Kristo Floqi (24 May 1876 – 1 July 1951) was an Albanian patriot, playwright, politician, and lawyer.

Life

Floqi was born in

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau some ...

, Vilayet of Monastir,

Ottoman Albania Albania under the Ottoman Empire refers to a period in Albanian history from the Ottoman conquest in the late 15th century to the Albanian declaration of Independence and official secession from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. The Ottomans first ent ...

, son of a merchant (Vasil Floqi). He had three brothers: Dhimitër, Nikollaq,

Thanas Thanas is an Albanian and Ukrainian (''Танас'') given name and onomastic toponym element. The definite form is ''Thanasi''. It is derived from the Greek ''Athanasios'', with the Latin derived equivalent ''Tanush''. Thanas is also considered to ...

who would become one of the signatories of the

Albanian Declaration of Independence The Albanian Declaration of Independence ( Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six days later the Assem ...

, and a sister named Katerina. He studied law in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

. After graduating in 1899 he returned to his home town where he worked as a lawyer for six years. He went 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, ...

to master the

Ottoman Turkish language Ottoman Turkish ( ota, لِسانِ عُثمانى, Lisân-ı Osmânî, ; tr, Osmanlı Türkçesi) was the standardized register of the Turkish language used by the citizens of the Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries CE). It borrowed extens ...

where he got in touch with Albanian patriotic clubs. Hid activity forced him to move back to his home town, then to Greece, then back to Vlore, and at last in

Boston, MA Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...

. There he became editor of the Albanian weekly ''

Dielli ''Dielli'' is a newspaper published in the United States by Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America. History ''Dielli'' started on February 15, 1909, as a political-patriotic newspaper of the Besa-Besën society of Boston, Massachusetts, on ...

'' (The sun) in September 1911. Together with

Fan Noli Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, Archbishop, Metropolitan and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albanian Orthodox ...

and

Faik Konitza Faik Bey Konica (later named ''Faïk Dominik Konitza'', 15 March 1875 – 15 December 1942) was an important figure in Albanian language and culture in the early decades of the twentieth century. Prewar Albanian minister to Washington, his litera ...

he was one of the main contributors for the congress of the Albanian patriotic clubs merge, where

Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra ('' en, The Hearth'') is an association of Albanian Americans, created in 1912, that has historically protected the rights of the Albanians in the United States, as well as has endeavored in lobbying with the United States Congress about the ...

was created. During the winter of 1912-1913 he moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

where he started his short-lived newspaper ''

Zëri i Popullit ''Zëri i Popullit'' ( en, Voice of the People) is an Albanian online newspaper. It was the official press organ of the Party of Labour and, later, of the Socialist Party of Albania, but it later ceased print publication and became an independe ...

'' ('Voice of the People'). Vatra Foundation

Right after the

, Floqi moved back to Albania and offered himself in the project of the new judicial system that the Vlora government would start. After the Italians took over Vlora, he would move to Shkoder where he practiced law during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. There he would publish the local newspaper ''Agimi'' (The dawn) for the ''Vllazenija'' (Brotherhood) society in 1919. In 1920, he was appointed as the

Court of Appeal A court of appeals, also called a court of appeal, appellate court, appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In much of t ...

in Shkoder. In December 1920 he became Minister of Education in the government of

Ilias Bey Vrioni Ilias bej Vrioni (1 January 1882 – 12 March 1932) was an Albanian politician and landowner. He was one of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence and served as Prime Minister of Albania three times. Biography Ilias Vri ...

. He appointed Christo Dako as general Inspector of Education. During his service time as Minister of Education the number of schools in Albania increased from 318 to 544. For a brief time he also acted as Minister of Finances, substituting Tef Currani who was sent in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

.Kristo Floqi, koha, dhe vepra e tij letrare - Spaho (2010) - University of Tirana
/ref>
In 1921 he became representative of

Dibra Dibra is an Albanian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Abdurrahman Dibra (1885–1961), Albanian politician * Arenc Dibra (born 1990), Albanian footballer * Dino Dibra (1975–2000), Australian suspected murderer * Fuad Dibra (1886 ...

in the newly elected parliament. Following the 1922 insurrection against the Zogu Government, by the Dibra guerrillas of

Elez Isufi Elez Isufi (1861 – 29 December 1924) was an Albanian nationalist figure and guerrilla fighter. Biography Elez Isufi was born in the village of Sllovë in the Dibër region, was son of Isuf Ndreu. He and his guerrilla band resisted Serb forc ...

, Zija Dibra, and Cen Elezi with the support of

Hasan Prishtina Hasan bey Prishtina ( tr, Priştineli Hasan Bey, Hasan Bey Priştine and ''Vulçitrnli Hasan Bey''), originally known as Hasan Berisha (27 September 1873 – 13 August 1933), was an Ottoman, later Albanian politician, who served as the 8th Prime ...

, the parliament voted and classified the Dibra representatives as ''illegitimate'', causing all (including Floqi) to lose their mandate. Inspired by the events, he wrote a hymn which would become later the hymn of the Albanian Monarchy, composed by Thoma Nasi.
In 1922, he stayed for a few months in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, trying to enlist his son in an Austrian college. There, he got in contact and met with former Albanian Prince, Wied.
After the 1924

June Revolution The history of Albania forms a part of the history of Europe. During classical antiquity, Albania was home to several Illyrian tribes such as the Ardiaei, Albanoi, Amantini, Enchele, Taulantii and many others, but also Thracian and Greek tribes ...

Ahmet 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 ...

enlisted him in the representative list of the Korce region. After the elections in January 1925, he was elected again in the Albanian Parliament. On 17 January 1925 he started the newspaper ''Indipendenca shqiptare'' (Albanian independence), which came out twice a week in

Tirane 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 ...

. During this time he purchased a small parcel of land and built a 1 floor

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 ...

-style house. Zog offered him to become the President of the Assembly, which he rejected, as he did when he was proposed another position in the judicial system. Being aware of the Zogu's plans for switching from Republic to Monarchy, he did not run in the next elections 1928. The new Constitutional Assembly declared Ahmet Zogu the "King of Albania". His relationship with Zogu and

Kostaq Kotta Kostaq Kotta, also known as Koço Kotta (5 May 1886 – 1 September 1947), was an Albanian politician and twice prime minister during the reign of King Zog, who took a pro-Italian right-wing stance. Biography He was educated in Greece and Italy ...

would harsh. Floqi worked as a lawyer until 1929, when he became member of the State Council. He resigned soon after and worked as a lawyer until 1936, when

Mehdi Frashëri Mehdi bey Frashëri (28 February 1872 – 25 May 1963) was an Albanian intellectual and politician. He served as Prime Minister of Albania in the 1930s and as Chairman of the Provisional Administration Committee in the Albanian puppet governme ...

's intervention made possible for him to return as member of the State Council.
During 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 ...

, he kept the same position although not in good relations with Shefqet Verlaci, the new prime minister of the Italian puppet government.
He got arrested by the Communists in 1945 (or 1946), he did several years of jail and then released due to his age. His house got confiscated by the Communist Government. He died in 1951 soon after his wife. His son was interned in

Lezhë Lezhë (, sq-definite, Lezha) is a city in the Republic of Albania and seat of Lezhë County and Lezhë Municipality. One of the main strongholds of the Labeatai, the earliest of the fortification walls of Lezhë are of typical Illyrian const ...

. Like many others, his name would be hidden during the Communist period.

Work

Floqi is one of the most known Albanian dramatists of the first half of the 20th century. His main works are: Dramas and tragedies: *''Fe e kombësi'' (Religion and nationality) *''Karlo Topija'' (Karl Topia) *''Piro Neoptolemi'' (Pyrrhys Neoptolemus) *''Qyprilinjtë'' (The Köprülüs) *''Skanderbeu n'Itali'' (Scanderbeg in Italy) *''Fatzeza'' (The unfortunate) *''Triumfi i Lirisë'' (The triumph of freedom) Comedies (including translations) *''Rrogat e nënpunësve'' (Clerks' salaries) *''Lojnat e studentëve'' (Student games) *''Do të vras vedin'' (I will kill the place) *''Vllazëni e interesë'' (Brotherhood and interest) *''E bija e bankjerit'' (Banker's daughter) *''Dhëndër me përdhuni'' (Bridegroom by force) *''Merre t'a marrim'' (Like this and like that) *''Nder e qytetni'' (Honor and civilization) *''Kundërshtarët e prikës'' (Opponents of dowry) *''Pësimet – mësime'' (Incurrence - experience) *''Zi e më zi'' (Worse and worse) *''Reklamë e blofë'' (Publicity and bluff) *''E mbesa e krahinarit'' (Head of region's niece) *''Akraballëket'' (Favorizations) *''Ministri kandidat'' (Candidate minister) *''Kopraci i Molierit'' (The Misanthrope of Molier) *''Monologë komike theatrore'' (Theatrical Comical Monologues) *''Antigoni e Sofokliut'' (Antigonea of Sofokles) *''Mbreti Edipus i Sofokliut'' (Edipus of Sofokles) *''Midhia e Euripidit'' (Mydia of Euripides) *''Tezja e Karlit'' (Carl's aunt) *''Burri burrë'' (Swear on it)

Notes and references

Notes: References {{DEFAULTSORT:Floqi, Kristo People from Korçë Albanian dramatists and playwrights Albanian translators People from Manastir vilayet Emigrants from the Ottoman Empire to the United States Translators to Albanian Activists of the Albanian National Awakening 19th-century Albanian writers 20th-century Albanian writers 19th-century Albanian politicians 20th-century Albanian politicians 1872 births 1951 deaths Government ministers of Albania Education ministers of Albania 20th-century translators Members of the Parliament of Albania 20th-century Albanian judges Albanians from the Ottoman Empire Members of the Albanian Orthodox Church 19th-century translators