In the 1300s, the western Balkans saw the rise of several Albanian principalities (such as the Principality of Arbanon, the Principality of Albania under the Thopia family, the Kastrioti lands, and others). These emerged in the power vacuum following the weakening of the Byzantine Empire and the collapse of the Serbian Empire after Stefan Dušan’s death in 1355.

Albanians were primarily organized in tribal structures and principalities, serving as light cavalry (stradioti) for powers like Venice, or resisting Ottoman expansion (most famously under Skanderbeg in the following century). The map reflects scholarly views on where Albanian-speaking populations were concentrated, based on medieval documents, place names, and chronicles.

Comparing to modern day regions.