STUDY: THE INDEPENDENCE OF ALBANIA, THE TERRITORIAL PARTITION AND THE GEOSTRATEGIC REASONS (1878–1913)
Flamur Buçpapaj
Contents
Historical Introduction
The Condition of the Ottoman Empire and the Political Vacuum in the Balkans
Geostrategic Reasons for the Partition of Albanian Territories
The Congress of Berlin 1878 – The Beginning of the Territorial Tragedy
The League of Prizren – The Albanian Response and the Concept of Self-Governance
European Diplomacy and the Anti-Albanian Project
The Independence of Albania in 1912 – The Real Circumstances
The Role of Austria-Hungary in the Formation of the Albanian State
The Role of the Ottoman Empire – Support, Hesitation, Betrayal?
The Occupation of 60% of Albanian Territory by Greece, Serbia and Montenegro
The Conference of Ambassadors 1913 – The Fatal Intervention
Albania Left “Without Its Main Cities” – The Economic Dimension
Demographic, Cultural and Military Consequences
Long-Term Consequences for the Albanian State
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
The Albanians entered the 20th century as one of the oldest peoples of Europe, yet without a state, without their own administration, and left at the mercy of the expansionist politics of their neighbors. After more than 400 years of Ottoman rule, the Empire began to collapse rapidly. All Balkan nations saw this as an opportunity to expand at the expense of Albanian lands.
The reasons why Albanians were left without a complete state are multidimensional:
the strategy of the Great Powers to create “buffer states”
the religious and civilizational interests of Russia and France
Europe’s fear of the creation of a large Albania
the lack of a centralized Albanian elite
This study analyzes why Albania was declared independent but left truncated, within borders designed to guarantee permanent weakness.
THE CONDITION OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
“The Sick Man of the Bosphorus”
By 1820, the Ottoman Empire was the weakest power in Europe. Its decline produced:
a political vacuum
rivalry between Russia, Austria-Hungary, Britain and France
a race for control of the Adriatic and the Aegean
Albanians found themselves at the center of this vacuum.
The Tanzimat Reforms and Their Anti-Albanian Effects
The Tanzimat brought harsh centralization, the elimination of local autonomies, and blows against the Albanian feudal elites. Albanians felt more threatened by Istanbul than by the Serbs or Greeks – a historical paradox.
The Economic Role of Albanian Regions in the Empire
Albania (the Vilayets of Shkodër, Kosovo, Manastir, and Janina):
provided the main maritime corridors
was the gateway to the Adriatic
hosted economically dynamic cities
Therefore, every foreign power sought control over these lands.
THE GEOSTRATEGIC REASONS FOR THE PARTITION
This section is expanded and represents one of the most important chapters of the study.
Maritime Reasons
Whoever controlled the Albanian coastline controlled:
the entrance to the Adriatic
trade routes to Central Europe
the maritime axis Otranto–Corfu
This is why Greece claimed the South, Serbia wanted access to the sea, and Montenegro sought Shkodër.
Land-Based Reasons
Albania represented the connecting link between Western Balkans and the East. Whoever controlled it, controlled:
the Nish–Prishtina–Shkodër corridor
the salt and trade routes
the main ports (Durrës, Vlora, Shkodër)
Distorted Ethnic Arguments
Neighboring states used false ethnic arguments:
the Greeks claimed that “Epirus was Greek”
the Serbs invented “Old Serbia”
the Montenegrins invented “free Slavic lands”
These propaganda efforts were supported by the Orthodox Church and Russia.
The Interests of the Great Powers
Russia – pro-Serbia and pro-Greece
France – pro-Greek
Britain – aimed to stop Russia
Austria-Hungary – supported Albanians as a barrier against Serbia
Thus, the 1913 decision was political, not ethnic or geographic.
THE CONGRESS OF BERLIN 1878 – THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAGEDY
The Congress excluded from the future Albanian state:
Plav–Gusinje
Ulcinj
Hot–Grudë
Tivar–Podgorica
Albanians protested, but no one listened.
Reason: Albanians were not recognized as a “nation,” because they had no state and no diplomatic representation.
THE LEAGUE OF PRIZREN
Its position was clear:
the protection of the territorial integrity of the Albanian vilayets
the prevention of partition by neighbors
the foundation of the Albanian political identity
The League created a real army, built diplomacy, and for the first time proposed Albania as a political entity.
EUROPEAN DIPLOMACY – THE ANTI-ALBANIAN PROJECT
Albania was perceived as:
a Muslim land, therefore “not part of Europe”
too large to be left uncontrolled
a risk that would create minority issues in the Balkans
Therefore the chosen model was:
a small, dependent, economically weak Albania.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF 1912: THE REAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Ismail Qemali did not seek protection from Europe because:
Serbia had just occupied Kosovo
Montenegro had surrounded Shkodër
Greece had occupied Janina, Himara, and Gjirokastër
The declaration was an act of rescue, not triumph
THE ROLE OF AUSTRIA–HUNGARY
Crucial for Albania’s survival:
prevented Greece from proclaiming sovereignty over Vlora
recognized the independence of the Albanian state
stopped Serbia from reaching the Adriatic
STUDY: THE INDEPENDENCE OF ALBANIA, THE TERRITORIAL PARTITION AND THE GEOSTRATEGIC REASONS (1878–1913)
Flamur Buçpapaj
Contents
Historical Introduction
The Condition of the Ottoman Empire and the Political Vacuum in the Balkans
Geostrategic Reasons for the Partition of Albanian Territories
The Congress of Berlin 1878 – The Beginning of the Territorial Tragedy
The League of Prizren – The Albanian Response and the Concept of Self-Governance
European Diplomacy and the Anti-Albanian Project
The Independence of Albania in 1912 – The Real Circumstances
The Role of Austria-Hungary in the Formation of the Albanian State
The Role of the Ottoman Empire – Support, Hesitation, Betrayal?
The Occupation of 60% of Albanian Territory by Greece, Serbia and Montenegro
The Conference of Ambassadors 1913 – The Fatal Intervention
Albania Left “Without Its Main Cities” – The Economic Dimension
Demographic, Cultural and Military Consequences
Long-Term Consequences for the Albanian State
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
The Albanians entered the 20th century as one of the oldest peoples of Europe, yet without a state, without their own administration, and left at the mercy of the expansionist politics of their neighbors. After more than 400 years of Ottoman rule, the Empire began to collapse rapidly. All Balkan nations saw this as an opportunity to expand at the expense of Albanian lands.
The reasons why Albanians were left without a complete state are multidimensional:
the strategy of the Great Powers to create “buffer states”
the religious and civilizational interests of Russia and France
Europe’s fear of the creation of a large Albania
the lack of a centralized Albanian elite
This study analyzes why Albania was declared independent but left truncated, within borders designed to guarantee permanent weakness.
THE CONDITION OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
“The Sick Man of the Bosphorus”
By 1820, the Ottoman Empire was the weakest power in Europe. Its decline produced:
a political vacuum
rivalry between Russia, Austria-Hungary, Britain and France
a race for control of the Adriatic and the Aegean
Albanians found themselves at the center of this vacuum.
The Tanzimat Reforms and Their Anti-Albanian Effects
The Tanzimat brought harsh centralization, the elimination of local autonomies, and blows against the Albanian feudal elites. Albanians felt more threatened by Istanbul than by the Serbs or Greeks – a historical paradox.
The Economic Role of Albanian Regions in the Empire
Albania (the Vilayets of Shkodër, Kosovo, Manastir, and Janina):
provided the main maritime corridors
was the gateway to the Adriatic
hosted economically dynamic cities
Therefore, every foreign power sought control over these lands.
THE GEOSTRATEGIC REASONS FOR THE PARTITION
This section is expanded and represents one of the most important chapters of the study.
Maritime Reasons
Whoever controlled the Albanian coastline controlled:
the entrance to the Adriatic
trade routes to Central Europe
the maritime axis Otranto–Corfu
This is why Greece claimed the South, Serbia wanted access to the sea, and Montenegro sought Shkodër.
Land-Based Reasons
Albania represented the connecting link between Western Balkans and the East. Whoever controlled it, controlled:
the Nish–Prishtina–Shkodër corridor
the salt and trade routes
the main ports (Durrës, Vlora, Shkodër)
Distorted Ethnic Arguments
Neighboring states used false ethnic arguments:
the Greeks claimed that “Epirus was Greek”
the Serbs invented “Old Serbia”
the Montenegrins invented “free Slavic lands”
These propaganda efforts were supported by the Orthodox Church and Russia.
The Interests of the Great Powers
Russia – pro-Serbia and pro-Greece
France – pro-Greek
Britain – aimed to stop Russia
Austria-Hungary – supported Albanians as a barrier against Serbia
Thus, the 1913 decision was political, not ethnic or geographic.
THE CONGRESS OF BERLIN 1878 – THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAGEDY
The Congress excluded from the future Albanian state:
Plav–Gusinje
Ulcinj
Hot–Grudë
Tivar–Podgorica
Albanians protested, but no one listened.
Reason: Albanians were not recognized as a “nation,” because they had no state and no diplomatic representation.
THE LEAGUE OF PRIZREN
Its position was clear:
the protection of the territorial integrity of the Albanian vilayets
the prevention of partition by neighbors
the foundation of the Albanian political identity
The League created a real army, built diplomacy, and for the first time proposed Albania as a political entity.
EUROPEAN DIPLOMACY – THE ANTI-ALBANIAN PROJECT
Albania was perceived as:
a Muslim land, therefore “not part of Europe”
too large to be left uncontrolled
a risk that would create minority issues in the Balkans
Therefore the chosen model was:
a small, dependent, economically weak Albania.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF 1912: THE REAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Ismail Qemali did not seek protection from Europe because:
Serbia had just occupied Kosovo
Montenegro had surrounded Shkodër
Greece had occupied Janina, Himara, and Gjirokastër
The declaration was an act of rescue, not triumph.
THE ROLE OF AUSTRIA–HUNGARY
Crucial for Albania’s survival:
prevented Greece from proclaiming sovereignty over Vlora
recognized the independence of the Albanian state
stopped Serbia from reaching the Adriatic
proposed Prince Wied as monarch
Without Austria–Hungary, Albania would not have existed in any form.
THE ROLE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
The Empire:
did not want to lose territories
but could no longer protect Albanians
tried to send administrators to persuade Albanians against independence
withdrew once it saw that the European powers had already decided on partition
Albanians understood that the Porte was no longer a protector.
THE OCCUPATION OF 60% OF ALBANIAN TERRITORY BY GREECE AND SERBIA
Serbia occupied:
all of Kosovo
Skopje
Tetovo
Kumanovo
Presheva
Medvegja
Greece occupied:
Janina
Gjirokastër
Himara
Çamëria
Korça (temporarily)
Vlora (briefly)
These were the economic hearts of Albanian regions.
THE CONFERENCE OF AMBASSADORS 1913 – THE FINALIZATION OF THE PARTITION
Key decisions:
borders would not follow ethnicity
they would follow the interests of the powers
Albania was left with the minimal territory for survival
Kosovo was given to Serbia as “war compensation”
Çamëria was given to Greece as “regional balance”
This was a deliberately engineered injustice.
ALBANIA WITHOUT ITS MAIN CITIES
Outside Albania remained:
Janina – the economic center
Skopje – the Albanian metropolis
Prizren – the cultural center
Peja – the trade hub
Ulcinj – strategic port
Tivar – Adriatic link
Mitrovica – mining region
This weakened the Albanian economy for 100 years.
CONSEQUENCES
structural poverty
lack of markets
isolation
damage to cultural identity
massive emigration
internal political turmo
CONSEQUENCES FROM 1913 UNTIL TODAY
economically non-functional borders
lack of major urban centers
constant pressure from neighbors
weaknesses in state-building
delayed industrial development
a state forced to survive, not develop
NEW SCHOLARLY IDEAS (NEVER USED BEFORE)
These viewpoints are new analyses rarely treated by classical scholars:
Albania was created as a state designed to fail economically
If a state lacks:
large cities
advanced ports
mines
trade routes
It remains dependent.
The borders were drawn to block Albanian national unification for 100 years
Every major Albanian city was deliberately separated by a border line.
The concept of the “unfinished Albania”
The Albanian state of 1913 was not the product of Albanians, but of diplomats. Real Albania is much larger than the formal borders.
Albanians were treated as a dangerous factor because they were the largest population in the Balkans after the Slavs
The actual number of Albanians was far greater than acknowledged by European reports.
Conclusion
The independence of Albania was not a gift but an act of salvation. However, it was accompanied by severe partition and imposed poverty.
Had Albania included its historical Albanian territories, today it would have been a country with:
more than 10 million inhabitants
the most powerful ports of the Adriatic
giant mining industries
university centers in Skopje, Prizren, Janina
But European conferences decided to create a weak state that would not compete with Serbia or others.
Nëse dëshironi, mund t’jua formatoj këtë si PDF, Word, ose version 50-faqesh të zgjeruar.ve existed in any
THE ROLE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
The Empire:
did not want to lose territories
but could no longer protect Albanians
tried to send administrators to persuade Albanians against independence
withdrew once it saw that the European powers had already decided on partition
Albanians understood that the Porte was no longer a protector.
THE OCCUPATION OF 60% OF ALBANIAN TERRITORY BY GREECE AND SERBIA
Serbia occupied:
all of Kosovo
Skopje
Tetovo
Kumanovo
Presheva
Medvegja
Greece occupied:
Janina
Gjirokastër
Himara
Çamëria
Korça (temporarily)
Vlora
THE CONFERENCE OF AMBASSADORS 1913 – THE FINALIZATION OF THE PARTITION
Key decisions:
borders would not follow ethnicity
they would follow the interests of the powers
Albania was left with the minimal territory for survival
Kosovo was given to Serbia as “war compensation”
Çamëria was given to Greece as “regional balance”
This was a deliberately engineered injustice.
ALBANIA WITHOUT ITS MAIN CITIES
Outside Albania remained:
Janina – the economic center
Skopje – the Albanian metropolis
Prizren – the cultural center
Peja – the trade hub
Ulcinj – strategic port
Tivar – Adriatic link
Mitrovica – mining region
This weakened the Albanian economy for 100 years.
CONSEQUENCES
structural poverty
lack of markets
isolation
damage to cultural identity
massive emigration
internal political turmoil
CONSEQUENCES FROM 1913 UNTIL TODAY
economically non-functional borders
lack of major urban centers
constant pressure from neighbors
weaknesses in state-building
delayed industrial development
a state forced to survive, not develop
NEW SCHOLARLY IDEAS (NEVER USED BEFORE)
These viewpoints are new analyses rarely treated by classical scholars:
Albania was created as a state designed to fail economically
If a state lacks:
large cities
advanced ports
mines
trade routes
It remains dependent.
The borders were drawn to block Albanian national unification for 100 years
Every major Albanian city was deliberately separated by a border line.
The concept of the “unfinished Albania”
The Albanian state of 1913 was not the product of Albanians, but of diplomats. Real Albania is much larger than the formal borders.
Albanians were treated as a dangerous factor because they were the largest population in the Balkans after the Slavs
The actual number of Albanians was far greater than acknowledged by European reports.
Conclusion
The independence of Albania was not a gift but an act of salvation. However, it was accompanied by severe partition and imposed poverty.
Had Albania included its historical Albanian territories, today it would have been a country with:
more than 10 million inhabitants
the most powerful ports of the Adriatic
giant mining industries
university centers in Skopje, Prizren, Janina
But European conferences decided to create a weak state that would not compete with Serbia or others.
