-Bazouk///Singing///-///Walters///37883.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nMany different [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) traditions, religious [faiths](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith) and [beliefs](https://bliptext.com/articles/belief) are practised by the Albanian people who historically have succeeded to coexist peacefully over the centuries in Southeast Europe.\nThey are traditionally both Christians and [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslims)—[Catholics](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism) and [Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/orthodoxy), [Sunnis](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunnism) and [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashism) and—but also to a lesser extent [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism), [Protestants](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestants) and [Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/judaism), constituting one of the most religiously diverse peoples of Europe.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century.\nThen, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054 after the schism, the north became identified with the [Roman Catholic Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic-church).\nSince that time all churches north of the Shkumbin river were Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Pope.\nVarious reasons have been put forward for the spread of Catholicism among northern Albanians.\nTraditional affiliation with the [Latin Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin-church) and Catholic missions in central Albania in the 12th century fortified the Catholic Church against Orthodoxy, while local leaders found an ally in Catholicism against Slavic Orthodox states.\nAfter the [Ottoman conquest of the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans), Christianity began to be overtaken by Islam, and Catholicism and Orthodoxy continued to be practiced with less frequency.\nDuring the [modern era](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-era), the monarchy and [communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) in Albania as well as the [socialism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialism) in Kosovo, historically part of [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), followed a systematic [secularisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/secularisation) of its people.\nThis policy was chiefly applied within the borders of both territories and produced a secular majority of its population.\nAll forms of Christianity, [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [pagan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pagan) practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture.\nThe current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the [Spring](https://bliptext.com/articles/spring-day) festival held yearly on 14 March in the city of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan).\nIt is a national holiday.\nThe communist regime which ruled Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions, and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [atheist state](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-atheism).\nReligious freedom returned to Albania following the regime's change in 1992.\nAlbanian Sunni Muslims are found throughout the country, [Albanian Orthodox Christians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-orthodox-church) as well as [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi) are concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics are found primarily in the north of the country.\nAccording to the 2011 Census, which has been recognised as unreliable by the [Council of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/council-of-europe), in Albania, 58.79% of the population adheres to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country.\nChristianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the second largest religion in the country.\nThe remaining population is either [irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligious) or belongs to other religious groups.\nBefore World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.\nToday, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.\nFor part of its history, [Albania has also had a Jewish community](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-jews-in-albania).\nMembers of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.\nMany left for Israel c. 1990–1992 when the borders were opened after the fall of the communist regime, but about 200 Jews still live in Albania.\n# [The Great Mosque of Tirana, Albania | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Great///Mosque///of///Tirana///%282020%29.jpg]\n# [The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Saint///Mother///Teresa///Cathedral///Prishtina8.jpg]\n# [Bektashi Tekke in Tetovo, North Macedonia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Arabati///Baba///Tekke.jpg]\n\n# Citations\n\n## Cited sources","current_revision":"32d53fe7-2df8-4f34-95c9-1296f8ee8492","created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T17:20:05.674Z","updated_at":"2025-03-25T18:40:23.786Z","search_vector":"'albanian':1","search_content":" \n \n**Group:** Albanians \n**Native Name:** Shqiptarët \n**Native Name Lang:** sq \n**Pop:** c. 7 to 10 million \n**Popplace:** 🇦🇱 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) 2,182,917 (2023) · [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) 1,797,856 (2021) \n**Tablehdr:** Other regions \n**Region 1:** 🇮🇹 [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy) \n**Pop 1:** 970,000 \n**Region 2:** 🇬🇷 [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) \n**Pop 2:** 500,000–600,000 \n**Region 3:** [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/undefined) \n**Pop 3:** 446,245 \n**Region 3 6:** 🇹🇷 [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) \n**Pop 3 6:** 500,000–6,000,000 \n**Region 4:** 🇲🇪 [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) \n**Pop 4:** 30,439 \n**Region 5:** 🇷🇸 [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia) \n**Pop 5:** 61,687 \n**Region 6:** 🇭🇷 [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) \n**Pop 6:** 17,513 \n**Region 7:** 🇸🇮 [Slovenia](https://bliptext.com/articles/slovenia) \n**Pop 7:** 6,186 \n**Region 8:** 🇪🇸 [Spain](https://bliptext.com/articles/spain) \n**Pop 8:** 3,998 \n**Region 9:** 🇵🇹 [Portugal](https://bliptext.com/articles/portugal) \n**Pop 9:** 99 \n**Region 1 0:** 🇸🇪 [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden) \n**Pop 1 0:** 54,000 \n**Region 1 1:** 🇳🇴 [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway) \n**Pop 1 1:** 19,891 \n**Region 1 2:** 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-kingdom) \n**Pop 1 2:** 13,000 \n**Region 1 4:** 🇫🇮 [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) \n**Pop 1 4:** 10,391 \n**Region 1 5:** 🇩🇰 [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) \n**Pop 1 5:** 8,223 \n**Region 1 6:** 🇮🇪 [Ireland](https://bliptext.com/articles/ireland) \n**Pop 1 6:** 953–2,133 \n**Region 1 7:** 🇷🇴 [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) \n**Pop 1 7:** 10,000 \n**Region 1 8:** 🇺🇦 [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) \n**Pop 1 8:** 5,000 \n**Region 1 9:** 🇨🇿 [Czech Republic](https://bliptext.com/articles/czech-republic) \n**Pop 1 9:** 1,512 \n**Region 2 0:** 🇱🇻 [Latvia](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvia) \n**Pop 2 0:** 17 - 31 \n**Region 2 1:** 🇩🇪 [Germany](https://bliptext.com/articles/germany) \n**Pop 2 1:** 200,000–300,000 \n**Region 2 2:** 🇨🇭 [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) \n**Pop 2 2:** 200,000 \n**Region 2 3:** 🇦🇹 [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) \n**Pop 2 3:** 28,212 \n**Region 2 4:** 🇫🇷 [France](https://bliptext.com/articles/france) \n**Pop 2 4:** 27,200 (2019) \n**Region 2 5:** 🇳🇱 [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands) \n**Pop 2 5:** 12,969 \n**Region 2 6:** 🇧🇪 [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) \n**Pop 2 6:** 5,600–30,000 \n**Region 2 7:** 🇱🇺 [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) \n**Pop 2 7:** 2,155 \n**Region 2 8:** 🇺🇸 [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states) \n**Pop 2 8:** 194,028 \n**Region 2 9:** 🇦🇷 [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina) \n**Pop 2 9:** 50,000 \n**Region 3 0:** 🇨🇦 [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) \n**Pop 3 0:** 39,055 \n**Region 3 1:** 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://bliptext.com/articles/colombia) \n**Pop 3 1:** 348 \n**Region 3 2:** 🇨🇺 [Cuba](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuba) \n**Pop 3 2:** 101 \n**Region 3 3:** 🇵🇦 [Panama](https://bliptext.com/articles/panama) \n**Pop 3 3:** 9 \n**Region 3 4:** 🇦🇺 [Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/australia) \n**Pop 3 4:** 11,315 \n**Region 3 5:** 🇳🇿 [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand) \n**Pop 3 5:** 243 \n**Region 3 7:** 🇪🇬 [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) \n**Pop 3 7:** 18,000 \n**Region 3 8:** 🇶🇦 [Qatar](https://bliptext.com/articles/qatar) \n**Pop 3 8:** 1,200 \n**Region 3 9:** 🇨🇾 [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus) \n**Pop 3 9:** 275 \n**Region 4 0:** 🇿🇦 [South Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-africa) \n**Pop 4 0:** 268 \n**Region 4 1:** 🇦🇪 [United Arab Emirates](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-arab-emirates) \n**Pop 4 1:** 200–300 \n**Languages:** [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) \n**Rels:** Majority**: · Star and Crescent.svg [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) · [Sunni](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunni-islam)·[Bektashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order)·[Non-denominational](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominational-muslim) · Minority**: · Christian cross.svg [Christianity](https://bliptext.com/articles/christianity) · [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholic-church) (Latin Church·Eastern Rites Albanian Greek-Catholic Church·Italo-Albanian Church)·[Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy) (Albanian Orthodox Church·Albanian American Orthodox Church)·[Protestantism](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestantism) (Albanian Protestant Church·Kosovan Protestant Church) · Other**: · [Irreligion](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion) \n**Footnotes:** 502,546 Albanian citizens, an additional 43,751 [[Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians)](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians), 260,000 [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and 169,644 Albanians who have acquired the Italian citizenship · Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. Of those with full or partial Albanian ancestry and others who have adopted [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkification) language, culture and identity their number is estimated at 1,300,000–5,000,000 many whom do not speak Albanian. · The estimation contains [[Kosovar Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians)](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovar-albanians). \n \n\n# \nThe **Albanians** are an [ethnic group](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnic-group) native to the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) who share a common Albanian [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry), [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture), [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history) and [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThey are the main ethnic group of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), and they also live in the neighboring countries of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro), [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-serbia), as well as in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy), [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-croatia), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-turkey).\nAlbanians also constitute a large [diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/diaspora) with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.\n[The language of the Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nAlbanians have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Paleo-Balkan group contributed to the [ethnogenesis](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first mention of the ethnonym [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi) occurred in the 2nd century AD by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) describing an [Illyrian tribe](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-tribe) who lived around present-day central Albania.\nThe first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from 11th century chronicler [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) who describes them as living in the [theme of Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme).\nThe [Shkumbin River](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin-river) roughly demarcates the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) between [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) dialects.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century AD. Then, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054, after the [Great Schism](https://bliptext.com/articles/east-west-schism), the north gradually became identified with [Roman Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism) and the south with [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodoxy).\nIn 1190 Albanians established the [Principality of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon) in central Albania with the capital in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nThe [Albanian diaspora](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) has its roots in migration from the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) initially across Southern Europe and eventually across wider Europe and the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world).\nBetween the 13th and 18th centuries, sizeable numbers migrated to escape various social, economic or political difficulties.\nAlbanian population groups settled in [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece) between the 13th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites).\nOther Albanian population groups settled across [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily) between the 11th and 16th centuries and came to be known as [Arbëreshë](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people).\nAlbanians have also migrated [to Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) since the late 16th century.\nIn the 18th century smaller Albanian population groups settled in [Southern Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia) (who came to be known as [Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people)), and pockets of [Southern Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-ukraine). .\n\"We can say that all in some way belong to a kind of ethnic category, and often more than one. As an example, I cite the case of Zadar Arbanasi. To understand the problem of the Albanians and their ethnolinguistic (ethnic and linguistic) identity, it is necessary to go into the history of their immigration that goes back to the beginning of the 18th century., etc more precisely: the period from the first migration of 1726, the period of the second migration of 1733, and until 1754, which is considered to be the final year of their immigration. All they moved from three villages from the area of Lake Scutari – Briska, Šestan and Livara. Fleeing from the Ottomans, plague and other troubles, the general provider Nicola Erizzo II allowed them to settle in the area of today's Arbanasa and Zemunik. One part of the population in Zemunik became assimilated with the local population, forgetting their language.\nThese are for example, today's Prenda, Šestani, Ćurkovići, Paleke etc. The second part of the population tried to maintain their ethnic and linguistic identity during these 280 years.\nOn 10 May 2006 marked the 280th anniversary of their arrival in the suburb of Zadar.\nIt was not easy, especially in the beginning, because they did not have their own church, school, etc., and is the only way to maintain their identity and language was verbally.\"\nBy the 15th century, the expanding [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh), a union of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) led by [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg).\nBy the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians [converted](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamisation-of-albania) to [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam), which offered them equal opportunities and advancement [within the Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire).\nThereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader [Muslim world](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim-world).\nInnumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than [40 Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers), and under the [Köprülü](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension.\nBetween the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century [Albanian Pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-pashaliks) were established by [Kara Mahmud](https://bliptext.com/articles/kara-mahmud-pasha) [pasha of Scutari](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-scutari), [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) [pasha of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina), and [Ahmet Kurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/ahmet-kurt-pasha) [pasha of Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat), while the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) Muhammad [Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-ioannina) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors).\nDuring the 19th century, cultural developments, widely attributed to Albanians having gathered both spiritual and intellectual strength, conclusively led to the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nIn 1912 during the [Balkan Wars](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-wars), Albanians declared the [independence of their country](https://bliptext.com/articles/independent-albania).\nThe demarcation of the new Albanian state was established following the [Treaty of Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-bucharest-1913) and left about half of the ethnic Albanian population outside of its borders, [partitioned](https://bliptext.com/articles/partition-politics) between Greece, Montenegro and Serbia.\nAfter the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) up until the [Revolutions of 1991](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania), Albania was governed by a [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) under [Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) where Albania became largely isolated from the rest of Europe.\nIn neighbouring [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), Albanians underwent periods of discrimination and systematic oppression that concluded with the [War of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/war-of-kosovo) and eventually with [Kosovar independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo).\n\n# Ethnonym\nThe Albanians and their country Albania have been identified by many [ethnonyms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym).\nThe most common native [ethnonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnonym) is \"Shqiptar\", plural \"Shqiptarë\"; the name \"Albanians\" ([Byzantine [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language)](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-greek): Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; [Latin](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin): Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered [European Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-languages) from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English \"Albanians\"; Italian \"Albanesi\"; German \"Albaner\"; [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) \"Arvanites\", \"Alvanitis\" (Αλβανίτης) plural: \"Alvanites\" (Αλβανίτες), \"Alvanos\" (Αλβανός) plural: \"Alvanoi\" (Αλβανοί); [Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkish-language) \"Arnaut\", \"Arnavut\"; [South Slavic languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/south-slavic-languages) \"Arbanasi\" (Арбанаси), \"Albanci\" (Албанци); [Aromanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/aromanian-language) \"Arbinesh\" and so on.\nThe term \"Albanoi\" (Αλβανοί) is first encountered on the works of Ptolemy (2nd century CE) also is encountered twice in the works of Byzantine historian [Michael Attaliates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaliates), and the term \"Arvanitai\" (Αρβανίται) is used once by the same author.\nHe referred to the \"Albanoi\" as having taken part in a revolt against the [Byzantine Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) in 1043, and to the \"Arbanitai\" as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium (modern [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s)).\nThese references have been disputed as to whether they refer to the people of Albania.\nHistorian E. Vranoussi believes that these \"Albanoi\" were Normans from Sicily.\nShe also notes that the same term (as \"Albani\") in medieval Latin meant \"foreigners\".\nThe reference to \"Arvanitai\" from Attaliates regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion around 1078 is undisputed.\nIn later Byzantine usage, the terms \"Arbanitai\" and \"Albanoi\" with a range of variants were used interchangeably, while sometimes the same groups were also called by the classicising name Illyrians.\nThe first reference to the Albanian language dates to the latter 13th century (around 1285).\nThe national ethnonym Albanian and its variants are derived from [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi), first mentioned as an [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) tribe in the 2nd century CE by [Ptolemy](https://bliptext.com/articles/ptolemy) with their centre at the city of [Albanopolis](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanopolis), located in modern-day central Albania, somewhere in the hinterland of [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s).\nLinguists believe that the alb part in the root word originates from an Indo-European term for a type of mountainous topography, from which other words such as [alps](https://bliptext.com/articles/alps) are derived.\nThrough the root word alban and its rhotacized equivalents arban, albar, and arbar, the term in Albanian became rendered as Arbëneshë/Arbëreshë for the people and Arbënia/Arbëria for the country.\nThe Albanian language was referred to as Arbnisht and Arbërisht.\nWhile the [exonym](https://bliptext.com/articles/exonym) Albania for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does have connotations to Classical Antiquity, the Albanian language employs a different ethnonym, with modern Albanians referring to themselves as Shqip(ë)tarë and to their country as Shqipëria.\nTwo etymologies have been proposed for this ethnonym: one, derived from the etymology from the Albanian word for eagle (shqipe, var., shqiponjë).\nIn Albanian [folk etymology](https://bliptext.com/articles/folk-etymology), this word denotes a bird [totem](https://bliptext.com/articles/totem), dating from the times of Skanderbeg as displayed on the [Albanian flag](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-flag).\nThe other is within scholarship that connects it to the verb 'to speak' (me shqiptue) from the Latin \"excipere\".\nIn this instance the Albanian endonym like [Slav](https://bliptext.com/articles/slav-ethnonym) [and others](https://bliptext.com/articles/endonym) would originally have been a term connoting \"those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]\".\nThe words Shqipëri and Shqiptar are attested from 14th century onward, but it was only at the end of 17th and beginning of the early 18th centuries that the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëreshë amongst [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) speakers.\nThat era brought about religious and other sociopolitical changes.\nAs such a new and generalised response by Albanians based on ethnic and linguistic consciousness to this new and different [Ottoman world](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) emerging around them was a change in ethnonym. .\n\"The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptarë, their country Shqipëri, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could be a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains (ÇABEJ 1976). The name passed over the boundaries of the Illyrian tribe in central Albania, and was generalised for all the Albanians.\nThey called themselves arbënesh, arbëresh, the country Arbëni, Arbëri, and the language arbëneshe, arbëreshe.\nIn the foreign languages, the Middle Ages denominations of these names survived, but for the Albanians they were substituted by shqiptarë, Shqipëri and shqipe.\nThe primary root is the adverb shqip, meaning \"clearly, intelligibly\".\nThere is a very close semantic parallel to this in the German noun Deutsche, \"the Germans\" and \"the German language\" (Lloshi 1984) Shqip spread out from the north to the south, and Shqipni/Shqipëri is probably a collective noun, following the common pattern of Arbëni, Arbëri.\nThe change happened after the Ottoman conquest because of the conflict in the whole line of the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural spheres with a totally alien world of the Oriental type.\nA new and more generalised ethnic and linguistic consciousness of all these people responded to this.\"\n\n## Historical records\nLittle is known about the Albanian people prior to the 11th century, though a text compiled around the beginning of the 11th century in the [Bulgarian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarian-language) contains a possible reference to them.\nIt is preserved in a [manuscript](https://bliptext.com/articles/manuscript) written in the [Serbo-Croatian Language](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian-language) traced back to the 17th century but published in the 20th century by Radoslav Grujic.\nIt is a fragment of a once longer text that endeavours to explain the origins of peoples and languages in a question-and-answer form similar to a [catechism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catechism).\nThe fragmented manuscript differentiated the world into 72 languages and three religious categories including Christians, half-believers and non-believers.\nGrujic dated it to the early 11th century and, if this and the identification of the Arbanasi as Albanians are correct, it would be the earliest written document referring to the Balkan Albanians as a people or language group.\n\"It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian (Georgian). There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), Arbanasi (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi and Germans.\"\n[Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080) mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nAs such, it is considered to be the first attestation of Albanians as an ethnic group in Byzantine historiography.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Vranoussi-Ducellier debate\", Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vranoussi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThis debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\n\n# Language\nAlbanians speak the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language), which is an [Indo-European](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-languages) language and the only surviving representative of the [Albanoid branch](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoid), which belongs to the [Paleo-Balkan group](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages).\nIt had its formative core in the Western Balkans after the [Indo-European migrations](https://bliptext.com/articles/indo-european-migrations) in the region from about 3000 to 2500 BCE.\nThe Albanian language is spoken today by approximately 5 million people throughout the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) as well as by a more substantial number by [communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) around the Americas, Europe and Oceania.\nNumerous variants and dialects of Albanian are used as an [official language](https://bliptext.com/articles/official-language) in Albania, [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nThe language is also spoken in other countries whence it is officially recognised as a [minority language](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-language) in such countries as [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), Italy, [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are two principal [dialects](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-dialects) of the Albanian language traditionally represented by [Gheg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nThe ethnogeographical dividing line is traditionally considered to be the [Shkumbin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkumbin) river, with Gheg spoken in the north of it and Tosk in the south.\nDialects of linguistic minorities spoken in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-croatia) ([Arbanasi](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-dialect) and [Istrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/istrian-albanian)), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-albanians), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-montenegro) and northwestern [[North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia)](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) are classified as Gheg, while those spoken in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-greece), southwestern [[North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia)](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-north-macedonia) and Italy as Tosk.\nThe [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language) and [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika) dialects of the Albanian language, are spoken by the [Arbëresh](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-language)ë and [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) in [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) and [Southern Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-greece), respectively.\nThey retain elements of medieval Albanian vocabulary and pronunciation that are no longer used in modern Albanian; however, both varieties are classified as [endangered languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/endangered-language) in the [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco) [Red Book of Endangered Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/red-book-of-endangered-languages).\nThe [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) is spoken by the [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians), a community that originates from [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria) in what is currently north-western Greece and southern Albania; the use of the [Cham dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanian-dialect) in Greece is declining rapidly, while [Cham communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) in Albania and the diaspora have preserved it.\nMost of the Albanians in Albania and the [Former Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/former-yugoslavia) are [polyglot](https://bliptext.com/articles/polyglotism) and have the ability to understand, speak, read, or write a [foreign language](https://bliptext.com/articles/foreign-language).\nAs defined by the [Institute of Statistics of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/institute-of-statistics-albania), 39.9% of the 25 to 64 years old Albanians in Albania are able to use at least one foreign language including English (40%), Italian (27.8%) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-language) (22.9%).\nThe origin of the Albanian language remains a contentious subject that has given rise to numerous [hypotheses](https://bliptext.com/articles/hypothesis).\nThe hypothesis of Albanian being one of the descendant of the [Illyrian languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrian-languages) ([Messapic language](https://bliptext.com/articles/messapic-language)) is based on [geography](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) where the languages were spoken however not enough archaeological evidence is left behind to come therefore to a definite conclusion.\nAnother hypothesis associates the Albanian language with the [Thracian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/thracian-language).\nThis theory takes exception to the territory, since the language was spoken in an area distinct from Albania, and no significant population movements have been recorded in the period when the shift from one language to the other is supposed to have occurred.\n# [The dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Albanian///language///map///en.svg]\n# [Classification of Albanian in the Paleo-Balkanic branch as suggested by Brian D. Joseph and Adam Hyllested in \"The Indo-European Language Family\" (2022) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Classification///of///Albanian.png]\n\n# History\n\n## Late Antiquity\nThe [Komani-Kruja culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/komani-kruja-culture) is an archaeological culture attested from late antiquity to the Middle Ages in central and northern Albania, southern Montenegro and similar sites in the western parts of [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia).\nIt consists of settlements usually built below hillforts along the [Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/lezh) ([Praevalitana](https://bliptext.com/articles/praevalitana))-[Dardania](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardania-roman-province) and [Via Egnatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/via-egnatia) road networks which connected the Adriatic coastline with the central Balkan Roman provinces.\nIts [type site](https://bliptext.com/articles/type-site) is Komani and its fort on the nearby Dalmace hill in the Drin river valley.\n[Kruja](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruja) and Lezha represent significant sites of the culture.\nThe population of Komani-Kruja represents a local, western Balkan people which was linked to the Roman Justinianic military system of forts.\nThe development of Komani-Kruja is significant for the study of the transition between the [classical antiquity](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-antiquity) population of Albania to the medieval Albanians who were attested in historical records in the 11th century.\nWinnifrith (2020) recently described this population as the survival of a \"Latin-Illyrian\" culture which emerged later in historical records as Albanians and [Vlachs](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlachs) ([Eastern Romance](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-romance-languages)-speaking people).\nIn Winnifrith's narrative, the geographical conditions of northern Albania favored the continuation of the Albanian language in hilly and mountainous areas as opposed to lowland valleys.\n# [Glass necklace, 7th – 8th century, Shurdhah | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Glass///necklace%2C///7th///-///8th///century%2C///Shurdhah///-///Archeological///Museum///of///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Middle Ages\nThe Albanian people maintain a very chequered and tumultuous history behind them, a fact explained by their geographical position in the [Southeast of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/southeast-europe) at the cultural and political crossroad between the east and west, but they also have historically inhabited a hardly accessible mountainous region, which helped them preserve their peculiar culture and language.\nThe issue surrounding the [origin of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/origin-of-the-albanians) has long been debated by historians and [linguists](https://bliptext.com/articles/linguist) for centuries.\nThey have [Paleo-Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/paleo-balkan-languages) origins, and for obvious geographic and historical reasons most scholars maintain that they descended at least partially from the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians), but besides the [Illyrians](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) which specific Peleo-Balkan group contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is still a matter of academic debate.\nThe first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of [Michael Attaleiates](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-attaleiates) (1022–1080).\nAttaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once.\nThe term Albanoi is used first to describe the groups which rebelled in southern Italy and Sicily against the Byzantines in 1038–40.\nThe second use of the term Albanoi is related to groups which supported the revolt of [George Maniakes](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-maniakes) in 1042 and marched with him throughout the Balkans against the Byzantine capital, [Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/constantinople).\nThe term Arvanitai is used to describe a revolt of [Bulgarians](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgarians) (Boulgaroi) and Arbanitai in the theme of [Dyrrhachium](https://bliptext.com/articles/dyrrhachium-theme) in 1078–79.\nIt is generally accepted that Arbanitai refers to the ethnonym of medieval Albanians.\nThe use of the term Albanoi in 1038–49 and 1042 as an ethnonym related to Albanians have been a subject of debate.\nIn what has been termed the \"Ducellier-Vrannousi\" debate, Alain Ducellier proposed that both uses of the term referred to medieval Albanians.\nEra Vrannousi counter-suggested that the first use referred to [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans), while the second didn't have an ethnic connotation necessarily and could be a reference to the [Normans](https://bliptext.com/articles/normans) as \"foreigners\" ([aubain](https://bliptext.com/articles/aubain)) in [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) which Maniakes and his army traversed.\nThe debate has never been resolved.\nA newer synthesis about the second use of the term Albanoi by Pëllumb Xhufi suggests that the term Albanoi may have referred to Albanians of the specific district of [Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanon), while Arbanitai to Albanians in general regardless of the specific region they inhabited.\nThe name reflects the Albanian endonym Arbër/n + esh which itself derives from the same root as the name of the [Albanoi](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanoi)\nHistorically known as the Arbër or Arbën by the 11th century and onwards, they traditionally inhabited the mountainous area to the west of [Lake Ochrida](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-ochrida) and the upper valley of the Shkumbin river.\nThough it was in 1190 when they established their first independent entity, the [Principality of Arbër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arb-r) (Arbanon), with its seat based in [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kruj).\nImmediately after the decline of the [Progon dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/house-of-progon) in 1216, the principality came under [Gregorios Kamonas](https://bliptext.com/articles/gregorios-kamonas) and next his son-in-law [Golem](https://bliptext.com/articles/golem-of-kruja).\nFinally, the Principality was dissolved in ca. 1255 by the [Empire of Nicea](https://bliptext.com/articles/empire-of-nicea) followed by an unsuccessful [rebellion between 1257 and 1259](https://bliptext.com/articles/rebellion-of-arbanon) supported by the [Despotate of Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/despotate-of-epirus).\nIn the meantime [Manfred, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/manfred-king-of-sicily) profited from the situation and launched an invasion into Albania.\nHis forces, led by [Philippe Chinard](https://bliptext.com/articles/philippe-chinard), captured [Durrës](https://bliptext.com/articles/durr-s), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor), [Spinarizza](https://bliptext.com/articles/island-of-zv-rnec), their surroundings and the southern coastline of Albania from [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) to [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint).\nIn 1266 after [defeating Manfred's forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-benevento) and killing him, the [Treaty of Viterbo](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-viterbo) of 1267 was signed, with [Charles I, King of Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-i-king-of-sicily) acquiring rights on Manfred's dominions in Albania.\nLocal noblemen such as [Andrea Vrana](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-vrana) refused to surrender Manfred's former domains, and in 1271 negotiations were initiated.\nIn 1272 the [Kingdom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-albania-medieval) was created after a delegation of Albanian noblemen from Durrës signed a treaty declaring union with the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles.\nCharles soon imposed military rule, new taxes, took sons of Albanian noblemen hostage to ensure loyalty, and confiscated lands for [Angevin](https://bliptext.com/articles/capetian-house-of-anjou) nobles.\nThis led to discontent among Albanian noblemen, several of whom turned to Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII](https://bliptext.com/articles/michael-viii).\nIn late 1274, Byzantine forces helped by local Albanian noblemen capture Berat and Butrint.\nCharles' attempt to advance towards Constantinople failed at the [Siege of Berat (1280–1281)](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-berat-1280-1281).\nA Byzantine counteroffensive ensued, which drove the Angevins out of the interior by 1281.\nThe [Sicilian Vespers](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicilian-vespers) rebellion further weakened the position of Charles, who died in 1285.\nBy the end of the 13th century, most of Albania was under Byzantine Emperor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](https://bliptext.com/articles/andronikos-ii-palaiologos).\nIn 1296 Serbian king [Stephen Milutin](https://bliptext.com/articles/stephen-milutin) captured Durrës.\nIn 1299 Andronikos II married his daughter Simonis to Milutin and the lands he had conquered were considered as [dowry](https://bliptext.com/articles/dowry).\nIn 1302, [Philip I, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/philip-i-prince-of-taranto), grandson of Charles, claimed his rights on the Albanian kingdom and gained the support of local Albanian Catholics who preferred him over the Orthodox Serbs and Greeks, as well as the support of [Pope Benedict XI](https://bliptext.com/articles/pope-benedict-xi).\nIn the summer of 1304, the Serbs were expelled from the city of Durrës by the locals who submitted themselves to Angevin rule.\nProminent Albanian leaders during this time were the [Thopia family](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), ruling in an area between the Mat and Shkumbin rivers, and the [Muzaka family](https://bliptext.com/articles/muzaka-family) in the territory between the Shkumbin and Vlorë.\nIn 1279, Gjon I Muzaka, who remained loyal to the Byzantines and resisted Angevin conquest of Albania, was captured by the forces of Charles but later released following pressure from Albanian nobles.\nThe Muzaka family continued to remain loyal to the Byzantines and resisted the expansion of the [Serbian Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-kingdom-medieval).\nIn 1335 the head of the family, Andrea II Muzaka, gained the title of [Despot](https://bliptext.com/articles/despot-court-title) and other Muzakas pursued careers in the Byzantine government in Constantinople.\nAndrea II soon endorsed an anti-Byzantine revolt in his domains between 1335–1341 and formed an alliance with [Robert, Prince of Taranto](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-prince-of-taranto) in 1336.\nIn 1336, Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](https://bliptext.com/articles/stefan-du-an) captured Durrës, including the territory under the control of the Muzaka family.\nAlthough Angevins managed to recapture Durazzo, Dušan continued his expansion, and in the period of 1337–45 he had captured [Kanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanin) and [Valona](https://bliptext.com/articles/vlor) in southern Albania.\nAround 1340 forces of Andrea II defeated the Serbian army at the [Pelister](https://bliptext.com/articles/pelister) mountain.\nAfter the death of Stefan Dušan in 1355 the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire) disintegrated, and [Karl Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/karl-thopia) captured Durrës while the Muzaka family of Berat regained control over parts of southeastern Albania and over [Kastoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/kastoria) that Andrea II captured from [Prince Marko](https://bliptext.com/articles/prince-marko) after the [Battle of Marica](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-marica) in 1371.\nThe kingdom reinforced the influence of Catholicism and the conversion to its rite, not only in the region of Durrës but in other parts of the country.\nA new wave of Catholic dioceses, churches and monasteries were founded, papal missionaries and a number of different religious orders began spreading into the country.\nThose who were not Catholic in central and northern Albania converted and a great number of Albanian clerics and monks were present in the Dalmatian Catholic institutions.\nAround 1230 the two main centers of Albanian settlements were around [Devoll river](https://bliptext.com/articles/devoll-river) in what is now central Albania and the other around the region known as Arbanon.\nAlbanian presence in Croatia can be traced back to the beginning of the [Late Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/late-middle-ages).\nIn this period, there was a significant Albanian community in [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dubrovnik) with a number of families of Albanian origin inclusively the [Sorgo family](https://bliptext.com/articles/sorgo-family) who came from the [Cape of Rodon](https://bliptext.com/articles/cape-of-rodon) in central Albania, across [Kotor](https://bliptext.com/articles/kotor) in eastern Montenegro, to [Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalmatia).\nBy the 13th century, Albanian merchants were trading directly with the peoples of the [Republic of Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) in Dalmatia which increased familiarity between Albanians and Ragusans.\nThe upcoming invasion of Albania by the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) and the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg) caused many Christian Albanians to flee to Dalmatia and surrounding countries.\nIn the 14th century a number of [Albanian principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-principalities) were created.\nThese included [Principality of Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti), [Principality of Dukagjini](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-dukagjini), [Princedom of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval), and [Principality of Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-gjirokast-r).\nAt the beginning of the 15th century these principalities became stronger, especially because of the fall of the [Serbian Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbian-empire).\nSome of these principalities were united in 1444 under the anti-Ottoman military alliance called [League of Lezha](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh).\nAlbanians were recruited all over Europe as a light cavalry known as [stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti).\nThe stratioti were pioneers of light cavalry tactics during the 15th century.\nIn the early 16th century heavy cavalry in the European armies was principally remodeled after Albanian stradioti of the Venetian army, Hungarian [hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/hussar) and German mercenary cavalry units (Schwarzreitern).\n# [The city of Krujë served as the royal seat of the Principality of Arbanon and later as the noble residence of the Kastrioti family. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Kal-1.jpg]\n\n## Ottoman Empire\nPrior to the [Ottoman conquest of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-under-the-ottoman-empire), the political situation of the Albanian people was characterised by a fragmented conglomeration of scattered [kingdoms](https://bliptext.com/articles/realm) and [principalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/principalities-of-albania) such as the [Principalities of Arbanon](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-arbanon), [Kastrioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-kastrioti) and [Thopia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-albania-medieval).\nBefore and after the [fall of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-constantinople), the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) continued an extended period of conquest and expansion with its borders going deep into the [Southeast Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans).\nAs a consequence thousands of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus) and [Peloponnese](https://bliptext.com/articles/peloponnese) escaped to [Calabria](https://bliptext.com/articles/calabria), [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern), whereby others sought protection at the often inaccessible Mountains of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nUnder the leadership of [Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-kastrioti-skanderbeg), a former governor of the Ottoman [Sanjak of Dibra](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-dibra), a prosperous and longstanding revolution erupted with the formation of the [League of Lezhë](https://bliptext.com/articles/league-of-lezh) in 1444 up until the [Siege of Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) ending in 1479, multiple times defeating the mightiest power of the time led by [Sultans](https://bliptext.com/articles/sultan) [Murad II](https://bliptext.com/articles/murad-ii) and [Mehmed II](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-the-conqueror).\nSkanderbeg managed to gather several of the Albanian principals, amongst them the [Arianitis](https://bliptext.com/articles/arianiti-family), [Dukagjinis](https://bliptext.com/articles/dukagjini-family), [Zaharias](https://bliptext.com/articles/zaharia-family) and [Thopias](https://bliptext.com/articles/thopia-family), and establish a centralised authority over most of the non-conquered territories and proclaiming himself the Lord of Albania (Dominus Albaniae in Latin).\nSkanderbeg consistently pursued the aim relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans.\nHis unequal fight against them won the esteem of Europe and financial and military aid from the [Papacy](https://bliptext.com/articles/papacy) and [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples), [Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice) and [Ragusa](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-ragusa).\nThe Albanians, then predominantly Christian, were initially considered as an [inferior class](https://bliptext.com/articles/rayah) of people and as such were subjected to heavy [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/jizya) such as the [Devshirme](https://bliptext.com/articles/devshirme) system that allowed the state to collect a requisite percentage of Christian adolescents from the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and elsewhere to compose the [Janissary](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissary).\nSince the Albanians were seen as strategically important, they made up a significant proportion of the [Ottoman military](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-military) and bureaucracy.\nThey were therefore to be found within the imperial services as vital military and administrative retainers from [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) to [Algeria](https://bliptext.com/articles/algeria) and the rest of the [Maghreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/maghreb).\nIn the late 18th century, [Ali Pasha Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-tepelena) created the autonomous region of the [Pashalik of Yanina](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-yanina) within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) which was never recognised as such by the [High Porte](https://bliptext.com/articles/high-porte).\nThe territory he properly governed incorporated most of southern [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus), [Thessaly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thessaly) and southwestern [Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-region) region.\nDuring his rule, the town of [Janina](https://bliptext.com/articles/janina) blossomed into a cultural, political and economic hub for both Albanians and Greeks.\nThe ultimate goal of Ali Pasha Tepelena seems to have been the establishment of an independent rule in Albania and Epirus.\nThus, he obtained control of [Arta](https://bliptext.com/articles/arta-greece) and took control over the ports of [Butrint](https://bliptext.com/articles/butrint), [Preveza](https://bliptext.com/articles/preveza) and [Vonitsa](https://bliptext.com/articles/vonitsa).\nHe also gained control of the [pashaliks](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik) of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan), [Delvina](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-delvina), [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashalik-of-berat) and [Vlorë](https://bliptext.com/articles/sanjak-of-avlona).\nHis relations with the High Porte were always tense though he developed and maintained relations with the [British](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-empire), [French](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-french-empire) and [Russians](https://bliptext.com/articles/russian-empire) and formed alliances with them at various times.\nIn the 19th century, the Albanian [wālī](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-l) [Muhammad Ali](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) established a [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that ruled over [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-sudan-under-muhammad-ali-and-his-successors) until the middle of the 20th century.\nAfter a brief [French invasion](https://bliptext.com/articles/french-invasion-of-egypt) led by [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://bliptext.com/articles/napoleon-bonaparte) and the Ottomans and [Mameluks](https://bliptext.com/articles/mameluk) competing for power there, he managed collectively with his Albanian troops to become the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt.\nAs he revolutionised the military and economic spheres of Egypt, his empire attracted Albanian people contributing to the emergence of the [Albanian diaspora in Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-egypt) initially formed by Albanian soldiers and mercenaries.\n[Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) arrived in the lands of the Albanian people gradually and grew widespread between at least the 17th and 18th centuries.\nThe new religion brought many transformations into Albanian society and henceforth offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nWith the advent of increasing suppression on [Catholicism](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism), the Ottomans initially focused their conversions on the Catholic Albanians of the north in the 17th century and followed suit in the 18th century on the Orthodox Albanians of the south.\nAt this point, the urban centers of [central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-albania) and [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) had largely adopted the religion of the growing Muslim Albanian elite.\nMany mosques and [takyas](https://bliptext.com/articles/takya) were constructed throughout those urban centers and cities such as [Berat](https://bliptext.com/articles/berat), [Gjirokastër](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjirokast-r), [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) started to flourish.\nIn the far [north](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-albania), the spread of Islam was slower due to Catholic Albanian resistance and the inaccessible and rather remote mountainous terrain.\nThe motives for [conversion](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-conversion) to Islam are subject to differing interpretations according to scholars depending on the context though the lack of sources does not help when investigating such issues.\nReasons included the incentive to escape high [taxes](https://bliptext.com/articles/taxation-in-the-ottoman-empire) levied on non-Muslims subjects, [ecclesiastical](https://bliptext.com/articles/ecclesiastical) decay, coercion by Ottoman authorities in times of war, and the privileged legal and social position Muslims within the Ottoman administrative and political machinery had over that of non-Muslims.\nAs Muslims, the Albanians attained powerful positions in the Ottoman administration including over three dozen [Grand Viziers](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-ottoman-grand-viziers) of Albanian origin, among them [Zagan Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagan-pasha), [Bayezid Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-pasha) and members of the [Köprülü family](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-pr-l-family), and regional rulers such as [Muhammad Ali of Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt) and [Ali Pasha of Tepelena](https://bliptext.com/articles/ali-pasha-of-tepelena).\nThe Ottoman sultans [Bayezid II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bayezid-ii) and [Mehmed III](https://bliptext.com/articles/mehmed-iii) were both Albanian on their [maternal side](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-mothers-of-the-ottoman-sultans).\nAreas such as Albania, western North Macedonia, southern Serbia, Kosovo, parts of northern Greece and southern Montenegro in Ottoman sources were referred to as Arnavudluk or Albania.\n# [Albanian pashaliks in 1815–1821 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Albanian///Pashaliks%2C///1815-1821.png]\n# [Albanian Chief, lithography by Alphonse-Léon Noël, 1828 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Chef///Albanais%2C///G.10376%282%29.jpg]\n\n## Albanian Renaissance\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) characterised a period wherein the Albanian people gathered both [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) and intellectual strength to establish their rights for an independent political and social life, culture and education.\nBy the late 18th century and the early 19th century, its foundation arose within the [Albanian communities](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-diaspora) in [Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-italy) and [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-romania) and was frequently linked to the influences of the [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) principles.\nAlbania was under the rule of the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) for almost five centuries and the Ottoman authorities suppressed any expression of unity or national conscience by the Albanian people.\nA number of thoroughly intellectual Albanians, among them [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Thimi Mitko](https://bliptext.com/articles/thimi-mitko), [Naim](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri) and [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri), made a conscious effort to awaken feelings of pride and unity among their people by working to develop [Albanian literature](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) that would call to mind the rich history and hopes for a more decent future.\nThe Albanians had poor or often no schools or other institutions in place to protect and preserve their [cultural heritage](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-heritage).\nThe need for schools was preached initially by the increasing number of Albanians educated abroad.\nThe Albanian communities in Italy and elsewhere were particularly active in promoting the Albanian cause, especially in education which finally resulted with the foundation of the [Mësonjëtorja](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-sonj-torja) in [Korçë](https://bliptext.com/articles/kor), the first secular school in the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Turkish yoke](https://bliptext.com/articles/rise-of-nationalism-in-the-ottoman-empire) had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the people in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), and their march toward independence quickened.\nDue to the more substantial of Islamic influence, the Albanians internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian territories to the emerging neighbouring states, [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria) and [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece), were among the last peoples in the Balkans to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.\nThe national awakening as a coherent political movement emerged after the [Treaty of San Stefano](https://bliptext.com/articles/treaty-of-san-stefano), according to which Albanian-inhabited territories were to be ceded to the neighbouring states, and focused on preventing that partition.\nIt was the impetus for the nation-building movement, which was based more on fear of partition than national identity.\nEven after the [declaration of independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania), national identity was fragmented and possibly non-existent in much of the newly proposed country.\nThe state of disunity and fragmentation would remain until the communist period following [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war), when the communist nation-building project would achieve greater success in nation-building and reach more people than any previous regime, thus creating Albanian national communist identity.\n# [Naum Veqilharxhi was one of the earliest figures of the early Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/NaumVeqilharxhi.jpg]\n# [Naim Frashëri was a well known rilindas and is considered to be the pioneer of modern Albanian literature. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Naim///Frash%C3%ABri.jpg]\n\n## Communism in Albania\n[Enver Hoxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/enver-hoxha) of the Communist [Party of Labour](https://bliptext.com/articles/party-of-labour-of-albania) took power in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) in 1946.\nAlbania established an alliance with the [Eastern Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-bloc) which provided Albania with many advantages in the form of economic assistance and military protection from the [Western Bloc](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-bloc) during the [Cold War](https://bliptext.com/articles/cold-war).\nThe Albanians experienced a period of several beneficial political and economic changes.\nThe [government](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-republic-of-albania) defended the territorial [integrity](https://bliptext.com/articles/integrity) and [sovereignty](https://bliptext.com/articles/sovereignty) of Albania, diversified the economy through a programme of industrialisation which led to a higher [standard of living](https://bliptext.com/articles/standard-of-living) and followed improvements in areas such as health, education and infrastructure.\nIt subsequently followed a period wherein the Albanians lived within an extreme isolation from the rest of the world for the next four decades.\nBy 1967, the established government had officially proclaimed Albania to be the first [atheistic state](https://bliptext.com/articles/atheistic-state) in the world as they beforehand confiscated [churches](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-church), [monasteries](https://bliptext.com/articles/monasteries) and mosques, and any religious expression instantly became grounds for imprisonment.\nProtests coinciding with the emerging [revolutions of 1989](https://bliptext.com/articles/revolutions-of-1989) began to break out in various cities throughout Albania including [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and [Tirana](https://bliptext.com/articles/tirana) which eventually lead to the [fall of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania).\nSignificant internal and external migration waves of Albanians to such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy followed.\n[Bunkerisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunkerisation) is arguably the most visible and memorable legacy of communism in Albania.\nNearly 175,000 reinforced concrete [bunkers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bunker) were built on strategic locations across [Albania's territory](https://bliptext.com/articles/geography-of-albania) including near borders, within towns, on the seashores or mountains.\nThese bunkers were never used for their intended purpose or for sheltering the population from attacks or an invasion by a neighbor.\nHowever, they were abandoned after the breakup of communism and have been sometimes reused for a variety of purposes.\n# [Albanian partisans, with their leader Enver Hoxha in the center, after the liberation of Tirana on 17 November 1944 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Partisans///in///Tirana.jpg]\n\n## Independence of Kosovo\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) declared [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/independence-of-kosovo) from Serbia on 17 February 2008, after years of strained relations between the Serb and predominantly [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) population of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo).\nIt has been officially recognised by Australia, Canada, the United States and major [European Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-union) countries, while Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence, claiming it as [Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija](https://bliptext.com/articles/autonomous-province-of-kosovo-and-metohija) under [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1244).\nThe overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population is ethnically Albanian with nearly 1.7 million people.\nTheir presence as well as in the adjacent regions of [Toplica](https://bliptext.com/articles/toplica-district) and [Morava](https://bliptext.com/articles/moravac) is recorded since the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages).\nAs the Serbs expelled many Albanians from the wider Toplica and Morava regions in Southern Serbia, which the 1878 [Congress of Berlin](https://bliptext.com/articles/congress-of-berlin) had given to the [Principality of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/principality-of-serbia), many of them settled in Kosovo.\nAfter being an integral section of the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-yugoslavia), Kosovo including its Albanian population went through a period of discrimination, economic and political persecution.\nRights to use the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) were guaranteed by the constitution of the later formed [Socialist Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia) and was widely used in Macedonia and Montenegro prior to the [dissolution of Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/dissolution-of-yugoslavia).\nIn 1989, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity of Yugoslavia with rights similar to those of the six other republics and eventually became part of [Serbia and Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia-and-montenegro).\nIn 1998, tensions between the [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo) and [Serb](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbs-in-kosovo) population of Kosovo culminated in the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war), which led to the external and internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo [Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-kosovo)s.\nSerbian paramilitary forces committed war crimes in Kosovo, although the [government of Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/government-of-serbia) claims that the army was only going after suspected Albanian terrorists.\n[NATO](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato) launched a [78-day air campaign](https://bliptext.com/articles/nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia) in 1999, which eventually led to an end to the war.\n# [The Newborn monument in Pristina was unveiled at the celebration of the Independence of Kosovo. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Geb%C3%A4ude///der///UNMIK///NEW///BORN///SIGN///PRISTINA///KOSOVO///Giv///Owned///Image///23///August///2008.jpg]\n\n# Distribution\n\n## Balkans\nApproximately five million [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns are geographically distributed across the [Balkan Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-peninsula) with about half this number living in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania), [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia) and [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) as well as to a more lesser extent in [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThere are also significant Albanian populations in [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece).\nApproximately 1.8 million Albanians are concentrated in the partially recognised [Republic of Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-kosovo).\nThey are geographically distributed south of the [municipality](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-kosovo) of [North Mitrovica](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-mitrovica) and constitute the overall majority ethnic group of the territory.\nIn [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro), the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 30,000 forming one of the constituent ethnic [minority groups](https://bliptext.com/articles/minority-group) of the country.\nThey predominantly live in the [coastal region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) of Montenegro around the municipalities of [Ulcinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/ulcinj-municipality) and [Bar](https://bliptext.com/articles/bar-municipality) but also Tuz and around [Plav](https://bliptext.com/articles/plav-municipality) in the [northern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro) as well as in the capital city of [Podgorica](https://bliptext.com/articles/podgorica) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-regions-of-montenegro).\nIn [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/north-macedonia), there are more than approximately 500,000 Albanians constituting the largest ethnic minority group in the country.\nThe vast majority of the Albanians are chiefly concentrated around the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-of-the-republic-of-macedonia) of [Tetovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/tetovo-municipality) and [Gostivar](https://bliptext.com/articles/gostivar-municipality) in the [northwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/polog-statistical-region), [Struga](https://bliptext.com/articles/struga-municipality) and [Debar](https://bliptext.com/articles/debar-municipality) in the [southwestern region](https://bliptext.com/articles/southwestern-statistical-region) as well as around the capital of [Skopje](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje) in the [central region](https://bliptext.com/articles/skopje-statistical-region).\nIn [Croatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/croatia), the number of Albanians stands at approximately 17.500 mostly concentrated in the [counties](https://bliptext.com/articles/counties-of-croatia) of [Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/istria-county), [Split-Dalmatia](https://bliptext.com/articles/split-dalmatia-county) and most notably in the capital city of [Zagreb](https://bliptext.com/articles/zagreb).\nThe [Arbanasi people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arbanasi-people) who historically migrated to [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine) live in scattered communities across [Bulgaria](https://bliptext.com/articles/bulgaria), Croatia and Southern [Ukraine](https://bliptext.com/articles/ukraine).\nIn [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia), the Albanians are an officially recognised ethnic minority group with a population of around 70,000.\nThey are significantly concentrated in the [municipalities](https://bliptext.com/articles/municipalities-and-cities-of-serbia) of [Bujanovac](https://bliptext.com/articles/bujanovac) and [Preševo](https://bliptext.com/articles/pre-evo) in the [Pčinja District](https://bliptext.com/articles/p-inja-district).\nIn [Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/romania), the number of Albanians is unofficially estimated from 500 to 10,000 mainly distributed in [Bucharest](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucharest).\nThey are recognised as an ethnic minority group and are respectively represented in [Parliament of Romania](https://bliptext.com/articles/parliament-of-romania).\n# [American ethnographic map of the Balkan Peninsula, 1914; Albanian-inhabited areas are colored in light orange. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Balkan%2BMikrasia///1914.jpg]\n# [The historical settlement of the Arbanasi people is presently a neighborhood of Zadar in Croatia. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Aerial///view///of///the///historical///center///of///Zadar%2C///Croatia///%2848607312728%29.jpg]\n\n## Italy\nThe [Italian Peninsula](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-peninsula) across the [Adriatic Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/adriatic-sea) has attracted Albanian people for more than half a millennium often due to its immediate proximity.\nAlbanians in Italy later became important in establishing the fundamentals of the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) and maintaining the [Albanian culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture).\nThe [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) came sporadically in several small and large cycles initially as [Stratioti](https://bliptext.com/articles/stratioti) mercenaries in service of the kingdoms of [Naples](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-naples) and [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/kingdom-of-sicily-medieval-and-early-modern) and the [Republic of Venice](https://bliptext.com/articles/republic-of-venice).\nLarger migration waves occurred after the death of [Skanderbeg](https://bliptext.com/articles/skanderbeg) and the capture of [Krujë](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-kruj-1478) and [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/siege-of-shkodra) by the [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) to escape the forthcoming political and religious changes.\nToday, Arbëreshë constitute one of the largest [ethnolinguistic](https://bliptext.com/articles/ethnolinguistic-group) minority groups and their language is recognized and protected constitutionally under the provisions of the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages).\nThe total number of [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) is approximately 260,000 scattered across [Sicily](https://bliptext.com/articles/sicily), Calabria and [Apulia](https://bliptext.com/articles/apulia).\nThere are Italian Albanians in the Americas especially in such countries as [Argentina](https://bliptext.com/articles/argentina), Chile, [Uruguay](https://bliptext.com/articles/uruguay), Canada and the United States.\nAfter 1991, a mass migration of Albanians towards Italy occurred.\nBetween 2015 and 2016, the number of Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence in Italy was numbered to be around 480,000 and 500,000.\n[Tuscany](https://bliptext.com/articles/tuscany), Lombardy and [Emilia-Romagna](https://bliptext.com/articles/emilia-romagna) represent the [regions](https://bliptext.com/articles/regions-of-italy) with the strongest presence of the modern Albanian population in Italy.\nAs of 2022, 433,000 Albanian migrants who held legal permits of residence lived in Italy and were the second largest migrant community in Italy after Romanians.\nAs of 2018, an additional ca. 200,000 Albanian migrants have obtained Italian citizenship (children born in Italy not included).\nAs of 2012, 41.5% of the Albanian in Italy population were counted as [Muslim](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslim), 38.9% as [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) including 27.7% as [Roman Catholic](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic) and 11% as [Eastern Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-orthodox) and 17.8% as [Irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligion).\n# [Giovanni Francesco Albani was of Albanian origin and served as the Pope from 1700 to 1721. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CLEMENS///XI.PNG]\n# [Arbëreshë in traditional costume in the Piana degli Albanesi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Pasqua///Piana///degli///Albanesi.jpg]\n\n## Greece\nThe [Arvanites](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanites) and [Albanians of Western Thrace](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-of-western-thrace) are a group descended from [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosks) who migrated to southern and central Greece between the 13th and 16th centuries.\nThey are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of [Tosk Albanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian) known as [Arvanitika](https://bliptext.com/articles/arvanitika), they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify as Albanians.\n .\n\"First, we can explain the astonishing persistence of Albanian village culture from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries through the ethnic and religious tolerance characteristic of Islamic empires and so lacking in their Christian equivalents. Ottoman control rested upon allowing local communities to keep their religion, language, local laws, and representatives, provided that taxes were paid (the millet system). There was no pressure for Greeks and Albanians to conform to each other's language or other behavior. Clear signs of change are revealed in the travel diaries of the German scholar Ludwig Ross (1851), when he accompanied the Bavarian Otto, whom the Allies had foisted as king upon the newly freed Greek nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence in the 1830s. Ross praises the well-built Greek villages of central Greece with their healthy, happy, dancing inhabitants, and contrasts them specifically with the hovels and sickly inhabitants of Albanian villages.\nIn fact, recent scholarship has underlined how far it was the West that built modem Greece in its own fanciful image as the land of a long-oppressed people who were the direct descendants of Pericles.\nThus from the late nineteenth century onward the children of the inhabitants of the new \"nation-state\" were taught in Greek, history confined itself to the episodes of pure Greekness, and the tolerant Ottoman attitude to cultural diversity yielded to a deliberate policy of total Hellenization of the populace—effective enough to fool the casual observer.\nOne is rather amazed at the persistence today of such dual-speaking populations in much of the Albanian colonization zone.\nHowever, apart from the provinciality of this essentially agricultural province, a high rate of illiteracy until well into this century has also helped to preserve Arvanitika in the Boeotian villagers (Meijs 1993).\"; p. 140. \"In contrast therefore to the more openly problematic issue of Slav speakers in northern Greece, Arvanitic speakers in central Greece lack any signs of an assertive ethnicity.\nI would like to suggest that they possess what we might term a passive ethnicity.\nAs a result of a number of historical factors, much of the rural population in central Greece was Albanian-speaking by the time of the creation of the modern Greek state in the 1830s.\nUntil this century, most of these people were illiterate and unschooled, yet there existed sufficient knowledge of Greek to communicate with officials and townspeople, itinerant traders, and so on, to limit the need to transform rural language usage.\nLife was extremely provincial, with just one major carriage-road passing through the center of the large province of Boeotia even in the 1930s (beyond which horseback and cart took over; van Effenterre 1989).\nEven in the 1960s, Arvanitic village children could be figures of fun for their Greek peers in the schools of Thebes (One of the two regional towns) (K. Sarri, personal communication, 2000).\nIt was not a matter of cultural resistance but simple conservatism and provinciality, the extreme narrowness of rural life, that allowed Arvanitic language and local historic memories to survive so effectively to the very recent period.\" . \"For the time being, the Greeks of free Greece could indulge in defining their brethren of unredeemed Greece, primarily the Slav Macedonians and secondarily the Orthodox Albanians and the Vlachs.\nPrimary school students were taught, in the 1880s, that 'Greeks [are] our kinsmen, of common descent, speaking the language we speak and professing the religion we profess'.\" But this definition, it seems, was reserved for small children who could not possibly understand the intricate arguments of their parents on the question of Greek identity. What was essential to understand at that tender age was that modern Greeks descended from the ancient Greeks. Grown up children, however, must have been no less confused than adults on the criteria for defining modern Greek identity. Did the Greeks constitute a 'race' apart from the Albanians, the Slavs and the Vlachs? Yes and no. High school students were told that the 'other races', i.e. the Slavs, the Albanians and the Vlachs, 'having been Hellenized with the years in terms of mores and customs, are now being assimilated into the Greeks'. On the Slavs of Macedonia there seems to have been no consensus.\nWere they Bulgars, Slavicized Greeks or early Slavs?\nThey 'were' Bulgars until the 1870s and Slavicized Greeks, or Hellenized Slavs subsequently, according to the needs of the dominant theory.\nThere was no consensus, either, on the Vlachs.\nWere they Latinized Greek mountaineers of late immigrants from Vlachia?\nAs in the case of the Slavs of Macedonia, Vlach descent shifted from the southern Balkans to the Danube, until the Romanians claimed the Vlachs for their brethren; which made the latter irrevocably indigenous to the southern Balkan mountains.\nThe Albanians or 'Arvanites', were readily 'adopted' as brethren of common descent for at least three reasons.\nFirstly, the Albanians had been living in southern Greece, as far south as the Peloponnese, in considerable numbers.\nSecondly, Christian Albanians had fought with distinction and in considerable numbers in the War of Independence.\nThirdly, credible Albanian claims for the establishment of an Albanian nation state materialized too Late for Greek national theorists to abandon well-entrenched positions.\nCommenting on a geography textbook for primary schools in 1901, a state committee found it inadequate and misleading.\nOne of its principal shortcomings concerned the Albanians, who were described as 'close kinsmen of the Greeks'.\n'These are unacceptable from the point of view of our national claims and as far as historical truth is concerned', commented the committee.\n'it must have been maintained that they are of common descent with the Greeks (Pelasgians), that they speak a language akin to that of the Greeks and that they participated in all struggles for national liberation of the common fatherland.'\" Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.\nThe [Cham Albanians](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians) were a group that formerly inhabited a region of [Epirus](https://bliptext.com/articles/epirus-region) known as [Chameria](https://bliptext.com/articles/chameria), nowadays [Thesprotia](https://bliptext.com/articles/thesprotia) in northwestern Greece.\nMany Cham Albanians converted to Islam during the Ottoman era.\nMuslim Chams were [expelled](https://bliptext.com/articles/expulsion-of-cham-albanians) from Greece during [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii), by an [anti-communist resistance group](https://bliptext.com/articles/edes) (EDES).\nThe causes of the expulsion were multifaceted and remain a matter of debate among historians.\nDifferent narratives in historiography argue that the causes involved pre-existing Greek policies which targeted the minority and sought its elimination, the Cham [collaboration](https://bliptext.com/articles/axis-cham-albanian-collaboration) with the Axis forces and local property disputes which were instrumentalized after WWII.\nThe estimated number of Cham Albanians expelled from Epirus to Albania and [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) varies: figures include 14,000, 19,000, 20,000, 25,000 and 30,000.\nAccording to Cham reports this number should be raised to c. 35,000.\nLarge-scale migration from Albania to Greece occurred after 1991.\nDuring this period, at least 500,000 Albanians have migrated and relocated to Greece.\nDespite the lack of exact statistics, it is estimated that at least 700,000 Albanians have moved to Greece during the last 25 years.\nThe Albanian government estimates 500,000 Albanians in Greece at the very least without accounting for their children.\nThe 2011 Greece census indicated that Albanians consisted the biggest group of migrants in Greece, numbered roughly 480,000, but taking into consideration the current population of Greece (11 million) and the fact that the census failed to account for illegal foreigners, it was estimated that Albanians consist of 5% of the population (at least 550,000).\nBy 2005, around 600,000 Albanians lived in Greece, forming the largest immigrant community in the country.\nThey are economic migrants whose migration began in 1991, following the collapse of the [Socialist People's Republic of Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-people-s-republic-of-albania).\n, in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years.\nIn recent years, many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece in search of better opportunities elsewhere in Europe.\nAs of 2022, there c. 292,000 Albanian immigrants are holders of legal permits to live and work in Greece, down from c. 423,000 in 2021.\nAlbanians in Greece have a long history of [Hellenisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/hellenisation), assimilation and integration.\nMany ethnic Albanians have been naturalised as Greek nationals, others have self-declared as Greek since arrival and a considerable number live and work across both countries seasonally hence the number of Albanians in the country has often fluctuated.\n# [Painting of Albanian palikars displayed in the British Museum, London | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Albanian///Palikars///in///pursuit///of///an///enemy///--///Charles///Robert///Cockerell%2C///1813-1814///--///British///Museum%2C///inv.///1923%2C0113.30.j pg]\n# [Cham Albanians in Filiates in 1915, by Fred Boissonas | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Chams///on///Filiates///1915.jpg]\n\n# Diaspora\nDiaspora based Albanians may self identify as Albanian, use hybrid identification or identify with their nationality, often creating an obstacle in establishing a total figure of the population.\n\n## Europe\nDuring the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, the [conflicts in the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslav-wars) and the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) set in motion large population movements of Albanians to [Central](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-europe), [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe) and Northern Europe.\nThe gradual [collapse of communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/fall-of-communism-in-albania) in Albania triggered as well a new wave of migration and contributed to the emergence of a new diaspora, mainly in Southern Europe, in such countries as [Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greece) and Italy.\nIn Central Europe, there are approximately 200,000 Albanians in [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland) with the particular concentration in the [cantons](https://bliptext.com/articles/cantons-of-switzerland) of [Zürich](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-z-rich), [Basel](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-basel-stadt), [Lucerne](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-lucerne), [Bern](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-bern) and [St. Gallen](https://bliptext.com/articles/canton-of-st-gallen).\nThe neighbouring Germany is home to around 250,000 to 300,000 Albanians while in [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria) there are around 40,000 to 80,000 Albanians concentrated in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-austria) of [Vienna](https://bliptext.com/articles/vienna), [Styria](https://bliptext.com/articles/styria), [Salzburg](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-of-salzburg), [Lower](https://bliptext.com/articles/lower-austria) and Upper [Austria](https://bliptext.com/articles/austria).\nIn [Western Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-europe), the Albanian population of approximately 10,000 people living in the [Benelux countries](https://bliptext.com/articles/benelux-countries) is in comparison to other regions relatively limited.\nThere are more than 6,000 Albanian people living in [Belgium](https://bliptext.com/articles/belgium) and 2,800 in the nearby [Netherlands](https://bliptext.com/articles/netherlands).\nThe most lesser number of Albanian people in the Benelux region is to be found in [Luxembourg](https://bliptext.com/articles/luxembourg) with a population of 2,100.\nWithin Northern Europe, Sweden possesses the most sizeable population of Albanians in [Scandinavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/scandinavia) however there is no exact answer to their number in the country.\nThe populations also tend to be lower in [Norway](https://bliptext.com/articles/norway), [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland) and [Denmark](https://bliptext.com/articles/denmark) with more than 18,000, 10,000 and 8,000 Albanians respectively.\nThe population of Albanians in the [United Kingdom](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanians-in-the-united-kingdom) is officially estimated to be around 39,000 whiles in Ireland there are less than 2,500 Albanians.\n# [Albanians in Vienna celebrating the declaration of independence of Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kosova///independence///Vienna///17-02-2008///b.jpg]\n\n## Asia and Africa\nThe Albanian diaspora in Africa and Asia, in such countries as [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt), [Syria](https://bliptext.com/articles/syria) or [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), was predominantly formed during the Ottoman period through economic [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) and early years of the Republic of [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey) through [migration](https://bliptext.com/articles/human-migration) due to sociopolitical discrimination and violence experienced by Albanians in [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans).\nIn [Turkey](https://bliptext.com/articles/turkey), the exact numbers of the Albanian population of the country are difficult to correctly estimate.\nAccording to a 2008 report, there were approximately 1.300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.\nAs of that report, more than 500,000 Albanian descendants still recognise their [ancestry](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancestry) and or their language, culture and traditions.\nThere are also other estimates that range from being 3 to 4 million people up to a total of 5 million in number, although most of these are Turkish citizens of either full or partial Albanian ancestry being no longer fluent in Albanian, comparable to the [German Americans](https://bliptext.com/articles/german-americans).\nThis was due to various degrees of either linguistic and or [cultural assimilation](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultural-assimilation) occurring amongst the Albanian diaspora in Turkey.\nAlbanians are active in the civic life of Turkey.\nIn [Egypt](https://bliptext.com/articles/egypt) there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly [Tosk](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk) speakers.\nMany are descendants of the [Janissaries](https://bliptext.com/articles/janissaries) of [Muhammad Ali Pasha](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-of-egypt), an Albanian who became [Wāli](https://bliptext.com/articles/w-li), and self-declared [Khedive](https://bliptext.com/articles/khedive) of Egypt and [Sudan](https://bliptext.com/articles/sudan).\nIn addition to the [dynasty](https://bliptext.com/articles/muhammad-ali-dynasty) that he established, a large part of the former Egyptian and Sudanese [aristocracy](https://bliptext.com/articles/aristocracy) was of Albanian origin.\nAlbanian Sunnis, Bektashis and Orthodox Christians were all represented in this diaspora, whose members at some point included major [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) figures (Rilindasit), including Thimi Mitko, Spiro Dine, Andon Zako Çajupi, Milo Duçi, Fan Noli and others who lived in Egypt for a time.\nWith the ascension of [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://bliptext.com/articles/gamal-abdel-nasser) in Egypt and rise of [Arab nationalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-nationalism), the last remnants of Albanian community there were forced to leave.\nAlbanians have been present in [Arab](https://bliptext.com/articles/arab-world) countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and for about five centuries as a legacy of [Ottoman Turkish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-turk) rule.\n# [Painting of an Arnaut by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1870s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Jean-Leon///Gerome///-///An///Arnaut///N08542-8-lr-1.jpg]\n# [The Albanian Sentinel in Cairo by Charles Bargue, 1877 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Charles///Bargue///%E2%80%93///La///sentinelle///albanaise///en///Caire%2C///1877.jpg]\n\n## Americas and Oceania\nThe first Albanian migration to North America began in the 19th and 20th centuries not long after gaining [independence](https://bliptext.com/articles/declaration-of-independence-of-albania) from the [Ottoman Empire](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire).\nHowever the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) from [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) were the first Albanian people to arrive in the [New World](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-world), many of them migrating after the wars that accompanied the [Risorgimento](https://bliptext.com/articles/risorgimento).\nSince then several Albanian migration waves have occurred throughout the 20th century as for instance after the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war) with Albanians mostly from [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) rather than from [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania), then after the Breakup of [Communist Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/communist-albania) in 1990 and finally following the [Kosovo War](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-war) in 1998.\nThe most sizeable Albanian population in the Americas is predominantly to be found in the United States.\n[New York metropolitan area](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-metropolitan-area) in the [State of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) is home to the most sizeable Albanian population of the United States.\nAs of 2017, there are approximately 205,000 Albanians in the country with the main concentration in the [states](https://bliptext.com/articles/states-of-the-united-states) of New York, [Michigan](https://bliptext.com/articles/michigan), [Massachusetts](https://bliptext.com/articles/massachusetts) and [Illinois](https://bliptext.com/articles/illinois).\nThe number could be higher counting the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) as well; they are often distinguishable from other Albanian Americans with regard to their [Italianized](https://bliptext.com/articles/italianization) names, nationality and a common [religion](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholicism).\nIn Canada, there are approximately 39,000 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns in the country, including 36,185 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and 2,870 [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)ns from [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), predominantly distributed in a multitude of [provinces](https://bliptext.com/articles/provinces-and-territories-of-canada) such as [Ontario](https://bliptext.com/articles/ontario), Quebec, [Alberta](https://bliptext.com/articles/alberta) and [British Columbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/british-columbia).\nCanada's largest cities such as [Toronto](https://bliptext.com/articles/toronto), Montreal and [Edmonton](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmonton) were besides the United States a major centre of Albanian migration to North America.\nToronto is home to around 17,000 Albanians.\nAlbanian immigration to Australia began in the late 19th century and most took place during the 20th century.\nPeople who planned to immigrate chose Australia after the US introduced immigration quotas on southern Europeans.\nMost were from southern Albania, of Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds and tended to live in [Victoria](https://bliptext.com/articles/victoria-australia) and [Queensland](https://bliptext.com/articles/queensland-australia), with smaller numbers in [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-australia) and Northern Australia.\nItaly's [annexation](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-invasion-of-albania) of Albania marked a difficult time for Albanian Australians as many were thought by Australian authorities to pose a fascist threat.\nPost-war, the numbers of Albanian immigrants slowed due to immigration restrictions placed by the [communist government](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism-in-albania) in Albania.\nAlbanians from southwestern Yugoslavia (modern North Macedonia) arrived and settled in Melbourne in the 1960s-1970s.\nOther Albanian immigrants from Yugoslavia came from [Montenegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/montenegro) and [Serbia](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbia).\nThe immigrants were mostly Muslims, but also Catholics among them including the relatives of the renowned Albanian nun and missionary [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa).\nAlbanian refugees from Kosovo settled in Australia following the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.\nIn the early twenty first century, Victoria has the highest concentration of Albanians and smaller Albanian communities exist in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.\nIn 2016, approximately 4,041 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo), while 15,901 persons identified themselves as having [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.\nAlbanian migration to New Zealand occurred mid twentieth century following the [Second World War](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-world-war).\nA small group of Albanian refugees originating mainly from Albania and the rest from Yugoslavian Kosovo and Macedonia settled in Auckland.\nDuring the [Kosovo crisis](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-crisis) (1999), up to 400 Kosovo Albanian refugees settled in New Zealand.\nIn the twenty first century, Albanian New Zealanders number 400-500 people and are mainly concentrated in [Auckland](https://bliptext.com/articles/auckland).\n# [The Albanian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George Historic District in South Boston, Massachusetts | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cathedral///of///St.///George///Historic///District///South///Boston///MA.jpg]\n# [Orthodox Albanian wedding in Bagnoo, New South Wales (1944) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Orthodox///Albanian///wedding///in///Bagnoo%2C///New///South///Wales%2C///1944.jpg]\n\n# Culture\n\n## Traditions\n\n### Tribal social structure\nThe [[Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes) form a historical mode of social organization (**farefisní**) in [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania) and the southwestern [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) characterized by a common [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/cultur), often common patrilineal kinship ties tracing back to one progenitor and shared [social ties](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-ties).\nThe **fis** (**fis**i; commonly translated as \"tribe\", also as \"clan\" or \"kin\" community) stands at the center of Albanian organization based on [kinship](https://bliptext.com/articles/kinship) relations, a concept which can be found among southern Albanians also with the term **farë** (fara).\nInherited from ancient [Illyrian](https://bliptext.com/articles/illyrians) social structures, Albanian tribal society emerged in the early Middle Ages as the dominant form of social organization among Albanians.\nIt also remained in a less developed system in [southern Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-albania) where large feudal estates and later trade and urban centres began to develop at the expense of tribal organization.\nOne of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), a code of Albanian oral [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law).\nMost tribes engaged in warfare against external forces like the Ottoman Empire.\nSome also engaged in limited inter-tribal struggle for the control of resources.\nUntil the early years of the 20th century, the Albanian tribal society remained largely intact until the rise to power of [communist regime](https://bliptext.com/articles/people-s-socialist-republic-of-albania) in 1944, and is considered as the only example of a tribal social system structured with tribal chiefs and councils, [blood feuds](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjakmarrja) and [oral customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), surviving in [Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) until the middle of the 20th century.\nMembers of the tribes of northern Albania believe their history is based on the notions of resistance and isolationism.\nSome scholars connect this belief with the concept of \"negotiated peripherality\".\nThroughout history the territory northern Albanian tribes occupy has been contested and peripheral so northern Albanian tribes often exploited their position and negotiated their peripherality in profitable ways.\nThis peripheral position also affected their national program which significance and challenges are different from those in southern Albania.\n# [Map of the northern Albanian tribal regions in the mid-20th century | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Northern///Albanian///Tribal///Regions.png]\n# [Picture of members of the Albanian Shkreli tribe, 1890s | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ad061.jpg]\n\n### Kanun\nThe [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania) is a set of Albanian traditional [customary laws](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law), which has directed all the aspects of the [Albanian tribal society](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes).\nFor at least the last five centuries and until today, Albanian customary laws have been kept alive only orally by the tribal elders.\nThe success in preserving them exclusively through [oral systems](https://bliptext.com/articles/oral-tradition) highlights their universal resilience and provides evidence of their likely ancient origins.\nStrong pre-Christian motifs mixed with motifs from the Christian era reflect the stratification of the Albanian customary law across various historical ages.\nOver time, Albanian customary laws have undergone their historical development, they have been changed and supplemented with new [norms](https://bliptext.com/articles/social-norm), in accordance with certain requirements of socio-economic development.\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) and nderi ([honour](https://bliptext.com/articles/honour)) are of major importance in Albanian customary law as the cornerstone of personal and social conduct.\nThe Kanun is based on four pillars – Honour, Hospitality , Right Conduct and Kin Loyalty.\n# [The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a Medieval Albanian lord, transcribed by Shtjefën Gjeçovi | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kanuni///i///Lek%C3%AB///Dukagjinit.jpg]\n\n### Besa\n[Besa](https://bliptext.com/articles/besa-albanian-culture) (pledge of honor) is an Albanian cultural [precept](https://bliptext.com/articles/precept), usually translated as \"[faith](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith)\" or \"[oath](https://bliptext.com/articles/oath)\", that means \"to keep the promise\" and \"word of honor\".\nThe concept is based upon faithfulness toward one's word in the form of loyalty or as an allegiance guarantee.\nBesa contains mores toward obligations to the family and a friend, the demand to have internal commitment, loyalty and solidarity when conducting oneself with others and secrecy in relation to outsiders.\nThe besa is also the main element within the concept of the ancestor's will or pledge (amanet) where a demand for faithfulness to a cause is expected in situations that relate to unity, national liberation and independence that transcend a person and generations.\nThe concept of besa is included in the [Kanun](https://bliptext.com/articles/kanun-albania), the [customary law](https://bliptext.com/articles/customary-law) of the Albanian people.\nThe besa was an important institution within the tribal society of the [Albanian tribes](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-tribes), who swore oaths to jointly fight against invaders, and in this aspect the besa served to uphold tribal autonomy.\nThe besa was used toward regulating tribal affairs between and within the Albanian tribes.\n\n## Cuisine\nThe traditional [cuisine](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-cuisine) of the Albanians is diverse and has been greatly influenced by traditions and their varied [environment](https://bliptext.com/articles/biophysical-environment) in the [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans) and turbulent history throughout the course of the centuries.\nThere is a considerable diversity between the [Mediterranean](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-cuisine) and [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of Albanians in the Western [Balkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkan-cuisine) nations and the [Italian](https://bliptext.com/articles/italian-cuisine) and [Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-cuisine)-influenced cuisines of the [Arbëreshës](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) and [Chams](https://bliptext.com/articles/cham-albanians).\nThe enjoyment of food has a high priority in the lives of Albanian peoples especially when celebrating [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival) such as [Ramadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/ramadan), [Eid](https://bliptext.com/articles/eid-al-fitr), Christmas, Easter, [Hanukkah](https://bliptext.com/articles/hanukkah) or [Novruz](https://bliptext.com/articles/novruz)\nIngredients include many varieties of fruits such as [lemons](https://bliptext.com/articles/lemon-fruit), oranges, [figs](https://bliptext.com/articles/figs-fruit) and [olives](https://bliptext.com/articles/olive-fruit), herbs such as [basil](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-herb), [lavender](https://bliptext.com/articles/lavender), [mint](https://bliptext.com/articles/spearmint), [oregano](https://bliptext.com/articles/oregano), [rosemary](https://bliptext.com/articles/rosemary) and [thyme](https://bliptext.com/articles/thyme) and vegetables such as garlic, onion, [peppers](https://bliptext.com/articles/bell-pepper), potatoes and tomatoes.\nAlbanian peoples who live closer to the [Mediterranean Sea](https://bliptext.com/articles/mediterranean-sea), [Prespa Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/prespa-lake) and [Ohrid Lake](https://bliptext.com/articles/ohrid-lake) are able to complement their diet with fish, [shellfish](https://bliptext.com/articles/shellfish) and other seafood.\nOtherwise, [lamb](https://bliptext.com/articles/lamb-food) is often considered the traditional meat for different [religious festivals](https://bliptext.com/articles/religious-festival).\nPoultry, beef and pork are also in plentiful supply.\n[Tavë Kosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/tav-kosi) is a national dish in Albania consisting of garlic lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of [yogurt](https://bliptext.com/articles/yogurt).\n[Fërgesë](https://bliptext.com/articles/f-rges) is another national dish and is made with peppers, tomatoes and [cottage cheese](https://bliptext.com/articles/cottage-cheese).\nPite is a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of [spinach](https://bliptext.com/articles/spinach) and [gjizë](https://bliptext.com/articles/curd) or [mish](https://bliptext.com/articles/ground-meat).\nDesserts include [Flia](https://bliptext.com/articles/flia), consisting of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with crea; petulla, a traditionally fried dough, and Krofne, similar to [Berliner](https://bliptext.com/articles/berliner-doughnut).\n# [Bukë, kripë e zemër is a traditional welcoming custom traced back to medieval Albanian law. The Albanian code of honour, called Besa, resulted to look after guests as an act of hospitality. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Buk%C3%AB///kollomoqe%2C///buk%C3%AB///misri.JPG]\n\n## Visual arts\n\n### Painting\nThe earliest preserved relics of visual arts of the Albanian people are [sacred](https://bliptext.com/articles/sacred-art) in nature and represented by numerous [frescoes](https://bliptext.com/articles/fresco), [murals](https://bliptext.com/articles/mural) and [icons](https://bliptext.com/articles/icon) which has been created with an admirable use of color and gold.\nThey reveal a wealth of various influences and traditions that converged in the historical lands of the Albanian people throughout the course of the centuries.\nThe rise of the [Byzantines](https://bliptext.com/articles/byzantine-empire) and [Ottomans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-empire) during the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) was accompanied by a corresponding growth in [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christian-art) and [Islamic art](https://bliptext.com/articles/islamic-art) often apparent in examples of architecture and mosaics throughout Albania.\nThe [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance) proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and arts whereas artists sought to return to the ideals of [Impressionism](https://bliptext.com/articles/impressionism) and [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism-art).\n[Onufri](https://bliptext.com/articles/onufri), founder of the Berat School, [Kolë Idromeno](https://bliptext.com/articles/kol-idromeno), [David Selenica](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-selenica), [Kostandin Shpataraku](https://bliptext.com/articles/kostandin-shpataraku) and the [Zografi Brothers](https://bliptext.com/articles/zografi-brothers) are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.\nAlbanians in Italy and Croatia have been also active among others the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance) influenced artists such as [Marco Basaiti](https://bliptext.com/articles/marco-basaiti), [Viktor Karpaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/vittore-carpaccio) and [Andrea Nikollë Aleksi](https://bliptext.com/articles/andrea-nikoll-aleksi).\nIn Greece, [Eleni Boukouras](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-boukouras) is noted as being the first great female painter of post [independence Greece](https://bliptext.com/articles/greek-war-of-independence).\nIn 1856, [Pjetër Marubi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-marubi) arrived in [Shkodër](https://bliptext.com/articles/shkod-r) and established the first photography museum in Albania and probably the entire [Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/balkans), the [Marubi Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-photography-marubi).\nThe collection of 150,000 photographs, captured by the Albanian-Italian Marubi dynasty, offers an ensemble of photographs depicting social rituals, traditional costumes, portraits of Albanian history.\nThe Kulla, a traditional [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania)n [dwelling](https://bliptext.com/articles/tower-house) constructed completely from natural materials, is a cultural relic from the medieval period particularly widespread in the southwestern region of [Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo) and northern region of [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania).\nThe rectangular shape of a Kulla is produced with irregular [stone](https://bliptext.com/articles/stone) ashlars, river pebbles and [chestnut](https://bliptext.com/articles/chestnut) woods, however, the size and number of floors depends on the size of the family and their financial resources.\n# [Kolë Idromeno is considered the most renowned painter of the Albanian Renaissance. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Kol%C3%AB///Idromeno///%28i///ri%29.jpg]\n# [Medieval icon by Kostandin and Athanas Zografi in the Monastery of Ardenica. It illustrates the seven saints Clement, Naum, Sava, Angelar, Gorazd, Cyril, Method and the Albanian Jan Kukuzeli. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Sv///Sedmo%C4%8Dislenici///with///Jovan///Kukuzel///in///Ardenica.jpg]\n\n### Literature\nThe roots of [literature of the Albanian people](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-literature) can be traced to the [Middle Ages](https://bliptext.com/articles/middle-ages) with surviving works about history, theology and philosophy dating from the [Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/renaissance).\nThe earliest known use of written Albanian is a [baptismal formula](https://bliptext.com/articles/formula-e-pag-zimit) (1462) written by the Archbishop of Durrës [Paulus Angelus](https://bliptext.com/articles/paulus-angelus).\nIn 1555, a Catholic clergyman [Gjon Buzuku](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-buzuku) from the Shestan region published the earliest known book written in Albanian titled [Meshari](https://bliptext.com/articles/meshari) (The Missal) regarding Catholic prayers and rites containing archaic medieval language, lexemes and expressions obsolete in contemporary Albanian.\nOther Christian clergy such as [Luca Matranga](https://bliptext.com/articles/luca-matranga) in the Arbëresh diaspora published (1592) in the Tosk dialect while other notable authors were from northern Albanian lands and included [Pjetër Budi](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-budi), [Frang Bardhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/frang-bardhi), and [Pjetër Bogdani](https://bliptext.com/articles/pjet-r-bogdani).\nIn the 17th century and onwards, important contributions were made by the [Arbëreshë people](https://bliptext.com/articles/arb-resh-people) of [Southern Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-italy) who played an influential role in encouraging the [Albanian Renaissance](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-renaissance).\nNotable among them was figures such as [Demetrio Camarda](https://bliptext.com/articles/demetrio-camarda), [Gabriele Dara](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabriele-dara), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Giulio Variboba](https://bliptext.com/articles/giulio-variboba) and [Giuseppe Serembe](https://bliptext.com/articles/giuseppe-serembe) who produced inspiring nationalist literature and worked to systematise the [Albanian language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language).\nThe [Bejtexhinj](https://bliptext.com/articles/bejtexhinj) in the 18th century emerged as the result of the influences of [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and particularly [Sufism](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi-order) orders moving towards [Orientalism](https://bliptext.com/articles/orientalism).\nIndividuals such as [Nezim Frakulla](https://bliptext.com/articles/nezim-frakulla), [Hasan Zyko Kamberi](https://bliptext.com/articles/hasan-zyko-kamberi), [Shahin](https://bliptext.com/articles/shahin-frash-ri) and [Dalip Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/dalip-frash-ri) compiled literature infused with expressions, language and themes on the circumstances of the time, the insecurities of the future and their discontent at the conditions of the feudal system.\nThe Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century is important both for its valuable poetic achievement and for its variety within the Albanian literature.\nIt drew on the ideas of [Romanticism](https://bliptext.com/articles/romanticism) and [Enlightenment](https://bliptext.com/articles/age-of-enlightenment) characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the interaction between nature and mankind.\n[Dora d'Istria](https://bliptext.com/articles/dora-d-istria), [Girolamo de Rada](https://bliptext.com/articles/girolamo-de-rada), [Naim Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/naim-frash-ri), [Naum Veqilharxhi](https://bliptext.com/articles/naum-veqilharxhi), [Sami Frashëri](https://bliptext.com/articles/sami-frash-ri) and [Pashko Vasa](https://bliptext.com/articles/pashko-vasa) maintained this movement and are remembered today for composing series of prominent works.\nThe 20th century was centred on the principles of [Modernism](https://bliptext.com/articles/modernism) and [Realism](https://bliptext.com/articles/realist-literature) and characterised by the development to a more distinctive and expressive form of Albanian literature.\nPioneers of the time include [Asdreni](https://bliptext.com/articles/asdreni), [Faik Konica](https://bliptext.com/articles/faik-konica), [Fan Noli](https://bliptext.com/articles/fan-noli), [Lasgush Poradeci](https://bliptext.com/articles/lasgush-poradeci), [Migjeni](https://bliptext.com/articles/migjeni) who chose to portray themes of contemporary life and most notably [Gjergj Fishta](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjergj-fishta) who created the epic masterpiece Lahuta e Malcís.\nAfter World War II, Albania emerged as a communist state and Socialist realism became part of the literary scene.\nAuthors and poets emerged such as [Sejfulla Malëshova](https://bliptext.com/articles/sejfulla-mal-shova), [Dritero Agolli](https://bliptext.com/articles/dritero-agolli) and [Ismail Kadare](https://bliptext.com/articles/ismail-kadare) who has become an internationally acclaimed novelist and others who challenged the regime through various sociopolitical and historic themes in their works.\n[Martin Camaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/martin-camaj) wrote in the diaspora while in neighbouring Yugoslavia, the emergence of Albanian cultural expression resulted in sociopolitical and poetic literature by notable authors like [Adem Demaçi](https://bliptext.com/articles/adem-dema-i), [Rexhep Qosja](https://bliptext.com/articles/rexhep-qosja), [Jusuf Buxhovi](https://bliptext.com/articles/jusuf-buxhovi).\nThe literary scene of the 21st century remains vibrant producing new novelists, authors, poets and other writers.\n# [The Meshari is currently the earliest published book in the Albanian language written by Gjon Buzuku. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Meshari.jpg]\n# [The biography of Marin Barleti on Skanderbeg in Latin was translated into many different European languages. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Historia///de///vita///et///gestis///Scanderbegi%2C///Epirotarum///principis.jpg]\n\n## Performing arts\n\n### Apparel\nThe Albanian people have incorporated various natural materials from their local agriculture and livestock as a source of [attire](https://bliptext.com/articles/attire), clothing and fabrics.\nTheir [traditional apparel](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-national-clothing) was primarily influenced by [nature](https://bliptext.com/articles/nature), the [lifestyle](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology) and has continuously changed since ancient times.\nDifferent regions possesses their own exceptional clothing traditions and peculiarities varied occasionally in colour, material and shape.\nThe [traditional costume](https://bliptext.com/articles/traditional-costume) of Albanian men includes a white [skirt](https://bliptext.com/articles/skirt-garment) called [Fustanella](https://bliptext.com/articles/fustanella), a white shirt with wide [sleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/sleeve), and a thin black jacket or vest such as the [Xhamadan](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhamadan) or Xhurdia.\nIn winter, they add a warm [woolen](https://bliptext.com/articles/woolen) or [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur) coat known as Flokata or Dollama made from [sheepskin](https://bliptext.com/articles/sheepskin) or goat [fur](https://bliptext.com/articles/fur).\nAnother authentic piece is called Tirq which is a tight pair of felt [trousers](https://bliptext.com/articles/trousers) mostly white, sometimes dark brown or black.\nThe Albanian women's costumes are much more elaborate, colorful and richer in ornamentation.\nIn all the Albanian regions the women's clothing often has been decorated with [filigree](https://bliptext.com/articles/filigree) [ironwork](https://bliptext.com/articles/ironwork), colorful embroidery, a lot of symbols and vivid accessories.\nA unique and ancient dress is called [Xhubleta](https://bliptext.com/articles/xhubleta), a bell shaped skirt reaching down to the calves and worn from the shoulders with two shoulder straps at the upper part.\nDifferent traditional handmade shoes and socks were worn by the Albanian people.\n[Opinga](https://bliptext.com/articles/opinga), leather shoes made from rough animal skin, were worn with [Çorape](https://bliptext.com/articles/orape), knitted woolen or cotton socks.\n[Headdresses](https://bliptext.com/articles/headdress) remain a contrasting and recognisable feature of Albanian traditional clothing.\nAlbanian men wore hats of various designs, shape and size.\nA common headgear is a [Plis](https://bliptext.com/articles/qeleshe) and Qylafë, in contrast, Albanian women wore a Kapica adorned with jewels or embroidery on the forehead, and a Lëvere or Kryqe which usually covers the head, shoulders and neck.\nWealthy Albanian women wore headdresses embellished with gems, gold or silver.\n# [Lord Byron dressed in the traditional Albanian costume traditionally consisting of the Fustanella and a Dollama decorated with filigree. Lord Byron in Albanian Dress by Thomas Phillips, 1813. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lord///Byron///in///Albanian///Dress///by///Phillips%2C///1813.jpg]\n\n### Music\nFor the Albanian people, [music](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-music) is a vital component to their [culture](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-culture) and characterised by its own peculiar features and diverse melodic pattern reflecting the [history](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-history), [language](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-language) and [way of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/lifestyle-sociology).\nIt rather varies from region to another with two essential stylistic differences between the music of the [Ghegs](https://bliptext.com/articles/gheg-albanian) and [Tosks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tosk-albanian).\nHence, their geographic position in Southeast Europe in combination with cultural, political and social issues is frequently expressed through music along with the accompanying [instruments](https://bliptext.com/articles/musical-instrument) and dances.\nAlbanian folk music is contrasted by the heroic tone of the Ghegs and the relaxed sounds of the Tosks.\nTraditional [iso-polyphony](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-iso-polyphony) perhaps represents the most noble and essential genre of the Tosks which was proclaimed a [Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-lists) by [UNESCO](https://bliptext.com/articles/unesco).\nGhegs in contrast have a reputation for a distinctive variety of sung [epic poetry](https://bliptext.com/articles/epic-poetry) often about the tumultuous history of the Albanian people.\nThere are a number of internationally acclaimed singers of ethnic Albanian origin such as [Ava Max](https://bliptext.com/articles/ava-max), [Bebe Rexha](https://bliptext.com/articles/bebe-rexha), [Dua Lipa](https://bliptext.com/articles/dua-lipa), [Era Istrefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/era-istrefi), [Rita Ora](https://bliptext.com/articles/rita-ora), and rappers such as [Action Bronson](https://bliptext.com/articles/action-bronson), [Dardan](https://bliptext.com/articles/dardan-rapper), [Gashi](https://bliptext.com/articles/gashi-rapper) and [Loredana Zefi](https://bliptext.com/articles/loredana-zefi).\nNotable singers of Albanian origin from the former [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia) include [Selma Bajrami](https://bliptext.com/articles/selma-bajrami) and [Zana Nimani](https://bliptext.com/articles/zana-nimani).\nIn international competitions, [Albania](https://bliptext.com/articles/albania-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) participated in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://bliptext.com/articles/eurovision-song-contest) for the first time in 2004.\nAlbanians have also represented other countries in the contest: [Anna Oxa](https://bliptext.com/articles/anna-oxa) for [[Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018)](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 1989, [Adrian Gaxha](https://bliptext.com/articles/adrian-gaxha) for [North Macedonia](https://bliptext.com/articles/macedonia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2008) in 2008, [Ermal Meta](https://bliptext.com/articles/ermal-meta) for [[Italy](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018)](https://bliptext.com/articles/italy-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-1989) in 2018, [Eleni Foureira](https://bliptext.com/articles/eleni-foureira) for [Cyprus](https://bliptext.com/articles/cyprus-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2018) in 2018, as well as [Gjon Muharremaj](https://bliptext.com/articles/gjon-s-tears) for [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2021) in 2020 and 2021.\n[Kosovo](https://bliptext.com/articles/kosovo-in-the-eurovision-song-contest) has never participated, but is currently applying to become a member of the [EBU](https://bliptext.com/articles/european-broadcasting-union) and therefore debut in the contest.\n# [Dua Lipa is the first Albanian to ever win a Grammy Award. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Dua///Lipa///with///Warner///Music///2.jpg]\n# [Southern Albanian polyphonic singers | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Fustanela///001.jpg]\n# [An Albanian bashi-bazouk singing and playing an oud. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1868. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Jean-L%C3%A9on///G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me///-///Bashi-Bazouk///Singing///-///Walters///37883.jpg]\n\n# Religion\nMany different [spiritual](https://bliptext.com/articles/spirituality) traditions, religious [faiths](https://bliptext.com/articles/faith) and [beliefs](https://bliptext.com/articles/belief) are practised by the Albanian people who historically have succeeded to coexist peacefully over the centuries in Southeast Europe.\nThey are traditionally both Christians and [Muslims](https://bliptext.com/articles/muslims)—[Catholics](https://bliptext.com/articles/catholicism) and [Orthodox](https://bliptext.com/articles/orthodoxy), [Sunnis](https://bliptext.com/articles/sunnism) and [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashism) and—but also to a lesser extent [Evangelicals](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism), [Protestants](https://bliptext.com/articles/protestants) and [Jews](https://bliptext.com/articles/judaism), constituting one of the most religiously diverse peoples of Europe.\nChristianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the [Bishop of Rome](https://bliptext.com/articles/bishop-of-rome) until the 8th century.\nThen, dioceses in Albania were transferred to the [patriarchate of Constantinople](https://bliptext.com/articles/patriarchate-of-constantinople).\nIn 1054 after the schism, the north became identified with the [Roman Catholic Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/roman-catholic-church).\nSince that time all churches north of the Shkumbin river were Catholic and under the jurisdiction of the Pope.\nVarious reasons have been put forward for the spread of Catholicism among northern Albanians.\nTraditional affiliation with the [Latin Church](https://bliptext.com/articles/latin-church) and Catholic missions in central Albania in the 12th century fortified the Catholic Church against Orthodoxy, while local leaders found an ally in Catholicism against Slavic Orthodox states.\nAfter the [Ottoman conquest of the Balkans](https://bliptext.com/articles/ottoman-conquest-of-the-balkans), Christianity began to be overtaken by Islam, and Catholicism and Orthodoxy continued to be practiced with less frequency.\nDuring the [modern era](https://bliptext.com/articles/modern-era), the monarchy and [communism](https://bliptext.com/articles/communism) in Albania as well as the [socialism](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialism) in Kosovo, historically part of [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/yugoslavia), followed a systematic [secularisation](https://bliptext.com/articles/secularisation) of its people.\nThis policy was chiefly applied within the borders of both territories and produced a secular majority of its population.\nAll forms of Christianity, [Islam](https://bliptext.com/articles/islam) and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [pagan](https://bliptext.com/articles/pagan) practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture.\nThe current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the [Spring](https://bliptext.com/articles/spring-day) festival held yearly on 14 March in the city of [Elbasan](https://bliptext.com/articles/elbasan).\nIt is a national holiday.\nThe communist regime which ruled Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions, and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [atheist state](https://bliptext.com/articles/state-atheism).\nReligious freedom returned to Albania following the regime's change in 1992.\nAlbanian Sunni Muslims are found throughout the country, [Albanian Orthodox Christians](https://bliptext.com/articles/albanian-orthodox-church) as well as [Bektashis](https://bliptext.com/articles/bektashi) are concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics are found primarily in the north of the country.\nAccording to the 2011 Census, which has been recognised as unreliable by the [Council of Europe](https://bliptext.com/articles/council-of-europe), in Albania, 58.79% of the population adheres to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country.\nChristianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the second largest religion in the country.\nThe remaining population is either [irreligious](https://bliptext.com/articles/irreligious) or belongs to other religious groups.\nBefore World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.\nToday, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.\nFor part of its history, [Albania has also had a Jewish community](https://bliptext.com/articles/history-of-the-jews-in-albania).\nMembers of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.\nMany left for Israel c. 1990–1992 when the borders were opened after the fall of the communist regime, but about 200 Jews still live in Albania.\n# [The Great Mosque of Tirana, Albania | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Great///Mosque///of///Tirana///%282020%29.jpg]\n# [The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Saint///Mother///Teresa///Cathedral///Prishtina8.jpg]\n# [Bektashi Tekke in Tetovo, North Macedonia | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Arabati///Baba///Tekke.jpg]\n\n# Citations\n\n## Cited sources","revisionCount":4},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}