Timeline of Albanian History To 1993 - 11th To 15th Centuries

11th To 15th Centuries

• The Arbanasi people are recorded as being 'half-believers' (non-Orthodox Christians) and speaking their own language in the Fragment of Origins of Nations between 1000-1018 by an anonymous author in a Bulgarian text of the 11th century.
• In History written in 1079-1080, Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates referred to the Albanoi as having taken part in a revolt against Constantinople in 1043 and to the Arbanitai as subjects of the duke of Dyrrachium. It is disputed, however, whether the "Albanoi" of the events of 1043 refers to Albanians in an ethnic sense or whether "Albanoi" is a reference to Normans from Sicily under an archaic name (there was also tribe of Italy by the name of "Albanoi"). However a later reference to Albanians from the same Attaliates, regarding the participation of Albanians in a rebellion in 1078, is undisputed.
• Arbanitai of Arbanon are recorded in an account by Anna Comnena of the troubles in that region during the reign of her father Alexius I Comnenus (1081–1118) by the Normans.
• 12th century - Local Albanian noble families begin to emerge. Kingdom of Serbia occupies parts of northern Albania.
• 1190 - Principality of Arbër was created.
• 1204 - In the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade, Venice wins control over most of Albania, but the Byzantines regain control of the southern portion and establish the Despotate of Epirus.
• 1258 - The Kingdom of Sicily seizes the Albanian coast and much of the hinterland from Epirus
• 1272 - Forces of the Charles I of Naples occupy Dyrrhachium (Durrës) and establish the Kingdom of Albania.
• 1280s - The Angevins launch an offensive toward Constantinople, but are repulsed by the Byzantines at Berat. Byzantine forces retake the country, but after c. 1290, it begins to come under Serbian attack.
• 1304 - The Angevins recapture the Kingdom of Albania.
• 1368 - Karl Thopia captures Durrës from Angevins.
• 1385 - Karl Thopia, the Albanian ruler of Durrës, invites the Ottoman forces of Murad I to intervene against his rival Balsha II.
• 1389 - Albanians join Serbian-led Balkan army that is crushed by Ottoman forces at the Battle of Kosovo; coordinated resistance to Ottoman expansion into the western Balkans collapses.
• 1405 - George Kastrioti born, later becomes Albanian national hero known as Skanderbeg.
• 1430 - Gjon Kastrioti led an unsuccessful uprising against the Ottoman Empire. He was defeated again by the Ottoman forces of Isak-Beg.
• 1433 - Gjergj Arianiti rebels against Ottoman Empire with several successes.
• 1443 - After being sent in a battle near Nis, Skanderbeg turns in Albania, starts the long war against the Ottoman Empire and reembraces Roman Catholicism.
• 1444 - Skanderbeg proclaimed chief of the League of Lezhë.
• 1450 - The Albanians, under Skanderbeg, rout Ottoman forces under Sultan Murad II.
• 1466 & 1467 - The Albanians under Skanderbeg, defend Krujë against massive Ottoman armies led by Sultan Mehmed II
• 1468 - Skanderbeg dies.
• 1478 - Krujë falls to the Ottoman Turks; Shkodër falls a year later. Subsequently, many Albanians flee to southern Italy, Greece, Egypt, and elsewhere; many remaining are forced to convert to Islam.