1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: Ridiculous History is a production of I Heart Radio. Welcome 2 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: back to the show Ridiculous Historians. Thank you, as always 3 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: so much for tuning in. That's our one and only 4 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: super producer, Max Williams. Give him a hand. Folks, they 5 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: called me Ben. No, you and I started traveling again. 6 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: I think we've You've had some adventures. I've got some 7 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: on the way that I can't disclose quite yet. But 8 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:53,319 Speaker 1: I don't think either of us has ever been to Albania. Now, 9 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 1: I've been to Albany. Is that the same thing, Georgia 10 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: or Albany New York. I haven't been Albany to New York. 11 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: I've actually never been to Albany, New York or Georgia. 12 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: I was lying, but that would definitely be more in 13 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: like my you know, immediate region of travel. Albania sounds 14 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: like a real, real exotic destination. Oh yeah, I I 15 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: read the wiki travel articles for different countries all the time, 16 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: and and expat forums, etcetera, etcetera. And Albania has an 17 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: amazing unique history, kind of a crossroads between Europe and 18 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: the rest of the world to the east, especially the 19 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: Ottoman Empire. It wasn't until November of nineteen twelve that 20 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: Albania proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire. And that's 21 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: part of where our story takes place today, because it 22 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: turns out you may not have heard of this guy, 23 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: but Albania for a little less than a week had 24 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: a king named King Otto the First and he was 25 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: king for um about five days. Yeah, we don't want 26 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: to spoil it, so let's like save the surprise for 27 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: just a little bit further and go into the events 28 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: that led up to this elaborate subterfuse that started in 29 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: the autumn of nineteen twelve when the Balkan League's conquest 30 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: of the Ottoman Empires European territories um started a massive 31 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: international crisis UM that was going to cause lots of 32 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: problems in Europe. Um. You know, in general, there could 33 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: have been a massive European wide war that was triggered 34 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: by this diplomatic crisis. Yeah, and as we know, there 35 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: is going to be a not just European war, but 36 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,959 Speaker 1: a world war. It's on the way. Yeah, it's bacon 37 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: in the oven as we speak. The crisis comes about 38 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: because Serbia wanted to get access to the Adriatic Sea 39 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: and Austria, Hungary was dead set against it. They were like, 40 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: no way, Serbia, stay in your lane. And because of 41 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: this dispute, Austria Hungary was on a It was coming 42 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 1: into clear conflict not with just Serbia, but with Serbia's 43 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: big daddy at the time, Russia. And then you know, 44 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: the way that these wars happen, the way these big 45 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: multiple state wars happen is because of those alliances between 46 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: countries they for they create a domino effect. Right. It's 47 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: like if you are a picture, if m Max and 48 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: Noel and you listening along at home, ridiculous historian picture, 49 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: the four of us are hanging out, we're having um, 50 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: we're going bowling or something, and people in the next lane. 51 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: One of them starts a fight with Max. I don't 52 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: know why he would, he's the nicest guy. And then you, 53 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: ridiculous historian and Noel and myself were like, hey, hey, hey, 54 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: you mess with that guy, you messed with all of us. 55 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: We're basically like the teenage muntant ninja turtles here. That's true. 56 00:03:58,200 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden, there's no d mark 57 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: between the lanes anymore, and you're not bowling anymore. You're 58 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: just kind of brawling at a bowling alley, which isn't 59 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: very cute. That's just bad behavior, is what that is. 60 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden, neighboring lanes get involved 61 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: because they're like, we're totally screwing up our lane with her, 62 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: you know, um, irresponsible behavior, and we're not gonna have that. 63 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: Bowling is expensive. They got shoes this game. It's like, yeah, 64 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: it's it's it's a real commitment. You know, you've got 65 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: chicken wings probably getting cold now because you're not paying 66 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: them attention because you're brawling with your labor. And that's 67 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: not good for anybody. No, not at all in our 68 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: bowling alley situation here. Uh, it's it's easy to trace. 69 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: It's actually not a bad comparison because okay, Austria is 70 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: beefing with Serbia. Serbia has the big brother, Russia, and uh, 71 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: if Russia beefs with Austria Hungary, then Austria Hungary's boy 72 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: Germany is gonna come in, and then Russia's pal France 73 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: is gonna jump in as well, so the would lead 74 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: to catastrophe. On November twenty one, nine, Austria Hungary mobilized 75 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: six army corps near Russia and Serbia. This was clearly 76 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: a threat of the possibility of war. Oh yeah, but 77 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: the Foreign Minister of Austria Hungary, uh, Count Burketold great name. 78 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: I love a good count. Um. He had absolutely yeah, 79 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: a curly mustache, you know then, you know, curly on 80 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: the ends mustache. He had plans of his own. He 81 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: wanted to support an independent Albania or a bid for 82 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: an independent Albania. Also, guys, I went ahead and looked 83 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: up what Count Burke told looks like, and yeah, he is, um, 84 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: exactly what you'd think he would look like. Some stereotypes 85 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: exist for reason. You can't really be a count unless 86 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: you have some sort of outrageous appearance involving you gonna 87 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: have some head accessories, you know, no question about it. Yeah, 88 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: I don't know which one is better. There's the one 89 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: with his military gear on, but it's also the one 90 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: with just the top hat. And I kind of like 91 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: the top at one top hat. Okay, that's when that's 92 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: when the count's unwinded, you know, exactly again his leisure 93 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: time and okay, so this gets a little complicated, um, 94 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: in terms of just the interplay between all of these 95 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: nations and and the various um UH motivations at work, 96 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: but let's just try to simplify it a little bit. 97 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: Burke Hold in his infinite monocle wearing wisdom, UM, he 98 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: wanted to stop Serbia from getting access to the Adriatic Sea, 99 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: and also he wanted to avoid that larger war that 100 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: we talked about earlier. UM. In doing this, he wanted 101 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: to support an independent Albania UM where Serbia and already 102 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: staked a claim to that position on the Adriatic Sea, 103 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: neighboring Montenegro and Greece. Also, in this arrangement, it would 104 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: potentially lose parts of Albanian territory that they had claimed 105 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: UM Montenegro in particular, UH, this would include UM some 106 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: important UH strategic locations like the city of Scutari, which 107 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: is where Turkish forces were already under siege by Serbian 108 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: and Montenegrin forces. Okay, I think we kind of got 109 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: the lay of the land in terms of like the 110 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: way our risk board pieces are laid out ben what 111 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: happens next. So this is clever on birked Old's part 112 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: because now it's becoming kind of a proxy war. Right now. 113 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: The issue isn't Austria Hungary directly fighting Serbia. Now we're 114 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: supporting something. We're supporting Albania, and Albania looks good for this. 115 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: They already had rebelled against the Ottoman Empire earlier that 116 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: same year, and in as a result of their rebellion, 117 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: the Ottoman Empire promised them a little bit more autonomy. 118 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: And now the Albanians are threatened with the possibility of 119 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: even more oppression by the Orthodox Christians in Serbia and 120 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: Albanians are mostly Muslim at this time, so they say, Okay, 121 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: forget about it. We're gonna We're gonna go for full independence. 122 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:22,239 Speaker 1: Autonomy is not enough. Uh. And just to be clear 123 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: of folks, Serbia and Albania already had a well established 124 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: history of conflict. We're talking about stuff like the First 125 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: Balkan War. We're talking about earlier atrocities committed against the 126 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: people of Serbia by both Turkish and Albanian forces. You 127 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: can even read about this in the New York Times 128 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: from nineteen twelve December thirty one, last day of nineteen twelve, 129 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: where they say thousands of men, women and children were 130 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 1: massacred during the Serbs March to the Sea as part 131 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 1: of a deliberate policy to exterminate people of the Muslim faith. 132 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: Wait a minute, wait anyway, exterminate all members of This 133 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:04,839 Speaker 1: is the first I've heard of this, Ben, what's the 134 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:09,719 Speaker 1: beef there? Well, the idea there is ideologically motivated, it's 135 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: also resource motivated. The general Western consensus of this was that, uh, 136 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 1: the Serbian forces were fighting dirty, using unjustifiable murder, and 137 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: this of course would foreshadow later atrocities to come. But 138 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: all to say, what you need to know about this 139 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: is Count Berthold was definitely aware of this past enmity, 140 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: and he was leveraging this again in a relatively complex 141 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: geopolitical calculation to keep the Serbs from getting that see axis. 142 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: And this is where we meet a guy named is 143 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: Mail Kimality. Is Mail Comalley would be uh, the who 144 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: would be the protagonist of this Albanian move for self 145 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: determined nature. Is Mail Commallely was a former ottoman Um admin. 146 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: Let's just call him that the ponds of our time. 147 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: He was. He was a bureaucrat. He was the father 148 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: of Albanian nationalism, which, if I'm not mistaken by nationalism 149 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: typically you know, you you could look at on one 150 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: hand as like patriotism, but it usually involves some sort 151 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: of mothering and ideals of exterminating those that are different 152 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: than us, or at the very least keeping them at 153 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: arms length. Isn't that right? Yeah? Yeah, it's the idea 154 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: of being of strongly identifying with one's own nation, and 155 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: what you see is that nation's goal, especially to the 156 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: exclusion of the interest of other nations. So like, if 157 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: we were strong nationalists in a way that nationalism goes wrong. 158 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: Let's say we wanted to do something that was very 159 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: good for Maine, but it was very bad for all 160 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: the parts of Canada connected to Maine. As nationalists, our 161 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: resp bonds would be well, who cares, that's Canada, that's 162 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: not us, go us. Other parts of Canada be damns. Yeah, 163 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: Main is number one. Main uber Alis. So this guy, 164 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: uh father of Albanian nationalism is male Kamali. He comes 165 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: back from exile, he's been exiled and with some help, 166 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: with a little bit of a boost, you know, assist 167 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:29,239 Speaker 1: from Austria Hungary Um, he convenes an assembly of Albanian 168 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: nationalists at vli Um. Oh gosh, it's got the UM 169 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: loud over the e Vloria. I don't know if I 170 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: was saying that, right, it's got the um loud over 171 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: the eat. So I'm thinking the e as an oo 172 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: sound picturing. I'm picturing and picturing in my mind and 173 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: trying to say the way the picture looks, but they're 174 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: not quite adding up. But I will sally forth. Um. 175 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: So they didn't really have much leverage in terms of 176 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: actual control of Albanian territory besides that town that I'm 177 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: picturing the word of in my mind, um right now. 178 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 1: But on November nineteen twelve, the delegates of this council 179 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: declared Albanian independence. So that's sort of like, uh, that's 180 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: that's what you don't know, what is that called overplaying 181 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: your hand a little bit? Ben, You don't actually have 182 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: much juice, you know, our suction in the situation, but 183 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: you make an outrageous claim, hoping that maybe that in 184 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: and of itself will be enough to convince people that 185 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,599 Speaker 1: you're like the person for the job, or that you 186 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: know what you're talking about. Yeah, this is this is 187 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: a tricky part of geopolitics, and it's one that I 188 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: think people should talk about more often in public and 189 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 1: in the mainstream. So if you want to succeed or 190 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,839 Speaker 1: if you want to declare independence. What makes your government legitimate. 191 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: It's such a silly rule, but it's an important one. 192 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: Your government becomes legitimate when other world governments say, okay, 193 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: that's legit. So, for instance, take California here in the US. 194 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: Californi is a state. It has an enormous g DP, 195 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: like it's huge compared to other countries just that state alone. 196 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: And if California tried to succeed, uh, it would it's 197 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: legitimacy would hinge on the international community and on the US. 198 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: So if other countries basically said, okay, we believe you California, 199 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: you're a country now, then that would be like the 200 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: number one steps. So that's what that's what Albania and 201 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: Kamale are hoping to do here. Like you said, they 202 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: form their government. They form their own national government. And 203 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: this national government its representatives choose Comali as president, but 204 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: a couple of legislative decisions by a legislature that has 205 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: yet to be internationally recognized. They don't do much to 206 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: dispel the facts on the ground, which is that the 207 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: Serbian forces and their pals from earlier Bowling Alley example, 208 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: are still occupying most to Albania, and they're not gonna leave. 209 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: They're not gonna they're gonna be like, oh there was 210 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: a vote, Oh my bad. All right, t t y 211 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: l back to our own lanes. Times tend to resume. 212 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: Are our bowls are separate bowls, you know, and put 213 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: on blinders, uh to each other. No, that was not 214 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: going to happen because the lane change had already taken place, 215 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: and you can't walk that back that easily. I'm sorry, 216 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: Chicken wings be damned. So in November Um the Serbs 217 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: captured a an area called Darazzo Um and the Greek 218 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: navy started to blockade that town of the one that 219 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: I'm trying to picture better than i'm saying on December three. 220 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: That's a big deal. If you can't, you can't that 221 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: thing you're talking about ben about establishing like some sort 222 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: of international connection, you can't do that for being blockaded, right, 223 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: that's literally you know what a blockade is. It keeps 224 00:14:53,680 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: you from exercising trade with anybody or receiving things. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, 225 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: it's the divide and conquer for sure. So their attempt 226 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: to their attempt to declare independence at this point has 227 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: only pushed the Serbs into further action. Austria. Hungarian forces 228 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: are still up there near Serbia and Russia. The whole 229 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: continent is waiting for the other monocle to drop. And 230 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: if yes, if Russia, and if you got if you 231 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: have two monocles, isn't that just a pair of glasses? 232 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: It depends on if you have the little bridge right over, 233 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: you could have a detachable glasses that become two separate monocles. 234 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: That'd be a fun flex Maybe each one is a 235 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: different strength. We're so far ahead of our time. Yeah, 236 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: so the uh, the thing is, I mean, we're we're trying, 237 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: we're joking a little bit, but this is a very 238 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: very serious situation. It's scary, and we want to shout out. 239 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: I want to shout out mental floss. Of course, you 240 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: did some great work on this. What was the title 241 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: of this one? The title of this one? How did 242 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: you know? Ben? Pulling it up right now? World were 243 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: one centennial Albania declares Independence was one of the articles 244 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: for mental flaws that we have been looking at. And 245 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: then another one was a New Albanian Crisis by Eric 246 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: sass sas Master the Sasmin himself so yes, So here's 247 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: what happens. Everybody knows that if Russia and Austria Hungary 248 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: go to war with each other, all their allies, the 249 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: other European great powers are going to be sucked in. 250 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: And so these tensions continue to ratchet up until Austria 251 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: and Hungary eventually agree on a compromise and all of 252 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: the all of the big fish, the big dogs of 253 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: Europe at the time, meet at something called the Conference 254 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: of London, and they agree that the best way to 255 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: smooth this out and avoid war is in fact, to 256 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: create a new independent Albanian state. So problem solved. That's 257 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: our episode. Thanks so much for tuning in. Promised deception, 258 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: most foul, and and and and subterfuge, most elaborate. And 259 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: I don't think we hinted circus performers yet, but we're 260 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: gonna go ahead and drop that hint right now, sort 261 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: of sword swallowers, let's do it. I think we're at 262 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: that place right now. So I appreciate you um coming 263 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: along with us for this very very uh inside baseball 264 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: geopolitical portion of the episode. But here comes the fun stuff. Yes, 265 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: here's the here's the fun stuff. Okay, so the Albanian 266 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: situation is not settled at all. Uh, Serbia and Montenegro 267 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: are like these guys, these fat cats over the Conference 268 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: of London. They don't know what they're talking about. We're nationalists. 269 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: We're not giving up our claims that easily. So they 270 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: have decided in a secret pact with Greece to divide 271 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,959 Speaker 1: Albania into Serbian and Greek kind of the column spheres 272 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: of influence. And they never the Serbian has never actually 273 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: left Albania. They just said, oh, we're gonna like supervise 274 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: the border, blah blah blah. And at this point, folks, 275 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 1: you're probably saying, hey, um, this is Mail Kamali. Dude, Uh, 276 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: he's not the guy you you guys mentioned at first, 277 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: is he? He's a president, not a king. That's interesting 278 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: that you say that, because now a new protagonist has 279 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: entered our stage, an acrobat, a weird dude, which you 280 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: know was always a compliment on our show. His name 281 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: otto vite am I saying that right now? I think so? 282 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: I think I think think Vita like bitch, like plea 283 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 1: alf Deutsch. So the thing that's interesting about this and 284 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: the reason maybe some of this sounds like convoluted gobbledygook 285 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: is because a lot of these claims in these UM series, 286 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: these these accounts of events following that proclamation of independence 287 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: from Albania UH independence from the Ottoman Empire are kind 288 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: of disputed. UM. And what we're telling today is one 289 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: version of the story UH. And. In this version, the 290 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: independence leaders chose UH their protector, or they essentially, you know, 291 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: UH ensconced like a new leader, a temporary leader by 292 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: the name of a person named Halim Adan, who is 293 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: a Turkish prince. UH. And in this version of the story, 294 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: Dan shows up in duriss Um, which was the Albanian 295 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:31,360 Speaker 1: capital at the time, UM, dressed in luxurious flowing robes 296 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 1: and and silks and and adorned with fine incense and 297 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: mur and and an oil sweet smelling perfumes, I assume, 298 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: and of course was accompanied by a quite large valet 299 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: real bruiser of a bodyguard. UM. He immediately declared amnesty 300 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 1: UH for the prisoners of the conflict, declared a week 301 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 1: of celebration UM, and he appointed all of these feuderal 302 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: lords a place in his new cabinet. UM. Then he 303 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:07,919 Speaker 1: was presented with twenty five presumably virgin women for his Harem. 304 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: Then it was everyone was really into this guy, and 305 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: everyone was like, Okay, we like this guy a lot. 306 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: It's very Prince Ali kind of situation. Um, And they 307 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: decided they wanted to formally crown him king and they 308 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: did that. He became king Otto five days. Yeah. Yeah, 309 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: So here's the thing, and we're in a bit of 310 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 1: a face off situation in a good way. So Otto 311 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: Viti uh Delica said, weird, dude. He has spent most 312 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: of his life kind of is what you would call 313 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: a hobo, you know, kind of a carney. He's lion 314 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: tam or. He's a magician. He has a nomadic existence. 315 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: He's traveled across multiple continents. He speaks Turkish fluently. Uh. 316 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: And he also loves telling a good story, like my 317 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: old man. He will never let the truth get in 318 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: the way of a good tale and he uh. He 319 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: was a major in the Ottoman army in nine and 320 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: as the Ottoman Empire was disintegrating Albania was becoming independent, 321 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: they decided that the only way to really have security 322 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: in the country was to crown a king, and Albanian people, 323 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: again largely Muslim population, would not ever go for your 324 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: garden variety Christian king of some denomination or another. They 325 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: wanted a king was Muslim, So they said, what about 326 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: this guy, this very striking figure that you just described, 327 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: nol Halim a dean. Uh. That suggestion was made and 328 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: people were on board, so the news was announced. They 329 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,719 Speaker 1: wanted this man a deemed to be King. Vitte is 330 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 1: reading a story in a newspaper while he's living in 331 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: Budapesh and he says, you know what, I look a 332 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: lot like this guy. What what if I what if 333 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: I just what if I just go? What if I 334 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: just pull? Uh? Is it King Ralph? Vehicle that was 335 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: very first and learned the name of the uh the 336 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: very naught only named British delicacy spotted dick because they 337 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: make it. They make a real to do of that 338 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: in the movie King King King Ralph. UM. Yeah, so 339 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: he's like, you know, I mean I've done it before 340 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: after all, right, because um. One thing we didn't mention 341 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: about his uh CV is that he actually um threw 342 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: a similar subterfuge. UH. He was named the honorary chief 343 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: of a Pygmy tribe in Africa, UM largely because he 344 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: was able to wow them with magic tricks and all 345 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: that good stuff. So maybe he wasn't necessarily lying. He 346 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: was just they loved them so much that they made 347 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: him an honorary chief. Why why not do it again, 348 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: only this time maybe involving a little bit more deception. 349 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: So he sets off, Yeah, yeah, he sets off. He says, 350 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: you know what, I am fluent in Turkish. I'm gonna 351 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:07,360 Speaker 1: pretend to be the king of Albania, and uh let 352 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 1: me let me just hop on it right, let me 353 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: strike while the iron is hot. He sends out some telegrams. 354 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: You know, picture picture this scene in Aladdin where it's 355 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: like Prince Lie and so he's announcing his arrival. He dude, 356 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: he literally rents an outfit that looks, you know, like 357 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: the kaid you described, because a normal person couldn't afford 358 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: to buy something of that caliber. He packed his bags. 359 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: He uh is joined by his ride or die, a 360 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: guy named Max Schlipsig. Schlipsig, who was a sword swallower. 361 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: That's where that comes in. And at this time they 362 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 1: arrive in the in the then capital of Albania, Durist, 363 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: and he convinces the locals with his wonderful gift of 364 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: gab that he is in fact Halim Dean he is 365 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: crowned the new king the next week is amazing. He 366 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 1: has an actual harem, which is very problematic thing, but 367 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: he definitely makes use of it. He has military parades. 368 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,360 Speaker 1: He's kicking it in one of the top tier tents 369 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 1: for royals. He decides to declare war on Montenegro because 370 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: he can. Like how wild is his Wednesday and Thursday? 371 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 1: You know, what would you call this guy? Chaotic? Evil? Okay, chaotic? 372 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: He's chaotic? Something I don't is he? I don't think 373 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: he's neutral though, if he's declaring war on Montenegro, just 374 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: Willie Nilly for kicks, well, chaotic neutral is essentially the 375 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: primary guiding force of that alignment. Oh God, put him 376 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 1: a nerdy D and D monocle. Here is that they 377 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: just follow the individual rules. It's like nationalism for one person. 378 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: I see, Okay, I got it. So he's an army 379 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: of one, uh, not worried about anybody else? That makes sense. 380 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: I mean the whole thing. What does he think he's 381 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 1: gonna get out of this other than a handful of 382 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: days of like you know, King Ralph type behavior. Um. 383 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: Obviously he was not aware of that incredible seminal Hollywood 384 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: classic at the time, But like, did you think this 385 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: was gonna keep going? I mean, surely the real Adele 386 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: does seem I was gonna come. I'm sorry, I know 387 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: that's not his name. That's just the name the John 388 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: Travolta called Adina Menzel at the Oscars that one time, 389 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: which you know, made everybody on the internet laugh for 390 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: for weeks months even I continue to laugh at that joke. 391 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 1: Hallem Adem, Yeah, that's right, it's not that far off. 392 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 1: Did you think that guy wasn't gonna turn up? Like, 393 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: I just don't understand what goes through the mind of 394 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: a person like this. I mean, I guess it's it 395 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: takes a different type to live that circus life and 396 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: to just kind of, like you know, fly fly by 397 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: the seat of of of one's pants in such a 398 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 1: dangerous way like this seems like it would just result 399 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: in him being executed, you know. Yeah, the new you 400 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: have to wonder. I think he got caught up in 401 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: the love of the improv here and the love of 402 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: the con so, of course, a newly independent Albania, a 403 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: new king. This makes international headlines, newspapers and telegrams spend 404 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: a lot of ink on it. The word spreads quickly 405 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: and the word eventually reaches Istanbul, and in Istanbul, this 406 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: announcement is pretty confusing for the Sultan, because the Sultan 407 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: knew his nephew Haleem a Dean was on vacation in Vienna, 408 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: he physically was not in Albania. And eventually, eventually Vitta 409 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: has to realize. Al Otto has to say, okay, maybe 410 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: I jumped the gun a bit. So he and his 411 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: pal and his pal the sword Swallower say okay, uh, 412 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: this grift might not last as long as we thought. 413 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: They raid the treasury, They flee the country, and they 414 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,040 Speaker 1: go to a place called Bari b a r I 415 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: with some help from some members of the Harem, who 416 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 1: apparently they have formed a fast friendship with. So uh yuh. 417 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:10,959 Speaker 1: There's many reasons that could have happened. You know. This 418 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: reminds me of been. This reminds me of the reason 419 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 1: that are the very crux of like most of the 420 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: plots of like nineties sitcoms, Seinfeld in particular, like that 421 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: all of these elaborate ruses and misunderstandings are only allowed 422 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: to continue for as long as they do because of 423 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: lack of like cell phone or like fast communications would 424 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: Seinfeld problem, This would have deemed this whole ruse would 425 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: have fallen apart instantly if someone could have just like 426 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 1: you know, checked the guy's passport or like scanned his 427 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 1: you know face and compared it with an actual picture. 428 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: This is one of those situations that hinges on a 429 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: lack of technology and the ability to confirm people's stories, 430 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: because he stuck to it hard. He committed to the 431 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 1: bit until beyond the bitter end. Because, as you said, 432 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: ben Um, Vita and Schleipsig actually reigning the treasury. They 433 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: made off with some cash. There was a bit of 434 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: a heist element here, and then they fled the country 435 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 1: to bari Um and several years later Vita, who is 436 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 1: shockingly alive, shockingly alive Um, he tells he writes a book, 437 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: or his daughter rather writes a book, and he contributes 438 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: to this book, you know. In in the telling of 439 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: this tale, his daughter quote Princess Elfrida Vita Um. She 440 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: refers to her father in the book as quote the 441 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: greatest adventurer of all time. He somehow managed to escape 442 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: any kind of criminal charges or prosecution or any kind 443 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: of seemingly um consequences whatsoever. Yeah, yeah, that's the that's 444 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: the weirdest thing. He didn't more than just escape the consequences. 445 00:28:55,080 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: He uh, he didn't get punished in any way. And 446 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: people even today will say that this is just a 447 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: tall tale. Uh, the old man may have spun because 448 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: folks will in their defense, they will rightly point out 449 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 1: that there's not a shred of local evidence to back 450 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: up any part of his story. Furthermore, if you look 451 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: at the historical record of the Ottoman Empire, there is 452 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: no Prince Halleen, there is no ka Ze. Oh yeah, 453 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: that was about bed out of my head. I think 454 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: it makes me look too much time together. I was 455 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: totally picturing that scene where you look at well, this 456 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 1: is actually the second time. Second time this has been 457 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: reference to the last few weeks between our various shows. 458 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: But this is the part where at the end he's 459 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: looking up at the board and he's just putting together 460 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: stuff based on like words that are just like on 461 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: like you know, Cathy cartoons that are pinned to a corkboard, 462 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: you know, at the bottom of like a coffee mug. Yeah, 463 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 1: and well it makes sense, right, but if you think 464 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: about it, I mean the Albanians were so horrifically you know, 465 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: um punked by this guy. That maybe and also this, 466 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: this this whole prince situation was only meant to be 467 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: kind of a stop gap or kind of remember they 468 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: did not really have the upper hand, so this was 469 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: all just kind of a farcet almost in a way, 470 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: or their ability to kind of create a front that 471 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: made it look like they had it under control more 472 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: than they actually did. If I'm not mistaken, because the 473 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: serbs were still breathing down their neck, right then, yeah, yeah, 474 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: this is still I mean, that's the that's the opinion 475 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: of it is supporters, right, is that the easiest way 476 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: to say it is maybe they were embarrassed that they 477 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: got played so hard, so they erased the evidence, of 478 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: which happens. Countries and empires do erase stuff. That's part 479 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: of the gig. Was one of Stalin's favorite things to do, 480 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: is someone that like you know, looked at it run 481 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: they would just he would just like literally cut their 482 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: faces out of like all the photos that they were together. 483 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: Why would you ever work for that guy? You know 484 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 1: what I mean. It's like anyway, that's an episode for 485 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: another day. But after all this does or does not happen. 486 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: The funny thing is that Vita spends the rest of 487 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: his life insisting on being called the former King of Albania, 488 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: and the government of Germany capitulates to this insistence. He 489 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: was able to have former King of Albania on his 490 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: official German I d wait? Is that is that a thing? 491 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: Can I get like a special line with some like 492 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: you know, what do you call that honorific? You know? 493 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 1: Like is that like sort of like the equivalent of 494 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: getting like a vanity plate for I've never heard of 495 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: this before. You can, it's a little different in the US, 496 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: but you can't what you can do. There's a loophole 497 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: where I'm not officially condoning, and I'm not officially saying 498 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: it's surprisingly easy to do this. Again, I'm not officially 499 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: say it is surprisingly easy to do this. You have 500 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 1: to commit to the bit though. If you legally change 501 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: your name to something that sounds like an honorific or 502 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: a title, then it will be put on you know, 503 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: your passport, your driver's license, your fishing license, your totem 504 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 1: chip whatever. Is there any law against having more than 505 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: one middle name, or having like multiple I No, I 506 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 1: didn't think so right, So I could be like nol 507 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: Christian cool guy McGhee brown, you know, I mean, if 508 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: I if I wanted to go all the way with him. 509 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: The only thing is, uh, I think I can't remember. 510 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: The law might be state by state, but the main 511 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: thing is a judge has to agree and think it's 512 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: a serious thing. So you might have a tougher time 513 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: if you're like, I'm gonna like if I went to 514 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: court and said I'm gonna change my name to snake 515 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: bite make fist punch, then I would need to, like, 516 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: I would need to have a reason why. You would 517 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 1: need to demonstrate bridle bad as that judge and then 518 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: stock him one. He would he would just be like, 519 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: I like the kind of this guy's jib snake bite, 520 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: Mr mcfist punch it is, And then he would also, 521 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: you know, probably send you to jail for contempt or 522 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 1: assault at the least probably Yeah. But but with is 523 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 1: it possible there may be a law I don't know yet, 524 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: but there may be a law that says like, um 525 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: Max can name himself anything you want, as long as 526 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean that he's impersonating a like it's not 527 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 1: for identity theft or identity fraud. You know, probably there 528 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 1: are there are rules against having swears and there too, 529 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:41,120 Speaker 1: I would imagine, yes, I would just imagine. I don't 530 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 1: know for sure, right, um, which is why snake bite 531 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: doesn't have a middle Namecock around and find out punch, punch, mcgilla, cutty, yes, bold, yes, Yeah. 532 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 1: It's a long line. It's a tradition. So let us 533 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:01,480 Speaker 1: know if you have ever called to court and said, 534 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: you know, something along the lines of your honor, I 535 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:08,280 Speaker 1: would like to change my name to viscount you know whatever, 536 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: or duke blah blah blah. But that's that's what this 537 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 1: guy did. That's that's what the German government let him do. 538 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:19,880 Speaker 1: So in a way, whether or not the story happened, 539 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 1: he was successful. You know what else he did he died, Yeah, 540 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 1: he did on August thirteenth of n anniversary of his 541 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 1: possible coronation. So again, I want to make it real clear, 542 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,439 Speaker 1: if we had, like all the worry stuff that we said, 543 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 1: all of that kind of boring geopolitics, that uh, this 544 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: part may or may not be true because you know, 545 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: things get lost in these kind of these these kind 546 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:51,440 Speaker 1: of conflicts, you know, details, Um, so I'd like to 547 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: believe that this is true. Um Otto Visa definitely was 548 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,319 Speaker 1: a real person, so we know that much. That's sure 549 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 1: that he died on August thirt of ben Do you know, Uh, 550 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: put you on the spot here for a little trivia. 551 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:10,240 Speaker 1: Do you know what symbol the Albanian flag bears? I do? 552 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,760 Speaker 1: I do because I've been watching a lot of weird 553 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: stuff involving Albania recently. It is an eagle, but it 554 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,720 Speaker 1: is an eagle that does not exist in the natural world. 555 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:24,560 Speaker 1: It's an eagle with two heads and it's kind of 556 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,879 Speaker 1: I think they're facing opposite directions, right, like one's facing left, 557 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 1: one's facing right. Yeah. It's the symbol of fortitude, nationalism, 558 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 1: and empire, and the two heads are said to represent 559 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 1: the northern and southern portions of the of the country 560 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: and something that's wrapped up in local folklore. The Albanian 561 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:49,359 Speaker 1: name for itself is uh, it's a weird, dude. It's 562 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:51,080 Speaker 1: got a que after an s h. How do you 563 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 1: do that? Speria? I think um, which literally translates to 564 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 1: land of the eagles. Um. They must really love Hotel California. 565 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 1: That's their national song there. Yeah, yeah, that's the National 566 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: band as well, um, all of whom speak of Albanian, 567 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 1: all of the eagles and real big, real big, and 568 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,359 Speaker 1: they when they stop in that country. Um. But yeah, 569 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,239 Speaker 1: that's that's how we got for today, A nice, short 570 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: and sweet, one very interesting, potentially tall tale situated amidst 571 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 1: a very very real, uh story of a conflict. Yeah, 572 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:33,399 Speaker 1: and I you know what I'd love to hear from 573 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 1: our fellow ridiculous historians. Will be other other stories of 574 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 1: great acts of impersonation like this. This is this is 575 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 1: a con He did hurt people, to be clear, because 576 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 1: he stole the National Treasury or stole from it, so 577 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:53,320 Speaker 1: we can't condone it. But there's something I cannot help 578 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: but admire about the uh, the ambition, the sheer audacity 579 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,880 Speaker 1: of the sort of can So let us know, let 580 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 1: us know if there are other stories throughout history that 581 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 1: seems similar. We'd love to hear about these rogues and 582 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:11,760 Speaker 1: ne'er do wells. In the meantime, Thank you as always 583 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:15,000 Speaker 1: for tuning in. Thanks so much to our one and 584 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:18,839 Speaker 1: only super producer, Max Williams, who is Johnny on the 585 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:22,160 Speaker 1: spot when it comes to looking up obscure members of 586 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:26,239 Speaker 1: the aristocracy. Thanks to Casey, pegram and and nol as 587 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: always man, thanks to you. I feel like we can 588 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:31,120 Speaker 1: pull this off if it weren't for cell phones. I 589 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: feel like we can pull something like this, You and I. Yeah, 590 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:36,920 Speaker 1: I can be your wing I could be your wingman. Yeah, 591 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:39,879 Speaker 1: we could have dual, dual wingman. I'll be the left 592 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:41,680 Speaker 1: head of the eagle, masking me the right, and you 593 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 1: can be uh the the the impostor to the throne. Right. 594 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,680 Speaker 1: Just in case podcasting doesn't work out for us, what 595 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:53,000 Speaker 1: what country will we try for? We'll we'll have to 596 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 1: talk about this off air because no spoilers, definitely not. 597 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:05,879 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time. Yeah. For more podcasts from 598 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:08,600 Speaker 1: My Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, 599 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:10,840 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.