Albania

Albania is a present-day country in Europe and its located in the southwestern region of the Balkans. Albania is also a NATO member. It is allied with the United States, and Europe, and the Albanians were occupied by various nations before gaining independence in 1912. The national hero is George Skanderberg, a Catholic who mobilized an army consisting mostly of Albanians, with some coming from Venice, and Italy against the Ottomans.
With 3 million people, Albania's enemies are Serbia, and to some extent, Greece. Albanians remain divided on Turkey, most Albanian Christians and Albanian Atheists/Agnostics oppose Turkey, even some Muslims.
Contrary to popular belief, Albania is not very religious, in fact, 25% of the population are atheists. Albania was the first nation in human history to be fully Atheist, after Communist dictator Enver Hoxha outlawed religion in 1967, banning religion for three decades.
The current Prime Minister of Albania is Edi Rama. Albania's closest trading partner is the United States. 
Reowned for its mountanious geography, beaches, and rivers, Albania is now getting exposure to the world after decades of isolation. 
==History==
===Ancient Times===
Albanians are believed to be descended from the Ancient Illyrians, a group of tribal members who lived in the Balkan pennisula. The Illyrian Kingdom led by King Agron and Queen Teuta was at its height after defeating the Hellenic and Roman armies. Eventually Agron died in 231 B.C. and his wife Queen Teuta led the Illyrian kingdom. However she died four years after her husband in 227 B.C. 
The Roman Army fought in the Illyrian Wars, eventually defeating the Illyrians in 168 B.C after nearly 60 years of warfare. Despite now being a province of the Roman Republic (later the Roman Empire), the Illyrians refused to adopt Roman culture, and kept their language and traditions, which would later evolve into the Albanian language we know of today.
During the End of the Roman Empire, all of the last Roman Emperors were Illyrians, mainly due to the instability within the Empire itself. In 476 A.D. the Roman Empire split to two.
Illyrians had two distinct kingdoms. Kingdom of Dardania (modern day Kosovo), and Kingdom of Illyria (modern day Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, and even Croatia).
=== Byzantine Era ===
The Byzantine Empire rose from the ashes of the Roman Empire. Emperor Justinian was born in Dardania, but considered himself Roman. During the Byzantine Era, the Illyrians were split apart between the East and Western Roman Empires. Many Illyrians decided to hold various government positions of the new Empire. Justinian the First was an Illyrian from Dardania who adopted and spread Christianity, specifically Orthodoxy. Illyrians during this time lost their influence on the Balkan peninsula.
The Slavic invasions of the 7th century ultimately ended the Illyrian dominance in the Balkans. Many Illyrians have even assimilated with the Slavs, but most Illyrians fled to a small piece of land in the Southwestern Balkan peninsula, now known as Albania, and Kosovo.
=== Middle Ages ===
During the Middle Ages, a Kingdom called Albania was established by a Naples native named Charles the 1st in the 12th century. Eventually afterwards, the kingdom fell, but the separation of Albania and Kosovo begin after the Serbian Empire seized Kosovo in the early 1300s. In 1389, the Ottomans seized Kosovo and defeated the Serbians. Eventually, the last fragment of the once great Roman Empire would end, but put Albania was soon going to endure a bloody war against the Ottomans.
Throughout the Middle Ages, several principailities, kingdoms, and various nations have existed throughout Albania, however, as the Middle Ages end, the Albanians face a new occupier.
=== Ottoman Era ===
The great Byzantine Empire which was the last Roman Empire was defeated by the Ottoman Turks on May 29th, 1453, after the city of Constantinople was seized. With this, an Albanian warrior, often hailed as a Christian hero in Europe, and Albania's national hero arose. His name was George Castrioti Skanderbeg.
Skanderbeg was born in Debar, an predominantly Albanian village in Macedonia. He founded the Castrioti Principality, and with help from Venice, he launched a bloody assault on the Ottomans. Throughout the 1450-1470s, the Ottomans lost various wars against the Albanians. Eventually in 1479, the Ottomans seized Albania after suffering various defeats.
But while Albania became a Ottoman province, this didnt stop the Albanians from being under the Ottoman occupation. Ali Pasha launched another assault on the Ottomans, killing more Turks in the process.
Because of the harsh tax system and benefits, many Albanians convert to Islam during the 16-17th centuries to avoid discrimination and taxation. Albanians in the north stayed Catholic thanks to the mountains. 
As the Ottomans begun to lose power, the Albanians began to strive for independence. As various nationalist movements occurred, the Ottomans lost grip of Albania.
=== Independence and the Kingdom ===
In November 28th, 1912, Albania declared independence from the Ottomans. Two years after, World War 1 begun. Albania was a weak state, and eventually in 1918, the current day borders remain in Albania, cutting off 40% of the population.
In 1929, King Zog took power, and became a mere puppet to Benito Mussolini. In 1939, Italy invaded Albania, taking over the country in a few weeks.
=== World War 2 and the Cold War ===
Fascist Italy invaded Albania in 1939, holding power for 4 years until the Nazis invaded Albania in 1943. The Nazis were eventually driven out by the Communists which was led by Enver Hoxha in 1945.
In 1945, Enver allied himself with the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Enver ties with the Yugoslavs in 1948. Eventually after Stalin dies in 1953, Albania distances itself from the Soviet Union, and eventually in 1961, Albania withdraws completely from the Warsaw Pact.
In 1961, Albania allied itself with China. Enver Hoxha became friends with Mao Zedong, and Albania gained assistanced in military technologies. When Mao died in 1976, and China began establishing ties with the West, Albania broke ties with China in 1978, eventually being an isolated nation.
Enver Hoxha died in 1985, essently accelerating the downfall of the communist regime. In 1991, the Communist government collapsed, and democracy was established.
=== Republic of Albania (1992-present) ===
Today, Albania is now a democracy. In the beginning of the republic, the country was very unstable. In 1997, various riots happened, due to the Sali Berisha regime. Eventually in 1999, the Kosovo War happened, and the Albania Army was station in case the conflict escalated further into Albania. In 2009, Albania joined NATO, and became a full member. Albania is now aiming to join the EU.
Albania has been aiming to stop crime, drugs, and other factors that could pose a threat to the nation itself. Albania now sides with America, and the West.
== Future ==
=== Eridan ===
Albania gets conquered by Greece.
=== ULTRAMAN MAPPING ===
Albania will receive all of it's ethnic lands and become the Great Illyrian Empire.
=== MSG ===
Albania becomes Batron Republic.Category:Countries
Category:Countries in Europe
Category:Present Day
Category:Modern Nations
Category:Modern Nations in Europe