Nei panni di una media Potenza. La Romania e la questione albanese (1913-1914)

In October 1912 the outbreak of the First Balkan War would rapidly change the balance of power in South-Eastern Europe. The signing of the Treaty of London, officially putting an end to the conflict, created the conditions for the establishment of the Principality of Albania, whose fate would be partly entrusted to the International Commission of Control. Romania had at first remained neutral but took part in the Second Balkan War from which it emerged not only with the acquisition of Dobruja but also with an increased status as a regional power. A new status well represented by the Treaty of Bucharest of 10 August 1913. It also raised the question of Aromanian communities, in whose future Romania was extremely interested. Furthermore, questions relating to Albania remained open, both regarding the borders and its future internal structure. Here, Bucharest favoured the accession to the throne of William of Wied, who was relative to the Romanian royal family. During the months of existence of the Principality of Albania, Romania’s commitment was constant and manifested itself through diplomatic action and finally with the sending of volunteers who were supposed to contribute to the formation of an Albanian Army. This paper intends to reconstruct these events and highlight the role played by Romania in its capacity as a regional power in a particularly complex period of European history, between the end of the Balkan Wars and the first phases of the First World War.