Zog

Zog , 1895-1961, king of Albania. Originally Ahmad Zogu, he came from a Muslim family and served in the Austrian army in World War I. He became Albanian minister of the interior in 1920, minister of war in 1921, and premier in 1922. A revolution in 1924 led to his flight, but he returned with Yugoslav backing and became (Jan., 1925) president of the Albanian republic. Zog turned to Italy for financial aid. The Treaty of Tirana (1926) gave Italian loans in return for Albanian concessions; a defensive military alliance followed one year later. In 1928, Zog was proclaimed king as Zog I. Albania's economy advanced during his reign, and a modern legal system was introduced. Zog attempted to avoid further Italian encroachment, but the appearance (1934) of an Italian fleet at Durazzo forced him into submission. In Apr., 1939, Italy invaded and quickly subdued Albania. Zog, who had married the Hungarian-American countess Geraldine Apponyi in 1938, fled with his queen and two-day-old son. Victor Emmanuel III, of Italy, was proclaimed king; he abdicated in 1943, and a Communist government gained control of Albania and proclaimed it (1946) a people's republic. Zog remained in exile in Egypt and in France until his death.

Zog I (b. 8 Oct. 1895, d. 9 Apr. 1961). King of Albania 1928–39 A wealthy Albanian landowner born as Ahmed Bey Zogu, he came to lead Albanian popular resistance to Italian occupation during World War I, which eventually forced Italian withdrawal in 1920. He became Prime Minister in 1923 and, after spending seven months in exile, became President in January 1925. He proclaimed himself King in 1928 and tried to strengthen his country through promoting education and infrastructural investment. Since capital came primarily from Italy, by 1939 almost the entire Albanian economy was under Italian control. Mussolini invaded Albania in 1939, forcing Zog into exile. The monarchy was formally abolished in 1946.

Zog I ( Ahmed Zogu 1895–1961), prime minister of Albania from 1922 to 1924 before being voted president in January 1925 which meant he was virtually a dictator. In 1928 he was proclaimed king but was forced to flee when Italy invaded Albania in April 1938, and spent the war in the UK. Elections in 1945 voted in a communist government and he never returned to his throne.