Principality of Albania

Infobox Former Country
native_name =
conventional_long_name = Principality of Albania
common_name = Albania|
continent = Europe
region = Balkans
country = Albania
era =
status =
government_type = Principality
year_start = 1914
year_end = 1925
event_start =
date_start =
event_end =
date_end =
event_pre =
date_pre =
event_post =
date_post =
p1 = Ottoman Empire
flag_p1 = Ottoman Flag.svg
s1 = Albanian Republic
flag_s1 = Flag_of_Albania_1920.svg




symbol =
symbol_type = |


image_map_caption = |
capital = Kruja
national_motto =
national_anthem = Himni i Flamurit
common_languages = Albanian
religion =
currency =
leader1 = William
year_leader1 = 1914
title_leader = Prince
deputy1 = Turhan Pashë Përmeti
year_deputy1 = 1914
title_deputy = Prime Minister
deputy2 = Ilias Bej Vrioni
year_deputy2 = 1924-1925
title_deputy = Prime MinisterThe Principality of Albania was a short-lived monarchy in the Balkans established on February 21, 1914. Albania had been under Ottoman rule from around 1478 until the Treaty of London in May, 1913 when the Great Powers recognised the independence of Albania. The Great Powers selected Prince William of Wied, a nephew of Queen Elisabeth of Romania to become the sovereign of the newly independent Albania. A formal offer was made by 18 Albanian delegates representing the 18 districts of Albania on February 21, 1914, an offer which he accepted. Outside of Albania William was styled prince, but in Albania he was referred to as Mbret (King) so as not to seem inferior to the King of Montenegro.

Prince William arrived in Albania at his provisional capital of Durrës on March 7, 1914 along with the Royal family. The security of Albania was to be provided by a Gendarmerie commanded by Dutch officers. William left Albania on September 3, 1914 following a pan-Islamic revolt initiated by Essad Pasha and later taken over by Haji Kamil the military commander of the Islamic Emirate of Albania centered in Tirana. However he never renounced his claim to the throne.

World War I interrupted all government activities in Albania, while the country was split in a number of regional governments. After the war and the killing of Essad Pasha in Paris by the beys of Southern Albania, a four-member High Council acted as regency for Prince William who never came back. The regency lost its claims for the Prince in 1925, when Albania was declared a republic. In 1928, President Ahmet Zogu was crowned King of the Albanians with Albania being proclaimed a constitutional monarchy.

ee also

*Kingdom of Albania
*Albanian Kingdom
*List of Albanian monarchs

References

* [http://www.fotw.net/flags/al_k1914.html Albania: Principality, 1914]