In 1928 he proclaimed himself King of Albania, taking the name Zog, a diminutive of his family's surname. |
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Commentators at the time wondered why Zog had not accepted Italian suzerainty and kept his throne. |
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King Zog tried to reduce his country's economic and military dependence on Italy, but on 7 April 1939 Mussolini, spurred by Hitler's annexationist policies, invaded Albania. |
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