After the collapse of the Roman empire, Albania was overrun by Goths, Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks. In 1443 the hero Skanderbeg established independence. It wasn't long-lived though -- the Turks were back 25 years later and Albania remained a part of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. There was an independence revolt in 1912, Italy moved in during 1939, Germany took a turn in 1943, and communists took over the following year. They hung on until 1992 before getting the boot.
Albania on Wikipedia
