Zog I of Albania

Zog I, Skanderbeg III
King of the Albanians
11th Prime Minister of Albania
Term 26 December 1922 – 25 February 1924
Predecessor Xhafer Bej Ypi
Successor Shefqet Vërlaci
President of Albanian Republic and 16th Prime Minister of Albania
Term 1 February 1925 as President, 6 January 1925 as PM – 1 September 1928
Predecessor New Post, Iliaz Bej Vrioni
Successor Monarchy established, Koço Kota
Vidi I (as Prince of Albania), deposed in 1914
Marshal of Royal Albanian Army
Term 1 February 1925  – 1 September 1939
Predecessor New Post
King of the Albanians
Reign 1 September 1928  – 7 April 1939
Predecessor Monarchy established
Successor Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Consort Géraldine Apponyi de Nagyappony
Issue Leka, Crown Prince of Albania
Full name
Ahmet Muhtar Zogolli
House House of Zogu
Father Xhemal Pasha Zogolli
Mother Sadijé Toptani
Born 8 October 1895
Burgajet Castle, Ottoman Empire
Died 9 April 1961 (aged 65)
Suresnes, Paris, France
Burial Royal Mausoleum, Tirana, Albania
Religion Sunni Islam[1][2][3]
Signature

Zog I, King of the Albanians[4][5] (Albanian: Nalt Madhnija e Tij Zogu I, Mbreti i Shqiptarëvet, IPA: [ˈzɔɡu]; 8 October 1895 – 9 April 1961), born Ahmet Muhtar Bej Zogolli, taking the surname Zogu from 1922, was the leader of Albania from 1925 to 1939, first as President (1925–1928) and then as King (1928–1939). Earlier he served as Prime Minister of Albania (1922–1924).

Background and early political career

Coat of Arms of Albanian Royal Army

Zog was born Ahmet Muhtar[6] Bej Zogolli in Burgajet Castle, near Burrel in the northern part of the Albanian section of the Ottoman Empire,[7] second son to Xhemal Pasha Zogolli, and first son by his second wife Sadijé Toptani in 1895. His family was a beylik family of landowners, with feudal authority over the region of Mati. His mother's Toptani family claimed to be descended from the sister of Albania's greatest national hero, the 15th-century general Skanderbeg. He was educated at Galatasaray High School (Lycée Impérial de Galatasaray) in Constantinople,[5] then the seat of the decaying Ottoman Empire, which controlled Albania. Upon his father's death in 1911, Zogolli became governor of Mat, being appointed ahead of his elder brother, Xhelal Bey Zogolli.

In 1912, he signed the Albanian Declaration of Independence as the representative of the Mat District. As a young man during the First World War, Zogolli volunteered on the side of Austria-Hungary. He was detained at Vienna in 1917 and 1918 and in Rome in 1918 and 1919 before returning to Albania in 1919. During his time in Vienna, he grew to enjoy a Western European lifestyle. Upon his return, Zogolli became involved in the political life of the fledgling Albanian government that had been created in the wake of the First World War. His political supporters included many southern feudal landowners (called beys, Turkish for "province chieftain", the social group to which he belonged) and noble families in the north, along with merchants, industrialists, and intellectuals. During the early 1920s, Zogolli served as Governor of Shkodër (1920–1921), Minister of the Interior (March–November 1920, 1921–1924), and chief of the Albanian military (1921–1922). His primary rivals were Luigj Gurakuqi and Fan S. Noli. In 1922, Zogolli formally changed his surname from Zogolli to Zogu, which sounds more Albanian.[8]

In 1923, he was shot and wounded in Parliament. A crisis arose in 1924 after the assassination of one of Zogu's industrialist opponents, Avni Rustemi; in the aftermath, a leftist revolt forced Zogu, along with 600 of his allies, into exile in June 1924. He returned to Albania with the backing of Yugoslav forces and Yugoslavia-based White Russian troops under General Wrangel and became Prime Minister.

President of Albania

Zogu was officially elected as the first President of Albania by the Constituent Assembly on 21 January 1925, taking office on 1 February for a seven-year term. Zogu's government followed the European model, though large parts of Albania still maintained a social structure unchanged from the days of Ottoman rule, and most villages were serf plantations run by the Beys. On 28 June 1925, Zogu ceded Sveti Naum to Yugoslavia as a gesture of recognition to the Yugoslav aid to him and in exchange for Peshkëpi (Pëshkupat) village and other minor concessions.[9][10]

Zogu enacted several major reforms. His principal ally during this period was Italy, which lent his government funds in exchange for a greater role in Albania's fiscal policy. During Zogu's presidency, serfdom was gradually eliminated. For the first time since the death of Skanderbeg, Albania began to emerge as a nation, rather than a feudal patchwork of local Beyliks. His administration was marred by disputes with Kosovar leaders, primarily Hasan Prishtina and Bajram Curri.

However, Zogu's Albania was a police state. He all but eliminated civil liberties, muzzled the press and murdered political opponents. Under the constitution, Zogu was vested with sweeping executive and legislative powers, including the right to appoint one-third of the upper house. For all intents and purposes, he held all governing power in the nation.[11]

Albanian King

Speaker iconRare recorded speech of Zogu

Ahmet Zogu

On 1 September 1928, Albania was transformed into a kingdom, and President Zogu became Zog I, King of the Albanians (Mbret i Shqiptarëve in Albanian). He took as his regnal name his surname rather than his forename, since the Islamic name Ahmet might have had the effect of isolating him on the European stage. He also initially took the parallel name "Skanderbeg III" (Zogu claimed to be a successor of Skanderbeg through descent through Skanderbeg's sister; "Skanderbeg II" was taken to be Gjon Kastrioti II, Skanderbeg's son, exiled to Italy, or Alexander Thomson (1820-1899) who was posthumously given the title by the new Albanian government in recognition of his work for the Albanian language), but this fell out of use.[12]

On the same day as he was declared king (he was never technically crowned), he was declared Field Marshal of the Royal Albanian Army. He proclaimed a constitutional monarchy similar to the contemporary regime in Italy, created a strong police force, and instituted the Zogist salute (flat hand over the heart with palm facing downwards). Zog hoarded gold coins and precious stones, which were used to back Albania's first paper currency.

Royal Monogram

Zog's mother, Sadije, was declared Queen Mother of Albania, and Zog also gave his brother and sisters Royal status as Prince and Princesses Zogu. One of his sisters, Senije, Princess Zogu (c. 1897–1969), married Prince Shehzade Mehmed Abid Efendi of Turkey, a son of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

Zog's constitution forbade any Prince of the Royal House from serving as Prime Minister or a member of the Cabinet, and contained provisions for the potential extinction of the Royal Family. Ironically, in light of later events, the constitution also forbade the union of the Albanian throne with that of any other country. Under the Zogist constitution, the King of the Albanians, like the King of the Belgians, ascended the throne and exercised Royal powers only after taking an oath before Parliament; Zog himself swore an oath on the Bible and the Qur'an (the king being Muslim) in an attempt to unify the country. In 1929, King Zog abolished Islamic law in Albania, adopting in its place a civil code based on the Swiss one, as Ataturk's Turkey had done in the same decade.[13] The price for such modernization was high, though. Although nominally a constitutional monarch, in practice Zog retained the dictatorial powers he had enjoyed as president. Thus, in effect, Albania remained a military dictatorship.[11]

In 1938, Zog opened the borders of Albania to Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany.[14]

Life as King

Reverse and obverse of a Zogian one-franc coin
100-franc banknote of Zog's reign

Although born as an aristocrat and hereditary Bey, King Zog was somewhat ignored by other monarchs in Europe because he had no links to any other European royal families. Nonetheless, he did have strong connections with Muslim royal families in the Arab World, particularly Egypt, whose ruling dynasty had Albanian origins. As King, he was honoured by the governments of Italy, Luxembourg, Egypt, Yugoslavia, France, Romania, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria.[5]

Zog had been engaged to the daughter of Shefqet Bey Verlaci before he became king. Soon after he became king, however, he broke off the engagement. According to traditional customs of blood vengeance prevalent in Albania at the time, Verlaci had the right to kill Zog. The king frequently surrounded himself with a personal guard and avoided public appearances. He also feared that he might be poisoned, so the Mother of the King assumed supervision of the Royal Kitchen.[15]

In April 1938 Zog married Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi, a Roman Catholic aristocrat who was half-Hungarian and half-American. The ceremony was broadcast throughout Tirana via Radio Tirana that was officially launched by the monarch five months later. Their only child, HRH Crown Prince Leka, was born in Albania on 5 April 1939.

Assassination attempts

About 600 blood feuds reportedly existed against Zog,[16] and during his reign he reputedly survived more than 55 assassination attempts.[17] One of these occurred inside the corridors of the Albanian Parliament premises on 23 February 1924. Beqir Valteri, originating from the same area as Zog,[18][19] was waiting for him and opened fire suddenly.[20] Zog was shot twice. Meanwhile Valteri fled but, surrounded by the militia, took refuge in one of the bathrooms, refusing to surrender and singing patriotic songs. According to the memoirs of Ekrem Vlora,[21] he surrendered after the intervention of Qazim Koculi and Ali Klissura. Zog stepped down briefly from political activity,[22] but promised to forgive Valteri. Valteri, a member of the revolutionary Bashkimi ("The union") committee led by Avni Rustemi,[23] was set free by the Court of Tirana after declaring that it was an individual act.[24] Meanwhile, all rumors pointed to the opposition, specifically to Rustemi. Two weeks later Zog and Valteri would meet in privacy. Soon after, Rustemi would be shot.[21] It was absolutely clear that Zog was behind the attack.[25]

Another attempt occurred on 21 February 1931, while visiting the Vienna State Opera house for a performance of Pagliacci.[15] The attackers (Aziz Çami and Ndok Gjeloshi) struck whilst Zog was getting into his car. The attempt was organized by "National Union" (Albanian: Bashkimi Kombëtar"),[26] a union of Zog opponents in exile which was formed in Vienna (1925) with the initiative of Ali Këlcyra, Sejfi Vllamasi, Xhemal Bushati etc.[27] Zog was in the company of Minister Ekrem Livohova who was wounded, while Zog's guard Llesh Topallaj was mistakenly taken for Zog by Gjeloshi, who shot him three times in the back of the head. Çami's gun was stuck and did not fire. Zog came out of the event unharmed, thanks also to the prompt intervention of Albanian Consul Zef Serreqi and local police.[17] The Austrian authorities would arrest Çami, Gjeloshi, and later Qazim Mulleti, Rexhep Mitrovica, Menduh Angoni, Angjelin Suma, Luigj Shkurti, Sejfi Vllamasi, etc.[17][28] All the Albanian political Émigré in Vienna would be arrested, beside Hasan Prishtina. Most of them would be shortly released and definitely expelled from Austria. Gjeloshi would be sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of jail, while Çami 2 years and 6 months.[29]

Relations with Italy

The fascist government of Benito Mussolini's Italy had supported Zog since early in his presidency; that support had led to increased Italian influence in Albanian affairs. The Italians compelled Zog to refuse to renew the First Treaty of Tirana (1926), although Zog still retained British officers in the Gendarmerie as a counterbalance against the Italians, who had pressured Zog to remove them.

During the worldwide depression of the early 1930s Zog's government became almost completely dependent on Mussolini, to the point that the Albanian national bank had its seat in Rome. Grain had to be imported, many Albanians emigrated, and Italians were allowed to settle in Albania. In 1932 and 1933, Albania was unable to pay the interest on its loans from the Society for the Economic Development of Albania, and the Italians used this as a pretext for further dominance. They demanded that Tirana put Italians in charge of the Gendarmerie, join Italy in a customs union, and grant the Italian Kingdom control of Albania's sugar, telegraph, and electrical monopolies. Finally, Italy called for the Albanian government to establish teaching of the Italian language in all Albanian schools, a demand that was swiftly refused by Zog. In defiance of Italian demands, he ordered the national budget to be slashed by 30 percent, dismissed all Italian military advisers, and nationalized Italian-run Roman Catholic schools in the north of Albania to decrease Italian influence on the population of Albania. In 1934, he tried without success to build ties with France, Germany, and the Balkan states, and Albania drifted back into the Italian orbit.[30]

Two days after the birth of Zog's son and heir apparent, on 7 April 1939 (Good Friday), Mussolini's Italy invaded, facing no significant resistance. The Albanian army was ill-equipped to resist, as it was almost entirely dominated by Italian advisors and officers and was no match for the Italian Army. The Italians were, however, resisted by small elements in the gendarmerie and general population. The Royal Family, realising that their lives were in danger, fled into exile, taking with them a considerable amount of gold from the National Bank of Tirana and Durrës.[31][32] Since the Italian invasion was not unexpected, the gathering of gold had started in advance.[33] "Oh God, it was so short" were King Zog's last words to Geraldine on Albanian soil. Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, arrived the following day; on searching the Palace in Tirana, he found the labour room in the Queen's suite; seeing a pile of linen on the floor, stained by the afterbirth, he kicked it across the room. "The cub has escaped!" he said. Mussolini declared Albania a protectorate under Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III. While some Albanians continued to resist, "a large part of the population ... welcomed the Italians with cheers", according to one contemporary account.[34]

Former heir presumptive

Prior to the birth of Prince Leka, the position of Heir Presumptive was held by Prince of Kosova (Kosovo) Tati Esad Murad Kryziu, born 24 December 1923 in Tirana, who was the son of the King's sister, Princess Nafije. He became honorary General of the Royal Albanian Army in 1928, at age five. He was made Heir Presumptive with the style of His Highness and title of "Prince of Kosova" (Princ i Kosovës) in 1931. After the Royal House's exile, he moved to France, where he died in August 1993, aged 69.

Life in exile and Death

The grave of former King Zog I at the Cimetière de Thiais near Paris

The royal family settled in England, first at The Ritz in London, followed by a brief stay at 'Forest Ridge,' a house in the South Ascot area of Sunninghill in Berkshire, in 1941 (near where Zog's nieces had been at school in Ascot). In 1941 they moved to Parmoor House, Parmoor, near Frieth in Buckinghamshire with some staff of the court living in locations around Lane End.[35]

In 1946, King Zog and most of his family left England and went to live in Egypt at the behest of King Farouk, however Farouk was overthrown in 1952, and the family left for France in 1955. In 1951, Zog bought the Knollwood estate in Muttontown, New York. The sixty-room estate was never occupied and Zog sold the estate in 1955.

He made his final home in France, where he died at the Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine[5] on 9 April 1961, aged 65, of an undisclosed condition. Zog was a heavy smoker, and had been seriously ill for some time. He was survived by his wife and son, and is buried at the Cimetière de Thiais, near Paris. On his death, his son Leka was pronounced H.M. King Leka of the Albanians by the exiled Albanian community.

His widow, Queen Geraldine, died of natural causes in 2002 at the age of 87 in a military hospital in Tirana, Albania. Albania's Communist rulers abolished the monarchy in 1946, but, even in exile, the royal family insisted that Leka Zogu was Albania's legitimate ruler until his death on 30 November 2011.

Political legacy

During World War II, there were three resistance groups operating in Albania: the nationalists, the royalists and the communists. Some of the Albanian establishment opted for collaboration. The communist partisans refused to co-operate with the other resistance groups and took control of the country. They were able to defeat the last Nazi remnants and take over the country in November 1944.

Zog attempted to reclaim his throne after the war. However, the new Communist-dominated government barred Zog from returning soon after it took power, and formally deposed him in 1946. Sponsored by the British and Americans, some forces loyal to Zog attempted to mount invasions and incursions, but most were ambushed due to intelligence sent to the Soviet Union by spy Kim Philby. A referendum in 1997—seven years after the end of Communist rule—proposed to restore the monarchy in the person of Zog's son Leka Zogu who, since 1961, has been styled "Leka I, King of the Albanians". The official but disputed results stated that about two-thirds of voters favoured a continued republican government. Leka, believing the result to be fraudulent, attempted an armed uprising: he was unsuccessful and was forced into exile, although he later returned and lived in Tirana until his death on 30 November 2011. A main street in Tirana was later renamed "Boulevard Zog I" by the Albanian government.

Repatriation to Albania

In October 2012, the government of Albania decided to bring back the remains of the former king from France, where he died in 1961. Zog's body was exhumed from the Thiais Cemetery, Paris on 15 November 2012.[36] A guard of honour was provided by the French President, in the form of French Legionnaires in ceremonial dress.

Zog's remains were returned in a state ceremony on 17 November 2012, coinciding with celebrations for Albania's independence centennial. The bodies of the king and his family members now lie in the reconstructed royal mausoleum in the capital Tirana.[37] The interment was attended by the government of Albania, including the President and Prime Minister, and senior figures from the Romanian, Montenegrin, Russian and Albanian royal families.

Honours and awards

In Albania:[38]

From other countries:

[40]

Ancestry

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. Mahmud Pasha Zogolli
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Xhelal Pasha Zogolli
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Xhemal Pasha Zogu, Governor of Mati
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Ruhijé Halltuni
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Zog I, Skanderbeg III of the Albanians
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. Salah Bey Toptani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Sadijé Toptani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cultural References

Zog's name was in use by 1972 in the English language palaentological mnemonic for the names of zonal index fossils in part of the Lower Carboniferous System of Great Britain (namely Cleistopora, which geologists decided to call 'zone k', Zaphrentis, Caninia, Seminula and Dibanophylum): "King Zog caught syphilis and died".[41]

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ↑ Nazione e religione in Albania (1920–1944), Roberto Morozzo della Rocca Bologna – Il mulino, 1990 (referring report of the British Minister in Albania, Robert Hodgson, FO, 371/16625 (C 3805/3420/90), 19 April 1933
  2. ↑ Cansacchi, L’unione dell’Albania con l’Italia, Revista di diritto internazionale, Roma 1940, p.3.
  3. ↑ 10 vjet Mbretni, Dr. Zoi Xoxa, Tiranë, 1938
  4. ↑ Pearson, Owen (2006). Albania in the Twentieth Century: a history. I.B. Tauris. p. 568. ISBN 1-84511-013-7.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Royal Ark
  6. ↑ Some sources cite Ahmad Mukhtar
  7. ↑ Website dedicated to Albanian royalty/genealogy
  8. ↑ Balázs Trencsényi; Michal Kopeček (2006). Discourses of collective identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945): texts and commentaries. Central European University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-963-7326-61-5. Retrieved 23 January 2013. Ahmet Zogu (who had changed his name from the Turkish sounding 'Zogolli' to the more Albanian sounding 'Zogu')
  9. ↑ Pearson, Owen (2004). Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908–1939. IB Tauris. p. 248. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  10. ↑ Dashnor Kaloçi (05.08.2010). "Mehdi Bej Frashëri: "Pse ia dhashë Shën-Naumin Serbisë"" [Mehdi bey Frasheri: Why St Naum was given to Serbia] (in Albanian). Retrieved 10.1.14. ...por kufini në vend që të vazhdonte që nga kodra e Zagoriçanit gjer te Qafa e Plloçit, ku ndodheshin dy versante: versanti i Maliqit dhe Liqeni i Ohrit, vija e kufinit të hidhej ke Mali i Thatë, e të përfshinte katundin shqiptaro-orthodoks Pëshkupat... Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Charles Sudetic. "Interwar Albania, 1918–41". Albania: A country study (Raymond Zickel and Walter R. Iwaskiw, eds.). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (April 1992).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ↑ Michael Schmidt-Neke, Die Verfassungen Albaniens: mit einem Anhang: Die Verfassung der Republik Kosova von 1990. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2009, p. 34
  13. ↑ Swiss Laws, Greek Patriarch, Time magazine, 15 April 1929
  14. ↑ Besa: The Promise > Bios
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Shaw, Karl (2005) [2004]. Power Mad! [Šílenství mocných] (in Czech). Praha: Metafora. pp. 31–32. ISBN 80-7359-002-6.
  16. ↑ Gunther, John (1936). Inside Europe. Harper & Brothers. p. 370.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Vickers, Miranda (2001). The Albanians: a modern history. IB Tauris. p. 131. ISBN 1-86064-541-0.
  18. ↑ Sejfi Vllamasi (2000), "IX", in Marenglen Verli, Ballafaqime politike në Shqipëri (1897–1942): kujtime dhe vlerësime historike, Shtëpia Botuese "Neraida, ISBN 9992771313, Ky i fundit paska qënë një djalosh 17-vjeçar, Beqir Valteri, nga fshati Vinjall i Matit, të cilin Zogu e paska ndihmuar duke e dërguar në Itali për të studjuar.
  19. ↑ Ilir Ushtulenca (1997), Diplomacia e Mbretit Zogu I-rë (1912–1939), Shtëpia Botuese "Ermir", p. 45, OCLC 39444050, ...Beqir Valteri, student nga Mati...[Beqir Valteri, e student from Mat]
  20. ↑ Fan Noli (1968), Vepra të plota: Autobiografia, Rilindija, p. 91, OCLC 38785427
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Blendi Fevziu (2012-10-30), Si e pushkatuan komunistët atentatorin e Ahmet Zogut [How the gunman who shot Ahmet Zogu was execute by the communists] (in Albanian), Gazeta MAPO, retrieved 26.1.14, Më 23 Shkurt 1924, gati të gjithë ne deputetët, thuajse kishim zënë vendet tona për seancën e pasdites të Asamblesë. Mungonte vetëm Qeveria, pra edhe Kryeministri Ahmet Zogu. Unë rrija si gjithmonë pranë metropolitit Fan Noli, në bankën e radhës së parë pranë hyrjes. Më ra në sy se atë ditë, grupi i Partisë Demokratike prapa meje po rrinte çuditërisht i heshtur dhe i merakosur. Befas ushtuan dy krisma në shkallët e ndërtesës, që u pasuan nga një qetësi e ngrirë. Pastaj u hapën me vrull dyert e sallës dhe brenda hyri Ahmet Zogu me revolver në dorë. Ai ishte prerë në fytyrë, por ecte me shtatin drejt dhe pas disa çastesh e mori veten, madje buzëqeshi dhe vajti me çap të sigurt tek bangoja e qeverisë, ku u ul në një vend të caktuar për sekretarët...
    Ahmet Zogu që ishte paralajmëruar për atentatin 2 javë më parë arriti të mësonte se Valteri ishte i shtyrë nga kundërshtarët e tij. Kujtimet e shumë protagonistëve të kohës, shënojnë faktin që ai u takua edhe vetë kokë më kokë me atentatorin. Në fakt atentati i Zogut përflitej në çdo kafene të Tiranës dhe njerëzit e tij, vunë gishtin mbi Avni Rustemin si organizator.     Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ↑ Linda Mëniku, Héctor Campos (1 August 2011), Discovering Albanian I Textbook, University of Wisconsin Press, p. 60, ISBN 978-0299250843
  23. ↑ Michael Schmidt-Neke (1987-11-16), Entstehung und Ausbau der Königsdiktatur in Albanien (1912–1939), Regierungsbildungen, Herrschaftsweise und Machteliten in einem jungen Balkanstaat, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, p. 114, ISBN 978-3486543216
  24. ↑ Dorothea Kiefer, Untersuchungen zur Gegenwartskunde Südosteuropas, 15–16, Oldenbourg, p. 358, ISSN 0566-2761, OCLC 1607360
  25. ↑ R. J. Crampton (1997). Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century - And After (2 ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-0415164238. They did. On 20 April Avni Rustemi was murdered in Tirane and was absolutely clear that Zog was behind the attack.
  26. ↑ Ilir Ushtelenca (1997). Diplomacia e Mbretit Zogu I-rë (1912–1939). Shtëpia Botuese "Ermir". pp. 219–220. OCLC 39444050.
  27. ↑ Ben Andoni (2012-05-21), Qazim Mulleti – Antizogisti që u shërbeu fashistëve [Qazim Mulleti, the anti-Zogist who served the Fascists] (in Albanian), retrieved 31.12.13 Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  28. ↑ Fatos Veliu (08-09-2012). "Tanush Mulleti: Qazimi ishte pjesëmarrës në atentatin kundër Zogut në Vjenë" (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqiptare. Retrieved 31.12.13. Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)
  29. ↑ Sejfi Vllamasi (2000), "IX", in Marenglen Verli, Ballafaqime politike në Shqipëri (1897–1942): kujtime dhe vlerësime historike, Shtëpia Botuese "Neraida", ISBN 9992771313, Me gjithë këto fakte, hetuesia më 28 prill 1931 vendosi për ndalim gjyqi dhe na liroi, kurse në muajin korrik, liroi me po atë mënyrë Angjelin Sumën dhe Qazim Mulletin. Por, ndërkohë, policia na dëboi nga Vjena, me kusht që të mos kemi të drejtë edhe një herë të hyjmë në Austri.
    Për atë arësye, qeveria e Vjenës, për t’i bërë një kompliment Italisë, vendosi ta bëjë gjyqin në një vend të vogël, ku populli ka qënë katolik fetar, pasues i Partisë Popullore; nga ana tjetër, për t’u bërë qejfin emigrantëve politikë, neve na liroi, me ndalim gjyqi, Gjyqi Ndok Gjeloshin e dënoi me tre vjet e gjysmë privim lirie dhe Azis Çamin me dy vjet e gjysmë.
  30. ↑ Alexander De Grand (Sep 2007), The International History Review 29 (3), Taylor & Francis, Ltd, pp. 655–657, ISSN 1749-6985, OCLC 123562997, retrieved 11.10.13 Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  31. ↑ Royal Claimants, Life, 24 June 1957, p. 98, retrieved 11.10.13 Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  32. ↑ Douglas Saltmarshe (June 2001), Identity in a Post-Communist Balkan State: An Albanian Village Study, Ashgate Pub Ltd, p. 56, ISBN 978-0754617273, retrieved 11.10.13 Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  33. ↑ Ksenofon Krisafi (2008), Në kërkim të arit [In search of Gold] (in Albanian), Dita 2000, ISBN 978-99943-57-58-1, retrieved 11.10.13 Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  34. ↑ "Fascist Soldiers Take over Tirana (...)". The New York Times (New York City: The New York Times Company). 9 April 1939. p. 33. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  35. ↑ Naçi collection, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, accessed 27 January 2007
  36. ↑ Remains of King Zog repatriated from France to Albania. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  37. ↑ Albania to bring home exiled king's remains. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  38. ↑ "albania2". Royalark.net. 1924-12-24. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  39. ↑ Presidenti Nishani dekoron Naltmadhninë e Tij Zogun I, Mbretin e Shqiptarëve (Pas vdekjes) me "Urdhrin e Flamurit Kombëtar", Presidenti.al, 2012-11-17 (in Albananin)
  40. ↑ Kingdom of Albania
  41. ↑ A Dictionary of Mnemonics. Eyre Methuen, Psychology Library Editions. 1972. p. 32.

Further reading

External links

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Zog I of Albania
Born: 8 October 1895 Died: 9 April 1961
Political offices
Preceded by
Xhafer Ypi		 Prime Minister of Albania
1922–1924 		Succeeded by
Shefqet Bej Verlaci
Preceded by
Ilias Bej Vrioni		 Prime Minister of Albania
1925 		Vacant
Title next held by
Koço Kota
New title President of Albania
1925–1928 		Vacant
Title next held by
Omer Nishani
Regnal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
William of Wied
as Prince of Albania		 King of the Albanians
1928–1939 		Succeeded by
Victor Emmanuel III
(Italian occupation)
Preceded by
Xhemal Pasha Zogu		 Hereditary Governor of Mati
1911–1939 		Succeeded by
Leka Zogu
Titles in pretence
Loss of title
Italian invasion, communist regime
 — TITULAR —
King of the Albanians
1939–1961		 Succeeded by
Leka Zogu