TRENDEFRARAtlas of the Sultans · Cities and countries
4 cities
The lands of today's Albania were under Ottoman rule from the late 14th century until 1912.
Shkodër and Vlorë passed to the Ottomans at the end of the 14th and start of the 15th century, and Durrës in 1501; the resistance of Skanderbeg dominated the region for a long time in the mid-15th century. Albanians held an important place in the Ottoman army and administration; many grand viziers were of Albanian origin. Shortly after the Balkan War began, on 28 November 1912, Ismail Qemali declared Albania's independence in Vlorë.
The Ottoman commander Kavala Şahin took the city from the Balšić princes.
This first Ottoman rule was short-lived; Venice took over and fortified the city.
The Ottomans took the city together with Berat inland and the fortress of Kanina.
After long sieges Venice gave up the city to the Ottomans in 1479; Shkodër became an important district capital.
In the Ottoman-Venetian war of 1499–1502 Ottoman forces under Mehmed Bey took the city in August 1501.
According to the Shkodër yearbook, the town was founded in the Ottoman period by Süleyman Pasha, who later died in the war with Iran.
The city was briefly occupied by Venice.
Ottoman rule ended with the Balkan War; in 1913, under pressure from the European powers, the city was included in newly founded Albania.
During the Balkan War Albanian nationalists led by Ismail Qemali proclaimed Albania's independence in this city.
The city joined the Albanian state founded in 1912 and was its capital before Tirana.
In the Balkan Wars the town was first occupied by the Serbian army.
At the Congress of Lushnjë Tirana was proclaimed capital of the new Albanian state.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, article “ARNAVUTLUK” (in Turkish) and the atlas's city pages. Present-day borders are used.