Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes the unknown story of King Zog’s sisters, the princesses: Myzejen, Maxhide and Ruhije and Myzejen, who during the period of the Monarchy, mainly after the ’30s, they were widely engaged, giving a great help to the Albanian youth for the spread and development of sports, tourism and arts. They were called Patrons (Guardians), Senior of Sports, Tourism, Automotive and Fine Arts. All their contribution to the development of art, culture and sports and how did the magazine “DIANA” published in Tirana, in one of its issues of April 1938, reflect their activity?!
During the fifteen years of the rule of the regime of the Zog Monarchy, mainly after 1928, at which time the Kingdom of Albania was proclaimed, and the new Albanian state began to consolidate and take more and more the form of a European state, In addition to the multifaceted steps and reforms for the economic development of the country, all the governments of that period, as well as the regime as a whole, paid special attention to the development of sports, tourism and fine arts.
In addition to the relevant structures that were in the staff of the main departments of the governments of that time, as well as federations and various entities that had the functional task of massification, development and dissemination of sports, tourism and arts in general, for their well-being at that time King Zog’s own sisters, the princesses, also took care of it; Museum, Maxhide and Ruhije. Not only that, but after the 1930s, they were called Patrons (guardians), Senior of Sports, Tourism, Automotive and Fine Arts, dividing it respectively in this way: Princess Myzejen was in charge of sports, Princess Ruhije, fine arts and Princess Maxhide, the National Tourism and Automotive Authority of the Kingdom of Albania.
As a result of this care they had received for sports, tourism and fine arts, during the fifteen years of the Zog Monarchy period, his three sisters did a great job of developing and spreading them. Not only were they present in almost all major cultural, artistic and sports activities that took place during those years in Tirana, but they often undertook trips to other districts of the country where there were activities, such as: in Durrës, Shkodër, Elbasan, Korça, Vlora, and to the small towns of the country from south to north.
As a result of their care and work in the development and dissemination of sports, culture and fine arts, in those years there was a significant hop in these areas and Albania was compared or could compete with dignity not only with neighboring Balkan countries, such as: Yugoslavia, Greece, Montenegro, Bulgaria, etc., but also beyond Europe. In this regard, in those years sports in general had a significant development, where football and athletics were distinguished, which held regular championships.
All of the above, among others, are reflected in the Magazine “DIANA” in April 1938, which has dedicated entire pages to the activity of the sisters of King Zog, in their work for the development of sports, art and culture in Albania at that time, where a part of those articles Memorie.al is publishing in this article.
“The journey of princesses to Scandinavian countries”
The travel of the Princesses outside Albania, especially in that part of northern Europe called happy Europe or the Scandinavian states, has an importance in terms of the social development of Albania. After all, as it is known, their Heights have always had in their heart the development of the country and have given numerous proofs of efforts on this issue. For this reason, one should see in the long and fruitful journey in the Scandinavian States a study trip of issues related to the development of philanthropic works, social assistance and the organization of relevant institutes in Albania, where such institutes are still missing, but which is shown a lively interest lately to place them among us, within the possibilities that the Zogist regime creates day by day. The beautiful journey of the Princesses was extensively illustrated in a conference talk given by Dr. Zoi Xoxa, which were published in the national press and followed with lively remarks by the entire public, which deeply appreciates the efforts of the Princesses in the field of civilization and progress. But about N.M. We had written to them in the “Press” especially in an interview that Her Highness Princess Myzejen, deserved to give us, and that is a beautiful synthesis of that trip. In the newspaper “Shtypi”, we wrote about this trip. The first voyage to America was undoubtedly a joyous event for the many Albanians in exile, who saw in their exaltation the Representatives of the Sovereign and the New Zogist Albania, which was rapidly developing under the leadership of its own Prince and works for cooking a happier future. The New Earth was for the princesses not a well-deserved fun journey, but rather a delicate burden, why the sisters of our Sovereign spent time among distant compatriots, showing to Their eminent persons, the degree of progress of Albania, especially the Albanian Woman, making a good propaganda not only among Albanians but also among Americans. All this can be said about the second trip of the princesses to the Scandinavian States, or to that part of the Northern European States, which are rightly called “Happy States”. In this State where modern man has managed to rise to the rank of the most privileged dignity, where he advances in the mental and material realms knows no bounds, and the standard of living of peoples is not equal to other peoples, Princesses find us a world very rich, the world they sought to supplement their observations on social issues. Denmark, Norway and Sweden are the ideal countries in this respect; States that deserve to be taken as a model in terms of social problems that have reached the point of perfect development. Therefore, their Highnesses who have continuously helped in the development of the country by patronizing all progressive love-loving initiatives found a very special pleasure in the second trip among the northern countries of Europe, which is shown in these statements made to me on the occasion of the soyer of the year new in the Palace.
Statement by Princess Myzejen
“After our trip to America, where we had a warm and cordial reception, they decided to visit the Scandinavian countries, which had praised us a lot, especially for issues that are of more interest to our country; social advances and the organization of mental and land life. The real situation of these states cannot be described with a brief summary. First of all, it is our duty to express our great satisfaction for the most pleasant and noble reception of the high authorities in every important city and center we visited. The chivalry and generous behavior of the officials and the people, the cold and heartfelt way of these peoples to give the first impression and the conviction that they are in places where the climate, temperament and nature have formed a special type of man in Europe that could provide yourself with a truly happy life on earth.
Princess Myzejen speaks slowly and an obvious pleasure shines in her face when she mentions the receptions, numerous performances and other honors. But as we said, the Royal Prices are especially interested in the various institutes, schools, hospitals, shelters and aid houses for the poor people, etc., and here the journey becomes more interesting. I ask Her Majesty to tell me about one of the Institutes that has impressed her the most, and She continues: but you did not see it with your own eyes. For example, we visited a completely modern school, it was quite accessible with all the gymnastic furniture and tools. There was a swimming pool and above a special terrace with installations for students who are not in good health. Terca was built in such a way as to take in a number of pupils doing two hours a day of sunbathing compulsorily. In a home for the unemployed or small, food was provided regularly every day, clean meals, numerous dishes and sweets, as in a first-hand restaurant.
It was superfluous to tire N. Her to continue in descriptions of Scandinavian life. This life is a privilege in Europe shaken by many socio-economic crises, therefore a dream for them and even more so for us. But its study is of great interest to our country, which is developing rapidly every day, especially in the field of an organized social policy in which a very free step has been taken. Princess Myzejen briefly tells us some of the interesting visits, highlighting, among others, Uppsala, the spiritual capital of Sweden, the cultural city of the Universities, the famous Libraries and the Cathedral where the Kings of Sweden are buried. Here, where most students and professors live, the Princesses were given a magnificent reception by university students who, in a sign of sympathy for our country, honored Albanian with their right hand in their heart. A journey full of pleasant memories of Their Highness, but also a very useful journey for our country in terms of benefiting from the organism of life in the northern States. In short, in short, but with a strange summative ability, Their Royal Highnesses show the impressions of the visit among the Mentioned States where they were received with a rare nobility by local authorities everywhere and with special honors and receptions in their honor were a living testament to the season of the northern states for our country and the reverence they owe to our Sovereign Augustus and the Royal Family.
“Senior Sports Patron: N.S.M. Princess MUSEUM”
The Albanian youth, in its sports matches that take place for the physical preparation of the new generation of our country, has always had close, encouraging, and encouraging for greater success, the High Patroness of Sports, NS Mbretonre, Princess The museum, whether it’s to break a light athletic record, or when you need to triumph in heavier sports, in which all energies must be written towards the sole purpose which is to win the physical activity of our tribe, within borders of the Homeland, even when fighting against stronger opponents in various fields outside Albania, our Youth, the Youth of King ZOG, always has in mind the sweet gas and the burning word of the sister of the Savior of the Nation. N.S. Royal, Princess Myzejen feels sport not only as a means by which the invincible power of our tribe triumphs, but also as a cavalier education that comes to sharpen the various characters that must be injected into young people and of young Albanians. This may explain how Albanian athletes, when faced with any opponent for the triumph of a National or international champion, always prove worthy of the trust and encouragement that Princess Auguste Myzejen does not spare to give. The High Patroness of Sports is not content with just a meaningful encouragement in the physical education of the Homeland, but often undertakes heavy marches at the head of the Albanian youth to show our world and the outside world that the new Albania has determined to make giant strides in every square of its physical and cultural activity. In these 10 years of the Kingdom, our youth standing ready to greet the future time of the Homeland, the new eras that will be added triumphantly to the still unwritten pages of our history, addresses to his high Patroness a “Hero” emanating from their steely breasts.
“Patroness of Fine Arts: N.S.M. Princess Ruhije”
Undertaking the creation of an art that has the simple Albanian trace, our artists and artists work thinking in N.M.S. M. Princess Ruhije, High Patroness of Fine Arts. All the legacy lost sadly in time must be mastered to give our country a glory in this field of action as well. We were a people always trained to stand in arms, and although in the hiccups of our social life, some visages that reminded us of a past civilization shone, our ancient life does not allow us to become worthy of the comrades who surround us beyond the sacred boundaries of the Homeland. Art, this spiritual spirit that always upholds the nobility of a Nation, was denied to our country. That until yesterday. Because, one day, a Sister of King ZOG, N. M. S. Princess Ruhije, was put at the head of the young artists to provide a trace of eternity in the Albanian centuries. When the square of a painter of ours and the painting that will later be donated to the Homeland, or when the strong hand of the sculptor places a bust or a face proves a spiritual life, when the thin tool of the Albanian artisan hundreds of thin visas that will constitute an artistic presence, NMS princess RUHIJE is there, nearby. Near in body or in vision. But always near. /Memorie.al
