The dynasty was founded by Zogu Pasha, who migrated to the region of
Mat in north-central
Albania during the late 15th century. The Zogu family’s roots are tied to the Mati region of Albania, where they established prominence following the Ottoman conquest over four centuries ago. According to local legend, their rise began with a warrior from the village of Zogaj who intervened during a moment of crisis. An Ottoman official, Gazi Bey, sought to humiliate the families of Mati by demanding their unmarried daughters perform degrading acts. Outraged by this, the warrior from Zogaj rallied the people of Mati, leading a rebellion that ended with the defeat of Gazi Bey. In gratitude, a local chief offered the warrior his daughter’s hand in marriage, laying the foundation for the family’s legacy in Mati. The family name, “Zogolli,” reflects a blend of Albanian and Ottoman influences. It derives from the warrior’s village, Zogaj, with the addition of the Turkish suffix “-oglu,” meaning “son of.” This naming custom was typical under Ottoman rule. Another, less substantiated theory suggests a connection to a German crusader duke (Herzog) who settled in Mati and adopted the name "Zog," but this narrative is largely dismissed as speculative. The most famous member of the dynasty is
Zog I, who in 1928 proclaimed himself
King of the Albanians and ruled until he was deposed by
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy following the Italian invasion of 1939. Victor Emmanuel subsequently assumed the Albanian throne. With the death in exile of King Zog in 1961, he was succeeded as claimant to the throne and head of the House of Zogu by his only son Leka, Crown Prince of Albania (born 1939), who was proclaimed
King of the Albanians by the Albanian National Assembly in exile. Leka I remained head of the house and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 when he was succeeded by his only son,
Leka II. Leka II has no sons and is the only living male descendant of King Zog. The current
heir presumptive to Prince Leka is
Skënder Zogu, his first cousin once removed.
Situation Prince Leka II, the only living male descendant of King Zog I and the head of the royal house , has no sons. The current
heir presumptive to Prince Leka is
Skënder Zogu, his first-cousin once removed. ==Family tree==