Ahmet Zogu

Ahmet Zogu was an Albanian politician and monarch who ruled Albania as a prime minister, president, and king from 1922 to 1939. He was born in Burgajet Castle, near Burrel, to a wealthy landowning family that belonged to the Mati tribe. He studied in Istanbul and Vienna, and joined the Albanian nationalist movement in 1912. He fought against the Ottoman Empire in the First Balkan War, and later served as a minister in the provisional government of Ismail Qemali. He became the leader of the Progressive Party, which opposed the pro-Yugoslav government of Fan S. Noli. He staged a coup d'etat in 1924, with the support of Yugoslavia and Italy, and became the prime minister of Albania. He consolidated his power by suppressing the opposition, creating a personal guard, and establishing a secret police. He was elected president in 1925, and granted himself dictatorial powers. He enacted a series of reforms, such as modernizing the legal system, building roads and schools, and promoting Albanian culture. He also sought to balance the influence of his foreign allies, and pursued a policy of neutrality in international affairs. In 1928, he proclaimed Albania a monarchy, and crowned himself as Zog I, King of the Albanians. He married Geraldine Apponyi, a Hungarian countess, in 1938, and their son Leka was born in 1939. He faced increasing pressure from Italy, which wanted to turn Albania into a protectorate. He resisted Mussolini's demands, and tried to secure support from Britain and France. However, in April 1939, Italy invaded Albania, and Zog was forced to flee the country. He lived in exile in Greece, Turkey, England, Egypt, the United States, and France, where he died in 1961. He is regarded as the founder of modern Albania, and a symbol of national sovereignty and independence.