Kingdom of Albania

The Kingdom of Albania is a Puppet State of the Italian Empire located west and South of the Tsardom of Serbia. East of the Italian Empire, Southeast of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and North of the Kingdom of Greece and the Duchy of Samos.

## History

### Origin

In the 15th century, Albanian national hero Skanderbeg fought back against the Turkish invaders. However, after his death and the fall of Krujas and Shkodra, the country came under four centuries of foreign rule. Large numbers of the population converted to Islam in the 16th and 17th century, allowing them to rise into the highest offices - eleven Grand Veziers came from Albania and Mohammed Ali founded a dynasty in Egypt in 1805. The Islamization brought support for the resistance against Serbs and Greek as well as against the Ottoman rule itself. Only at the end of the 19th century, the national renaissance began with the founding of the League of Prizren.

Around 1910, Albania was shaken by multiple nationalist revolts; While the Ottomans were able to suppress these revolts several times, they had to give in to Albanian demands in 1912 & promised them autonomy in a united Albanian vilayet under Ottoman authority.

However, the dream of Albanian autonomy & unity soon became endangered when the Balkan League declared war on the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and occupied huge swaths of their European territory. The Albanians, scared that their territory would be partitioned between Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, declared their independence and seeked out international support. In 1913, the great powers guaranteed their independence, however almost 50% of their territory was given to neighbouring countries, including Kosovo. To bring stability into the newly established state, which was plagued by anarchy & lawlessness, the great powers chose the German protestant aristocrat Wilhelm of Wied as the future ruler of Albania. He arrived in early 1914.

### World War I

During World War I, Germany conquered all of Central Europe and East Europe as Russia had fallen to the Communists. Italy invaded Albania during that time to get itself territories in the Balkans. After the Invasion the Italians proclaimed Powerful Albanian Politician and Noble Ahmed Muhtar bey Zogolli as King of Albania as he was crowned Zog I.

## Government

The Government of Albania is a Constitutional Monarchy under a Provincial Senate in which the Monarch is in charge of the Military and Society but a Praetor put into power by the Italians is in charge of the Government. The Praetor appoints members of the Senate voted in by the Nobles as they elect a Prime Minister appointed by the King himself. The Prime Minister elects members of the Parliament to be in his cabinet.

## Military

Albania has a very small army, usually used only to repress the occasional revolt and to defend the nation and deter potential adversaries from any potential attacks. Luckily as an Italian Puppet that is located next door to their master state, Albania can get certain protections and help from it's master state.

Because of the country's poor economy, Albania was never able to attempt naval or aviation programs, despite the presence of a decent airport and a good port in Tirana.

## Foreign Relations

* Colonial Relations and Great Relations with the Italian Empire