In the lumbering mountains and wild forests where the Zogu family made their home only the hardiest of men and animals could survive. So when the Zogu family took up the banner against the Ottoman Turks, they were easily able to overcome the Turkish governor and extract a number of concessions on Albanian independence. For five centuries they lived in under semi-autonomy, never forgetting their dreams for complete self-rule. After WW I they finally had their moment.

On this day, September 1, in 1928, after WW I left the country in chaos, Ahmet Zogu, a descendant of the ruling family, rallied his people and crowned himself king.

Zog was more popular as a rebel leader than as a king — he reportedly survived 55 assassination attempts during his reign. As he came from nowhere to ascend to monarchy of Albania, the other European rulers for the most part ignored him. Except Italian Benito Mussolini, who cultivated closer and closer ties with Albania until establishing a de facto control over it. By 1932 Albania was formally an Italian protectorate, and by 1946 Zog abdicated the throne.