European Kingdoms

Albania

Albania, one of Europe's poorest states became unexpectedly independent after the First Balkan War (1912-1913), when it was decided that the newly formed Kingdom of Yugoslavia would not take control of the coastal territory.

1914

Wilhelm of Wied

1928

With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Albania becomes a fully independent state.

Kingdom of Albania
AD 1928 - 1939

1928 - 1939

(Ahmed Zogu) Zog I

Tribal leader. Became an exiled king.

1939 - 1945

Italy invades and occupies Albania. The king flees to London. Germany assumes control of Albania in 1943.

1945 - 1995

With the weakening of Italian and Nazi power in southern Europe, the Communists seize control of the state.

1945 - 1985

Enver Hoxha

Dictator.

1995

A democratically elected government rules in Albania, which is still the poorest state in Europe. It is affected by occasional widespread discontent from within (1997), but offers support to NATO in 1999 during the conflict with Serbia, in which hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians are forcibly expelled from the Kosovo region of Yugoslavia.

Hereditary Kings of Albania
AD 1939 - Present

1939 - 1961

(Ahmed Zogu) Zog I

Died 1961.

1961 - Present

(Leka) Zog II

Crowned King-in-Exile in Paris.

1997

Zog II tries to rally support for reinstating the monarchy in post-communist Albania.