Prince Wied (Wilhelm Wied) was forced to leave Albania. The Great European Powers had appointed him the head of the Albanian state. He came to Albania on March 7, 1914. Patriotic circles generally saw in the German prince the symbol of independent Albania and the person who would give a western orientation to the new state. They hoped that the prince would unite Albania, save it from the danger of further fragmentation, from the separatist and anarchist activity of the local feudal aristocracy, and would create the conditions for its rapid economic and social development. After the outbreak, in May 1914, of the Uprising of Central Albania against him, he was forced to retreat in Durrës, protected by his own forces. With the beginning of the First World War, in August 1914, the political balance between the European Great Powers was broken and Vilhelm Vidi lost international support. He formally abdicated and was forced to leave Albania on September 3, 1914. (In the photo: Prince Wilhelm Wied)
Text: The history of the Albanian people – Vol. III , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Toena“, Tirana, 2007, pages 58-61, 74-75.
Graphic processing: AHCF
