OFF TO DURAZZO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 7

OFF TO DURAZZO.

EUROPE'S NEWEST KING.

TROUBLE LOOMS AHEAD.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright

Vienna, March 5. The chosen King of Albania, Prince William of Wied, and his consort have embarked at Trieste en route to Durazzo, an international fleet escorting them.

Meanwhile, the revolt of the Epirotes is spreading, and intertribal fighting has begun among the Albanians.

All the districts of Elbassan, as well as the Mussulman villages of another district, have declared against a Christian Prince, and great unrest prevails. MANY CENTURIES OLD. Ourazzo is more than 25 centuries old. When the Roman Empire was all-conquer-ing it became a great and populous city, and it was used as the chief landing-place for travellers from Italy to Greece. Its strategic importance was also recognised. Many Roman legions landed there, and the great military road to the Hellespont, the Via Egnatia, started at the port. Durazzo was often the scene of strife. It was here that, in 48 8.C., Pompey made his last successful resistance .Caesar. At the end of the fourth century A.D., Durazzo became the capital of the Byzantine province of New Epirus, but it passed through many vicissitudes, and after being held by Bulgarians, Normans, Sicilians. Servians, and Venetians, it- was conquered by the Turks in 1501. An earthquake destroyed the • town in 1273, but it was speedily rebuilt. The town could recover from devastation and ruin by earthquake, but with the Turkish influence upon it it declined and fell. To-day there are trees growing on the massive ruins of the 'Byzantine citadel. Durazzo is the centre of a fertile district, and from the port olive oil, grain, pottery, and skins are sent for sale in foreign markets.