Albanian Congress of Trieste

The Albanian Congress of Trieste (Albanian: Kongresi Shqiptar i Triestës) was a congress of Albanians held in Trieste, Austria-Hungary in the period between 27 February – 6 March 1913, organized by Faik Konica and Sotir Kolea^[1]^[2] with strong support from the Austrian authorities.

Developments

The Provisional Government of Albania sent Kristo Meksi as its emissary to the Albanian Congress of Trieste.^[3] Baron Franz Nopcsa who participated in the work of the congress, published his notes on the congress that became of particular historical interest.^[4] The participants of the congress included Fan Noli, Albert Ghica, Baron Juan Pedro Aladro Kastriota, Nikolla Ivanaj,^[5] Giuseppe Schirò,^[6] and Terenzio Tocci.^[7] All Albanian colonies sent their delegates, they came from US, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt, Italy, and Trieste. The Arbëreshë community also was present, bringing with Marchese D'Auletta and his sons. Hil Mosi was elected Chairman of the Congress, Faik Konitza and Dervish Hima as vice-chairmen, Fazil Toptani and Pandeli Evangjeli as secretaries.^[6] Marchese d'Auletta, one of the main candidates for the Albanian throne, was elected "Honorary President" of the congress.^[8]

The congress recognized the provisional government set up by Ismail Qemal bey Vlora and discussed the various candidates for the vacant throne. Among the candidates being discussed at the time were Ferdinand François Bourbon Orléans-Montpensier of France, Albert Ghika of Romania, Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach from Württemberg, the Egyptian prince Ahmed Fuad, and the Spanish nobleman Juan Pedro Aladro Kastriota descent from the Kastrioti family through his paternal grandmother, he was the son of the Marchese Castriota (D'Auletta) from Naples. Baron Nopzsa also proposed himself for the throne. Austria-Hungary promoted the congress, in particular to ensure the selection of a prince of its choice.^[9]

The situation of the Aromanians in Albania was also discussed. In particular, the Aromanians demanded the establishment of an autonomous canton within Albania. It had also been proposed in the simultaneous London Conference of 1912–1913 that all lands inhabited by the Aromanians in the Balkans be given to Albania to protect them from Greek and Serbian assimilation. However, this did not happen, and the Aromanians were not given an autonomous canton in Albania as they did not live in compact areas within this unenlarged Albanian state.^[10]

List of delegates

Fazil Pasha Toptani
Fuat Bey Toptani
Haki Bey Qafzezi
Izet Bey Ohri
Mazhar Bey Toptani
Ndrek Kiçi
Nush Serreqi
Don Pjetër Tusha
Ahmet Gjyli
Kolec Deda
Çinto Çoba
Luvigj Kodheli
Mark Kakarriqi
Zef Shantoja
Filip Pema
Stefan Ashiku
Dervish Hima
Zef Schiro
Frano Chinigo
Frano Muzaqi
Luvigj Jakova
Terenzio Tocci
Frano G.Kastrioti
Epaminonda Ballamaçi
Marchese d’Auletta
Kol Serreqi
Pjetër Maurea
At Foti Ballamaçi
At Fan Noli
Dr. Shunda
Zef Kurti
Pashko Muzhani
Nush Proka
Gasper Shkreli
Jak Koçi
Faik Be Konica
Dimitri Shadima
Moise Chinigo
Filip Kraja
Nikolla Ivanaj
Lek Kiri
Gjergj Shllaku
Gjek Shestani
Filip Matoja
Mark Shestani
Gjergj Zubçaj
Jak Mrkuci
Ferrara Gaetano
Ferrara Giovanni
Vasil Diamandi
Engell Todri
Jusuf Maliqi
Tossun Halil
Zef Kraja
Jaja Aga Jakova
Pjetër Giadri
Ndoc Simoni
Dr.Kristo Batazo
Nyzhet Bey Vrioni
Ferhat Bey Draga
Pjetër Kakarriqi
A.Bey Gjilani
Ahmet Bey Pizrendi
Islam Dibra
Albert Ghica
Doher Paço
Ndrek Luka
Shaqir Mustafa
Mehmet Luli
Shan Koleka
Filip Bushati
Ndoc Dema
Hysen Draçini
Gjon Hila
Sotir Kolea
Tom Stamolla
Stefan Kaçulini
Jak Vukaj
Pal Gjergji
Zef Marshani
Cin Pema
Pjetër Marashi
Kol Vukaj
Zef Gjergjaj
Ndoc Marashi
Orazio Iriani
Anselmo Lorecchio
Bajram Doklani
Nicolla Paço
Sokrat Shkreli
Hysen Rahmi
Qerim Be Begolli
Ibrahim Kabaski
Riza Voshtini
Abdullah Struga
Ali Shefqet Beu
Pul Mashi
Dimitri Ilo
Mihal Lehova
Filip Peciu
Hil Mosi
Spartaco Camarda
Aleksi Dreneva
Pjetër Koxhamani
Spiro Arapi
Filip Gjeka
Thanas Kandili
Pandeli Evangjeli
Nikolla Candzu
Vasil Dogani
Filip Zadrima
Stef Curani
Loro Ashiku
Hamdi Be Ohri
Idriz Banushi
Nush Paruca
Dimitri Mola
Pashko Spathari
Hysen Avni
Lonida Losi
Kristo Meksi
Baron Franz Nopcsa

Decisions

The program of the congress had four points:

Preparing the request to be sent to the Great Powers for recognition of the political and economical independence of the Albania
Treaty of friendship and support of the Aromanian populations that lived near Albanian-inhabited regions and wanted to be included in the Albanian state.
Borders of future Albania
Discussion about the prince^[6]

References

^ Mano, Nini (3 July 2010). "Sotir Kolea, dhunimi i një patrioti (pas vdekjes)". Gazeta Shqip. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
^ Elsie, Robert. "Albanian Voices, 1962 – Fan Noli". Robert Elsie's personal website. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011. Congress of Trieste which was organized by his friend and rival Faik bey Konitza
^ Elsie, Robert (1999). "The Viennese Scholar Who Almost Became King of Albania: Baron Franz Nopcsa and His Contribution to Albanian Studies". East European Quarterly. 33. ISSN 0012-8449.
^ Nopcsa, Franz. "The Congress of Trieste". Robert Elsie. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
^ Nopcsa, Franz. "The Congress of Trieste". Robert Elsie. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011. Nikolla Ivanaj, who endeavoured unsuccessfully to challenge the authority of the chairman simply in order to draw attention to himself.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Kongresi Shqipetar Trieste". Shipkovica. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
^ Elsie, Robert (2004), Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, p. 445, ISBN 978-0-8108-4872-6, OCLC 52347600, Tocci Torenzio....he took part in the Congress of Trieste
^ Fan Noli, Kostandin Chekrezi, ed. (1818), Kalendari i Vatrës i motit 1918 [Vatra's calendar of year 1918] (in Albanian), Boston, MA: Vatra, p. 26, ...kryetar i nderit Markisi Auleta Kastrioti...
^ Robert Elsie (2010), Historical Dictionary of Albania, Historical Dictionaries of Europe, vol. 75 (2 ed.), The Scarecrow Press, Inc., pp. 89–90, ISBN 978-0-8108-6188-6
^ Meta, Beqir (2009). "Pakica etno-kulturore vllehe në vitet 1912-1920". Studime Historike (in Albanian) (1–2): 57–76.

External links

[1] Mano, Nini (3 July 2010). "Sotir Kolea, dhunimi i një patrioti (pas vdekjes)". Gazeta Shqip. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.

[2] Elsie, Robert. "Albanian Voices, 1962 – Fan Noli". Robert Elsie's personal website. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011. Congress of Trieste which was organized by his friend and rival Faik bey Konitza

[3] Elsie, Robert (1999). "The Viennese Scholar Who Almost Became King of Albania: Baron Franz Nopcsa and His Contribution to Albanian Studies". East European Quarterly. 33. ISSN 0012-8449.

[4] Nopcsa, Franz. "The Congress of Trieste". Robert Elsie. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.

[5] Nopcsa, Franz. "The Congress of Trieste". Robert Elsie. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011. Nikolla Ivanaj, who endeavoured unsuccessfully to challenge the authority of the chairman simply in order to draw attention to himself.

[shipkovica-6] "Kongresi Shqipetar Trieste". Shipkovica. Retrieved 5 March 2011.

[7] Elsie, Robert (2004), Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, p. 445, ISBN 978-0-8108-4872-6, OCLC 52347600, Tocci Torenzio....he took part in the Congress of Trieste

[8] Fan Noli, Kostandin Chekrezi, ed. (1818), Kalendari i Vatrës i motit 1918 [Vatra's calendar of year 1918] (in Albanian), Boston, MA: Vatra, p. 26, ...kryetar i nderit Markisi Auleta Kastrioti...

[9] Robert Elsie (2010), Historical Dictionary of Albania, Historical Dictionaries of Europe, vol. 75 (2 ed.), The Scarecrow Press, Inc., pp. 89–90, ISBN 978-0-8108-6188-6

[10] Meta, Beqir (2009). "Pakica etno-kulturore vllehe në vitet 1912-1920". Studime Historike (in Albanian) (1–2): 57–76.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

v t e Albania during the early Independence period (1912–14)
Index - Outline
Head of the State	Ismail Kemal
Assembly of Vlorë	Kosovo: Rexhep Mitrovica, Bedri Pejani, Salih Gjuka, Mid'hat Frashëri, Mehmet Pashë Deralla, Isa Boletini, Riza Bey Gjakova, Ajdin Draga, Qerim Begolli; Monastir: Zyhdi Ohri, Myrteza Ali Struga, Nuri Sojliu, Hamdi Ohri, Mustafa Baruti, Dervish Hima, Vehbi Dibra, Sherif Langu, Hajdar Blloshmi Shkodër: Abaz Çelkupa, Mustafa Hanxhiu, Jahja Ballhysa, Nikoll Kaçorri, Lef Nosi, Shefqet Dajiu, Qemal Karaosmani, Dervish Biçaku, Luigj Gurakuqi, Pandeli Cale, Thanas Floqi, Spiridon Ilo, Mustafa Merlika-Kruja, Qemal Mullaj, Ferid Vokopola, Nebi Sefa, Ahmet bej Zogolli, Riza Zogolli, Kurt Agë Kadiu, Abdi Toptani, Murad Toptani, Mahmud Efendi Kaziu, Xhemal Deliallisi, Ymer Deliallisi, Ibrahim Efendiu, Xhelal Koprëncka; Hajredin Cakrani, Fehim Mezhgorani; Janina: Elmas Boçe, Veli Harçi, Mufid Libohova, Petro Poga, Jani Papadhopulli, Ismail Qemali Gramshi, Kristo Meksi, Aristidh Ruçi, Veli Gërra, Jakup Veseli, Rexhep Demi, Azis Tahir Ajdonati, Sami Vrioni, Ilias Vrioni, Dhimitër Tutulani, Babë Dud Karbunara, Avni Bey Delvina, Ismail Kemal, Zihni Abaz Kanina, Zyhdi Vlora, Qazim Kokoshi, Jani Minga, Eqrem Vlora, Veli Këlcyra, Syreja Vlora; Albanian community of Bucharest: Dhimitër Zografi, Dhimitër Mborja, Dhimitër Beratti, Dhimitër Ilo
Government	Ismail Kemal Dom Nikoll Kaçorri Mufid Libohova General Mehmet Pashë Deralla Abdi Toptani Petro Poga Luigj Gurakuqi Mid'hat Frashëri Pandeli Cale Lef Nosi
Elderly Assembly	Kosovo: Salih Gjuka, Bedri Pejani, Ajdin Draga, Monastir: Vehbi Dibra Shkoder: Hajredin Cakrani, Shefqet Dajiu, Dervish Biçaku, Xhelal Koprëncka, Mustafa Merlika-Kruja, Murad Toptani, Janina: Babë Dud Karbunara, Veli Këlcyra, Kristo Meksi, Eqrem Vlora, Ilias Vrioni, Sami Vrioni, Albanian colony of Bucharest: Dhimitër Zografi, Dhimitër Beratti
History	Albanian Vilayet All-Albanian Congress Albanian Declaration of Independence Albanian Congress of Trieste Treaty of London (1913) 100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania
Category - WikiProject