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English  Texts and Documents of Albanian History

Robert Elsie

 

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Texts and Documents
of Albanian History

1000 — 1499

1500 — 1799

1800 — 1849

1850 — 1899

1900 — 1919

1920 — 1944

1945 — 1989

1990 —


2013.2.13

Webdesign J. Groß

Texts and Documents of Albanian History
to 15th century

English

1000-1018
Anonymous:
Fragment on the Origins of Nations

The document seems to provide the earliest written reference to the Albanians as a people.

 

English

1038, 1042, 1078
Michael Attaleiates:
The First Byzantine References

Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates gives the earliest references to the Albanian people as recorded in Byzantine historical texts.

 

English

1081
Anna Comnena:
The Norman Invasion of Albania

The daughter of the Byzantine emperor provides an account of her father’s battle with the invading Normans near Durrës and Ndroq.

 

English

1154
Muhammad al-Idrisi:
The Book of Roger

A short description of Albania by a 12th century Arab geographer.

 

English

1257
George Acropolites:
An Albanian Uprising

A Byzantine historian chronicles a 13th century Albanian rebellion in the Ohrid and Dibra region.

 

English

1267
George Pachymeres:
An Earthquake in Durrës

A Byzantine historian describes the earthquake that destroyed Durrës in July 1267.

 

English

1308
Anonymous:
Description of Eastern Europe

An anonymous French Dominican priest describes his tour through early 14th century Albania.

 

English

1322
Simon Fitzsimons:
Itinerary from Ireland to the Holy Land

Two Franciscan clerics from Ireland describe Albania on their pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and refer to the Albanian language.

 

English

1328, 1332, 1336
John Cantacuzene:
Unruly Nomads Pay Homage to the Emperor

The Byzantine Emperor John VI Cantacuzene makes several brief references to the Albanians in this text, describing them as wild and unruly nomads.

 

English

1332
Anonymous:
Initiative for Making the Passage

A Dominican priest makes reference to the Albanian language in this description of the country and how easy it would be for the Catholic world to conquer it.

 

English

1470
Fior Jonima:
A Ravaged Land

The earliest personal account given by an Albanian about the state of his country.

 

English

1474
George Merula:
The Siege of Shkodra

An Italian historian narrates the Ottoman siege of Shkodra in September 1474.

 

English

1497
Arnold von Harff:
Pilgrimage from Cologne

A German pilgrim visits Durrës on his way to the Holy Land and jots down words and expressions in the Albanian language.

 

The translations in this anthology may be copied, downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes if the source is appropriately documented. | Robert Elsie

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