Despite the heroic resistance of 3,000 Albanian volunteers, the Ottoman forces, who had a great military superiority, entered Ulqin and surrendered it to the Montenegrins on November 26, 1880.

On November 26, 1912, the flag was raised in Tirana and independence was proclaimed. In the conditions of fierce siege by the Serbian forces that were approaching Kruja, Durrës and Tirana, Refik and Hamit Toptani welcomed in Durrës, on behalf of the people of Tirana, the independence architect Ismail Qemal Vlora to join in a project that then would mark the birth day of the Albanian state. Tirana patriots changed the course of events as an extraordinary example of endurance and desire for independence. The members of the council of Tirana gathered on November 26, 1912 to announce self-government. The great and historic decision was publicly announced by Refik Toptani in front of the people of Tirana, concluding with the words; Long live Albania, Long live the national flag.

The regulation of the district administration for forests and pastures approved on November 26, 1929 marks the creation of a regular administration and the duties of its personnel for the preservation and good administration of this great wealth of the country.

On November 26, 1937, the center of Tirana was baptized with the name of Albanian national hero, Scanderbeg Square.

In Tirana on November 26, 1937, the documentary exhibition of the national renaissance was opened. Among the historical documents of this period was also the authentic document of declaration of independence proclaimed in Vlora.

On November 26, 1994, Pope John Paul II raised to the rank of cardinal, Mikel Koliqi, the man who became a symbol of the blood shed by the martyrs during the communist dictatorship in Albania. The outstanding Albanian clergyman, a symbol of the endurance of the faith, was the first cardinal in Albanian history.

/a.p./