Prince Xhelal Zogu, born Xhelal

Bey Bey ( ota, بك, beğ, script=Arab, tr, bey, az, bəy, tk, beg, uz, бек, kz, би/бек, tt-Cyrl, бәк, translit=bäk, cjs, пий/пек, sq, beu/bej, sh, beg, fa, بیگ, beyg/, tg, бек, ar, بك, bak, gr, μπέης) is ...

Zogolli (14 May 1881 in Castle Burgajet,

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

– 26 February 1944 in Turkey) was scion of the

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 20th century. The family provided the first president and the short-lived modern Albanian Kingdom with its only monarch ...

, half-brother of

Zog of Albania Zog I ( sq, Naltmadhnija e tij Zogu I, Mbreti i Shqiptarëve, ; 8 October 18959 April 1961), born Ahmed Muhtar bey Zogolli, taking the name Ahmet Zogu in 1922, was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's y ...

Biography

He was born in Castle Burgajet to

Xhemal Pasha Zogu Xhemal Pasha Zogu (; 1860–1911), also known as Jamal Pasha or Jamal Pasha Zogolli, was the Hereditary Governor of Mati, Albania (at the time part of the Ottoman Empire). He was the father of King Zog I of Albania. Born at Burgajet Castle, Mati ...

( 1860–1911) and Melek Zogu (1860–1884). As Xhemal's eldest son, Zogu was expected to be selected over his half-brother

to lead the family and to inherit his hereditary responsibilities as Governor of Mati; however, for unknown reasons, he was passed over. Prince Xhelal's "Bey" title derives from the Turkish title applied to leaders or rulers during the Ottoman Empire with variations including Beyg, Begum, Bygjymi. Prince Xhelal Bey Zogu was a lawyer. He was educated at the

Darüşşafaka High School Darüşşafaka High School is a school in Maslak Maslak is one of the main business districts of Sarıyer, Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European side of the city. It was formerly an exclave of the municipality of Şişli, though being ...

, Istanbul, and worked as State Attorney. His name comes up as the leading judge during the trial against

Haxhi Qamili Haxhi Qamili, born Qamil Zyber Xhameta, (1876 – 16 August 1915) was the leader of the 1914–15 revolt in Albania. He was popularly known by his religious name Haxhi Qamili, though he was also known as ''Baba Qamili'' (''Father Qamil''). Biogr ...

and other leaders of the Peasant Revolt in Albania during June 1915, arranged by the Serbian army. He was elected three times to the

Albanian Parliament The Parliament of Albania ( sq, Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a ...

, representing the Dibra Region, as his constituency, once; and twice the

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...

Constituency, before becoming His Royal Highness, and subsequently retiring quietly from politics. He settled in

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

after the Italian Invasion.

Family

Prince Zogu was married four times. First, he married Ruhijé Doshishti (daughter of Albanian aristocrats Salih Agolli Doshishti and wife Gylijé Allaj and sister of Princess Adile Zogu's husband) in 1908, who bore him a son, Said, who died in infancy, and a daughter, Melek, who died at birth. The couple divorced in 1912. Zogu then married Ikbal Pekkini (daughter of Izzet

Pekkini) in 1931, who bore him a daughter, Elvira, the same year. Ikbal died shortly after bearing her daughter. Her daughter survived to adulthood. He married Faika Minxhalliu in 1932, who bore him a son, Prince

Skënder Zogu Skënder Zogu (born 3 June 1933) is an Albanian author and member of the House of Zogu. As the son of Prince Xhelal Zogu, he is first in the line of succession to the former Albanian throne after his first cousin once removed, Leka, Crown Princ ...

, who survived to adulthood. However, the marriage to Faika dissolved and they divorced in 1933. In 1933 Zogu married Hyrijet Allaj (daughter of Emin Bey Allaj, Governor of

Elbasan Elbasan ( ; sq-definite, Elbasani ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in central Al ...

, and wife Ulkijé Binbashi) who bore him four children. Their two daughters, Melita and Vera, and older son, Mirgin, lived to adulthood. Their son Genc died at six in Turkey in 1944, the year of his father's death.

References

Bibliography

* * Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, editor, ''Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume 1: Europe & Latin America'' (London, UK: Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1977). * Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, (). * Patrice Najbor, la dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002

External links

Maison royale d'Albanie, site officiel en langue françaiseFamille royale d'Albanie, site officiel en langue anglaise
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zogu, Xhelal Bey Albanian princes 1881 births 1944 deaths People from Mat (municipality) Xhelal