"North Epirus_Βόρεια Ήπειρος" Open Wound..

Good morning !

In this article you'll read about the story of a region in the Southwest Balkans called North Epirus recognised as such by the UN, has Hellenic(Greek) population and to belonged to Hellas(Greece) since antiquity.

HISTORY-ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ

Epirus 330BC-167BC source

Antiquity

According to Historians , in this region used to live the Hellenic tribes of Thesprotians, Chaonians and Molossians at least from 2000BC.
Especially , Chaonians from who we have the more records ,a tribe which leader was Chaon who was the son of Elenus who founded the city and port of Bouthroton today called Burtrint ,where living in the areas from Adriatic sea founding also the ports and cities of Onchesmos and Chimaera (modern-day Agioi Saranda and Himara) till the lake Achris(ΑΧΡΙΔΑ) or Ohris(ΟΧΡΙΔΑ) in Skopja.
They also founded the cities of Phoinice(ΦΟΙΝΙΚΗ), Antigonia(ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΕΙΑ), Antipatrea(ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΕΙΑ), Amantea(ΑΜΑΝΤΙΑ), Nicea(ΝΙΚΑΙΑ), Pelion(ΠΗΛΙΟΝ), Horikon(ΩΡΙΚΟΝ).
In 375BC all the Hepirus tribes were united under the Kingdom of Epirus and Alketas' Aiakides dynasty of the Molossian tribe until 232BC when the Comon of the Epirotians was founded withoyt having a King and their capital was Phoinice.

Roman era

In 167 BC the Romans are conquering the area. Since 100AD , Apostle Paul is teaching Christianity and around 400AD is becoming the main religion(read my article about Theodosius).
North Epirus is a part of the Eastern Roman Empire and suffering the rides of Visigoths in 3rd century, Avars in 6th century, Slavs in 7th century, Normans in 11th century, Serbs, Albanians and various Italian dynasties in 14th century but beside that they preserve the tight with the Hellenic civilization.
During 1204 , North Epirus is gain and losing autonomy from the Eastern Roman Empire.
In 1281 , a strong expedionary army of Normans is repelled in Berat(ΒΕΡΑΤΙΟ).
In 1345 , the regions of Epirus, Thessaly, Eastern Macedonia, were delivered to the Serbs in agreement made with John VI Kantakouzenos in exchange for the services they provided him during the Byzantine civil war for the throne..
At the same period, Kingdom of Venice is controling Bouthroton along with many coastal areas. Also the Ottomans are appearing .

Ottoman era

Since 1430 the area is conquered by the Ottomans. Many times the population tried to gain its freedom but with no result.
An important attempt was in the Greek revolution for independence in 1821 starting from the people of Chimara and spreading all over Epirus. Another attempt took part in 1854 ,during the Russian - Turkish war.

Before the Balkan war

The minister of external affairs of Hellas(Greece) is sending a memorandum to the Ottoman Empire on June 13th, 1912 considering North Epirus along with Preveza, Hegoumenitsa, Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, most of the Argyrokastro region and half of Avlona from Kourvelesi and Kleisoura to Aoos, are Hellenic terittories ans is asking for them.
However, when the Turks left Epirus in the summer of 1912, was recognized to the Albanians
(as Allies) the apartments of Skodra, Kosovo, Monastery, and Ioannina.

Greek costumes in North Epirus

Balkan war

When the war begun , the Albanians rush to say to the Super Powers of the era that they were against the New Turks movement ,asking for benefits.
On December 7th, 1912, the Hellenic army liberated Korytsa(Korce). In the first days of 1913, Ioannina , on March 16th liberated Argyrokastro and on March 19th , Tepeleni.

Treaty of London - Foundation of Albanian State

On July 29th, 1913 The Super Powers(England,Russia,France,Italy, Austria), are signing the treaty of London and made the Protocol of Florence according to which , Albanian state was created and Northen Epirus is given to it.
prime minister of Hellas denied to sign it , oposing that in the region the majority was Hellenic population plus Hellenic army was already there.

Blackmale

On February 13th, 1914, the Super Powers are signing a new Protocol in Florence demanded from Hellas , the withdrawal of the Hellenic forces from the region otherwise the Hellenic sovereignty over the Aegean islands would not be recognized !!!!

The Hellene Prime Minister was forced this way too sign the protocol but he asked guarnties for the safety of the Hellenic population that was about to be left there.
The Hellenic popuation of the area didn't accept that fell betrayed from the Prime Minister and on February 28th, 1914 they created a temporary goverment with Georgios Christakes-Zografos as president in the region and Argyrokastro as capital.

source

When the Hellenic Army withdrawed from the region , the Albanians provoked the Hellenic population who wasn't supplied with armory from the official Hellenic Government.
Armored conflicts took place and Hellenes Of North Epirus , took control of Erseka, Kolonia and Korytsa.

Protocol of Kerkyra

The Abanian government signed on May 17th, 1914 the protocol of Kerkyra according to which North Epirus was recognised as autonomus region with Hellenic population and Hellenic language was allowed officialy to be taught in schools as also freedom in religion choices.

Hellene women rebels

WW I - Liberation for a 2nd time

On October 27th , 1914 , the Hellenic Army is controling once again the region having it under the protection of the Hellenic State. Italy is conquering Aulona and later the rgion till Ioannina.
On 1917 Hellas is officialy entering the war and is taking back the areas of Argyrokastro, Chimara, Premete, Riza , Leskoviki, Mschopolis.

Super Powers are punishing Hellas for a 2nd time

On 1921 for a 2nd time the Super Powers gave North Epirus to Albania taking advantage the fact that Hellas was in a war with the Turks in Minor Asia and couldn't do anything for that.
In the Society of Nations only a part of the Hellenic zone in Eprus was officialy recognised (Argyrokastro, Chimara. Agioi Saranta). In the next years the Albanian State started pressing the Hellenes in all levels starting fro education . From 360 schools before the war , -0- left until 1934.
The Society of Nations made them to reopen some of them.

WW II - Liberation for a 3rd time*

Italy is conquering Albania without a war in 1939 and onOctober 28th, 1940 is invading Hellas.
Hellenic Army is victorious and is liberating North Epirus for a 3rd time. Unfortunately Germany attacked Hellas too on April 6th , 1941 after the collapse within 3 days of Yugoslavia. Italy is retaking North Epirus and treats the Hellenic polpulation extremely violently (6200 houses were burnt and more than 1700 men were executed)punishing them for helping the Hellenic Army. The rebel force of North Epirus Liberation was created by Hellenes and some joined the rebel force of communist Enver Hotza.

Cold War

After the WW II , Albanian State was in Soviet influnce and therefore isolated. Enver Hotza was place as leader in the Albanian State by Josef Stalin and once again the suffering of the Hellenic population started from the education system . Plus, Chimara stoped belonging to Minority Zone . Many Hellenes were transefered by force in other regions of the State in order to lose their Minority Rights. The use of Hellenic language was forbiden and names of regions or the people were changed by force. Whoever was trying to leave the country was executed and the relatives wer sent to the mines as labors. New villages with Albanian Ethnicists were created within the Minority Zone.
In 1967 , all religions were officially abolished .All churches, monasteries and church buildings in general were converted into warehouses, factories or gyms. The priests were imprisoned, the possession of a religious icon was an offense to the Albanian law. The Greek population, whose tradition was tight with religion, cut off from its cultural roots.

In 1960 the Soviet secretary , Chrousthof asked from Hotza to give back the autonomy to North Epirus , was rejected.

Hellenic National Minority of North Epirus

Hellenes in Albania are recognised officially as National Minority . Even if Albania has commited To E.U. to make cesus of the National teams in the country , she hasn't done it yet.
Some independent sources and CIA are counting the Hellenic population to 3% of the total , about 110.000 people while Hellenic Minority sources are talkin about near 500.000 and 12% of the total. Albanian sources are talking about 8% of the total and 250.00 people.

**Unfortunately until today this is an open wound for Hellas and the Hellanic population in North Epirus is suffering everyday from Albanian provokative behaviours and laws with the most recent incident with the execution of Konstantinos Katsifas after his arrest, proving it by holding his body for 10 days not permiting his family to burry it and not allowing many Hellenes from mother Hellas to be present in the funeral on the 11th day.

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Thanks for reading. Take care .