Albanians

This article is about the ethnic group. For the country, see Albania.

“”They were always Albanians. You know what that means. Some Catholics, some Orthodox. And some, in time, were Muslims, too. But the first religion of the Albanian, as they say, is Albania.

— Jason Goodwin

The Albanians are an ethnicity that mainly resides in the Balkans. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, and they also live in the neighboring countries of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, and Serbia, as well as in Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Albanians also constitute a large diaspora with several communities established across Europe and the other continents.

Albanians are believed to have a western Paleo-Balkanic origin, and due to geographic and historical factors, many scholars agree that they are at least partially descended from the Illyrians. However, the question of which specific Paleo-Balkan groups contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Albanians remains a topic of academic debate.

History

The first mention of the ethnonym Albanoi occurred in the 2nd century AD by Ptolemy describing an Illyrian tribe who lived around present-day central Albania. Though, the first certain reference to Albanians as an ethnic group comes from much later, in the 11th century and from the chronicler Michael Attaleiates (1022–1080) who describes them as living in the theme of Dyrrhachium.

The first certain attestation of medieval Albanians as an ethnic group is in Byzantine historiography in the work of Michael Attaleiates. Attaleiates mentions the term Albanoi twice and the term Arbanitai once. He referred to the Albanians as having taken part in the 1043 rebellion against the authority of Constantinople. Still, there is controversy over whether the "Albanoi" mentioned in this event refers to the Albanians in the ethnic sense, or instead to the Albanoi, the ancient Illyrian group from Sicily. Debate over this point continues today.

In the Ottoman Empire (c. 1299-1924), Albanian men were mostly represented in high ranks.

Ethnonym

The Albanians (Albanian: Shqiptarët) and their country Albania (Albanian: Shqipëria) have been identified by many ethnonyms. The most common native ethnonym is "Shqiptar", plural "Shqiptarë"; the name "Albanians" ( Byzantine Greek: Albanoi/Arbanitai/Arbanites; Latin: Albanenses/Arbanenses) was used in medieval documents and gradually entered European Languages from which other similar derivative names emerged, many of which were or still are in use, such as English "Albanians"; Italian "Albanesi"; German "Albaner"; Greek "Arvanites", "Alvanitis" (Αλβανίτης) plural: "Alvanites" (Αλβανίτες), "Alvanos" (Αλβανός) plural: "Alvanoi" (Αλβανοί); Turkish "Arnaut", "Arnavut"; South Slavic languages "Arbanasi" (Арбанаси), "Albanci" (Албанци); Aromanian "Arbinesh" and so on.

Relationships

Friends

• Ottoman Turks - Thanks for letting me gain influence and get high ranks within your system.
• Italians - We have cultural ties through trade and migration. Also a refuge host for me during harsh rule.

Enemies

• Serbs - KILL YOURSELF!

How to draw

Coat of Arms of Albania

Albanians has a drawing rating of hard.

1. Draw a ball.
2. Fill it with red.
3. Draw a black double-headed bird in the middle.
4. Add a yellow Skanderbeg's helmet on top of the bird.
5. Add a yellow border around the ball.
6. Add the eyes and you’re done!
7. Add a qeleshe/plis (optional)

Color Name		HEX
	Red	#FF0000
	Black	#000000
	Yellow	#FFD700

See Also

• Albania