House of Zogu

The House of Zogu, or Zogolli during Ottoman times and until 1922, is an Albanian dynasty whose roots date back to the early 14th century. The family provided the first president and the short-lived modern Albanian Kingdom with its only monarch, Zog I of Albania (1928–1939).

House of Zogu
Country	Albanian Kingdom
Founded	20th century 1 September 1928 (as a royal house)
Founder	King Zog I
Current head	Crown Prince Leka II
Final ruler	Zog of Albania
Titles	King of the Albanians Hereditary Governor of Mati
Estate(s)	Burgajet Castle, Mati
Dissolution	1939
Website	www.albanianroyalcourt.al

History

The dynasty was founded by Zogu Pasha who migrated to the region of Mat, north-central Albania in the early 13th century.

The most famous member of the dynasty is Zog I, who in 1928 was proclaimed King of the Albanians and ruled until he was deposed by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy following the Italian invasion of 1939. Victor Emmanuel subsequently assumed the Albanian throne.

With the death in exile of King Zog in 1961 he was succeeded as claimant to the throne and head of the House of Zogu by his only son Leka, Crown Prince of Albania (born 1939), who was proclaimed King of the Albanians by the Albanian National Assembly in exile.[1] King Leka remained head of the house and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 when he was succeeded by his only son, Leka II.

Leka has no sons and is the only living descendant of King Zog. The current heir presumptive to Prince Leka is Skënder Zogu, his 1st cousin once removed.[2]

Situation as of 2020

Crown Prince Leka II, the only living descendant of King Zog I and the head of the royal house as of 2020, has no sons. The current heir presumptive to Prince Leka is Skënder Zogu, his first-cousin once removed.[3] After him the following currently living male members of the Zogu family could also become heirs:

• Xhemal Pasha Zogu (1860–1911)
  • Xhelal Zogu (1881–1944)
    • (1) Skënder Zogu (b. 1933)[1]
      • Virginie Alexandra Geraldine Zogu (b. 1963)
    • (2) Mirgin Zogu (b. 1937)[1]
      • (3) Alexandre Zogu (b. 1963)[1]
      • (4) Michel Zogu (b. 1966)[1]
  • King Zog I (1895–1961)
    • Crown Prince Leka I (1939–2011)
      • Crown Prince Leka II (born 1982)
        • Princess Geraldine (born 2020)

See also

• Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes) - Najbor, Patrice - JePublie - Paris - 2008

External links

• Official website of the Albanian Royal Court
• Site Officiel de la Maison Royale d'Albanie

Bibliography

• Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, (ISBN 978-2-9532382-0-4).
• Patrice Najbor, la dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002

References

1. Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World, volume 1: Europe & Latin America. Burke's Peerage. pp. 7–8.
2. Niget, Florian (5 December 2012). "Chantilly : à 79 ans, il peut devenir roi d'Albanie". Le Parisien. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
3. Niget, Florian (5 December 2012). "Chantilly : à 79 ans, il peut devenir roi d'Albanie". Le Parisien. Retrieved 19 December 2012.