Calendar – April 12

On April 12, 1274, Charles I D’Anjou, the First King of Arberia (Albania), issued the order to protect the assets of Church of Durrës.
April 12, 1710 dates a valuable manuscript for Albanian language. An anonymous person from Albania has left an Italian-Albanian dictionary and a small grammar of the Albanian dialect of the north, compiled by Frang Bardhi. This is the first grammar of our language known to date.
On April 12, 1902, in a well-known family of doctors in the city of Manastir, Kristo Kristidhi was born, one of the first Albanian ophthalmologists. Kristo Kristidhi graduated from the University of Graz in Austria. After returning to his homeland, he laid the foundations of the ophthalmology service.
On April 12, 1912, the talented soprano Gjyzepina Kosturi was born in a Shkodra family, in Tivar. After graduating in Rome, he returned to his homeland, gave concerts and collaborated with the microphone of Radio Tirana. Gjyzepina Kosturi is among the first soloists of the State Philharmonic, soloist of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. He died in Tirana on January 25, 1985.
On April 12, 1937, the Igumenian patriarchate of Istanbul officially recognized the autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church. This act avoided foreign interference in the affairs of said Albanian Church.
On April 12, 1939, the fascist foreign minister Count Çiano arrived in Tirana. On the same day, the puppet Constitutional Assembly was convened to decide the overthrow of Zog I rule and create the Quisling government and a personal cooperation of Albania with Italy, with Prime Minister of that government was Shefqet Vërlaci.
On April 12, 1997, Leka I Zogu, pretendent to the throne of Albania, returned to Tirana with the royal family after 58 years. The ban on the return to Albania of the royal family was decided by the Congress of Përmet in May 1944.
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