Fier

Quick Facts: Who was Fier?

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Fier

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Major Albanian city situated on the Gjanica River, known for its industrial and historical significance.

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Origins & Early Life

Fier (pronounced [fiˈɛɾ]; Albanian definite form: Fieri, Latin: Fierum) is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in the north, the Vjosë in the south and the foothills of the Mallakastra Mountains in the southeast. Fier experiences a seasonal Mediterranean climate affected by its proximity to the Adriatic Sea in the west. Fier was founded in the 19th century by the Vrioni family and officially in 1864 by Omer Pasha Vrioni II, the father of Kahreman Pasha Vrioni (1889-1955). It is 7 km (4 mi) from the ruins of the ancient settlement of Apollonia which was founded in 588 BCE by Ancient Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth, on a site occupied by Illyrian tribes.

Career & Major Achievements

Fier is an important terminus in southwestern Albania and is served by the A2 motorway and SH 4 highway, forming a north–south corridor in Albania and part of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway. The word "Fier" is claimed to derive from the Albanian word fier, which is claimed to mean "fern". Naming locations after the local flora is a common phenomenon amongst the Myzeqar Albanians. Another alternative hypothesis proposes a derivation from the Italian word fiera, translated as trade fair. The history of Fier is bound up with that of the oil, gas and bitumen deposits nearby.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The presence of asphalt and burning escapes of natural gas in the vicinity was recorded as early as the 1st century AD. Dioscorides, in Materia Medica, describes lumps of bitumen in the adjacent river Seman, and the concentrated pitch on the banks of the Vjosë river Strabo, writing in about AD 17 states: On the territory of the people of Apolonia in Illyria there is what is called a nymphaeum. It is a rock which emits fire. the asphalt is dug out of a neighbouring hill: the parts excavated are replaced by fresh earth, which in time is converted to asphalt. In the 14th and 15th centuries the location was used by the Venetian traders as a marketplace to purchase agricultural products from the Myzeqe lowlands.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1864: 1864 Milestone — Fier was founded in the 19th century by the Vrioni family and officially in 1864 by Omer Pasha Vrioni II, the father of Kahreman Pasha Vrioni (1889-1955).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Fier

True or False: “The ancient Greek colony of Apollonia was founded near the site that would become Fier.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Apollonia was established by Ancient Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth on a site near what is now Fier.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham González (governor) — Historical peer (Born in 1864) (1864): Governor of Chihuahua and key Maderista leader during the Mexican Revolution.
• Adelaide Anne Procter — Historical peer (Died in 1864) (1864): English poet and philanthropist known for her work on poverty and faith.
• A. Philip Randolph — Historical peer (Born in 1889) (1889): Pioneer labor unionist and civil rights activist who fought for racial equality.
• Abel Gance — Historical peer (Born in 1889) (1889): French cinematic pioneer, celebrated for his mastery of montage and epic filmmaking.
• Akiko Yano — Historical peer (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering Japanese jazz and pop singer known for her eclectic style.
• Akira Toriyama — Historical peer (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fier