In Nov. 1916 the Italians had occupied Valona. In the autumn of 1915 the Austro-Hungarians, after overrunning Serbia, occupied northern and central Albania. Essad retired to Salonika where he continued to pose for some considerable time as the true Albanian representative until he became finally discredited. Many Albanians adhered to the cause of the central empires. This was not unnatural since a victory for Germany would in all probability have given Albania an autonomous, if not an independent, government within wider frontiers than she could ever otherwise hope for. Under Bairam Tsuri, an unsurpassed gucrillero, Albanian bands harassed the Allied lines of communication which ran from Santi Quaranta to Koritsa and Salonika.
On June 3 1917 Italy proclaimed the independence of all Albania under Italian protection. This proclamation was sub- sequently explained as not denoting a " protectorate," but it could hardly be interpreted as anything but a formal repudiation of the articles of the Pact of London. The French, who had occupied the Ersek-Koritsa road, replied by proclaiming the republic of Koritsa. After three months the republic was abolished, but the district remained under French rule until May 1918, when it was handed over to the Albanians. Then came the retreat of the Austrians in the autumn of that year. Thus the greater part of Albania fell under the occupation of Italy. An inter-Allied contingent on the other hand occupied Scutari, while Serbian troops seized Mt. Tarabosh and advanced their line considerably west of the 1913 frontier.
In March 1920 the inter-Allied command at Scutari handed over their powers to a small Italian contingent, which in May 1921 still remained in the town as representing the Allied and Associated Powers pending the formal recognition of the Albanian State and the confirmation of its frontiers.
Meantime important events had occurred which finally paved the way for the reestablishment of Albanian independence. The Italians permitted the formation of a new national provi- sional government within their area of occupation, and Albania's case was duly presented at the Peace Conference in 1919. Her representatives included Turchan Pasha, who had acted as Prince William's prime minister; Dr. Tourtuli of Koritsa, the eminent specialist in tropical diseases; Mgr. Bumci, Bishop of Alessio; and Mehmet Bey Konitza, later Minister of Foreign Affairs and representative of the Vatra, an important national society of Albanians resident in America which had risen during the last ten years under the able organization of Faik Konitza and Mgr. Fa Noli, to take a leading part in the cause of Albanian independence. The general complications of the Adriatic ques- tion, however, prevented the Albanian case being concluded. President Wilson vetoed a proposal to partition the country. The Italians at the same time lost their initial popularity. It was generally understood that they had provisionally accepted a mandate for Albania. There were evident signs in any case of an intention on their part to remain in permanent occupation. They treated the local authorities with scant courtesy and seriously hampered the independent working of the central Government. The latter were also keenly aware that a per- manent Italian occupation inevitably entailed the admission of at least part of the Greek and Serbian claims to their territory.
It was in these circumstances that fighting broke out between Albanian irregulars and the Italian troops, which had been greatly reduced in numbers and were suffering badly from malaria. The Italians accordingly concentrated within certain strategical areas, and thus enabled a new and more representa- tive Albanian Government to be formed in Feb. 1920, first at Lyusna and then at Tirana, under the presidency of Suleiman Bey Delvina. Four constitutional regents were simultaneously appointed, namely, Mgr. Bumci, Dr. Tourtuli, Abdi Toptani and Akif Pasha i.e. two Mussulmans, one Catholic and one Orthodox. Later in the year the Albanians under Bairam Tsuri again attacked the Italians, capturing many important positions and pressing them hard within the Valona area itself. Italy was in no mood for further wars. The economic and social con- dition of the country forbade any hope the Italian Nationalist
parties still entertained of imposing by force of arms Italian rule in Albania. Moreover, Giolitti had assumed power with a large Liberal majority behind him, and he had made up his mind to tackle the Albanian question otherwise. The result was an agreement signed on Aug. 2 1920, by which Albania's inde- pendence was completely recognized by Italy and the evacuation of the country by the Italian troops assured.
The Serbs, who had attempted to profit by the occasion, had advanced on Tirana, but after some severe fighting had been driven back to their original positions. Yet in spite of these successes the Government of Suleiman Bey fell in the autumn. It was replaced by a Ministry under Illias Vrioni, pending the election due to take place in the following spring of a new Chamber, Mgr. Fa Noli was appointed Albanian representative at Geneva and in Jan. 1921 Albania was formally admitted to full membership of the League of Nations, all the parties (Italy, Serbia and Greece), at one time interested in her dismemberment, recording their vote in favour of the motion.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Foreign Office Manual No. 17; Constantine A. Chekressi, Memoirs; Ismael Kemal, "Albania and the Albanians," Quarterly Review (July 1917); J. S. Barnes, "The Future of the Albanian State, " Jour. Roy. Ceo. Soc. (July 1918); A. Baldacci, Itinerari Albanesi 1892-1902 (1917); E. Barbarich. Albania (1905); E. Durham, The Burden of the Balkans (1905; 2nd ed. 1912); High Albania (1909); The Struggle for Scutari (1914); K. Hassert, Streif- ziige in Ober-Albanien; Leon Lamouche, La Naissance de I'Etat Albanais; Louis Jaray, L'Albanie inconnue (1913); Au jeune roy- aume dAlbanie (1914); W. Peacock, Albania (1914); Sullioti, Sei Mesi di regno in Albania (1914); Haskins and Lord, Some Problems of the Peace Conference (1920) ; Report of Dutch Mis- sion in Albania (1914); Report of French Ministry of War (1915); Report of Italian Ministry of War (1915) ; Report of Italian Ministry of Marine (1917); Karl Steinmetz, Von der Adria zum Schwarzen Drin (1908) ; Eine Reise durch die Hochldndergaue Oberalbaniens (1904); Ein Vorstoss in die nordalbanischen Alpen (1905); Baron Nopcsa, Das Katholische Nordalbanien (1907); Aus Sala imd Kle- menti; Marchese di San Giuliano, Lettere dall' Albania; Miller, The Ottoman Empire 1801-1913, Cambridge Historical Series (1913).
(J. S. BA.)
ALBERT I., King of the Belgians (1875- ), was born at Brussels April 8 1875, the younger son of Philip, Count of Flanders (1837-1905), brother of Leopold II., by his marriage with Princess Marie of Hohenzollern. The other children of this marriage were: Baldwin (b. 1869), Henriette, afterwards Duchess of Vendome (b. 1870), a daughter who died in infancy, and Josephine, afterwards Princess Charles of Hohenzollern (b. 1872). The premature death of Prince Leopold, only son of Leopold II., on June 22 1869, made Prince Baldwin heir presumptive to the Belgian crown, but on the death of the young prince oh Jan. 23 1891, Prince Albert became next in the
line of succession. He was carefully educated, and showed a marked taste for engineering and mechanics, studying both naval and aerial construction. He received his training in military matters at the Ecole Militaire under Gen. Jungblut, and also became a thorough all-round sportsman, taking much interest in mountaineering and later in aviation. On Oct. 2 1900 he was married at Munich to Princess Elisabeth (b. July 25 1876, at Possenhofen), second daughter of Duke Charles Theodore of Bavaria. Three children were born of this marriage: Leopold, Duke of Brabant (b. Nov. 3 1901), Charles,
Count of Flanders (b. Oct. 10 1903), and Marie Jose (b. Aug. 4 1906).
Prince Albert also travelled widely, paying a visit to America in 1898, and in 1908 visiting England in order to study naval construction. In April 1909 he went to the Belgian Congo in order to acquaint himself with colonial conditions, returning in Aug. of the same year.
On the death of Leopold II. on Dec. i 1909 Prince Albert took the oath of fidelity to the Belgian constitution and became king under the name of Albert I. He occupied him- self more especially with the organization of the army and in May 1913. gave his assent to the law which was designed to secure for Belgium an army of 350,000 men. He also interested himself in various social and legal reforms, while his scientific tastes did not prevent him from becoming a friend of art and
