A leader of the reformist Popular Party, he headed a republican government as Premier and later President, ultimately proclaiming himself king in 1928. Zog’s autocratic rule resulted in a period of relative political stability, but the close links he had cultivated with Italy from 1925 onwards led to increasing Italian domination of Albania, and when the country was invaded by Italy in 1939, Zog went into exile. He abdicated in 1946 after Albania became a Communist state, and died in France.