Arbën

The Principality of Arbanon or Albanon (Albanian: Arbër or Arbëria, Greek: Ἄρβανον), was the first Albanian state during the Middle Ages. The country was established by archon Progon in the region of Kruja, in ca 1190. Progon, the founder, was succeeded by his sons Gjin and Demetrius, the latter, which attained the height of the realm. The Arbëreshë are a linguistic and ethnic Albanian minority community living in southern Italy, especially the regions of Basilicata, Molise, Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily. Before the Ottoman invasion of Albania, the native people in the area of Albania were all called Arbëreshë. After some were forced out of their homeland to Italy, these Italian-born Albanians continued to use the term Arbëresh. At the same time, those in Albania called themselves Shqiptarë (compare the Albanian word Shqip, present in the local name for the country and the language).