Mustafa Merlika-Kruja
Encyclopedia
Mustafa Merlika-Kruja (March 15, 1887, Akçahisar, Ottoman Empire
(modern day Krujë, Albania
) – December 27, 1958, Niagara Falls
) was Prime Minister of Albania during the Italian occupation
from December 4, 1941 – January 19, 1943, and one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence
.
After participating as a volunteer in Ottoman army during the Italo-Turkish War
in 1912 he became a Governor. In 1913 he joined the Ministry of Education and in 1914 became an advisor of the Ministry of Public Education. In 1918 he was Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. In 1921 he was elected to the Albanian parliament and in 1924 he was appointed prefect.
On August 4, 1939, after the personal union
of Albania
to the crown
of Italy
, Merlika-Kruja was appointed as a Senator
within the Italian Kingdom until August 25, 1944, when he resigned. During his tenure he was a member of the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Customs legislature.
In the Spring of 1944 he escaped by boat from Albania to Italy and from there to Egypt
. There he met an old rival of his, the Albanian King
Ahmed Zogu. After World War II he lived in France
. The last years of his life were spent in the United States of America.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(modern day Krujë, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
) – December 27, 1958, Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
) was Prime Minister of Albania during the Italian occupation
Albania under Italy
The Albanian Kingdom existed as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy. It was practically a union between Italy and Albania, officially led by Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III and its government: Albania was led by Italian governors, after being militarily occupied by Italy, from 1939 until 1943...
from December 4, 1941 – January 19, 1943, and one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence
Albanian Declaration of Independence
The Albanian Declaration of Independence is the declaration of independence of the Albanian Vilayet from the Ottoman Empire. Albania was proclaimed independent in Vlorë on November 28, 1912.-Background:...
.
After participating as a volunteer in Ottoman army during the Italo-Turkish War
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
in 1912 he became a Governor. In 1913 he joined the Ministry of Education and in 1914 became an advisor of the Ministry of Public Education. In 1918 he was Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. In 1921 he was elected to the Albanian parliament and in 1924 he was appointed prefect.
On August 4, 1939, after the personal union
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
of Albania
Albanian Kingdom
The Albanian Kingdom was the constitutional monarchal rule in Albania between 1928 and 1939. During this period Albania was a de facto protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy Albania was declared a monarchy by the Constituent Assembly, and Zog I was crowned king...
to the crown
King of Italy
King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire...
of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
, Merlika-Kruja was appointed as a Senator
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
within the Italian Kingdom until August 25, 1944, when he resigned. During his tenure he was a member of the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Customs legislature.
In the Spring of 1944 he escaped by boat from Albania to Italy and from there to Egypt
Kingdom of Egypt
The Kingdom of Egypt was the first modern Egyptian state, lasting from 1922 to 1953. The Kingdom was created in 1922 when the British government unilaterally ended its protectorate over Egypt, in place since 1914. Sultan Fuad I became the first king of the new state...
. There he met an old rival of his, the Albanian King
King of Albania
While the medieval Angevin Kingdom of Albania was a monarchy, it did not encompass the entirety of the modern state of Albania. The latter has been a kingdom on two occasions. The first time was after it was declared independent in 1912...
Ahmed Zogu. After World War II he lived in France
French Fourth Republic
The French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems...
. The last years of his life were spent in the United States of America.