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Mirdita took its name from the widely used Albanian greeting, Good day. The people from the region of Mirdita, were known to have been pioneers of the Catholic resistance against the ruling Muslim Ottomans. During the 15th century, the Mirditas were under the leadership of George Kastrioti - Skenderbeg himself. The Mirditas are said to be the direct brothers of the Dukagjini tribe, meaning both regions were directed by one ancestor. The Mirditas were successful in uniting with Kurbin, Lezhë, Dukagjin, Pukë, Shkodër, and Malësia areas in order to preserve their culture, religion, and obtain autonomy from the Ottoman Empire.[citation needed]
Regardless to prior successes and legacy, the Mirdita Republic was an overall failure. Yugoslavia backed Marka Gjoni based on its interest of having another separatist region within Albania, weakening the newly created Albanian state and sharpening the religious antagonism. Marka Gjoni led his Roman Catholic Mirditë tribesmen in a rebellion against the Albanian regency and parliament established after the World War I. He proclaimed in Rrëshen the founding of an independent "Republic of Mirdita". Marka Gjoni was the only president of the republic. As the republic violated the sovereignty of the Albanian state, Albanian government troops fought and eventually extinguished the republic. The minor level Government was run over by the Albanian government, though no real persecution fell on the main leaders. Marka Gjoni fled to Yugoslavia, but later returned to Albania and remained active in the political life of the highlands until his death in 1925.


The former territories of Mirdita Republic were shrunk in size and population by less than half, known today as Mirdita Region. Mirditë District would be created later. Other neighboring districts take stake to the annexed parts of "Old Mirdita" (Albanian: "Mirdita e Vjetër"), known by the locals only.