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The Republic of Albania is a country in Southeastern Europe within the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded by Montenegro, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. Politically, the country is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. Albania has an area of 11,100 square miles and a population of nearly 3 million. The official language is Albanian and the capital city is Tirana.

In classical antiquity, Albania has been populated by various tribes, as well as several Greek colonies. In the late thirteenth century, Charles of Anjou established the medieval Kingdom of Albania. In the mid-fifteenth century, it was conquered by the Ottomans. The modern nation state of Albania emerged in 1912 following the defeat of the Ottomans in the Balkan Wars. The modern Kingdom of Albania was invaded by Italy in 1939, which formed Greater Albania, before becoming a Nazi German protectorate in 1943. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, a Communist state titled the People's Socialist Republic of Albania was founded under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and the Party of Labour. In the aftermath of the Revolutions of 1991, the Socialist Republic was dissolved and the fourth Republic of Albania was established.

The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest title and is considered to be the first award ever given in modern Albania. The Order was discontinued on September 5, 1914, less than 5 months after it was founded, making it one of the rarest European Orders. This Order was conferred upon citizens of the Principality of Albania to recognize civil and military merit.