THE ALBANIAN REGIMENT: A FAILED BRITISH VENTURE IN CORFU (1799 – 1800)
THE ALBANIAN REGIMENT: A FAILED BRITISH VENTURE IN CORFU (1799 – 1800)

Summary/Abstract: Based on rich archival sources, the article studies the failed formation of an “Albanian Regiment” in Corfu by the British army during the Napoleonic Wars. Employing Albanians as marines was deemed useful due to their renowned martial virtues. The failure of the endeavour is attributed to the mistrust among their allies (the Russians and the Ottomans), both of whom coveted Corfu. Examination of the sources reveals that the British wished to form a regiment of Christian or Greek-Albanians. Indeed, the term they used at the time applied not only to the locals of Albania but to all experienced mercenaries in the Balkans. However, this was never made clear to the Russians, who used all the negative stereotypes of the Albanians to undermine the British project, nor to the Ottomans, who wanted to involve Ali Pasha, thereby increasing Russian fears.

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