Albania–Hungary relations

Albania–Hungary relations

Albania	Hungary

Albania–Hungary relations refer to the current and historical relations of Albania and Hungary. Albania has an embassy in Budapest and Hungary has an embassy and a consular office in Tirana. The history of diplomatic relations of Albania and Hungary dates back to 1912, when Albania declared its independence in November 28, 1912.

The countries are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. As a European Union (EU) member, Hungary supports Albania in its euro-integration path.

History

Middle Ages

Albanian-Hungarian relations date back to the Middle Ages. Especially after Hungary was converted to Catholicism and northern Albanian rulers increasingly also converted and converted their subjects to Catholicism as well during the High Middle Ages especially after the Fourth Crusade, Hungary often had relationships with Albanian principalities.

Ottoman conquest

During the Ottoman conquests of the Balkans, Albanian national hero Skanderbeg and Hungarian national hero Janos Hunyadi were aligned together against the Ottoman Army.

Late Ottoman era

As a unified state, Austro-Hungary helped provide education to Northern Albanians, especially those of Catholic faith, by helping build schools in the vicinity of Shkodër. Unlike all other schools in the country at the time, it allowed students to learn in Albanian. The expansion of Albanian education helped the stimulate the Albanian National Awakening.

A Hungarian noble Franz Nopcsa was influential in the emerging field of Albanology which fueled the rise of Albanian nationalism, and he gave his support to Albanian independence.

Austro-Hungary supported Albanian aspirations, particularly against Serbian claims to Albanian territory, motivated by a desire to restrain the power of Pan-Slavism under the aegis of the Russian Empire, which was a particular threat to Hungary which had to contend with Slovak nationalism, Croatian nationalism and Serbian nationalism.

After Albanian Independence

King Zogu chose as his wife a Hungarian nobleman named Geraldine.

Communist era

During the Soviet era, both countries were part of the Eastern Bloc and COMECON until Albania's withdrawal in 1961.

See also

• Foreign relations of Albania
• Foreign relations of Hungary

External links

• Albanian Embassy in Budapest
• Hungarian Embassy in Tirana