Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus

Origins

The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 left Greek troops in southern Albania, a region with a large Greek Orthodox population that Greeks called Northern Epirus. The Protocol of Florence in December 1913 assigned it to the new state of Albania. Rejecting this, local leaders proclaimed an autonomous republic at Gjirokaster in February 1914, led by Georgios Christakis-Zografos.

Rule and society

The provisional government raised its own armed units, issued stamps and fought Albanian gendarmerie for control of the region. In May 1914 the Protocol of Corfu, accepted by the Albanian government and the great powers, gave the region extensive autonomy within Albania, with Greek-language schools and Orthodox religious rights.

Decline and legacy

The Protocol of Corfu was never fully put into effect. With the outbreak of the First World War and Albania's collapse, the Greek army occupied the region in October 1914, ending the republic. The area was returned to Albania after the war.