Zog of Albania

His Majesty King Zog (full ruling name: Zog I. Skanderbeg III.), born Ahmed Bey Zogu (October 8, 1895–April 9, 1961), was an Albanian prime minister (1922-1924), president (1925-1928), and king (1928-1939 and 1943-1946, the latter period in name only).

Legacy

During World War II, royalist resistance in northern Albania was largely ineffective, later merging with communist insurgents (partisans) made up of former serfs from the south, who were led by Yugoslavian militants. While the Albanian establishment mostly opted for collaboration with the Italians and Germans, it was the uneducated partisans who took control of the country, with Russian support, as the war ended.

Related Topics:
World War II - Partisan - Serf - Yugoslavia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The king's exile took him first to Greece and thence to Great Britain before he finally settled in France. Zog attempted to reclaim his throne but Albania had fallen firmly into the Soviet sphere and a Stalinist communist government led by Enver Hoxha would remain in power for 45 years. Zog abdicated on January 2, 1946, but retained his claim to the throne. He died on April 9, 1961, at the age of 65 in Hauts-de-Seine, France. His widow, former Queen Geraldine, died of natural causes in 2002 at the age of 87 in a hospital in Tirana, Albania.

Related Topics:
Greece - Great Britain - Stalinist - Enver Hoxha - January 2 - 1946 - April 9 - 1961

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1997, well after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of Albania's communist regime, Zog's son, Leka Zogu (who since 1961 had been calling himself Leka I, King of the Albanians), returned, despite resistance from the Albanian government under Sali Berisha. A referendum was held on the restoration of the monarchy in 1997, in which 66.7 percent of voters favored a republican government; Leka declared the result fraudulent. During the early 2000s, Leka Zogu was active in the country's politics, characterizing the socialist government (which was derived for the most part from former communist party officials) as "mafiosi" with little expertise. The socialists' difficulties in creating jobs and maintaining social order made Leka seem like an attractive alternative to many Albanians.

Related Topics:
Leka Zogu - 1961 - Sali Berisha - 1997 - Socialist - Mafiosi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2000, a street in Tiranë was named after the late King Zog.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~