The fortress of Durrës would be among the last castles in Albanian territory to fall into the hands of the Ottomans in the middle of 1501 and the city itself emerged highly devastated by the numerous clashes over the previous century.

A partial revival in terms of economic and strategic importance is recorded during the period of the autonomous and de facto independent Albanian-ruled Pashalik of Scutari.

However, this invasion did not last long as the Great Powers never recognized this move as legitimate and later intervened, forcing the Serbian army to leave Albanian territories.

During the last period of resistance, the port city was part of Albania Veneta, a term which referred to the possessions of the Republic of Venice along the southeastern Adriatic Sea.

[3] The attack was commanded by the sanjak-bey of Elbasan, assisted by other neighboring sanjaks, a certain Mehmed Bey[a], who was the first to enter the city with his forces.

After seizing and looting journeys, they headed to the port of Durrës, were in the Ottoman-controlled castle under whose artillery they could shelter when pursued by Venetian galleys and find support from the local authorities and population.

[7] The city recovered partially after the defensive walls were reconstructed and trade with Venice and Ragusa resumed, but certainly not to the degree of development it enjoyed in the past.

[8] Growth would take on a new impetus with the establishment of the hereditary, autonomous, and de facto independent of the so-called Albanian Pashaliks during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

[8] During this period the families of the Bushati rulers of Shkodër, along with the Alltunis who exerted their influence around the kaza of Kavajë, the Bargjini's in the kaza of Tirana and the Toptanis in that of Krujë, through alliances and armed conflicts between them, fought for control and influence in central Albania and especially for the Port of Durrës which was one of the most important assets of the region.

[9] In 1771, Mehmed Pasha Bushati would be given control over the Sanjaks of Dukagjin, Elbasan and Ohrid, as a reward for his activity during the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774.

Thus placing the whole area, among others including Durrës, Kavajë, Krujë, Shijak and Tirana, under the absolute control of Pashalik of Scutari and the Bushati family for the following five decades.

It would be known as the Tanzimat era and its purpose was to modernize and consolidate the social and political foundations of the empire, as well as create a new administrative organization.

After the end of the Russo-Turkish war that resulted in defeat for the Ottoman Empire, and the obligations imposed on the latter at the Congress of Berlin, a new administrative reform began to be considered which would meet the socio-economic needs of the time.

[14] In order to further strengthen and increase the central government's control over the provinces, the Sublime Porte undertook in 1864 an administrative reform known as the Vilayet Law which would last several years before taking on a stable and final form.

This move would be implemented after the intervention of the Vali of the vilayet, to facilitate delivery of public services to the inhabitants, taking into account the farthest distance of the kaza between the county town of Durrës from that of Shkodër.

[21] In 1797, the Republic of Venice, which was also the largest trading partner of Durrës and other Albanian provinces, would be occupied without war by the army of Napoleon Bonaparte.

[11] The republic would be replaced by the Austrian Empire which would play a key role in the next two centuries both commercially through the port of Trieste and culturally with the formation of the Kultusprotektorat (cult protectorate).

[11] On May 13, 1880, the Sublime Porte would announce a ban on grain exports and this would will negatively affect the economy of the sanjak as the dual monarchy was the main trading partner.

While in the register of 1898 the population of the Sanjak of Durrës, including the kaza of Kruja, are 78,300 Muslims, 5950 Orthodox, 5950 Catholics, and 41 foreigners making a total of 90,241 inhabitants.

In a second census held in 1906, the Sanjak of Durrës, which including the kaza of Krujë, would have a population distribution of 81,572 Muslims, 6,098 Orthodox and 2,178 Catholics.