Elbasan

The ancient city of Masio Scampa was built by the Romans around the 1st century CE. It featured strong stone walls. During the 3rd and 4th centuries it became known as Hiskampis, and was an important trade center near the junction of two branches of the Via Egnatia coming from Apollonia and Dyrrachium. In the 4th century, 26 towers were added to protect it against invading barbarians. However, Hiskampis was destroyed by the Bulgars and Ostrogoths during the Slav invasions of the Balkans.

Elbasan was founded by the Turks in the 15th century on the same site. The city was rebuilt in 1466, after becoming a military base, by Sultan Mehmed II who renamed it El Basan ("the Fortress"). The city had 2000 inhabitants by the end of the 17th century. The fortress was dismantled by Reshit Pasha in 1832.