This is a list of wars that Albanian states and Albanian armed forces have been involved in.
Medieval era
ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultManiakes' rebellion (1043)George Maniakes Arbresh (Albanian) rebels Bulgarian soldiers Byzantine (Roman) soldiers Varangian mercenaries Byzantine EmpireDefeat According to Byzantine chronicler Michael Attaleiates, Maniakes assembled an army containing Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Albanian (Arbresh) soldiers Maniakes marched towards Constantinople along the Via Egnatia Maniakes was killed in the battle of Ostrovo while on the verge of victory The rebellion collapsed following his death in 1043Basilakes rebellion (1078)Nikephoros Basilakes Arbanitai soldiers (Albanian) Bulgarian soldiers Roman soldiers Frankish (Italian) mercenaries Varangian mercenaries Pecheneg mercenaries Byzantine EmpireDefeat Basilakes' forces included veteran Roman, Bulgarian, Albanian, Frankish, Varangian and Pecheneg troops Basilakes was defeated by Alexios Komnenos near the Vardar River Basilakes fled to Thessaloniki, where he was captured by his own soldiers The rebellion was suppressed in 1078War of Michael II against the Empire of Nicaea (1252–1253) Principality of Arbanon Despotate of Epirus Empire of NicaeaNicaean victory Golem of Kruja initially supported Michael II against the Nicaean forces. Golem and his soldiers subsequently surrendered to John III Vatatzes. The defection of Golem and other Epirote leaders helped force Michael II to come to terms with Vatatzes. The resulting settlement placed Kruja under Nicaean suzerainty.Rebellion of Arbanon (1257–1259)Principality of Arbanon Empire of NicaeaInconclusive Arbanon rebels initially defeat Nicaean forces The revolt is put under control by 1259 Albanian nobles rebel again in 1260-1270 around Durrës Byzantine–Angevin War(1274–1281) Kingdom of Albania Kingdom of Sicily Byzantine EmpireAlbanian nobility Defeat Angevin forces were largely expelled from the Albanian interior following the Siege of Berat Andrea I Muzaka established de facto independent territorial rule in the Myzeqe areaStefan Milutin's invasion of Northern Albania (1296–1299)Albanian nobility Byzantine Empire Kingdom of SerbiaDefeat Serbian victory The Serbian army attacks Northern Albania in 1296 with the goal of capturing the Mat–Ohrid line and triumphs at the Battle of Durrës, but Milutin's advance toward Ohrid is halted by Progonos Sgouros. Peace is achieved in 1299; the marriage with Simonida leads to the Kingdom of Serbia gaining the Mat–Ohrid line and the territory north of Durrës. Following the armistice, the Albanian noble families reform their alliances with the Angevins.Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 John V PalaiologosRegents: Anna of Savoy John XIV Kalekas Alexios ApokaukosAllies:Zealots of Thessalonica Serbia (1343–1347) BulgariaPrincipality of Karvuna John VI KantakouzenosAllies: Serbia (1342–1343) Beylik of Aydin (1342/3–1345) Ottoman beylik (1345–1347)Beylik of Saruhan Principality of AlbaniaPrincipality of MuzakaMixed Results Kantakouzenos victory John VI Kantakouzenos defeats regents Recognized as senior emperor Serbia gained Macedonia and Albania, and soon after Epirus and Thessaly, establishing the Serbian Empire Bulgaria gains northern ThraceMuzaka-Serbian Conflict (1350–1370)Albanian Muzaka familySupport: Byzantine EmpireAlbanian Gropa familyAngevinsBalšić familySerbian Empire Principality of ValonaAlbanian Victory Muzaka forces capture Myzeqe, Berat, Tomorricë, Skrapar, Këlcyrë, Përmet, Opar, Devoll, Kolonjë and Kastoria.Albanian-Anjou Conflict (1358–1383) Principality of Albania Angevin Kingdom of Naples Navarrese Company
Kingdom of NavarreAlbanian victory The Principality of Albania captures Durrës. End of the Angevin Kingdom of Albania.Albanian-Epirote War of 1359 Albanian Losha Family and Shpata FamilyDespotate of EpirusVictory An Epirote invasion force is badly defeated by the Albanians at the Battle of Achelous and the Epirote leader, Nikephoros II Orsini, is killed. Albanians invade Epirus. Pjetër Losha forms the Despotate of Arta and Gjin Bua Shpata forms the Despotate of Angelokastron and Lepanto. Serbs take control of the rest of Epirus.Thopian-Zetan War (1363–64) Principality of Albania Principality of Zeta Principality of MatarangaVictory Gjergj I Balsha, allied with the Mataranga family go to war against Karl Thopia. Gjergj I Balsha gets captured by Karl Thopia and gets held until 1366 when the Republic of Ragusa mediated peace.Fine 1994, p. 372Albanian-Epirote War (1367–70) Albanian Losha Family Despotate of Arta Albanian Mazaraki Tribe Albanian Malakasi Tribe Despotate of Epirus in IoanninaCeasefire Albanian forces with support from Aromanian tribes besiege and attack Ioannina from 1367 to 1370. An agreement is made where the daughter, Irene, of the ruler of Epirus, Thomas Preljubović marries the son, Gjin, of the ruler of Arta, Pjetër Losha. This ends the siege.Albanian-Epirote War (1374–1375) Despotate of Arta Despotate of Epirus in IoanninaCeasefire Albanian forces under Gjin Bua Shpata defeat forces under Thomas Preljubović and ravaged the countryside of Ioannina, but fail to capture the city. An agreement is made where the sister, Helena, of the ruler of Epirus, Thomas Preljubović marries Gjin Bua Shpata.Durrës Expedition (1376) Principality of Albania Navarrese Company
Kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of FranceDefeat Navarrese victory. Louis of Évreux captures Durrës. Reestablishment of the Kingdom of Albania.Knights Hospitaller invasion of Despotate of Arta (1378)Despotate of Arta Knights HospitallerVictory Knights Hospitaller capture Nafpaktos and Vonitsa The Gjin Bua Shpata ambushed the Knights Hospitaller Army and captured Grand Master Juan Fernández de Heredia and holds him for ransom Gjin Bua Shpata recaptures NafpaktosAlbanian-Epirote War (1381–84) Despotate of ArtaDespotate of Epirus in Ioannina Ottoman EmpireDefeat Epirote victory Thomas Preljubović secures Ottoman and Frankish auxiliary forces to launch a successful offensive against the Despotate of Arta. Epirus captures multiple fortresses and territories, halting the Albanian pressure on Ioannina, though the Mazarakii tribe maintains their defense. Fearing further Ottoman incursions, Gjin Bua Shpata sues for peace, securing a ceasefire through a marriage alliance.Albanian-Epirote War of 1385 Despotate of Arta Despotate of EpirusCeasefire Albanians besiege Ioannina. Shpata withdraws due to strong city defences. The two sides later negotiate peace.Thopian-Zetan War (1385) Principality of Albania Ottoman Empire Principality of Zeta Victory Albanian - Ottoman forces defeat Zetan forces. Balsha II is killed in the Battle of Savra.Albanian-Epirote War of 1389–90 Despotate of Arta (all four battles)Malakasi Tribe (second battle) Despotate of Epirus (all four battles)Thessaly (second battle) Ottoman Empire (third and fourth battles)Defeat Albanian and Aromanian forces are defeated in four battles against Epirote, Thessalian and Ottoman forces around Jannina. Albanian forces withdraw into the surrounding mountains. Peace lasts from 1391–1394.Venetian-Albanian War (1392) Princedom of Albania Republic of VeniceDefeat Venice invades and successfully captures Durrës from the Princedom.Albanian–Epirote War (1399–1400)Albanian Zenebishi Family Principality of Gjirokastër Despotate of EpirusPro-Epirote Albanian ClansVictory Epirote forces led by Esau de' Buondelmonti invade Zenebishi territory in 1399, but are routed in battle by the Albanians and Esau is captured. Esau is released after a large ransom is paid in 1400, ending the war.Civil war of the Despotate of Arta (1401–08) (late 1401 – 1408)1401–1403:Despotate of Arta supported by Skurra Bua Shpata and Muriq Shpata 1403–1407:Despotate of Arta Forces loyal to Pal Shpata Forces loyal to Maurice Shpata Ottoman Empire (1406 only) 1407–1408:Despotate of Arta (supported by Muriq Shpata) County palatine of Cephalonia and ZakynthosSgouros and Paul are defeated, Maurice is victorious Carlo I Tocco invades Skurra Bua Shpata's area of the Despotate of Arta. Muriq reinforces Skurra but the latter is killed in battle by the Epirotes in 1403. Skurras' son, Pal, seeks Ottoman aid, ceding Angelokastron to the Ottoman Empire. However, only a small Ottoman contingent is sent which is defeated in battle in 1406. Pal retreats from most of his areas the same year and cedes Naupaktos to Venice in 1407. Tocco captures Angelokastron from the Ottomans in 1408. A Tocco attack against the city of Arta is repelled by Albanians under Muriq in 1408.Battle of Ankara (1402)Ottoman Empire Anatolian beyliks Black Tatars Moravian Serbia District of Branković Principality of Kastrioti Principality of JonimaTimurid EmpireDefeat Albanian vassal states participated on the Ottoman side The Anatolian beyliks and Black Tatars defected to Timur during the battle The Ottoman army was defeated and Bayezid I was captured The defeat led to the Ottoman InterregnumZenebishi-Venetian war (1402–1413)Principality of GjirokastërRepublic of VeniceDefeat Most of the mainland territories across from the Venetian possession of Corfu were taken.First Scutari War (early 1405 – January 1413) Balšići Lordship of Zeta Crnojević familyAlbanian Humoj familySerb peasants Albanian peasantsAlbanian Zaharia family (late 1412 – early 1413) Republic of VeniceZaharia family (early 1405 – late 1412)Albanian Jonima familyMixed results A local rebellion breaks out in the Shkodër area in early 1405. The Balšići intervene in favour of the rebels and capture all of the region including Drivast, but fail to capture Rozafa Castle in Shkodër. The Venetians retake Drivast in August 1405, followed by the Zetan coastal towns of Bar, Ulcinj and Budva. Peace is negotiated in 1409 however the Venetians broke the peace agreement shortly afterwards, resulting in the Zetans resuming war in early 1410. Shkodër is besieged. Peace is made in early 1413 although both sides are unsatisfied.Second Thopia-Muzaka War(late 1411)Albanian Thopia family Princedom of Albania Muzaka family Muzaka LordshipMuzaka Victory Forces under Niketa Thopia are heavily defeated during a skirmish with forces under Theodor Corona Musachi. Niketa Thopia is captured, and only released after ceding territory around the Shkumbin River to the Muzaka family.Albanian invasion of Epirus (1411–1412) Albanian Zenebishi Family Principality of Gjirokastër Albanian Shpata Family Despotate of Arta Despotate of EpirusGreeks of IoanninaVictory Albanians invade Epirus following the expulsion of Eudocia Balsic from Ioannina and the establishment of Carolo Tocco. Epirote forces are defeated in battle, however Albanian forces fail to take Ioannina.Ottoman-Gjirokastër War (1414)Albanian Zenebishi Family Principality of Gjirokastër Ottoman EmpireDefeat Ottomans conquer the territory of the Principality. Ruler of the Principality, Gjon Zenebishi, goes into exile in Corfu.Albanian-Epirote War of 1416 (October 1416)Despotate of Arta Despotate of EpirusDefeat The Shpata's suffer defeat at a battle near Nicopolis. Jakob Bua Shpata, ruler of the Despotate of Arta, is killed in an ambush at Bompliana in October 1416. Following the death of Jakob Epirote forces successfully invade and annex the territory previously under control by Shpata clan.Second Ottoman-Gjirokastër War (1418)Albanian Zenebishi Family Principality of Gjirokastër Ottoman EmpireDefeat Ottomans successfully besiege Gjirokastër and reconquer the territory of the Principality. Ruler of the Principality, Depë Zenebishi, goes into exile in Corfu.Second Scutari War (1419–23) Zeta Serbian Despotate (after 1421)Albanian nobility: Dukagjini Family Kastrioti family Humoj family Zaharia family Republic of VeniceInconclusive Venice captured Ulcinj, Grbalj, and territory of Paštrovići, with Kotor deciding to accept Venetian suzerainty