Sadije Toptani (Tirana, 28 August 1876 – Durrës, 25 November 1934) was queen mother of Albania from September 1928 until her death. She was the mother of Zog I of Albania.

Biography

Sadije (also spelled Sadijé, Sadiya or Khadija) was a member of the Toptani family. She was the daughter of Salah Bey Toptani (1843−1910) and his wife, Annije Hanem Toptani (1855−1899), both members by birth of the Toptani family. She was also a cousin Essad Pasha Toptani. Toptani was the second wife of Xhemal Pasha Zogu after the death of his first wife, Zenja Melika Hanem. After her son became king in 1928, Toptani was raised to the title Nëna Mbretëreshë e Shqiptarëve, or Queen Mother of the Albanians, with the style of Her Majesty on September 1, 1928, a position she held until her death. She supervised the Royal Kitchen to ensure that her son could not be poisoned. She was the official protector of the Gruaja Shqiptare. Toptani was a Bektashi Muslim.

Death

Toptani died in the Royal Compound in Durrës and was buried in Tirana the next day. A royal mausoleum was constructed to house her remains. The building was destroyed by Albanian communist forces on 17 November 1944.

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