Albanian Monarchs
A history of Albanian monarchs.
Contents
Principality of Albania
Following the Albanian Revolt in 1912, Ismail Qemali emerged as prime minister of a Provisional Government.
TODO: figure out who was head of state for UK, Austria, Germany, Russia, and France at this time!
The Treaty of London established a International Commission of Control, which was effectively guaranteed by the UK, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Germany, and Russia. This was the first stage to the division of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. Qemali did not support the treaty, as the borders imposed were much smaller than the Albanian vilayet. Instead, he agreed to support an Ottoman takeover of Albania. Ahmed Izzet Pasha would have been named the monarch. The plot was discovered and the European guarantors of the treaty, plus France, intervened. Qemali fled the country.
The provisional government was replaced by a monarchy under Prince Wilhelm of Wied (Vilhelm), with Turhan Përmeti as prime minister. Durrës was made the capital city. World War 1 soon broke out however, and Wilhelm fled the country.
In 1920, the Congress of Lushnjë declared the Durrës government invalid, appointed Sulejman Delvina as prime minister, and relocated the capital to Tirana. This led directly into the Vlora War. Giolitti ceded Albania in the Treaty of Tirana in exchange for keeping the island of Sazen (Sasseno).
After a transitional period, the National Council dissolved in 1921 and elections were held for the Constituent Assembly.
Zog
Zog was forced to resign and flee the country following the June revolt. He returned to Albania with the backing of the White Russians. The monarchy was formally abolished, establishing a Republic of Albania in 1925. Zog was elected the new president with effectively autocratic powers.
Three years later, Zog declared himself king of a new kingdom of Albania. His government became wholly dependent on Italian support, until he was overthrown by the Italian invasion in 1939. Even after World War 2, anti-monarchists blocked him from returning.