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Durrës
Durrës , Ital. Durazzo, city (1989 pop. 82,719), capital of Durrës dist., W Albania, on the Adriatic Sea. The chief seaport of Albania and the leading commercial and communications center, it has a dockyard, a shipyard, and industries that manufacture leather, plastic, and tobacco products. It is linked by rail with Tiranë and Elbasan. Durrës is the seat of a Greek Orthodox metropolitan and, since AD 449, of a Roman Catholic archbishopric. Founded (c.625 BC) as Epidamnus, a joint colony of Corinth and Corcyra, it became an important trade center. The quarrel between Corinth and Corcyra over Epidamnus helped to precipitate (431 BC) the Peloponnesian War . Durrës passed to Rome in 229 BC and became a military and naval base. Under Roman rule it was known as Dyrrhachium, from which the present name is derived. Pompey made (48 BC) a stand there against Caesar. The city passed to the Byzantine empire in the 8th cent., to the Normans of Sicily in 1185, to Naples in 1272, and to Serbia in 1336. Venice captured it in 1392 and held it until 1501 when it passed to the Turks. Under Turkish rule Durrës declined rapidly and almost disappeared. It was occupied (1912) by the Serbs in the First Balkan War, but was assigned to Albania in 1913. Italy (1915) and Austria (1916-18) also occupied the city. Durrës was the capital of Albania from 1913 to 1920 and revived thereafter as the country's chief seaport. It suffered heavy damage during World War II. The city, with its many mosques, has a Middle Eastern character. Three Byzantine towers and medieval fortifications erected by Venice have survived. |
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"Durrës." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Durrës." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Durres.html "Durrës." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Durres.html |
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Durrësi
Durrësi City in w Albania on the Adriatic coast; capital of Durrës province. It was founded in 625 bc as a colony of Corcyra and Corinth. Under Roman rule, it was an important trade centre. It fell to a succession of foreign conquerors before being ceded to Venice in 1392. Captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1501, it was capital of independent Albania from 1913–21. It was occupied by Austria and Italy in World War I and by Italy in World War II. It is the country's chief port, exports include grain, olive oil and tobacco. Industries: textiles and leather. Pop. (2002 est.) 112,300.
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"Durrësi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Durrësi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Durrsi.html "Durrësi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Durrsi.html |
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Durrës
Durrës, Albania Epidamnus, Dyrrhachium, Durazzo Founded by the Greeks c.625 bc as Epidamnus before being taken by the Romans. Possibly considering the name to have an ominous meaning, in Latin damnum ‘damage’ or ‘harm’, they renamed it Dyrrhachium. It was held by the Ottoman Turks in 1501–1913 when it was proclaimed to be the capital of an independent Albania. It was given the Italian name Durazzo when the Italians occupied the port during the First and Second World Wars. The name may mean ‘Dangerous Cliffs’.
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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Durrës." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Durrës." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Durrs.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Durrës." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Durrs.html |
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