Essad Toptani

Esad Pashë Toptani
3rd Prime Minister of Albania
In office October 5, 1914 – February 24, 1916
Preceded by	Fejzi Bej Alizoti
Succeeded by	Turhan Pashë Përmeti
Personal details
Born	ca. 1863 Tirana, Ottoman Empire
Died	June 13, 1920 Paris, France

Esad Pashë Toptani (ca. 1863 – June 13, 1920), primarily known as Essad Pasha, was a leading Albanian politician in the early twentieth century. He led the opposition forces that overthrew Prince William of Wied in Albania, rejected the principality of Vlora led by Ismail Qemali in November 1912 and was the most powerful politician of Albania between 1912 - 1920.

Born in Tirana, Albania, he became a supporter of the Young Turks following the assassination of his brother (Gani Bey Toptani) by forces loyal to Prime Minister Abdul Hamit II. He served as deputy for Albania in the Ottoman parliament and was named king in Absentia for a few days in June 1920, before his assassination.

During the 1912-13 Balkan War, he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman forces at Shkodër, until the city surrendered to Montenegro in 1913. Essad Pasha was allowed in return to leave the town with his army and all their weaponry to become involved in the struggle over power in central Albania. Official Serbia simultaneously helped a number of other small tribal chiefs who resisted Ismail Qemali's government, directing them towards cooperation with Essad Pasha. Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pasic ordered that his followers be aided with money and arms.

Esad Pashë Toptani was the commander of the main military power of Albania until 1916. He was the commander of redif forces which rezisted the First Balkan War until April 1913. Later, with the appointment of William of Wied as prince of Albania by the Great Powers, Essad Pasha was made minister of war and Interior by the German prince. However in May 1914 he was dismissed and charged with treason by William of Wied.

He was accused of fomenting a rebellion against William of Wied. Essad Pasha escaped to Italy, but returned to Albania following the ouster of William in September by the movement of the Rebellion of Albania. With an army of supporters, he occupied the city of Tirana in the center of the country, manipulated the structures of the Ehlil Kijam movement and was declared prime minister on October 5 and established the Principality of Albania - Durres.

Though his rule was not stable because of the First World War, Essad succeeded in controlling much of central Albania until 1916, when he left for Serbia and Greece to help them in their war against Austria-Hungary. After the war, he travelled to France, to represent Albania at the Paris Peace Conference .

For the next two years, Essad Pasha remained in Paris, attempting to organize recognition for Albania from the Great Powers and reject the secret pact of London, which planned the division of Albania. During this time Tirana and much of central Albania was controlled by his Field Commander, Osman Bali.

Death

Essad Pasha was assassinated in Paris on June 13, 1920. His accused killer, Avni Rustemi, was acquitted and released.

See Also

• Siege of Shkodër

References

• Biodata on Essad Pasha by O.S. Pearson, who authored Albania and King Zog (ISBN 1-84511-013-7), 2005.