Essad Pasha

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Essad Pasha (born Essad Toptani, 1863 – June 13, 1920) was a leader of the opposition forces that overthrew Prince William of Wied in Albania and served as prime minister of that country for one month, shortly after William left.

Born in Tirana, Albania, he was a supporter of the Young Turks, serving as deputy for Albania in the Ottoman parliament and being named king in Absentia for a few days in June 1920, before his assassination. During the 1913 Balkan War, he was commander of the Ottoman forces at Shkodër, until he was forced to surrender to Montenegro in 1913.

As head of the powerful Toptani family, Essad Pasha was originally appointed to the cabinet created by William of Wied in February, 1914, but by May of that year he had been dismissed and arrested for treason. He managed to reach Italy, but returned to Albania following the ouster of William in September. With an army of supporters, he occupied the city of Tirana in the center of the country and was declared prime minister on October 5.

Though his rule was shortlived, Pasha succeeded in controlling much of central Albania until 1916, when he left for Serbia to help them in their war against Austria-Hungary. After the war, he travelled to France, hoping to represent Albania at the Paris Peace Conference but, like William of Wied, he was virtually ignored by the delegates.

For the next two years, Essad Pasha remained in Paris as an exile, attempting to organize a coup and ensure his return to Albania.

The Albanian Constitutional Assembly proclaimed him as king in early June 1920. He was assassinated on June 13, 1920 by Avni Rustemi, while returning to Albania for his inauguration.