Albanian Ethnicity

To be Albanian does not necessarily mean belonging to the nation-state of Albania. It is very much an ethnicity; a nation within many states. Albanians are descendants from an Illyrian tribe that is believed to have arrived to the Illyrian Peninsula even before the Greeks. The Region of Albania has been inhabited by the Albanians throughout the Greek, Roman, and Ottoman Empires. The region of Albania, Kosovo, part of Greece, part of Macedonia, and part of Montenegro were all claimed to be part of Albania. in 1912 however the current borders were decided with its independence. Today there are many Albanians who live in these other countries but declare themselves Albanian. There are other Albanian diasporas in various countries around Europe, Egypt, and the U.S. 

Throughout History Albanians have always resisted the rule of any Empire; but in time the Byzantines would conquer the region bringing Orthodox Christianity with them. Later Catholicism would enter in the region. Then the Ottomans came and filled the region with Islam.  Soon the region would lack unity and struggle with its identity between conflicting religion, culture, and ethnicities. The communist regime in the 20th century would prove to unify Albania under one national identity.

Albania and ethnic Albanians today are extremely proud of their identity and ethnicity. When the Albanian national soccer team plays ethnic Albanians everywhere outside of the country will be seen cheering and roaring for their team. Just the other day I had the opportunity to witness some sport/patriotic spirit. After the game with Albania against Armenia with an Albanian win I heard the chants,

 "ALBANIAN ETHNICITY!"