Alexander Stavre Drenova The National Flag Hymn writer

“Himni i Flamurit” (‘Hymn to the Flag’) is the national anthem of Albania, adopted in 1912. Its music is derived from the Romanian patriotic song “Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire”, composed by Ciprian Porumbescu.[1] The lyrics, was written by Albanian poet Asdreni. The anthem was originally titled “Betimi mbi Flamur” (“The Pledge on the Flag”).[2]

On 21 April 1912, “Betimi mbi Flamur” was first published as a poem in Liri e Shqipërisë (Freedom of Albania), an Albanian newspaper in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was later printed in a volume of poems by Drenova titled Ëndra e lotë (Dreams and Tears) which was published in Bucharest. According to Lasgush Poradeci’s memoirs, the anthem, created by the adaptation of the text to the music, was not originally intended to be a national anthem, but it was so well liked by the people that it was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1912, and it was with its music that the Albanian flag was raised during the Albanian Proclamation of Independence in Vlore.[2]