Et’hem Haxhiademi (1902-1965)

Et’hem Haxhiademi was born in Elbasan on March 8, 1902. After completing his primary education in Elbasan, he attended secondary school in Lecce, Italy, and Innsbruck, Austria, between 1919 and 1923. From 1924 to 1928, he pursued higher education in Berlin and Vienna, where he graduated in political and legal sciences.

After returning to Albania, he held positions in the state administration while continuing his literary and creative work. He is regarded as a pioneer of Albanian tragedy, with works including Ulisi, Akili, Aleksandri, Pirrua, Skënderbeu, Diomedi, and Abeli.

Following the establishment of the communist regime, he was arrested and accused of being an “enemy of the people” and a supporter of the Balli Kombëtar. He was initially sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He served his sentence in the prisons of Elbasan and Gjirokastër before being transferred to Burrel, where he died on March 17, 1965.

During his 20 years of imprisonment, he devoted himself to translating works from Ancient Greek, Latin, German, and Turkish. His remains have never been found.