The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
EXCITING CAREER
OF WOULD-bE KING
Self-Pr0claimed Ruler In
spired by Patriotism
HEAD OF OLD FAMILY
So Far As Practical Service to His
Country is Concerned No Man In
Albania Has Greater Claims
For Recognition
HEAD OF OLD FAMILY

new man who would be king has
arisen in Europe. Before the smoke of
the long bombardment had cleared
away from harried Scutari, even before
the hard fighting Nicholas of Monte
negro had made his triumphant entry
into the captured city, royal procla-
| nation had issued from it and a new
king, self appointed and self anointed,
had been born.
| Essad Pasha, an Albanian of old fam
| lily and great wealth with the rank of
| general in the Turkish army. impatient
| ly set aside all the schemings and dip
lomatic contrivings of the European
king makers and announced himself
as the new ruler of his native land.
| Just what backing he had besides his
own ambition has not yet developed
| but 1t seems certain that there is more
behind the proclamation than one mans
thirst cor power
An Albanian, no matter what his de-
gree, loves intrigue and employs it III
the simplest concerns of life. Certainly
he would not lose so rich an oppor-
tunity for plotting as is offered by the
establishment of new dynasty.
Those people who always see the
shadow of the black bear of the moth
/ in every complication in eastern Eu-
| rope claim to see him in this. Russia
hates Austrias assumption of the fune-
tions of protector and king maker for
Albania, the new country born of the
| Balkan war, and without openly doing
anything to involve herself has steadi-
| ly thrown difficulties in the way Essad
a Sh "a L N oh in 10
believe, a play of Russia to put COM
| plications in Austria's way that may
make her problem more difficult if not
| impossible of solution.
| Another theory to explain Essads
| presumption, a theory that is popular
in Vienna, if it did not actually emanate
from there, is that Nicholas of Monte
| negro, whose prestige at home as well
as among his allies demanded the cap
ture of the long besieged Scuari made
bargain with its commandant, Essad
himself, that If he would permit the
city to fall his claims as king would
not be opposed by Montenegro and Ser
via.
a third theory. and to one who knows
the Albanian temperament probably the
most plausible of them all, is that Essad
inspired as much by patriotism as by
ambition and with the assurance of
the support of great body of Albanian
lighting men, saw no reason why he,
native, should not be king as well as
some foreigner, and so announced him
self.
Has Served Country Well
SO far as practical service to his
country is concerned no man in AL
bania has greater claims for recog-
milton. AS the head of one of two
| great families that survive from feu-
dal times ne possesses great wealth and
an influence that has gained more per-
haps from his exploits as a soldier than
from his more notable achievements
in developing his country and leading
1t along the difficult path of modern
civilization. The family of Toptani,
which Essad represents, has been
prominent in Albanian history for CEN
turtles. Its wealth and position were
established in the seventeenth century
by member who went with the Sui
tan on one of the victorious expedi-
tions into Persia He was present at the
victory of Teheran and shared in its
rich spoils. Coming home he estab-
lished the town of Tirana to commem-
crate the event and made it the head
quarters of his tribe. This position it
still keeps, and it is the birthplace
and home of the newest leader, Essad
Pasha.
Tirana is one of the best towns of
Albania. 1t has about 1000 inhabitants.
is clean and prosperous. with a good
road to the port. Durazzo constructed
by the Toptani at their own expense.
The houses stand in large gardens
grown up with ounce, cherry and fig
trees, the streets are clean, the bazar
fine and flourishing and the mosques
exceptionally picturesque, all colored
and painted with wonderful landscapes.
Feudalism still prevails in Albania
to the extent that it is the family
that ordinarily makes history, or whose
history is recorded rather than the in
dividual. Therefore Essads history, as
it is generally known. is one of alter
mating light and shadow, of flaring and
dramatic limelight and friendly shadow.
Like most Albanians of prominent
parentage he was called to CONSTANT
nople as very young man for mili-
tary service. Here he did duty as an
officer of the guard of the Yildiz Kiosk,
and his bravery and efficiency as a
soldier were quickly recognized. AT
this stage his career took on color as
well as activity through a quarrel
which developed between himself and a
Turkish officer. The fued grew rapidly,
but the casualties always fell on the
Turkish side, Essad and his friends
seeming to escape unharmed, When the
twelfth man fell Essad deemed it wise
to retire from the life of Constantinople
for while and withdrew to his AL
banan estates.
Truce Arranged
A besa, or true, was finally ar
ranged, and Essad's two brothers re-
turned to Constantinople. For a while
everything went smoothly. then the
old trouble flared up and one of the
brothers paid the penalty. Fhrious at
the treachery Essad made a quick de-
scent on the city avenged the murder
of his brother after the traditional
method of his people, and cnce more
went into retirement.
The Sultan's government now sent a
commission to Essad to invite him to
come back to Constantinople and talk
things over with the military authorities.
Essad received the commission with all
the pomp and prestige of his Albanian
traditions. His kula, or castle. bristed
with the biggest Albanians to be found
in land of big men. After hearing tho
message from the capital Essad made a
rapid calculation. BY quick travel he
told the Turks they could get off his land
in an hour. If at the end of that time
they were still within its boundaries
he greatly feared that their heads alone
would reach Constantinople. For the rest
of their anatomy he could not be re-
sponsible.
The overthrow of Abdul Hamd wiped
out this old score for Essad, and the
ascendency of the Young Turks soon
brought him into prominence again. He
at first espoused the cause with con-
siderable fervor but lost his faith in the
movement when the authorities refused
RI oro nj the rrO,piSad constitution, to tho