On January 22, 1718, in the Pergola theater in Florence, the opera “Skanderbeg” was played for the first time, with a libretto by Antonio Salvi, and music by the famous composer Antonio Vivaldi. The work was found in the National Library of Rome by our Friar, Father Vincens Malaj.

On January 22, 1828, Elena Gjika was born in Costanza, Romania, to Albanian parents. The daughter of Mihal Gjika, the brother of Prince of Wallachia Grigor Gjika and Katarina, Elena Gjika received an excellent education, studying literature first in Dresden, Germany, then in Vienna, Italy and finally in Berlin where she graduated in the field of ancient Greek literature with the German professor Alexander von Humboldt.  She is the first woman to climb Europe’s highest peak “Mont Blanc” in 1860. One of the most intelligent women of her time, Elena became known almost throughout Europe as a writer, feminist, composer, painter and researcher. 

She was revolutionary, insurgent, with many political and social ideas that preceded her time. She is probably the first intellectual personality who proposed the idea of a Balkan federation where all the countries of the Balkans would join. Princess Elena Gjika was affirmed as a writer, publicist and scientist at the world level. She published her writings in 6 European languages. She became particularly popular with the work “Femeile in Oriente” (“Women of the Orient”, Paris, 1860), which was followed by the work in German “La Suisse allemande” (German Switzerland, Geneva 1856, 4 Volumes. 

Elena actively participated in the progressive cultural movement of Europe and supported the Albanian National Renaissance, maintaining close ties with its prominent activists, such as: Jeronim de Rada, Dhimitër Kamarda, Zef Jubani, Zef Serembe, Thimi Mitko, etc. In a series of studies: “Albanian nationality according to popular songs”,”Albanian writers of Southern Italy, 1867, “Albanians in Romania, 1873 etc., she pointed out through historical folk songs the centuries-old struggle of the Albanian people for freedom. As a sign of gratitude for the help given in the recognition of the Albanian issue by the world public opinion, the renaissance and Albanian patriots of Italy and Greece dedicated the book entitled: “A Dora D’Istria – Gli Albanesi” (Dora d’Istrias-Albanians, 1870), a collection of patriotic poems.

On January 22, 1913, the Problem of Shkodra was put up for discussion at the Conference of Ambassadors. The meeting did not bring any new developments to the fate of the city. Russia continued to adhere to its intransigent position, supporting Montenegro, again claiming the Drin River as a border. Austria-Hungary opposed this request arguing with the difficulty of separating the city of Shkodra from the territories that surrounded it.

 Since the Great Powers appointed Prince Vidi to govern Albania, the Government of Vlora headed by Ismail Qemali, gave consent for his arrival in the country. This would pave the way for a new political development of Albania as well as its security, on January 22, 1914, Ismail Qemali resigned and handed over power to the International Control Commission.

  January 22, 1919, Ismail Qemali leaves for Italy to meet with the Italian Prime Minister to enable the addition of Albanian delegates to the Peace Conference in Paris.

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