Ahmed Zogu (October 8th 1895 - April 9th 1961) is a politician Albanian, President of Albania starting from the January 31st 1925, then King under the name of Zog Ier , of September 1st 1928 with the April 8th 1939.

The heir

Born in central Albania, the October 8th 1895 with Burgajet, Ahmed Zogu is the oldest son of an influential Albanian family.

His/her father, Djemal Zogu was the governor of the Mati, and perhaps a descendant of the Skanderbeg.

His/her mother, Sadije Toptani, went down from a rich person family of landowners.

Youth

Zogu is sent to Istanbul where it made there its studies with the Lycée of Galatasaray. But in 1911, it returns prematurely following the death of his/her father, to which it must succeed the post of governor. During the War of Balkans, Zogu pushes back the Serbes and supports independence proclaimed by Ismail Qemali.

Partisan of Prince Guillaume de Wied (the new sovereign chosen by the great powers), it fights during the First World War, at the side of the Austro-Hungarian. However, the latter find it awkward… It is true that, Zogu benefits especially from the situation, to occupy the close territories.

To get rid some without putting at back the Zogu family, the Autrichiens appoint it colonel of a small troop and send it to Vienna. Over there, Zogu is made stop and is retained until the end of the war. Sent to Rome, it is repatriated in Albania in 1919.

Minister

The Albania, since its departure had remained a monarchy but without its monarch. Guillaume de Wied, left in exile, is represented by the High council.

As of its return to the country, Zogu launches out in the policy. In 1920, he subdues a rebellion, thus preventing his uncle Essad Pasha Toptani, to reach the throne; this act is worth to him to be appointed Minister of Interior Department. Thus it will occupy this station during four years.

While becoming governor of Shkodër of 1920-1921 it is promoted general and commander-in-chief of the army of 1921-1922. For this period, he is member of the dominant party the political life of the country, the “Popular party”.

These two years as are very remembered by the repressive means as uses Zogu to fight the disorder.

Repression

Its methods extremists are disapproved by several members of his party, in particular by Mgr Fan Noli, Luigj Gurakuqi (a national hero who was made assassinate in 1925 by the partisans of Zogu) and Avni Rustemi who form in opposition the “democratic party” of left-liberal.

In 1922, Zogu becomes Prime Minister, and changes party: it joined the conservatives of extreme right-hand side of the “progressive Parti”. This sudden change of position, is with its engagement to the girl of Shefqet Verlaci, the chief of the party.

Political assassination

The tension between the two parties is such as, the February 23rd 1924, Zogu escapes from little from an attack from the Parliament. Slightly wounded, an accounting scandal bursts and the March 5th 1924 finally obliges it to resign. It is replaced by his “future” father-in-law, Shefqet Verlaci.

Zogu, irritated, makes assassinate in reprisals, the April 22nd, a deputy of the opposition, Avni Rustemi. This act causes the indignation of all, and an insurrection directed by Mgr Fan Noli shift in one month the government. Zogu and its allies take refuge then in Yugoslavia, where since Belgrade, they obtain the assistance of the Yugoslav government. Indeed the latter fear that the government of Fan Noli sympathizes with the the USSR. Thus, six months afterwards, the December 23rd 1924, Zogu invades the country and takes again the capacity.

Following this coup d'etat, the totality of its opponents are exiled or are stopped.

Presidency

Zogu has from now on the free field for all its projects. Thus he proclaims the Republic and is elected President the January 31st 1925, for a seven years mandate. He makes vote a Constitution the March 7th 1925, giving him very broad capacities, starting thus, his reign of Dictateur. In one year, it prohibits the parties, stops very opposing to the mode, founds the censure and makes reign the order using a solid gendarmerie.

After having bribed the feudal Lords, Zogu can finally launch out in the modernization and the Europeanization of the country. It abolishes gradually serfdom, the port of the veil; reform the administration, founds the equality in front of the tax and the idea of a nation emerges finally at the people.

“Italian assistance”

Despite everything, the Albania has several centuries of delay to catch up with and financial means misses. Zogu thus opens its borders with the foreign assets, and immediately the fascistic Italy proposes its assistance. The latter creates and finances as of March 1925 the national Bank of Albania, granting important vital loans for the country. Under these conditions, the November 27th 1926, Zogu signs with Mussolini, a treaty of political and territorial status quo giving to the Italy a supremacy uncontested on the Adriatique. This last thus seeing the right to intervene militarily in Albania at the request of Zogu.

The Yugoslavia lives in the signature of this act, a possibility of aggression on behalf of the Italians and was scrambled then with Albania and Italy. Start then, between Yugoslavia and Italy, a higher bid of alliance which brings finally, the November 22nd 1927, with the second treaty of Tirana. This second pact, supposedly a treaty of offensive alliance and defensive between the two countries, aimed to the preparation of the establishment of a forthcoming protectorate on Albania. Zogu, reticent, is seen obliged to sign.

Zog Ier, king of the Albanians

September 1st 1928, after having modified the constitution, Ahmed Zogu autoproclame king of the Albanians under the name of Zog Ier , removing its first name considered to be too Moslem.

While becoming king, Zog legitimates his capacity and can finally launch out on the way of modernization without no opposition appearing.

Thus, it founds as of 1929 a Civil code, a penal code and a commercial Code; eradic the Feudality and proclaims Albania, country laic. It establishes the Vote for all and develops through all the country: infrastructures, roads, schools, hospitals…

In 1930, it starts also a reform of agriculture, but in front of the reserves of the great landowners, principal supports of Zog, this action is balanced on a failure.

Rupture

Not needing more the support of its former head of party, Shefqet Verlaci, Zog which was promised in marriage to his/her daughter benefit from it to break. His/her former “father-in-law” has nothing any more but one idea at the head: to kill Zog. So much so that in 1931, the king escapes an attack with Vienna. After this event, Zog is surrounded by an close guard, avoids to the maximum being shown with crowd, and fearing to be poisoned, supervises the kitchens narrowly.

Under these conditions, the king is bored. He spends his days then to be played poker and to smoke of the scented cigarettes (approximately 150 per days); more than 10% of the national budget will be used to maintain the court.

The Italian influence

The Crise of 1929 does not save the Albania, and the young State is more and more under the hegemony of the Italy. Zog, to counterbalance the Italian influence, had kept, to the great displeasure of Mussolini, the British officers in his gendarmerie. This last not supporting this affront, took pretext of the interests not-paid in 1932 and 1933 to require the reference of the British and the nomination of Italian officers in their place.

It also tries to impose a customs union thus giving the Italians, the control of the national companies. Zog refuses, and seeks the assistance of country hopelessly. It then signs of speed of the treaties with the Yugoslavia and the Greece, and nationalizes in a last hope teaching, directed mainly by Italian priests.

But in vain… The June 22nd 1934, Mussolini sends the Italian marine to make a display of naval strength with Durres. Zog does not have any more an other choice but to be subjected. The Duce then makes him sign its treaty of seizure on the Albanian economy by Italian companies. The entire amount of the Italian investments will consequently reach the 280 million gold franc whereas the Albanian budget does not exceed the bar of the 28 million. The Albania is nothing any more but one Italian colony.

Last years of the king

Zog gradually becomes a “marionette” but always reigning as a true “enlightened” despot. Thus it gives the right to vote with the women in 1937. Nevertheless Italian control on the country irritates it, and Zog reinforces the dictatorial character of its mode, making it very unpopular.

The April 27th 1938, Zog Marie with Geraldine de Nagy-Apponyi, girl of a Hungarian count and American. The new Queen is twenty years old less than the king. And they will have only one only son, Léka Zogu, born the April 5th 1939 with Tirana.

The “Roman” invasion

In May 1938, the son-in-law and Foreign Minister of Mussolini, the count of Ciano, highly advises to him to invade Albania. The purpose of this action planned for spring 1939, will be the beginning of the rebuilding of old the Roman Empire. King Zog “having had wind” of the business, informs himself near the Italian staff which reassures it. It is true that Mussolini is rather undecided.

Ciano, on its side, tries to have the support of Yugoslav the Prime Minister by buying it, but the prince Paul, regent of the young person Pierre II, learns the news and the February 4th 1939 returns it. King Zog is now persuaded of the fate which awaits it. And the March 25th 1939, Mussolini sends an ultimatum. The sovereign, given up by the political elite of the country, then tries to save time with a counter-proposal which will not be even examined. And without no international intervention, nor even on behalf of the SDN, being done, Albania which comprised only one army of 4500 soldiers, is invaded by 40.000 Italian soldiers the April 7th 1939.
The latter were initially acclaimed by the people as the liberators of a despot who reigned during fourteen years. But little by little the king started to be regretted. He had sought to make of Albania a modern country, Western but its character did not enable him to differently consider a resistance to the Italians than by playing the chart of hardness transforming its democratic inclinations into a diktat quite widespread autocrat however at the time and in particular in Balkans. Constrained with the exile, it leaves a country in the process of modernization, with hospitals, practicable schools, workshops, old people's homes, roads, the secularity and the equality of the women with the men.

The exile

The invasion of the Albania five months before the Second world war obliges Zog to be exiled. He thus flees with all his family in Greece then voyage through Europe trying to escape the forces from the Axe. He settles finally in England where it forms a government in exile.

At the end of 1944, the Albania is released by the communist which refuse its return to the country. It thus leaves the England for the Egypt where it hopes to find a support of the Moslem sovereigns, in vain. In 1951, it buys a manor with New York where it wants to install its court of 115 members there; but it will obtain only twenty visas and gives up it.

A vague hope appears in April 1952. the CIA wishing to get rid of the Albanian Communist regime, envisages a plan aiming at giving on the Zog throne. The operation, following an escape, is a true disaster and the business will be choked.

Zog is withdrawn then on the Riviera, where it saw there, ruined and tired. He dies the April 9th 1961, at the hospital of Suresnes. Good number of Albanian, in the country but also everywhere in Europe and America wish the return of ashes of the sovereign to Tirana. More and more of complaints are done in this direction. Zogu is buried in the Parisian Cimetière of Thiais.

Zog

In 1939, Hergé draws a new adventure of Tintin, “the sceptre of Ottokar”. This cartoon who has as a framework two imaginary Balkan countries, Syldavie and Bordurie, tells the history of a Anschluss missed. In addition to the annexation of the Austria by the Germany in 1938, it is also inspired by incorporation in 1918 of the Montenegro (representing the kingdom of Syldavie) by the Serbia (representing Bordurie). Lastly, to draw the king syldave, Hergé takes as a starting point Zog.

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