Albania in the Middle Ages

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Part of a series on the
History of Albania
Early History Origin of the Albanians Illyria Illyrians Macedonia Illyricum
Medieval Byzantine rule Bulgarian rule Principality of Arbanon Angevin Kingdom of Albania Principality of Albania Serbian rule Principalities League of Lezhë Venetian Albania
Early modern Principality of Mirdita Ottoman Albania Islamization of Albania Sanjak of Albania Sanjak of Scutari Sanjak of Dibra Scutari Vilayet Janina Vilayet Manastir Vilayet Kosovo Vilayet Pashaliks Massacre of the beys National Awakening Revolts of 1833–1839 Revolt of 1843–1844 Revolt of 1845 Revolt of 1847 League of Prizren League of Peja Revolt of 1910 Revolt of 1911 Battle of Deçiq Revolt of 1912 Albanian Vilayet Declaration of Independence
Late modern Independent Albania Provisional Government Congress of Trieste International Commission of Control Balkan Wars Principality Peasant Revolt World War I in Albania Republic of Central Albania Republic of Korçë Republic of Mirdita Italian protectorate (southern) Congress of Durrës Vlora War Congress of Lushnjë Italian protectorate June Revolution Principality (Regency) Albanian Republic Albanian Kingdom Albania under Italy German occupation of Albania World War II in Albania Second League of Prizren Liberation Day Socialist Albania
Contemporary Post-communism 1997 Albanian civil unrest Republic of Albania
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When the Roman Empire divided into east and west in 395, the territories of modern Albania became a part of the Byzantine Empire. At the end of the 12th century, the Principality of Arbanon was formed which lasted until mid 13th century, after its dissolution it was followed with the creation of the Albanian Kingdom after an alliance between the Albanian noblemen and Angevin dynasty. After a war against the Byzantine empire led the kingdom occasionally decrease in size until the Angevins eventually lost their rule in Albania and led the territory ruled by several different Albanian chieftains until the mid 14th century which for a short period of time were conquered by the short-lived empire of Serbia. After its fall in 1355 several chieftains regained their rule and significantly expanded until the arrival of the Ottomans after the Battle of Savra.

After the Battle of Savra in 1385 most of local chieftains became Ottoman vassals. In 1415–1417 most of the central and southern Albania was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire and its newly established Sanjak of Albania. In 1432-36 local Albanian chieftains dissatisfied with losing their pre-Ottoman privileges organized a revolt in southern Albania. The revolt was suppressed until another revolt was organized by Skanderbeg in 1443, after the Ottoman defeat in the Battle of Niš, during the Crusade of Varna. In 1444, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg was proclaimed as the leader of the regional Albanian chieftains and nobles united against the Ottoman Empire in the League of Lezhë disestablished in 1479. Skanderbeg's rebellion against the Ottoman Empire lasted for 25 years. Despite his military valor he was not able to do more than to hold his own possessions within the very small area in the North Albania where almost all his victories against the Ottomans took place. By 1479 the Ottomans captured all Venetian possessions, except Durazzo which they captured in 1501. Until 1913 the territory of Albania would remain part of the Ottoman Empire.