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In the second millennium B.C. Illyrians populated
the Adriatic coast on Balkan peninsula. In 1225, the first Illyrian monarch,
King Hyllis, died. Until the fourth century B.C., when the Illyrian monarchy was
at its zenith, they united the whole Illyrian territory. In the second century
B.C. began a war against the Romans, which they won, gaining supremacy over the
territory until 285 A.D. From 285 until the fifth century the Byzantines
reigned. Due to weakness in the Byzantine empire, the territory was repeatedly
attacked for five centuries ( 5th through 10th centuries) by the Goths, Slavs,
Avaret, Serbs, and Bulgarians, until the revival of the Byzantines. From the 6th
through 8th centuries, the Byzantines consolidated their power and in 1080, the
name of Albania first emerges.
In the 14th century, Albanian principalities
formed a league, which, due to the expansion of Ottoman power, had a short life.
Among the principalities, was the Prince of the Topia, who lived from 1358 until
1395. During this period, war against the Turks broke out.
This war was led by the national hero, George Kastrioti (Skenderbeg 1403-1468),
and is a key moment in Albanian history. For the first time, the Albanian
population united in 1444 under the Oath of Lezhe, which existed until the death
of Skenterbug. After 10 years the entire Albanian territory was overwhelmed by
Turkish occupation.
The occupation continued until 1912, the year of
Albanian independence. The
Declaration of Independence took place in Vlore on 28 November 1912. After years
of instability, Albania established a national league in 1925. The Republic of
Albania was created in 1925, which was transformed in 1928 into the Kingdom of
Albania. Throughout the Second World War, Albania was dominated by Italy and
then Germany. The movement for national liberation was led by the communists.
On 29 November 1944, Albania was liberated and
within the year, the communists took power. Thus began the communist
dictatorship, led by Enver Hoxha, which ended in 1990. After the Albanian
people???s movement, the nation???s system changed to a democratic one.
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