The two-day-old prince whose kingdom vanished

A two-day-old prince is forced into exile when his kingdom is erased from the map, carrying a claim to a throne that no longer exists. The two-day-old prince whose kingdom vanished This episode explores the life of Leka Zogu, who was proclaimed King of the Albanians in exile. It delves into the extraordinary lengths he went to assert his claim and the question of what it means to be a king without a country. Person: Leka Zogu Date: April 5, 1939 Location: Albania Event: Invasion by Mussolini's army - Leka Zogu was two days old when his father, King Zog I, fled Albania with his family and the country's gold reserves. - Leka grew up in exile, moving between various countries and attending prestigious schools across Europe. - After his father's death, Leka was proclaimed King of the Albanians by an assembly-in-exile at the age of 22. - He traveled the world using a passport issued by his Royal Court-in-exile, listing his profession as "King." - Leka, a six-foot-nine man, was described as having the swagger of John Wayne and the innocent eyes of an English schoolboy, often dressed in combat fatigues. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].