Kristo Floqi (24 May 1876 – 1 July 1951) was an Albanian patriot, playwright, politician, and lawyer.
Life
Floqi was born in
Korçë
Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, eighth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population of the city is 51,152 and 75,994 of Korçë municipal ...
,
Vilayet of Monastir,
Ottoman Albania
Ottoman Albania was a period in History of Albania, Albanian history within the Ottoman Empire, from the Ottoman conquest in the late 15th century to the Albanian Declaration of Independence, Albanian declaration of Independence and official s ...
, son of a merchant (Vasil Floqi). He had three brothers: Dhimitër, Nikollaq,
Thanas who would become one of the signatories of the
Albanian Declaration of Independence
The Albanian Declaration of Independence (Albanian language, Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six da ...
, and a sister named Katerina.
He studied law in
Athens
Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
. After graduating in 1899 he returned to his home town where he worked as a lawyer for six years. He went in
Istanbul
Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
to master the
Ottoman Turkish language
Ottoman Turkish (, ; ) was the standardized register (sociolinguistics), register of the Turkish language in the Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries CE). It borrowed extensively, in all aspects, from Arabic and Persian language, Persian. It ...
where he got in touch with Albanian patriotic clubs. Hid activity forced him to move back to his home town, then to Greece, then back to
Vlore, and at last in
Boston, MA
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
. There he became editor of the Albanian weekly ''
Dielli'' (The sun) in September 1911. Together with
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 ...
and
Faik Konitza he was one of the main contributors for the congress of the Albanian patriotic clubs merge, where
Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America
Vatra (') is an association of Albanian Americans, created in 1912, that has historically protected the rights of the Albanians in the United States, as well as has endeavored in lobbying with the United States Congress about the rights of the Alb ...
was created. During the winter of 1912–1913 he moved to
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
where he started his short-lived newspaper ''
Zëri i Popullit'' ('Voice of the People').
Right after the
Albanian Declaration of Independence
The Albanian Declaration of Independence (Albanian language, Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six da ...
, Floqi moved back to Albania and offered himself in the project of the new judicial system that the Vlora government would start. After the Italians took over Vlora, he would move to
Shkoder where he practiced law during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. There he would publish the local newspaper ''Agimi'' (The dawn) for the ''Vllazenija'' (Brotherhood) society in 1919. In 1920, he was appointed as the
Court of Appeal
An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to Hearing (law), hear a Legal case, case upon appeal from a trial court or other ...
in Shkoder. In December 1920 he became Minister of Education in the government of
Ilias Bey Vrioni
Ilias Bey, bej Vrioni (1 January 1882 – 12 March 1932) was an Albanians, Albanian politician and landowner. He was one of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence and served as Prime Minister of Albania three times.
Biograp ...
. He appointed
Christo Dako as general Inspector of Education. During his service time as Minister of Education the number of schools in Albania increased from 318 to 544. For a brief time he also acted as Minister of Finances, substituting Tef Currani who was sent in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
.
In 1921 he became representative of
Dibra in the newly elected parliament. Following the
1922 insurrection against the Zogu Government, by the Dibra guerrillas of
Elez Isufi, Zija Dibra, and
Cen Elezi with the support of
Hasan Prishtina, the parliament voted and classified the Dibra representatives as ''illegitimate'', causing all (including Floqi) to lose their mandate. Inspired by the events, he wrote a hymn which would become later the hymn of the Albanian Monarchy, composed by Thoma Nasi.
In 1922, he stayed for a few months in
Vienna
Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
, trying to enlist his son in an Austrian college. There, he got in contact and met with former Albanian
Prince, Wied.
After the 1924
June Revolution,
Ahmet Zogu enlisted him in the representative list of the Korce region. After the elections in January 1925, he was elected again in the Albanian Parliament. On 17 January 1925 he started the newspaper ''Indipendenca shqiptare'' (Albanian independence), which came out twice a week in
Tirane. During this time he purchased a small parcel of land and built a 1 floor
Elbasan
Elbasan ( , ; sq-definite, Elbasani, ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in centr ...
-style house. Zog offered him to become the President of the Assembly, which he rejected, as he did when he was proposed another position in the judicial system. Being aware of the Zogu's plans for switching from Republic to Monarchy, he did not run in the next elections 1928. The new Constitutional Assembly declared Ahmet Zogu the "King of Albania". His relationship with Zogu and
Kostaq Kotta would harsh. Floqi worked as a lawyer until 1929, when he became member of the State Council. He resigned soon after and worked as a lawyer until 1936, when
Mehdi Frashëri's intervention made possible for him to return as member of the State Council.
During 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 kept the same position although not in good relations with
Shefqet Verlaci, the new prime minister of the Italian puppet government.
He got arrested by the Communists in 1945 (or 1946), he did several years of jail and then released due to his age. His house got confiscated by the Communist Government. He died in 1951 soon after his wife. His son was interned in
Lezhë
Lezhë (, sq-definite, Lezha) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in the Republic of Albania and seat of Lezhë County and Lezhë Municipality. It is one of Albania's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously i ...
.
Like many others, his name would be hidden during the
Communist period.
Work
Floqi is one of the most known Albanian dramatists of the first half of the 20th century. His main works are:
Dramas and tragedies:
*''Fe e kombësi'' (Religion and nationality)
*''Karlo Topija'' (Karl Topia)
*''Piro Neoptolemi'' (Pyrrhys Neoptolemus)
*''Qyprilinjtë'' (The Köprülüs)
*''Skanderbeu n'Itali'' (Scanderbeg in Italy)
*''Fatzeza'' (The unfortunate)
*''Triumfi i Lirisë'' (The triumph of freedom)
Comedies (including translations)
*''Rrogat e nënpunësve'' (Clerks' salaries)
*''Lojnat e studentëve'' (Student games)
*''Do të vras vedin'' (I will kill the place)
*''Vllazëni e interesë'' (Brotherhood and interest)
*''E bija e bankjerit'' (Banker's daughter)
*''Dhëndër me përdhuni'' (Bridegroom by force)
*''Merre t'a marrim'' (Like this and like that)
*''Nder e qytetni'' (Honor and civilization)
*''Kundërshtarët e prikës'' (Opponents of dowry)
*''Pësimet – mësime'' (Incurrence – experience)
*''Zi e më zi'' (Worse and worse)
*''Reklamë e blofë'' (Publicity and bluff)
*''E mbesa e krahinarit'' (Head of region's niece)
*''Akraballëket'' (Favorizations)
*''Ministri kandidat'' (Candidate minister)
*''Kopraci i Molierit'' (The Misanthrope of Molier)
*''Monologë komike theatrore'' (Theatrical Comical Monologues)
*''Antigoni e Sofokliut'' (Antigonea of Sofokles)
*''Mbreti Edipus i Sofokliut'' (Edipus of Sofokles)
*''Midhia e Euripidit'' (Mydia of Euripides)
*''Tezja e Karlit'' (Carl's aunt)
*''Burri burrë'' (Swear on it)
Notes and references
Notes:
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Floqi, Kristo
People from Korçë
Albanian dramatists and playwrights
People from Manastir vilayet
Emigrants from the Ottoman Empire to the United States
Translators to Albanian
Activists of the Albanian National Awakening
19th-century Albanian politicians
20th-century Albanian politicians
1876 births
1951 deaths
Government ministers of Albania
Education ministers of Albania
20th-century Albanian translators
Members of the Parliament of Albania
20th-century Albanian judges
Albanian people from the Ottoman Empire
Members of the Albanian Orthodox Church
19th-century Albanian translators