Ulcinj in the context of "Ballaios"

The House of Balšić (Serbian Cyrillic: Балшићи; Albanian: Balsha, Balshaj), or Balsha, were a noble family that ruled "Zeta and the coastlands" (current-day southern Montenegro and northern Albania), from 1362 to 1421, during and after the fall of the Serbian Empire. Balša, the founder, was a petty nobleman who held only one village during the rule of Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331–1355), and only after the death of the emperor, his three sons gained power in Lower Zeta after acquiring the lands of gospodin Žarko (fl. 1336–1360) under unclear circumstances, and they then expanded into Upper Zeta by murdering voivode and čelnik Đuraš Ilijić (r. 1326–1362†). Nevertheless, they were acknowledged as oblastni gospodari of Zeta in edicts of Emperor Uroš the Weak (r. 1355–1371). After the death of Uroš (1371), the family feuded with the Mrnjavčevići, who controlled Macedonia.

When the last lord of the main branch of the family, Balša III died in 1421 without an heir, his possessions were passed on to his uncle, Despot Stefan the Tall. Later that year, the Republic of Venice took advantage of Balša's death and seized the towns of Bar and Ulcinj, and some of his other territories were seized by the Ottomans and Bosnians.

A period of Albanian piracy (Albanian: Piratëria shqiptare) occurred from the 15th to the 19th centuries, during which Albanian pirates plundered and raided ships. These pirates were based mainly in Ulcinj, but were also found in Bar and Ragusa (now Dubrovnik), and had connections with North Africa.

They plundered European ships mainly for the Ottoman Empire, disrupting the Mediterranean economy and forcing European powers to intervene. Some of the pirate leaders from Ulcinj, such as Lika Ceni and Hadji Alia, were well-known during this period. The Porte gave the name "name-i hümayun" ("imperial letters"), bilateral agreements to settle armed conflicts. The Ottoman Empire was also known to hire these pirates during periods of war. Some of the most famous barbary pirates of the Mediterranean Sea were the Ottoman Barbarossa brothers Oruç and Arnaut Mami.

The Cave of Haxhi Ali (Albanian: Shpella e Haxhi Aliut or Shpella e Ilirëve) is a karst cave located in the limestone cliffs of the Karaburun Peninsula in southwestern Albania, near the Cape of Gjuhëz in Vlorë County. The cave measures approximately 30 meters (98 ft.) in length, with a variable width between 10 and 12 meters (33-39 ft.), and a height off about 18 meters (59 ft.)

The cave is named after Haxhi Ali, a historical figure described as an Albanian sailor and warrior from Ulcinj, who is said to have sought refuge there with his son. Archaeological discoveries within the cave, including artifacts associated with ancient trade and travel, suggest that it was used historically by traders and travelers.

The Principality of Muzaka (Albanian: Principata e Muzakajve), also known as the Lordship of Berat, was an independent realm ruled by the Albanian Muzaka family with its capital at Berat, covering territories in Central and Southern Albania, Western Macedonia and Northern Greece. One of the first rulers was Andrea I Muzaka whose reign was recognized by the Byzantine Emperor. During the Battle of Savra, the Ottomans captured Berat from Balša II, together with Kruja and Ulcinj. They soon retreated from all of those towns keeping only Castoria under their permanent control. Some sources explain that Ottomans probably remained in Berat with intention to use it as foothold to capture Valona. By 1396 Muzaka family took over control of Berat. In 1417 the territories of the Principality, including Vlorë and Berat, became a part of the Ottoman Empire.

Lika Ceni (born 1749, Ulqin) known as Kapidan Likaceni, was a pirate leader from the Ottoman Empire.

Lika Ceni was a legendary Albanian pirate from Ulcinj. He reportedly was one of a number of Barbary corsairs who helped seize the port from Venice and stayed on raiding Venetian and other merchant ships along the Dalmatian coast.

Hadji Alia or Haxhi Aliu Ulqinaku (c. 1569–1625) was an Albanian pirate lord from Ulcinj, Born in Calabria, Italy, to an Albanian family, he later moved with his family to Ulcinj (in modern-day Montenegro)Calabria.