Shefqet

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 ...

Vërlaci (; 15 December 1877,

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 ...

, Manastir Vilayet,

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) ...

– 21 July 1946,

Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...

, Switzerland), also known as Shevket Verlaci, was an Albanian politician and wealthy landowner.

Biography

In 1922, Vërlaci was the biggest landowner in Albania. He was the leader of the Progressive Party, the biggest conservative party in Albania, which firmly opposed any agrarian reform reducing the landowners' property. The Progressive Party included some North Albanian clan chiefs and prominent Muslim landowners as its members. He was elected a deputy for the first time in the elections of April 5, 1921. In late 1922,

Ahmed Zogu 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 ...

became engaged to Vërlaci's daughter, winning his support and the position of Prime Minister. In early 1924, Zogu was forced to cede his position of Prime Minister to Vërlaci, because of a financial scandal and an attempt of assassination in which Zogu was injured. The date of Vërlaci taking the position of prime minister is 3 March 1924. Vërlaci held this position until 27 May of the same year and then fled to

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. During Fan Noli's regime that followed, a special tribunal created by the government condemned Vërlaci to death in absentia along with the confiscation of all his property. After being crowned King of Albania in 1928, Zogu broke his engagement with Vërlaci's daughter and instead marry Countess Géraldine, of the noble

Apponyi The Apponyi, also Apponyi de Nagy-Appony, were a prominent and powerful Hungarian family group of the high upper nobility of the Kingdom of Hungary, whose's members remained notable even after the kingdom's dismemberment in the successor states ...

family. This resulted in a very conflicting relationship between Zog and Vërlaci in the following years. On 12 April 1939, after the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania (April 7–12, 1939) was a brief military campaign which was launched by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

, Vërlaci became the prime minister of the government of Albania formed under the Italian occupation. From 12 April through 16 April (until Italy's King

Victor Emmanuel III The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

accepted the Albanian crown), Vërlaci was the acting head of state. Vërlaci was also named by King Victor Emmanuel III senator of the kingdom of Italy. On 28 November 1939, there was an anti-Italian, anti-

Fascist Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...

and anti-government street demonstration in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

, supported by a strike of industrial and transport workers. Vërlaci remained at the head of the government until 4 December (other sources cite 10 November or 3 December), 1941. He died in 1946 in

, Switzerland, and is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verlaqi, Shefqet 1877 births 1946 deaths People from Elbasan People from Manastir vilayet Mekteb-i Mülkiye alumni Albanian Sunni Muslims Albanian Fascist Party politicians Government ministers of Albania Prime Ministers of Albania Public Works ministers of Albania World War II political leaders Albanian collaborators with Fascist Italy Ottoman Albanian nobility Albanian anti-communists Albanian fascists Fascist rulers Members of the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy Congress of Durrës delegates

Biography

See also

Notes

References