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XVI Italian Army Corps

Albanian Republic
Republika Shqiptare
Protectorate of Italy
1917–1920


Flag

Motto
Atdheu mbi te gjitha
"Homeland above all"
Anthem
Himni i Flamurit
"Hymn to the Flag"
Capital Valona (Vlorë)
Political structure Protectorate of Italy
Prime Minister Turhan Përmeti
Historical era Interwar period
 •  Established June 23, 1917
 •  Disestablished 2 August 1920
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Principality of Albania
Principality of Albania


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The Italian protectorate over Albania was established by the Kingdom of Italy during World War I in an effort to secure a de jure independent Albania under Italian control. It existed from June 23, 1917 until the summer of 1920.

The Kingdom of Italy occupied the port of Vlorë on December 1914, but had to withdraw after the Austrian-Hungarian invasion in late 1915 - early 1916, and the fall of Durrës on 27 February 1916. In May 1916, the Italian XVI Corps, some 100,000 men under the command of General Settimio Piacentini, returned and occupied the region of southern Albania by the autumn 1916, while the French army occupied Korçë and its surrounding areas on November 29, 1916. The Italian (in Gjirokastër) and French forces (in Korçë), according mainly to the development of the Balkan Front, entered the area of former Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus (controlled by the Greek minority) in autumn 1916, after approval of the Triple Entente.

The establishment of the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë was done on December 10, 1916 by French authorities with a protocol, according to which an autonomous province would be established on the territories of Korçë, Bilishti, Kolonja, Opar and Gora in eastern Albania.


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