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Durres, formerly Durrazzo, is one of the oldest
towns in Albania. The legend says that it was founded by Epidamnos, the
Illyrian King of the area, who called it by his own name and named the
port area after his grandson - Dyrrah.
 In 1627 - 1626 B.C. Greeks from Corfu and Cornith invaded the area and
called the town Dyrrachion. In the 4th century B.C. Dyrrachion had
become an independent city - state, producing metalwork, pottery,
fabrics, leather and ships and its coins were circulating throughout
the ancient world. The Illyrians after establishing their own state,
tried to place Durres under their own dependence. In this struggle,
victory favoured the state of the Taulantes.
The
Illyrian King Monunes, minted coins in Durres, with his own name in
them and made Durres, the centre of his own state. In 229 B.C. Durres
was taken by Rome and under roman rule, the town was called Dyrrachium,
which became the starting point of the Via Egnatia, linking roam with
the East. The famous Roman orator, Cicero called Durres an admirable
city ..., while the poet Catullus called it the tavern of the Adriatic.
After the partition of the Roman Empire, Durres remained part of the Eastern Empire, Byzantium.
During the 10th & 14th centuries, the town was captured by
Bulgarians, Normans, Crusaders, Venetians, Angevins and Serbs. In 1501
it was invaded by the Turks. In 1914 - 1920 Durres became the capital
of Albania. In 1915 it became the seat of Prince Velhelm Xuvid. In 1916
was temporarily occupied by Serbian forces.
On the 7th of April l939, Durres was occupied by Italians. and then the Germans, during World War Two.
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