THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

The most memorable self-made monarch was Zog: Ahmed Bey Zogu (1895-1961), ruthless chieftain and shrewd politician, became Albania’s president in 1925, creating himself King Zog I and Scanderbeg III in 1928.  He ruled with operatic flamboyance, married an Austrian princess who became his Queen Geraldine, and survived 56 assassination attempts – including one in 1931 at the Viennese opera after a performance of Pagliacci in which he drew his pistol and returned fire, the only head of state ever to do so in modern times.

Montefiore/History