It previously served as the chief official residence of Wilhelm, Prince of Albania, and his wife, Princess Sophie of Schönburg-Waldenburg.

Prince Wilhelm of Wied arrived in Albania at his capital of Durrës on March 7, 1914, along with the Royal Family.

The palace was raided after the departure of Prince Wilhelm by Muslim rebels and Haxhi Qamili.

The order was executed by Admiral The Marchese di Revel of the Regia Marina aboard the Dante Alighieri.

Admiral Gauchet had followed the instructions of General Louis Franchet d'Espèrey, who was serving the Macedonian front on account of the Allies, and according to whom, the Port of Durres, if not destroyed, would have served the evacuation of the Bulgarian and German armies involved in the First World War.