A very interesting map, signed in 1689 by Pope Clement XI of Albanian origin (John Francis Albani l, Pope 243 of the Catholic Church) which you can find reproduced today thanks to digitization in many alternative sources, but what constitutes innovation must be appreciated, is the fact that if you look at it carefully, then you will understand that in addition to a very rich toponymy, there are also designations such as "Kruja, Skenderbeu's homeland", or "Skenderbeu's Castle" at the mouth of the Ishem river.
Equally interesting is the fact that apart from Preza and Petrela, there is also mention of Tirana itself under the name "Terrana". Likewise, if you continue further south or north, you will find many localities, cities and regions, such as Dukagjini, Tomorica, i.e. Tomori, Mirdita (Miriditi) and Oroshi, Blinishti, Laçi, Kačinari, Gjadri, Juban, Mesi, Drishti, Kelmendi (Clementi) Pulti, Shkodra, Gruemira, Ulqini, Dragusha, Dajçi, Kepi i Rodoni, Zadrima, Durrësi, Lezha, Mati, Bashtova Castle near Kavaja, Kanina, Vlora Bay, Sazani, Malbardhi, Selita, Lura, Ohrid, Hasi , Dibra, Dibra e Poshtme, Tepelena, mountains and settlements of the time, until below the entire area of the south, is referred to as Epirus or as its synonym the term "Bassa Albania" is used, ie "Lower Albania".
Some toponyms are difficult to identify if you start from the names they carry today, besides the fact that the map was compiled somewhat in a general, irrational way, in not very accurate ratios, not responding 100% realistically to the physical extent on the ground.
Surprisingly, you cannot find Elbasan or Korça on this map. It is noted that many localities still carry the cross, which gives us to understand that we are dealing with areas of the Catholic or Orthodox Christian faith from north to south, such as St. Mary, St. Alexander, St. Martin, St. Stephen, St. George, etc. From the official caption of the map in question, we see that Albania is also referred to as "Western Macedonia".
The map itself is handed down to us from the distant year 1689, that is, at the extreme limits of the Late Middle Ages, precisely at a time when the Albanians had already completed a large part of their conversion to Islam and when it was thought that the name Skenderbej had been forgotten. It is an Italian production from Rome, under the authorship of Giacomo Cantelli and enabled at that time for publication by Domenico de Rossi.
In the original, the map has the designation from Italian (and not Latin): "Albania Propria ouero Superiore detta anche Macedonia Occidentale" or in Albanian: "Albania or Upper Albania, otherwise known as Western Macedonia". What makes it more interesting is the dedication to the map in question with a text paying homage to the sacrifices of the Albanians, Pope Clement XI, emphasizing that "It has been two centuries since Albania mourns the departure of its sons...".
also
Map from 1455 exhibited as evidence of Skanderbeg's role
The map was compiled 11 years before John Francis Albani was proclaimed Pope, while he was still in the post of Secretary of Brevas (Papal Decrees). The role of the scion of the Albani family, originally from Kurbini, is universally known to have been very prominent in the unification and rebirth of Christianity in Albania, and his interest in the land of the ancestors remained unchanged in all phases of his life before he ascended on the high papal throne./Albania, Armand Plaka.
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