Kostaq Kotta, also known as Koço Kotta (5 May 1886 – 1 September 1947), was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

politician and twice

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

during the reign of

King Zog I Zog I (born Ahmed Muhtar Zogolli; 8 October 18959 April 1961) was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as King ...

, who took a pro-Italian right-wing stance.

Biography

He was educated in Greece and Italy. In the

Principality of Albania The Principality of Albania () was a monarchy from 1914 to 1925. It was headed by Wilhelm, Prince of Albania, and located in modern Albania in the Balkans, Balkan region of Europe. The Ottoman Empire owned the land until the First Balkan Wa ...

, he served as the minister of public works and was elected to the

Parliament of Albania The Parliament of Albania () or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a four-year term on the b ...

. During the June Revolution of

Fan Noli Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian Americans, Albanian-American writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, bishop, and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albania ...

, Kotta escaped to Greece, but returned to lead the insurgency against Noli that led to the formation of the

Albanian Republic Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest ...

under

Ahmet Zogu Zog I (born Ahmed Muhtar Zogolli; 8 October 18959 April 1961) was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as King ...

. He became the speaker of the parliament during Zogu’s presidency and then Prime Minister after Zogu established the Albanian Kingdom. During his first term, he introduced civil code laws based on the Napoleonic model. In 1936, he headed the government again until resigning after the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign which was launched by Fascist Italy, Italy against Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939), Albania in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

. He was a member of

Mustafa Merlika-Kruja Mustafa Merlika-Kruja (March 15, 1887 – December 27, 1958) was one of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence. He was Prime Minister of Albania during the Italian occupation from December 4, 1941, to January 19, 1943. E ...

's cabinet in 1941.''Albania at war, 1939–1945'', p. 116,

Bernd Jürgen Fischer Bernd Jürgen Fischer (born 27 January 1952) is a historian and professor of history at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. He received his Ph.D. in 1982 from the University of California, Santa Barbara The University of Califo ...

, C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, 1999

/ref> He accompanied Zog into exile in Greece. In December 1944 he was captured by ELAS, Greek Communists and returned to Albania. He was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment by the

Albanian Communists The People's Socialist Republic of Albania, () was the Marxist-Leninist state that existed in Albania from 10 January 1946 to the 29 April 1991. Originally founded as the People's Republic of Albania from 1946 to 1976, it was governed by the P ...

's Special Court of Spring 1945. He died in

Burrel Prison Burrel Prison () is a high security prison located outside the town of Burrel, in northeastern Albania at the District Police Station in Mat (municipality), Mat with a maximum capacity of 198 inmates. In 2011 the prison housed 182 inmates and empl ...

in 1947 as a result of torture.

References

1889 births 1947 deaths Politicians from Korçë People from Manastir vilayet Albanian people from the Ottoman Empire Mayors of Korçë Government ministers of Albania Prime ministers of Albania Public works ministers of Albania Albanian collaborators with Fascist Italy Albanian people who died in prison custody Prisoners who died in Albanian detention Albanian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Albania Speakers of the Parliament of Albania Members of the Parliament of Albania Heads of government who were later imprisoned {{Albania-politician-stub

Biography

See also

References