Modern The
Rilindja Kombëtare movement of Albanian
nationalism inside the
Ottoman Empire was present and prolific in Wallachia, the center of cultural initiatives taken by
Dora d'Istria,
Naim Frashëri,
Jani Vreto, and
Naum Veqilharxhi (the latter published the first ever Albanian
primer in Bucharest, in 1844).
Aleksandër Stavre Drenova, a resident of Bucharest, authored the lyrics of Albania's national anthem,
Hymni i Flamurit, which is sung to the tune of "
Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire", composed by the Romanian
Ciprian Porumbescu. In the late Ottoman period, some Albanian intellectuals developed a historico-political theory that the Albanians and the
Vlachs, including modern Romanians, were "blood-brothers", and should fight for mutual liberation in the still Ottoman-administered territories with assistance from Romania or Italy. This view came to be supported by Austro-Hungary after 1897.
Visar Dodani ran a newspaper in Bucharest from 1897 onward, and beginning in March 1898, it advocated a view of the common Illyrian origin of Albanians and Romanians, and their shared contemporary struggle. Romania was the first country to recognize Albania's independence. Relations between Albania and Romania were established on December 16, 1913. Since then, the two countries developed strong cultural and linguistic ties. The
St. Sotir Church in
Korçë, serving the
Aromanian community of the town, was built between 1995 and 2005 with support from the Romanian state. It was first built in the early 20th century but was demolished by the Albanian communist regime in 1959. == Relations ==