Self-government of Mirdita

**Republic of Mirdita**
*Republika e Mirditës* (Albanian)
Republic of Mirdita; Republika e Mirditës (Albanian)
1921
	Flag
Status	Recognized only by Greece
Capital	Prizren; 42°12′46″N 20°44′21″E / 42.21278°N 20.73917°E
Official languages	Gheg Albanian
Religion	Roman Catholic
Demonym(s)	Mirditor
President
• 1921	Marka Gjoni
History
• Established	17 July 1921
• Disestablished	20 November 1921
Today part of	Albania

The Self-government of Mirdita, officially the Republic of Mirdita, was a short-lived self-administered republic in northern Albania that existed between July 17 and November 20, 1921. Led by Marka Gjoni and his followers, the Roman Catholic tribes of Mirdita instigated a revolt in June 1921 and proclaimed a new state at Prizren with support from Yugoslavia. The rebellion was a response to the Albanian regency and parliament established after World War I.^[4]

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, particularly under the newly enthroned King Aleksandar Karadjordjević, supported Gjoni's efforts, adding a geopolitical dimension as the kingdom aimed to establish another separatist region within Albania, weakening the newly formed Albanian state and exacerbating religious tensions.

Gjoni proclaimed in Prizren the founding of an independent Republic of Mirdita. Gjoni was the only president of the republic. As the republic violated the sovereignty of the Albanian state, Albanian government troops fought and eventually extinguished the republic. The putative government of the republic was overrun by the Albanian government, though no real persecution fell on the main leaders. Gjoni fled to Yugoslavia, but later returned to Albania and remained active in the political life of the highlands until his death in 1925.

^ Elsie 2015, "This so-called Republic of Mirdita, called to life in Prizren on 17 July 1921, supported by Serbia and recognised by Greece".
^ Pearson 2004, pp. 168.
^ Stein, Jonathan P. (2000). The Politics of National Minority Participation in Post-Communist Europe: State-Building, Democracy, and Ethnic Mobilization. M.E. Sharpe. p. 171. ISBN 9780765605283. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
^ Center, Free Europe Committee Mid-European Studies (1954). Mimeographed Series.

[FOOTNOTEElsie2015"This_so-called_Republic_of_Mirdita,_called_to_life_in_Prizren_on_17_July_1921,_supported_by_Serbia_and_recognised_by_Greece"-1] Elsie 2015, "This so-called Republic of Mirdita, called to life in Prizren on 17 July 1921, supported by Serbia and recognised by Greece".

[Pearson168-2] Pearson 2004, pp. 168.

[SteinN.Y.)2000-3] Stein, Jonathan P. (2000). The Politics of National Minority Participation in Post-Communist Europe: State-Building, Democracy, and Ethnic Mobilization. M.E. Sharpe. p. 171. ISBN 9780765605283. Retrieved 26 June 2012.

[4] Center, Free Europe Committee Mid-European Studies (1954). Mimeographed Series.

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