Zog I: Difference between revisions

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'''King Zog''', full monarchical name: '''Zog I, Skanderbeg III''' of [[Albania]] (Ahmed Zogolli, later changed to Ahmed Zogu: [[October 8]], [[1895]]– – [[April 9]], [[1961]],) was PrimeKing Ministerof Albania from 1828 to [[Albania]]1939 [[1922]]-[[1924]],and Presidentfrom of1943 Albaniato [[1925]]-[[1928]]1946, andduring Kingthe oflatter Albaniaperiod in thename periodsonly. He had previously been was [[1928]]-[[1939Prime Minister]] of Albania between 1922 and 1924 and [[1943President of Albania]]-[[1946]], duringbetween the1925 latterand period in name only1928.

==Background and early political career==

Born Ahmed Zogolli, he changed his family name to Zogu, meaning "[[hawk]]" in the [[Albanian language]]. This may have been done in an attempt to appear [[modern]], and possibly to draw contrasts (if not politically) with other Eastern European rulers. After his coronation, he became known as Zog.

Ahmed Zogolli was born in [[Burgajet Castle]], [[Albania]], third son to [[Xhemal Pasha Zogolli]] and [[Sadijé Toptani]]. His family was a [[beylik]] family, with feudal authority over the region of [[Mat District|Mat]]. The family claimed descent from the [[Skanderbeg|Skanderbegs]]. Upon his father's death in [[1911]], Zogolli at age sixteen became governor of Mat and de facto leader to the [[Gheg|Ghegs]]. He was appointed over his elder brother [[Xhelal Bey Zogu|Xhelal Bey]], who had been deemed mentally unfit.

As a young man during the [[World War I|First World War]], Zog supported the cause of [[Austria-Hungary]]. This was in contrast to traditional Albanian political attitudes, which had tended to support [[Eastern Europe]]an nations or the [[Ottoman Turk]]s. The Turks, however, were on the same side as the Austrians during World War I. He was detained at [[Vienna]] in 1917 and 1918 and in [[Rome]] in 1918 and 1919 before returning to Albania in [[1919]]. During his time in Vienna, he grew to enjoy a Western European lifestyle, and was rumoured to be very popular among the Viennese women.