Sadijé Toptani

Who was Sadijé Toptani?

Sadiya Toptani Khanum was the daughter of Salah Bey Toptani and sister to Essad Pasha Toptani, and a member of the powerful Toptani family. She was the second wife of Xhemal Pasha Zogu after the death of his first wife Melek Hanem.

After her son Zogu of Albania became King in 1928 she was raised to the title 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 died in the Royal Compound in Tirana or in Durazzo and was buried in Tirana. A royal mausoleum was constructed to house her remains.

She was the sister of Essad Pasha Toptani.