Country Albanian Kingdom Final ruler Zog of Albania | Founder Zogu Pasha Current head Crown Prince Leka II | |
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Titles King of the Albanians
Prince of Kosova
Hereditary Governor of Mati Founded 15th century
1 September 1928 (as a royal house) | ||
The House of Zogu is an Albanian dynasty founded in the late 15th century. The family provided the short-lived modern Kingdom of Albania with its only monarch, Zog of Albania (1928-1939).
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History
The dynasty was founded by Zogu Pasha who migrated to Mati, Albania in the late 15th century and was then appointed Governor of Mati by the Ottoman Sultan, with the position of Governor then becoming hereditary among the Zogu clan. The ancestral home of the Zogus was Castle Burgajet.
The most famous member of the dynasty is Zog I, Skanderbeg III, who in 1928 was proclaimed King of the Albanians and ruled until he was deposed by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and the Italian invasion in 1939. Victor Emmanuel subsequently assumed the Albanian throne. King Zog's son was Leka, Crown Prince of Albania, known as King Leka I.
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, who was proclaimed King of the Albanians by the Albanian National Assembly in exile. 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.
The current head of the dynasty is the second Leka, Crown Prince of Albania, the son of the first Leka, who died in 2011. 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. After him there are the following male members of the Zogu family who are currently living who could also become heir:
Situation as of 2012
Crown Prince Leka II, the only living descendant of King Zog I and the head of the royal house as of 2012, has no sons. The current heir presumptive to Prince Leka is Skënder Zogu, his first-cousin once removed. After him the following currently living male members of the Zogu family could also become heirs: