List of wars involving Albania

• Albanian nobility and forces

• The Anjou were largely expelled from Albania (1281) by a coalition of Byzantines and local Albanian forces, only durrazo and Aulon remain under Angevin rule.
• Andrea I Muzaka establishes a de facto independent territorial rule, which later included the Myzeqe area west of Berat between the Devoll and the Vjosa

• In alliance with the Byzantines, Muzaka withstood the Serbs who, under King Stefan Uroš II Milutin, attacked Albania from the north

Principality of Muzaka
Gropa family
Thopia family

Serbian Empire (1346–1355)

• In 1336, Stefan Dušan invaded and captured Angevin-controlled Durazzo. He was later defeated in that year by the Angevins, who recaptured Durazzo.^[2]
• In 1340, a Serbian Army is defeated by Andrea II Muzaka near the Pelister mountain. The Serbian invasion of Albania was temporarily halted.^[2]
• Tanusio Thopia defended Durazzo from the Serbian empire.^[3] (date unknown)
• Stefan Dušan continues his expansion into Albania, in 1343–1345, captures Kanina and Valona. However, he fails to subdue southern Albania, only manages to obtain nominal submission.^[2]
• In 1350, Muzaka captures Berat by defeating the forces of Stefan Dušan.^[4]
• In 1355 after the death of Stefan Dušan, a Serbian Army was defeated by Karl Thopia in the Battle of Achelous.^[5] After the Battle, Karl Thopia establishes the Principality of Albania, and gained independence from Serbian rule.
• Andrea II Muzaka expels newly settled Serbians from Albania^[6]

Gropa family

• Serbian forces are defeated.
• Andrea II Muzaka leads several successful campaigns against Stefan Dušan.

• Kantakouzenos victory
• John VI Kantakouzenos defeats regents
• Recognized as senior emperor
• Serbia gained Macedonia and Albania, and soon after Epirus and Thessaly, establishing the Serbian Empire
• Bulgaria gains northern Thrace

• An Epirote invasion force is badly defeated by the Albanians at the Battle of Achelous and the Epirote leader, Nikephoros II Orsini, is killed.
• Albanians invade Epirus. Pjetër Losha forms the Despotate of Arta and Gjin Bua Shpata forms the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto.
• Serbs take control of the rest of Epirus.

• Despotate of Arta

Albanian Mazaraki Tribe
Albanian Malakasi Tribe

• Albanian forces with support from Aromanian tribes besiege and attack Ioannina from 1367 to 1370.^[9]
• An agreement is made where the daughter, Irene, of the ruler of Epirus, Thomas Preljubović marries the son, Gjin, of the ruler of Arta, Pjetër Losha. This ends the siege.

(1369)

• Andrea Muzaka defeated king Vukasin in battle of Pelister
• King Vukasin was taken as prisoner
• Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos presented Andrea II with the imperial emblem, and granted him the title of "despot of Epirus".

• Albanian forces under Andrea II Muzaka and Andrea Gropa defeat Serbian forces of King Marko and greatly expand their Principalities.

• Albanian forces under Gjin Bua Shpata defeat forces under Thomas Preljubović and ravaged the countryside of Ioannina, but fail to capture the city.
• An agreement is made where the sister, Helena, of the ruler of Epirus, Thomas Preljubović marries Gjin Bua Shpata.

• Knights Hospitaller fail to capture Arta.
• The Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, Juan Fernández was captured in the battle by Gjin Bua Shpata and was sold by Shpata to the Ottoman Turks for a huge prize.

• Preljubović, leader of Epirus, appealed for help from the Ottomans and Frank's who provide the Epirotes with an auxiliary force.
• Thomas Preljubović uses his new auxiliary to good use by capturing many fortresses in the Despotate of Arta, but Albanians under Gjon Shpata, together with the Mazarakii tribe held their defensive positions and ultimately defeated Thomas once again.

Ottoman Empire

• Zetan forces under Balša II capture the Princedom's capital, Durrës.
• In 1385 Zetan Forces are defeated by Thopia with help of Ottoman forces in the Battle of Savra.
• Thopia recaptures capital of Durrës and reestablished the Princedom of Albania.

• Albanians besiege Ioannina.
• Shpata withdraws due to strong city defences. The two sides later negotiate peace.

• Albanian and Aromanian forces are defeated in four battles against Epirote, Thessalian and Ottoman forces around Jannina.
• Albanian forces withdraw into the surrounding mountains. Peace lasts from 1391–1394.

• Venice invades and successfully captures Durrës from the Princedom.

• Bosnians Under Sandalj Hranić Kosača Invade Zeta
• Zetan Forces Under Gjergj Balsha II Retake all the lands from Budva to Spič as well as the Churchland of Saint Miholj in the Bay of Kotor

Lordship of Zeta

• In 1392, Forces under Niketa Thopia capture Krujë from his sister, Helena.
• Helena regains Krujë but is again defeated by Niketa Thopia in 1403 and forced to seek refuge in Zeta.

• Principality of Gjirokastër

• Epirote forces led by Esau de' Buondelmonti invade Zenebishi territory in 1399, but are routed in battle by the Albanians and Esau is captured.
• Esau is released after a large ransom is paid in 1400, ending the war.

• Forces under Vonko invade and capture Arta, expelling Skurra Bua Shpata.
• Muriq Shpata's forces drive Vonko out of Arta and take control of the city. Skurra maintains control of Angelokastron.

1403–1407:
Despotate of Arta

• Forces loyal to Pal Shpata
• Forces loyal to Maurice Shpata

Ottoman Empire (1406 only)
1407–1408:
Despotate of Arta (supported by Muriq Shpata)

• Carlo I Tocco invades Skurra Bua Shpata's area of the Despotate of Arta.
• Muriq reinforces Skurra but the latter is killed in battle by the Epirotes in 1403.
• Skurras' son, Pal, seeks Ottoman aid, ceding Angelokastron to the Ottoman Empire. However, only a small Ottoman contingent is sent which is defeated in battle in 1406.
• Pal retreats from most of his areas the same year and cedes Naupaktos to Venice in 1407.
• Tocco captures Angelokastron from the Ottomans in 1408.
• A Tocco attack against the city of Arta is repelled by Albanians under Muriq in 1408.

• Most of the mainland territories across from the Venetian possession of Corfu were taken.

• A local rebellion breaks out in the Shkodër area in early 1405. The Balšići intervene in favour of the rebels and capture all of the region including Drivast, but fail to capture Rozafa Castle in Shkodër.
• The Venetians retake Drivast in August 1405, followed by the Zetan coastal towns of Bar, Ulcinj and Budva.
• Peace is negotiated in 1409 however the Venetians broke the peace agreement shortly afterwards, resulting in the Zetans resuming war in early 1410. Shkodër is besieged.
• Peace is made in early 1413 although both sides are unsatisfied.

• Princedom of Albania

• Muzaka Lordship

• Forces under Niketa Thopia are heavily defeated during a skirmish with forces under Theodor Corona Musachi.
• Niketa Thopia is captured, and only released after ceding territory around the Shkumbin River to the Muzaka family.

• Principality of Gjirokastër

Albanian Shpata Family

• Despotate of Arta

• Albanians invade Epirus following the expulsion of Eudocia Balsic from Ioannina and the establishment of Carolo Tocco.^[13]
• Epirote forces are defeated in battle, however Albanian forces fail to take Ioannina.

• Principality of Gjirokastër

• Ottomans conquer the territory of the Principality.
• Ruler of the Principality, Gjon Zenebishi, goes into exile in Corfu.

• The Shpata's suffer defeat at a battle near Nicopolis.
• Jakob Bua Shpata, ruler of the Despotate of Arta, is killed in an ambush at Bompliana in October 1416.
• Following the death of Jakob Epirote forces successfully invade and annex the territory previously under control by Shpata clan.^[14]

• Principality of Gjirokastër

• Ottomans successfully besiege Gjirokastër and reconquer the territory of the Principality.
• Ruler of the Principality, Depë Zenebishi, goes into exile in Corfu.

• Dukagjini Family
• Kastrioti family
• Humoj family
• Zaharia family

• Venice captured Ulcinj, Grbalj, and territory of Paštrovići, with Kotor deciding to accept Venetian suzerainty
• Serbian Despotate captured Drivast and returned its suzerainty over Bar, Budva, and Luštica

• Arianiti family
• Thopia family
• Kastrioti family (until Summer 1433)
• Zenebishi family (from Late 1432)
• Dukagjini family (from Summer 1433)

Support:
Venice

• Albanian rebels led by Andrea Thopia attack Ottomans in Central Albania in 1432, beginning the revolt. Krujë is unsuccessfully besieged.
• Rebels capture Vlorë in May 1432. An Ottoman invasion force of 10,000 men is defeated in the Winter of 1432 by forces of Gjergj Arianiti at the Central valley of the Shkumbin.
• Depë Zenebishi joins the revolt in late 1432, capturing Këlcyrë, Zagorie and Pogon that year.
• Zenebishi's forces besiege Gjirokastër, the capital of the Sanjak of Albania, between late 1432 until early 1433 but are defeated by the Ottomans.
• Ottoman forces pillage Kanina and Yannina in the Summer of 1433 and then invade Gjon Kastrioti's lands, bringing him out of the war.
• Nikollë Dukagjini rebels in Summer 1433 and captures areas of the former Principality of Dukagjini including Dagnum.
• Zenebishi's forces besiege Kanina.
• Ottomans recapture Vlorë in May 1434.
• A second Ottoman invasion force is defeated, again by Gjergj Arianiti, in South-Central Albania, August 1434.
• With Venetian aid, Ottomans take back Dagnum in 1435.
• A third Ottoman invasion force is defeated by Gjergj Arianiti in April 1435, ending hostilities until 1436.
• Attempts are made to ally the Albanian rebels with the Holy Roman Empire by Sigismund, however talks end when a fourth Ottoman invasion force subdues Albania in mid-1436, committing massacres against the civilian population and defeating the un-unified rebel forces.

1444–46:
League of Lezhë

1446–50:
League of Lezhë
Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• State of Arianiti

1450–51:
Albanians under Skanderbeg
Muzaka Lordship

Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• State of Arianiti

1451–54:
Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• Principality of Kastrioti
• State of Arianiti
• Muzaka Lordship

1454–56:
Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• Principality of Kastrioti
• Principality of Dukagjini
• Muzaka Lordship

1456–68:
Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• Principality of Kastrioti
• Principality of Dukagjini
• Muzaka Lordship

Republic of Venice

• State of Arianiti

1468–78:
Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• Principality of Kastrioti
• Principality of Dukagjini

1478–79:
Angevin Kingdom of Naples

• Principality of Dukagjini

Republic of Venice

• State of Arianiti
• Albanian resistance forces

Lordship of Zeta (Siege of Shkodra only)

• Muzaka Lordship

1444–46:
Ottoman Empire

1446–50:
Ottoman Empire

1450–51:
Ottoman Empire
Principality of Dukagjini
State of Arianiti

1451–54:
Ottoman Empire

• Principality of Dukagjini

1454–56:
Ottoman Empire

• State of Arianiti

1456–68:
Ottoman Empire

1468–78:
Ottoman Empire

• Muzaka Lordship

1478–79:
Ottoman Empire

• Muzaka Lordship

• The Ottomans are defeated in numerous battles by the Albanians, mostly under Skanderbeg.
• Albanian resistance weakens following the death of Skanderbeg in 1468.
• Krujë falls in 1478 after three previous failed sieges in 1450, 1466 and 1467.
• Shkodër falls in 1479.

• Humoj Family
• Vulkuta's Forces
• Ugrin's Forces
• Zapa Family
• Pedantari Family
• Moneta Family
• Malonši Family
• Sornja's Forces

Ottoman Empire

• Albanians besiege Dagnum and Durazzo in December.
• Ottomans invade Albania and besiege Svetigrad in May.
• Albanian victory at the Battle of the River Drin in July. Scutari is besieged.
• Balec is garrisoned by the Albanians but a Venetian offensive retakes and burns down the fortress. An Albanian assault against a Venetian fortress by Hamza Kastrioti is defeated.
• Svetigrad falls to the Ottomans in late July.
• Ottoman invasion repelled at the First Battle of Oranik in August.
• With Durazzo, Scutari, and Dagnum close to surrender, Venetians make peace in October.
• Venice keeps Dagnum and cedes all territory on the Albanian side of the Drin to the League. Venice also pays Skanderbeg a lifetime pension and provides trade privileges to the Arianiti.

• The Albanian army under Skanderbeg was delayed from reaching the Battle of Kosovo (1448) as it was prevented from linking with Hunyadi's army by the Ottomans and Serbian despot Đurađ Branković.^[15][16]
• As a Result Skanderbeg burned And pillaged Serbia from Pirot to Belgrade, burning dozens of Serbian towns and cities.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

• Forces under Ivan Crnojević land near Dubrovnik following the breakout of an Ottoman civil war.
• With aid from Zetan rebels and Albanian forces led by Gjon Kastrioti II, Ivan Crnojević re-establishes the Principality of Zeta.

(1685)

• Sanjak of Scutari
• Shkodran Albanians
• Brđani Tribe

Support:

Republic of Venice

• Süleyman bey Bushati defeats Montenegrin Forces in the Battle of Vrtijeljka.
• Shkodran Forces invade Montenegro.
• Cetinje is captured.

Albanian forces

• Pjeter Bogdani organized a resistance against the Ottomans and a pro-Austrian movement in Kosovo in 1689 that included Muslim and Christian Albanians.
• Pjetër Bogdani contributed a force of 6,000 Albanian soldiers to the Austrian army which had arrived in Pristina and accompanied it to capture Prizren.
• It reported that the "Germans" in Kosovo had made contact with 20,000 Albanians who had turned their weapons against the Turks.

(1692)

• Sanjak of Scutari
• Shkodran Albanians
• Brđani Tribe

Republic of Venice

• Süleyman bey Bushati enters Cetinje.
• Shkodran Forces invade Montenegro.
• Venetian Forces are pushed out of Montenegro.

• Albanian Shkodran forces under Kara Mahmud Pasha invade Ulcinj and defeat Montenegrin forces.^[22]

• Serbo-Albanian Kuči Tribe
• Serbian Bjelopavlići Tribe

• The Brda tribes repulse the invasion by forces under the Bushati family.

Pashalik of Yanina

• Shkodran forces recapture the Sanjak of Durrës

• Montenegrin Nikšići tribe
• Montenegrin Paštrovići tribe
• Montenegrin Bjelice tribe

• Albanian Shkodran forces under Kara Mahmud Pasha invade Montenegro.
• Albanian forces pass through the territories of the Nikšići, Paštrovići and Bjelice.
• The Montenegrin coastline is reached and Cetinje is burnt down.

• Pashalik of Yanina
• Bosnia eyalet
• Rumelia Eyalet

• Pashalik of Scutari loses large parts of its territories held outside of the Sanjak of Scutari
• Ottomans fail to overthrow Kara Mahmud Pasha, after decisive defeat in the Siege of Shkodra
• Outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War in 1787 and the Austro-Turkish War in 1788 forces Ottoman Authorities to withdraw from further Operations against Kara Mahmud Pasha
• After Imperial pardon Kara Mahmud Pasha joins the Ottomans against the Austrians in the Austro-Turkish War

• Souliote forces defeat Ali Pasha

• Pashalik of Scutari
• Shkodran Albanians

• Serbo-Albanian Kuči Tribe
• Serbian Rovčani Tribe

• Kara Mahmud Pasha invades devastates the Serbo-Albanian Kuči Tribe and Serbian Rovčani Tribe.^[23]

(1795)

• In 1795 Kara Mahmud Pasha conquered parts of Southern Albania and much of Kosovo.^[24]
• Kara Mahmud Pasha defeated Ottoman forces in Prizren and annexed the Sanjak by installing his own nephew as governor of the sanjak.^[24]
• Ottomans besieged Shkodra and retreated after being defeated by Kara Mahmud Pasha, then returned but again failed to complete the siege.

• Serbian Piperi Tribe
• Serbian Bjelopavlići Tribe

• Shkodran forces march into Montenegro northwards in 1796 but are defeated at the Battle of Martinići, near modern-day Gornji Martinići, 3.5 km north of Spuž.
• Lješkopolje is taken by the Albanians as forces under Bushati prepares to raid Cetinje.
• Shkodran Albanians are intercepted and engage the Montenegrin at Battle of Krusi, suffering defeat. The leader of the Shkodran Albanians, Kara Mahmud Pasha, is killed.
• Shkodran forces fall back to Podgorica, within Ottoman territory.

(18–25 October 1798)

• Albanian bashi-bazouks

• Albanian Forces defeat French Forces.
• On The 25th October général de brigade Nicolas Grégoire Aulmont de Verrières [fr] Ordered The Destruction of fortifications and The evacuation of Remaining french Forces and Greek inhabitants of the town to Corfu.

(1808)

• Ali Pasha successfully invade the Pashalik of Berat

• Albanian Forces Turkish-speaking Forces and boudin forces

• Muhammed ali estabilshed his rule over Sudan

• Pashalik of Scutari
• Shkodran Albanians
• Forces loyal to North Albanian Pasha's
• Sanjak of Berat
• Sanjak of Ohrid
• Sanjak of Elbasan

Financial Support:
Principality of Serbia
Vocal Support:
Bosnia Eyalet
Egypt Eyalet under Muhammad Ali

• The Ottomans demand that Mustafa Bushati, leader of the Pahsalik of Scutari, hand over the districts of Dukakin, Debar, Elbasan, Ohrid and Trgovište.
• Bushati refuses and, with support from Serbia, invades Ottoman lands in Europe, taking Prizren and Skopje followed by Sofia in mid-March.
• Ottomans besiege Shkodër in April and the rebels are defeated at Skopje in May. Bushati withdraws from Prizren and Skopje to defend Shkodër. After a 6-month siege, Bushati surrenders Shkodër in November, ending the war.
• The Pashalik of Scutari is dissolved.

Albanian bashi-bazouks

• Muhammad Ali Pasha defeats Ottomans in several battles.
• provinces of Greater Syria are granted to Muhammad Ali Pasha.

Albanian bashi-bazouks

Spanish Empire Kingdom of France

 British Empire

Austrian Empire

Russian Empire

Prussia

• Ottomans defeat Egyptian Forces.
• Egypt drops Claims on Greater Syria.
• Muhammad Ali Pasha is recognized as Ruler of Egypt by Britain.

• Serbian Piperi Tribe
• Serbo-Albanian Kuči Tribe
• Serbian Bjelopavlići Tribe

Crmnica Tribes

• Following a poor harvest and increased centralisation by the Montenegrin Prince, tribes in Brda and Crmnica rise up and attempt to secede from Montenegro.
• The rebellion is quickly crushed and the ringleaders shot.

Support:

The Great Powers
Principality of Montenegro

• League of Prizren captures areas of Kosovo and prevents Montenegrin annexation of Ulcinj.
• Great Powers blockade Ulcinj and request the Ottomans "to pacify" the League.
• Ottoman forces take Prizren, dismantle the League and deport the leaders of the League from Kosovo. They then invade Ulcinj and deliver it to Montenegro.

 

• Albanian volunteers

• Italian volunteers
• Armenian volunteers^[28]

• Small parts of Thessaly ceded to the Ottoman Empire^[29]

• Italy occupies Sazan Island and Vlorë.

• Austria-Hungary, with assistance from Albanian guerrillas, defeats Italian forces and takes Tirana and Durrës.
• The Republic of Central Albania is conquered, and a defensive line is set up in the south of Albania along the Vjosa river.^[30]

Kingdom of Italy
French Third Republic

• Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë

Kingdom of Greece

• Yugoslav Forces capture parts of Shkodra but are pushed back by Albanian Rebels.^[31][32]
• Yugoslav Forces invade tribal regions of Kelmendi, Kastrati, Shkrel and Koplik but are forced to retreat back to Montenegro^[31][32]

• Italian protectorate over Albania

• Rebellion across Albania limits Italian control to the city of Vlora.
• Rebels storm Vlora, forcing Italian retreat to Sazan and Italy.
• All Italian-controlled territory in Albania is regained, excluding Sazan.

Greek volunteers

• Yugoslav forces fail to invade Albania
• Albanians capture Peshkopi and Dibra
• After heavy pressure Albanians are forced to retreat

Kingdom of Greece
Republic of Mirdita

• Yugoslav Forces invade Albania but are forced to retreat due to Albanian resistance and pressure of the League of Nations.

• Italian occupation of Albania

• Italian Albania

• Greek tactical victory, strategic stalemate.
• German intervention in 1941 with eventual Greek surrender.

(1941)

Kingdom of Italy

• Italian Albania

Hungary

• Axis victory
• Occupation of Yugoslavia
• Albania gains parts of Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia

• Italian Albania

Nazi Germany (From 1943)

• German Albania

Balli Kombëtar (From 1943)
Second League of Prizren (From 1943)

• Liberation of Albania from Axis occupation.
• Balli Kombëtar defeated.
• Albania becomes a Communist state.

• Yugoslav forces and institutions pull out of Kosovo
• Return of Albanian refugees
• KLA wins politically and militarily