Albanian Revolt of 1912
Encyclopedia
The Albanian Revolt of 1912 was one of many Albanian
revolts in the Ottoman Empire
and lasted from January until August 1912. After a series of successes, Albanian revolutionaries managed to capture the city of Skopje
, the administrative centre of Kosovo vilayet within the Ottoman rule. The revolt ended when the Ottoman government agreed to fulfill the rebels' demands on September 4, 1912.
, including tax increases, conscription
for Albanians in the Ottoman
army, and the disarming of the Albanian civil population.
Albanians were not the only ones to start a rebellion against the Young Turks government. There were insurgencies in Syria
and on the Arab peninsula.
The first major Albanian revolt in 1910
led by Isa Boletini
and Idriz Seferi
was supported by Bulgaria
and Montenegro
.
After two weeks of fierce fighting the Albanian rebels withdrew to the Drenicë
region and the rebellion was suppressed. Sultan Mehmed V
visited Priština
in June 1911 and declared an amnesty
for all of those who had participated in the revolt, except for the ones who had committed murder. In order to calm the situation the sultan introduced a number of concessions, including:
At the end of 1911 a group of Albanian members of Ottoman parliament, led by Ismail Qemali
, started a debate in parliament. They requested additional rights for Albanians in cultural and administrative spheres.
In January 1912, Hasan Prishtina
, Albanian
deputy in Ottoman parliament, publicly warned members of parliament that policy of Young Turks government is leading to a revolution in Albania. After that speech Ismail Qemali
proposed a meeting to Hasan Prishtina
. They met at the same evening in house of Hasan Prishtina and agreed to organize Albanian uprising
. The following day they met in Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul
with Mufid Bey Libohova, Essad Pasha Toptani, Aziz Pasha Vrioni and Syreja Bey Vlora. They agreed to join their organization and lead the Albanian uprising. Subsequently they took an oath on this promise at the meeting in Syreja Bey's house in Taxim
.
played a central role in the uprising, it was decided that Ismail Qemali
should organize delivery of 15.000 Mauser rifles to Kosovo via Montenegro
. Hassan Prishtina attempted to get support of Bulgaria by proposing creation of Albanian—Macedonian state to Pavlof, the Bulgarian
deputy, who met him in British Consulate in Skopje. British Consul from Skopje promised that United Kingdom
will provide strong support to Albanians.
The revolt started in the western part of Kosovo vilayet and was led by Hasan Pristina, Nexhip Draga
, Bajram Curri
, Riza Bey and others. Hasan Prishtina who was in the Kosovo vilayet during the revolt, and Ismail Qemali
who was in Europe gathering weapons and money and attempting to win over European public opinion to the cause of the uprising, maintained communication trough the British
Consulate in Skopje
. Essad Pasha Toptani obliged himself to organize the uprising in Central Albania and Mirdita.
Albanian soldiers and officers deserted the Ottoman military service and joined the insurgents. Until August 1912 rebels managed to gain control over whole Kosovo vilayet (including Novi Pazar
, Sjenica
, Priština
and even Skopje), part of Scutari Vilayet (including Elbasan
, Përmet
, Leskovik
and Konitsa
in Janina Vilayet and Debar
in Monastir Vilayet. One of important events that helped the Albanians rebels succeed was Italo-Turkish War
that triggered revolts of Ottoman officers and soldiers who were reluctant to fight against predominantly Muslim Albanian rebels who were considered brothers in religion
.
in the middle of March 1912, including the appointment of Albanian officers in government administration, the establishment schools where Albanian was the medium of instruction, and the restriction of Albanians conscription to the Ottoman Army, and to the territory of the Kosovo vilayet.
Albanian rebels were divided; some supported Young Turks government, others supported the Liberal Union
, and some even wished to return to Abdul Hamid's autocracy
.
On August 9, 1912 Albanian rebels presented new list of demands (so called list of Fourteen Points), related to the Albanian vilayet
, that can be summarized as follows:
The Ottoman government ended the Albanian revolts by accepting all demands (ignoring only last one) on September 4, 1912. Hasan Prishtina was planning to start new revolt in three or four months, but the First Balkan War
broke out soon and destroyed his plans.
sent a strong signal to the neighboring countries that the Ottoman Empire
was weak. Demonstration of the weakness of the Ottoman Empire and promises of Albanian autonomy on the territory that covered the four vilayets of Macedonia
and Old Serbia
constituted a direct extermination
threat to the Christian nationalities. Such demonstration of weakness of the Ottoman Empire and the threatened existence of Christian nationalities were two out of three main causes for the First Balkan War
. The Kingdom of Serbia
opposed the plan for a Greater Albania
, preferring a partition of the European territory of the Ottoman Empire
among the four Balkan allies
.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
revolts in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and lasted from January until August 1912. After a series of successes, Albanian revolutionaries managed to capture the city of Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, the administrative centre of Kosovo vilayet within the Ottoman rule. The revolt ended when the Ottoman government agreed to fulfill the rebels' demands on September 4, 1912.
Prelude
The main reasons for all these revolts were changes for Albanians introduces by Young TurksYoung Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
, including tax increases, conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
for Albanians in the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army, and the disarming of the Albanian civil population.
Albanians were not the only ones to start a rebellion against the Young Turks government. There were insurgencies in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and on the Arab peninsula.
The first major Albanian revolt in 1910
Albanian Revolt of 1910
The Albanian Revolt of 1910 was a reaction to the new centralization policies of the Young Turk Ottoman government in Albania. It was the first of a series of major uprisings which led to the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912...
led by Isa Boletini
Isa Boletini
Isa Boletini was an Albanian nationalist figure and guerilla fighter, born in the village of Boletin near Mitroviça, Ottoman Empire...
and Idriz Seferi
Idriz Seferi
Idriz Seferi born in Sefer, a village in the Preševo Valley he was a distinguished Albanian officer who fought against the Ottoman Empire and Serbia during the Balkan Wars.-References:...
was supported by Bulgaria
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Kingdom of Bulgaria was established as an independent state when the Principality of Bulgaria, an Ottoman vassal, officially proclaimed itself independent on October 5, 1908 . This move also formalised the annexation of the Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia, which had been under the control...
and Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro
The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe during the tumultuous years on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Legally it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice...
.
After two weeks of fierce fighting the Albanian rebels withdrew to the Drenicë
Drenice
Dřenice is name of several locations in the Czech Republic:* Dřenice , a village in Pardubice Region * Dřenice , a village in Karlovy Vary Region, part of city Cheb...
region and the rebellion was suppressed. Sultan Mehmed V
Mehmed V
Mehmed V Reshad was the 35th Ottoman Sultan. He was the son of Sultan Abdülmecid I. He was succeeded by his half-brother Mehmed VI.-Birth:...
visited Priština
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
in June 1911 and declared an amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
for all of those who had participated in the revolt, except for the ones who had committed murder. In order to calm the situation the sultan introduced a number of concessions, including:
- establishment of Albanian schools
- military service to be restricted to the territory of Kosovo vilayet
- suspension of all conscription and taxTaxTo tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es for two years and - appointment of government officials who speak the Albanian languageAlbanian languageAlbanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
.
At the end of 1911 a group of Albanian members of Ottoman parliament, led by Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora or commonly Ismail Qemali and in Turkish İsmail Kemal Bey or İsmail Kemal Vlora , was a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.-Life:He was born in Avlonya to a noble family...
, started a debate in parliament. They requested additional rights for Albanians in cultural and administrative spheres.
In January 1912, Hasan Prishtina
Hasan Prishtina
Hasan Prishtina born Hasan Berisha was an Albanian politician, who served as Prime Minister of Albania in December 1921.-Biography:He studied politics and law in Istanbul...
, Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
deputy in Ottoman parliament, publicly warned members of parliament that policy of Young Turks government is leading to a revolution in Albania. After that speech Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora or commonly Ismail Qemali and in Turkish İsmail Kemal Bey or İsmail Kemal Vlora , was a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.-Life:He was born in Avlonya to a noble family...
proposed a meeting to Hasan Prishtina
Hasan Prishtina
Hasan Prishtina born Hasan Berisha was an Albanian politician, who served as Prime Minister of Albania in December 1921.-Biography:He studied politics and law in Istanbul...
. They met at the same evening in house of Hasan Prishtina and agreed to organize Albanian uprising
Uprising
-In music:* Uprising * Uprising , album by Concord Dawn* Uprising , album by Entombed* Uprising , album by Universal Poplab...
. The following day they met in Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
with Mufid Bey Libohova, Essad Pasha Toptani, Aziz Pasha Vrioni and Syreja Bey Vlora. They agreed to join their organization and lead the Albanian uprising. Subsequently they took an oath on this promise at the meeting in Syreja Bey's house in Taxim
Taxim
Taxim may refer to:*Taksim Square in Istanbul, TurkeyIn music:*TAXIM, a German Aggrotech project...
.
Events
Since the participation of the KosovoKosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
played a central role in the uprising, it was decided that Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora or commonly Ismail Qemali and in Turkish İsmail Kemal Bey or İsmail Kemal Vlora , was a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.-Life:He was born in Avlonya to a noble family...
should organize delivery of 15.000 Mauser rifles to Kosovo via Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro
The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe during the tumultuous years on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Legally it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice...
. Hassan Prishtina attempted to get support of Bulgaria by proposing creation of Albanian—Macedonian state to Pavlof, the Bulgarian
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Kingdom of Bulgaria was established as an independent state when the Principality of Bulgaria, an Ottoman vassal, officially proclaimed itself independent on October 5, 1908 . This move also formalised the annexation of the Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia, which had been under the control...
deputy, who met him in British Consulate in Skopje. British Consul from Skopje promised that United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
will provide strong support to Albanians.
The revolt started in the western part of Kosovo vilayet and was led by Hasan Pristina, Nexhip Draga
Nexhip Draga
-Biography:Nexhip Draga was born in 1867 in Mitrovica, then a town of the Ottoman Empire. His father was Ali Pasha Draga, a notable local of Mitrovica who owned lands in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar. He finished his elementary studies in Mitrovica before going in Istanbul, where he studied at an...
, Bajram Curri
Bajram Curri
Bajram Curri was an ethnic Albanian politician and activist within the Vilayet of Kosovo, Ottoman Empire. He is awarded the title Hero of Albania....
, Riza Bey and others. Hasan Prishtina who was in the Kosovo vilayet during the revolt, and Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemali
Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora or commonly Ismail Qemali and in Turkish İsmail Kemal Bey or İsmail Kemal Vlora , was a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.-Life:He was born in Avlonya to a noble family...
who was in Europe gathering weapons and money and attempting to win over European public opinion to the cause of the uprising, maintained communication trough the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Consulate in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
. Essad Pasha Toptani obliged himself to organize the uprising in Central Albania and Mirdita.
Albanian soldiers and officers deserted the Ottoman military service and joined the insurgents. Until August 1912 rebels managed to gain control over whole Kosovo vilayet (including Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar is a city and municipality located in southwest Serbia, in the Raška District. According to the official census in 2011, number of inhabitants of municipality is 92,776, while the city itself has a population of 60,638...
, Sjenica
Sjenica
Sjenica , is a town and municipality in the Zlatibor District of Serbia. The population of the town, according to 2011 census, is 13,056 inhabitants, while the municipality has 25,448.-History:...
, Priština
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
and even Skopje), part of Scutari Vilayet (including Elbasan
Elbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
, Përmet
Përmet
Përmet is a town in Albania, capital of Përmet District. The population is 7,717. It is flanked by the Vjosë river, which runs along the Trebeshinë-Dhëmbel-Nemërçkë mountain chain, between Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains, and through the Këlcyra gorge....
, Leskovik
Leskovik
Leskovik is a municipality in the Kolonjë District, Korçë County, southeastern Albania. Leskovik came under Ottoman rule in 15th century and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina.-Notable people:*Ibrahim Sirri Leskoviku, Albanian politician....
and Konitsa
Konitsa
Konitsa is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos...
in Janina Vilayet and Debar
Debar
Debar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality.-Geography:...
in Monastir Vilayet. One of important events that helped the Albanians rebels succeed was Italo-Turkish War
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
that triggered revolts of Ottoman officers and soldiers who were reluctant to fight against predominantly Muslim Albanian rebels who were considered brothers in religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
.
List of demands
The Albanian rebels in Kosovo vilayet demanded a number of actions from the Young Turk administration. These demands were printed in emigrant newspapers published in the Kingdom of BulgariaKingdom of Bulgaria
The Kingdom of Bulgaria was established as an independent state when the Principality of Bulgaria, an Ottoman vassal, officially proclaimed itself independent on October 5, 1908 . This move also formalised the annexation of the Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia, which had been under the control...
in the middle of March 1912, including the appointment of Albanian officers in government administration, the establishment schools where Albanian was the medium of instruction, and the restriction of Albanians conscription to the Ottoman Army, and to the territory of the Kosovo vilayet.
Albanian rebels were divided; some supported Young Turks government, others supported the Liberal Union
Liberal Union
The Liberal Union was a Dutch liberal political party. A major party in its time, the LU was one of the historic predecessors of the Liberal State Party, and therefore of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy....
, and some even wished to return to Abdul Hamid's autocracy
Autocracy
An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...
.
On August 9, 1912 Albanian rebels presented new list of demands (so called list of Fourteen Points), related to the Albanian vilayet
Albanian Vilayet
The Albanian Vilayet was a projected vilayet of the Ottoman Empire in the western Balkan Peninsula, which was to include the four Ottoman vilayets with substantial ethnic Albanian populations: Kosovo Vilayet, Scutari Vilayet, Monastir Vilayet and Janina Vilayet...
, that can be summarized as follows:
- autonomous system of administration and justice of four vilayets populated with Albanians (Albanian vilayetAlbanian VilayetThe Albanian Vilayet was a projected vilayet of the Ottoman Empire in the western Balkan Peninsula, which was to include the four Ottoman vilayets with substantial ethnic Albanian populations: Kosovo Vilayet, Scutari Vilayet, Monastir Vilayet and Janina Vilayet...
) - Albanians to perform military service only in territory of four vilayets populated with Albanians, except in time of warWarWar is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
- employing the officials knowing local language and customs, but not necessarily Albanians,
- establishment of new licees and agricultural schools in the bigger districts
- reorganization and modernization of the religious schools and use of Albanian languageAlbanian languageAlbanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
in secular schools - freedom to establish private schools and societies
- the development of trade, agriculture and public works
- general amnesty for all Albanians involved in revolt
- court martial for those Ottoman officers who attempted to suppress revolt
The Ottoman government ended the Albanian revolts by accepting all demands (ignoring only last one) on September 4, 1912. Hasan Prishtina was planning to start new revolt in three or four months, but the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
broke out soon and destroyed his plans.
Aftermath
The success of the Albanian Revolt and news from the Italo-Turkish WarItalo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
sent a strong signal to the neighboring countries that the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
was weak. Demonstration of the weakness of the Ottoman Empire and promises of Albanian autonomy on the territory that covered the four vilayets of Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
and Old Serbia
Old Serbia
Old Serbia is a modern name for the territory which was the core of medieval Serbia. It included Raška , Kosovo and Metohija and the Macedonia...
constituted a direct extermination
Extermination
Extermination or exterminate may refer to:* Pest control, elimination of insects or vermin* Genocide, the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group...
threat to the Christian nationalities. Such demonstration of weakness of the Ottoman Empire and the threatened existence of Christian nationalities were two out of three main causes for the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
. The Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
opposed the plan for a Greater Albania
Greater Albania
Greater Albania or Ethnic Albania is an irredentist concept of lands outside the borders of the Republic of Albania that are considered part of a greater national homeland by most Albanians, based on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in those areas...
, preferring a partition of the European territory of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
among the four Balkan allies
Balkan League
The Balkan League was an alliance formed by a series of bilateral treaties concluded in 1912 between the Balkan states of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia, and directed against the Ottoman Empire, which at the time still controlled much of the Balkan peninsula...
.
See also
- Hasan PrishtinaHasan PrishtinaHasan Prishtina born Hasan Berisha was an Albanian politician, who served as Prime Minister of Albania in December 1921.-Biography:He studied politics and law in Istanbul...
- Isa BoletiniIsa BoletiniIsa Boletini was an Albanian nationalist figure and guerilla fighter, born in the village of Boletin near Mitroviça, Ottoman Empire...
- Albanian Revolt of 1910Albanian Revolt of 1910The Albanian Revolt of 1910 was a reaction to the new centralization policies of the Young Turk Ottoman government in Albania. It was the first of a series of major uprisings which led to the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912...
- March of ShkupMarch of ShkupThe March of Shkup is an Albanian folk song composed in 1912, when Albanian revolutionaries captured the city of Skopje from the Ottomans after more than 500 years of Ottoman rule.- History :...
- Albanian VilayetAlbanian VilayetThe Albanian Vilayet was a projected vilayet of the Ottoman Empire in the western Balkan Peninsula, which was to include the four Ottoman vilayets with substantial ethnic Albanian populations: Kosovo Vilayet, Scutari Vilayet, Monastir Vilayet and Janina Vilayet...
- First Balkan WarFirst Balkan WarThe First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...