TIRANA, March 17 – German Prince William of Wied who ruled Albania for only six months in 1914 just before the outbreak of World War I, was featured this week in an exhibition tracing coverage by Austrian press on Albania a century ago.
Journalist and researcher Armand Plaka, who is the curator of the exhibition showcased at the private European University of Tirana, says the exhibition features dozens of illustrations by Austrian satirical magazines and newspaper coverage of Prince Wied in the early 20th century.
“More than 80 percent of the displayed materials are unknown to the public in Albania, reflecting the attention Wied’s mission held in the media of Austria, the country who was most interested in Albania and Albanians at that time,” says Plaka.
The illustrations best reflect the intrigues, machinations, rivalries, disappointment and fears expressed through biting sarcasm and subtle humor,” he adds.
Researcher and collector Artan Lame described Prince Wied as a symbol of Albania’s first opening to the west after centuries under ottoman occupation.
“If Prince Wied would visit Albania nowadays, apart from clothes, he would find the same Albanians with the same problems, debates and political fighting against each other he found a century ago,” says Lame.
Back in late 2012, eleven personal items belonging to Duncan Heaton-Armstrong, the private secretary to the appointed King of Albania, the German Prince William of Wied were donated to the Albanian National Museum of History.
The items, including a ceremonial sword, a hat, military decorations, pictures and newspapers, have recently been handed over by Malcolm Howe who was authorized by the late secretary’s daughter, 91 year-old Griselda Adam.
Duncan Heaton-Armstrong is also the author of the “Six Month Kingdom: Albania 1914” book.
Prince Wied was offered as a compromise candidate to the throne of the newly independent country of Albania, a land about which he knew very little at the time, in October 1913, the Great Powers offered him. After due reflection, he accepted the offer and arrived in Durrës on 7 March 1914 aboard an Austro-Hungarian naval vessel to take the throne of his new little kingdom. The chaotic political situation both within Albania and with respect to relations with Albania’s neighbours made it virtually impossible for the well-meaning prince to reign. In addition, as a result of the outbreak of World War I, he received little or no financial or military support from abroad. On 3 September 1914, after less than seven months on the throne, the prince abandoned Albania aboard an Italian yacht, though without formally abdicating.
