Shëngjin

Shëngjin is a coastal town and a former municipality in Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality of Lezhë. The population at the 2011 census was 8,091. Shëngjin is a growing tourist destination, well known for its beaches and resort accommodations. Shëngjin is one of many cities within the District of Lezhë and is home to one of Albania's entry ports, Port of Shëngjin. The area of Shëngjin has been identified with the site of the ancient harbour of Nymphaeum on the coast of Illyria, three miles to the north of Lissus. In the vicinity of Shëngjin the League of Lezhë was stipulated by Skanderbeg uniting the Albanian princes in the fight against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Skanderbeg is recognized as a national hero for his efforts to unite the region against the Turks. Shëngjin's coastline has always provided a key geographic asset to the area for over a thousand years. The town operated as the main port for the interior city of Scutari. It was repeated occupied and/or attacked by the Venetians during their many wars with the Ottoman Turks. Before World War I, Austria-Hungary maintained a consulate to serve its small business interests in the region. The town was known as Şingin during the Ottoman period. It was loyal to the Ottomans during the Albanian revolt of 1911 due to the presence of Turkish soldiers in the fortress of Scutari. It was captured by the Serbian and Montenegrin armies in November 1912 when the latter put Scutari under siege. Shëngjin was claimed by Montenegro, but both armies were forced to evacuate by the Great Powers. Serbia reoccupied the town in summer 1915, and held it until driven out by the advancing Austro-Hungarian Army in January 1916. The Austrians evacuated in November 1918, and were replaced by Italian troops for several months until the frontier with the new Yugoslavian State was settled.