Kingdom of Albania Index

King Zog I, the first and only King of the Albanians. source: Albanian Royal Court

Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire until independence was recognized by the Great Powers as part of the Treaty of London in May 1913. In February 1914, Albania was established as a Principality, with Prince Wilhelm of Wied selected as its reigning Prince. However, within months, Prince Wilhelm was forced into exile, never to return. Albania formally became a Republic in 1925.

Three years later, on September 1, 1928, Albanian President Ahmet Zogu declared Albania a Kingdom and became the country’s first and only King, taking the name King Zog I of the Albanians. Although it was a constitutional monarchy, the King retained near-dictatorial control over the country. Closely allied and supported by neighboring Italy, the Kingdom soon became dependent on Italy’s financial support, leading to greater influence and control by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini.

On April 7, 1939, on the orders of Mussolini, Italian forces invaded and occupied Albania, forcing King Zog and his family into exile. The country became a protectorate of Italy with the Italian King Vittorio Emanuele III being named King of the Albanians. Italy would retain control of the country until the Germans invaded in 1943. By the following year, Albania was under communist control, and in 1946 the government of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania formally deposed King Zog and banned him from ever returning to Albanian soil.

Traditionally, former sovereigns continue to use their royal title, but their heirs do not assume a new title upon succeeding them. There is only one instance of a pretender taking on a higher title. Upon the death of King Zog of the Albanians in 1961, his son, Crown Prince Leka, was declared King by the government-in-exile at the time. However, the monarchy had been abolished fifteen years earlier and this declaration held no legal validity. So while many referred to him as King Leka I, he was never actually a reigning sovereign.

Below is an indexed listing with links to biographical articles about the Albanian Royal Family at Unofficial Royalty. If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed are links to various Albanian Content Areas.

House of Zog (1928-1939)

Family of Zog I, King of the Albanians

Family of Crown Prince Leka I of Albania

Family of Crown Prince Leka II of Albania

PRETENDERS TO THE THRONE

CONTENT AREAS