King Zog: Self-Made Monarch of Albania

by Jason Tomes

King Zog was a curiosity, and so he has the most unusual European monarch of the twentieth century, a Muslim entirely without royal connections who created his own kingdom. By contemporaries, he was variously labelled 'the last ruler of romance', 'an appalling gangster', 'the modern Napoleon', the finest patriot' and 'frankly a cad'. Even today his reputation is disputed, but Zog was undeniably one of the foremost figures in Albanian history. Though notorious for cut-throat political intrigue, he promised to bring order and progress to a land that had long known little of either. 'It was I who made Albania,' he claimed.This biography shows Zog as the product of a unique time and place. People who live in secure, stable countries are invited to set aside their assumptions about European monarchy and meet a king who fired back at assassins and paid his bills with gold bars. Jason Hunter Tomes is a lecturer in British History at Boston University. His background is in modern history and his previous publications include Balfour and Foreign Policy.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, World War II

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2003

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvellous biography of a truly remarkable, if bizarre figure. King Zog, even the name is comic opera, is perhaps better known as a joke, rumour, myth or urban legend. The amount of inaccurate information about him is almost as extensive as the reality you will find in this biography. But it is worth reading not just for the details of Zog but for the intelligent background it provides on Albania's history.

I probably should have given this biography five stars but it is nearly ten years since I read it and I don't have anything to compare it to. Zog is similar to Farouk of Egypt in that there is probably only a need for one proper biography, if only because the actual sources available, in English, are pathetically thin.

A really first rate biography of a man who made himself king and who is more than a joke or a footnote.

[Kriegslok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent and in-depth study of Europe's most improbable and troubled self-made monarch. It is also an enlightening examination of the creation of a state in a region that even into the early twentieth century had no concept or respect for a centralised state system and remained a clan based society where family, tributes and honour (together with violence and a fair share of brigandry) were the rule. The book charts the rise of Zog from a respected clan family, Ottoman education to the man who tried (inspired in good part by Ataturk) to forge a modern nation of the disparate tribes of his unruly anarchic mountain lands. Albania had been occupied and claimed by all and sundry with the clans in as far as possible continuing life as normal with each passing invader but not against bloody confrontation on occasion. Given a lack of tax system, much in the way of formal bureaucracy and a tribute system complicated by a code of honour Zog was always going to be hamstrung. With no budget and the need to buy loyalty outside his own clan corruption and betrayal according to individual and clan balance of power calculations were going to make nation building without external support impossible. Albania had the unenviable position of being a powerless nation surrounded by hostile powers each with designs on her territory yet in need of their support and cooperation if Albania was to emerge sovereign. Zog seems to have had as his forte the ability to gamble and play off against each other both his internal and external friends and enemies, walking a delicate tightrope and gambling constantly. Credited with founding the Albanian Republic, being deposed, returning, creating from nothing a monarchy and struggling to preserve Albania from annexation while by many being seen as an Axis lacky the Zog that emerges in Tomes study is a complex and contradictory character. Interestingly many of the issues which tore Yugoslavia apart are laid visible as problems which Zog struggled with. Eventually swallowed up by Mussolini (after being led a merry dance by Zog for which the man deserves credit) the Albanian crown fled into a troubled exile where he was never taken seriously or simply ignored. Perhaps in an earlier century Zog would have carved out a place in the dynastic monarchs of Europe (for what is a monarch but the most successful Mafia Don who succeeds in defeating his enemies and brow beating the people into love and respect for the arch criminal mastermind?), then again, despite the accusations of cruelty, brigandry and corruption thrown at him the man that emerges in this book is a complex mix of conservative and revolutionary and can be credited with setting Albania on the road to nationhood. He also railed against conservationism and for women's emancipation. That he played by different rules according to who and what problems he faced perhaps just proves he was good at playing with the few cards he had in his hand. Ultimately I think that Tito was correct in arguing that Albania should have been part of the Yugoslav Federation, it would undoubtedly have enjoyed a better post war than that bequeathed it by Hoxha. Anyway, this book is an excellent study in the problems of emerging small nations, the problems of state building, great power politics, Balkan geopolitical history and of Zog himself. You've got to love a monarch who engaged in a blazing gun battle against his would be assassins in the heart of Wien!

[Gerald Sinstadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The temptation to see Zog as a character from 19th Century Ruritanian operetta should be resisted. He was a tribal chief who made a central place for himself in pre-war Balkan politics, creating positions and titles until he was able to pronounce himself King. His methods and motives were equally ambiguous. If he sought wealth and personal aggrandisement, as he undoubtedly did, he also sought, but only precariously achieved, a place for Albania in a volatile corner of the world. Ultimately, his influence on the wider stage was only marginal but even in exile in the 1950s he was taken seriously enough to be courted by MI6 and the CIA.

Jason Tomes' portrait of this complex man is a model of its kind: it is lucid in its overview, telling in its eye for detail, eminently readable and frequently enlivened by a quizzical sense of humour. The research is impressive but it never overwhelms the story.

And in the end,does the reader feel that Zog was a Good King or a Bad King? Not the least achievement of this impressive book is that it can suggest that he was both. Read it for yourself and see.

[Kathy Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zog (born Ahmed Zogolli) was certainly one of the more unusual characters in interwar Europe. He took as a bride a half-Hungarian half-American countess, Geraldine Apponyi, who gave him his only child, his son Leka. Leka got involved in some dubious arms trading deals rather like his fellow would-be king of Italy, Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia. At one point, Leka lived in exile in post-Franco Spain, but the Spanish government had to ask him to leave due to his arms trading, Both men are now deceased. Although Leka’s son has shown his support for Albania and married an Albanian lady, I don’t think he expects to become a king. Albania went through harsh government under the rule of Enver Hoxha, who was Europe’s only Communist leader allied with Mao and I think it requires a lot of help and developmental aid before it could be ever considered a truly democratic government.

Zog and his wife Geraldine (who had literally just given birth to Leka) were obliged to flee Albania in the wake of the invasion of Mussolini’s soldiers. Zog never returned to Albania before his own death, although his widow, son Leka, and their grandson were able to do so.

[Greg D'Avis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the must-read books on Albanian history. Very even-handed. It's the most complete book I've read on the country's history between independence and WWII.

[Haven Hightower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an “unguided” tour of king zog’s deserted palace in Durres a few years ago and ever since I’ve wondered about the brief rule of this King. Very interesting but maybe not very exciting.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the life of King Zog of Albania. The book is vastly political, in fact, I'd say it was 75% a political history of the nation of Albania and it's relationship with other European countries, mainly Italy. However, this WAS Zog's life. He was intricately involved with the political life of the country. King Zog's personal life and his relationships with his family members is a fascinating study. Of particular note is the all too brief look at the lives of this sisters, called "Zoglets". An interesting book for anyone looking to get their feet wet with Albanian history.

[Pieter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, thrilling read...

[mich 🩶]

Mr coyle pls dont give us albania tmr for paper 2 or we're cooked 😭😭😭 inshallah

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-written, interestingly detailed account of Zog’s life in Albania, and then later in exile, includes a chapter about the Western Allies attempts to wrest Albania from the Communists in the 1950s.

[Monty Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating tale of a colourful kleptocrat. He was not without talent and even a certain charm, but his toleration of corruption did his people no favours. There was much interesting information in this book which is not easily found elsewhere.