King Zog
Ahmet Muhtar Zogolli’s decision to establish a monarchy in Albania – and to install himself as King Zog I – was not a universally popular one. After serving as his country’s prime minister between 1925 and 1928, the ruler set his sights higher. As well as wanting to transform Albania into a true, modern European country, Zog was keen to enjoy all the trappings of monarchy, and he was happy to work with the Italians to gain and hold onto power.
Albania became a monarchy on 1 September 1928, with King Zog as its undisputed leader. From the very start of his reign, there were many people and different groups gunning for the life of their king. Not that Zog was phased by this. After all, as a politician, he had been threated on many occasions. Famously, on one occasion, he took two bullets from close range while he was entering the national Assembly Hall. Despite bleeding profusely from the wounds, he still went into the hall and made his intended speech. Zog was a tough man to kill.
In all, it’s estimated that more than 50 serious attempts were made on his on his life. On most occasions, they were random pot shots, missing by some distance. But sometimes his closest advisors worked together to plot against their leader. In response, Zog regularly launched bloody purges, killing any would-be conspirators. He also became increasingly reclusive during the latter years of his reign, fully realising the fate that had fallen several other European monarchs.
Away from Albania, Zog still faced threats to his life. On his only official trip abroad as monarch, Zog visited Vienna in 1931. Here, he was ambushed as he was coming out of the city’s famous opera house. His would-be-assassin fired several times at the ruler, killing his bodyguard. Zog, unflinching, unleashed a weapon of his own, forcing the attacker to retreat. For good measure, Zog gave chase for a short while before getting into his official car and resuming his evening.
By 1939, Zog’s good luck was running out. He was forced from the throne and into exile. Along with other members of the ‘royal family’, he moved into the Ritz Hotel in London and then, in 1946, they moved again, this time to Egypt. Finally, Zog moved to France in 1955 and lived here until his death in 1961. Though he died relatively young – aged just 65 – he passed away from natural causes rather than by an assassin’s bullet.