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).

Life in exile

Zog after his deposition moved temporarily to Egypt, where he became a friend to King Farouk.

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After leaving Albania, Zog lived in exile as a jet setter in various countries. Records of his conversations with friends and familly indicate that he wished to set up a feudal kingdom outside of Albania. In 1951, he bought the Knollwood estate in Muttontown, Long Island (New York) for approximately $102,800, though some stories claim that he bought the mansion for a bucket of diamonds and rubies. The estate was described as a castle and it had sixty rooms. Zog intended Knollwood to be his kingdom-in-exile, staffed by loyal Albanian subjects.

Related Topics:
Jet setter - 1951

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Nevertheless, Zog never moved into the mansion, though a local legend holds that he hid his treasure in the mansion's walls. This is unlikely, as he did not possess any great treasure to hide. Zog sold the estate in 1955. The damage caused in his absence by vandals had reached $8,000 by that time. The mansion was further vandalized and parts of it have been torn down.

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When Zog went to United States, he desired to bring along his entire 115-member royal court, but the immigration authorities only allowed twenty members to come. Zog tried unsuccessfully to bribe the American Senate to permit the rest to join him. In 1952, Zog was forced to pay $2,914 in taxes on his property in United States despite his royal status.

Related Topics:
United States - Senate

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Zog finally chose to make his home in France. There, he lived without servants in a poorly maintained villa and his wife was forced to do the housework. Zog died in France in a hospital in Hauts-de-Seine, on April 9, 1961 at the age of 65, survived by his wife and son. He is buried at the Thiais Cemetery in Paris.

Related Topics:
France - April 9 - 1961 - Paris

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During his life, the king was also a guest at London's Claridge's Hotel on Brook Street in Mayfair.

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