Skanderbeg's rebellion

In Albania, the rebellion against the Ottomans had already been smouldering for years before Skanderbeg deserted the Ottoman army.{{cite book|last1=Bury|first1=John Bagnell|author-link1=John Bagnell Bury|last2=Whitney|first2=James Pounder|author-link2=James Pounder Whitney|last3=Tanner|first3=Joseph Robson|author-link3=Joseph Robson Tanner |author4=Charles William Previté-Orton |author5-link=Zachary Nugent Brooke|author5=Zachary Nugent Brooke|title=The Cambridge Medieval History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S5btAAAAMAAJ|year=1966|publisher=Macmillan|page=383|quote= In Albania, where rebellion had been smouldering for several years, the heroic Skanderbeg (George Castriota) revolted and under ...|author4-link=Charles William Previté-Orton}} The most notable earlier revolt was revolt of 1432–36 led principally by Gjergj Arianiti. Although Skanderbeg was summoned by his relatives during this rebellion, he remained loyal to the sultan and did not fight the Ottomans.Fine 1994, p. 535 {{quote|In 1432 Andrew Thopia revolted against his Ottoman overlords ... inspired other Albanian chiefs, in particular George Arianite (Araniti) ... The revolt spread ... from region of Valona up to Skadar ... At this time, though summoned home by his relatives ... Skanderbeg did nothing, he remained ... loyal to sultan}} After this rebellion was suppressed by the Ottomans, Arianiti again revolted against the Ottomans in the region of central Albania in August 1443.

Skanderbeg decided to leave his position of Ottoman sanjakbey and revolt against the Ottomans only after the victorious Crusade of Varna in 1443.{{cite book|author1=Kenneth M. Setton|author-link1=Kenneth M. Setton|author2=Harry W. Hazard|author3=Norman P. Zacour|title=A History of the Crusades: The Impact of the Crusades on Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKaPrQPFIAMC&pg=PA292|date=1 June 1990|publisher=Univ of Wisconsin Press|isbn=978-0-299-10744-4|page=293|quote=One result of the victorious campaign of 1443 was the successful revolt of Albanians under George Castriota}} Successes of the crusaders inspired revolt of Skanderbeg and revolt of Constantine XI Palaiologos in the Despotate of the Morea.{{cite book|last1=Fine|first1=John V. A.|author-link1=John V. A. Fine|last2=Fine|first2=John Van Antwerp|author-link2=John Van Antwerp Fine|title=The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LvVbRrH1QBgC&pg=PA548|year=1994|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=0-472-08260-4|page=548|quote=The crusaders' successes inspired two other major revolts, ... the revolt of Skanderbeg in Albania...}} In early November 1443, Skanderbeg deserted the forces of Sultan Murad II during the Battle of Nish, while fighting against the crusaders of John Hunyadi.{{Cite book|title = Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu: jeta dhe vepra, 1405–1468|last = Frasheri|first = Kristo|author-link1=Kristo Frashëri|year = 2002| publisher=Botimet Toena |isbn = 99927-1-627-4|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vwR3PQAACAAJ&q=kristo+frasheri+skenderbeu}} Skanderbeg quit the field along with 300 other Albanians serving in the Ottoman army.{{Cite book|title = Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu: jeta dhe vepra, 1405–1468|last = Frasheri|first = Kristo|year = 2002| publisher=Botimet Toena |isbn = 99927-1-627-4}} He immediately led his men to Krujë, where he arrived on November 28,{{Cite book|title = Scanderbeg; his life, correspondence, orations, victories, and philosophy|last = Drizari|first = Nelo|year = 1968|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QYppAAAAMAAJ}} and by the use of a forged letter from Sultan Murad to the Governor of Krujë he became lord of the city.{{Cite book|title = Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu: jeta dhe vepra, 1405–1468|last = Frasheri|first = Kristo|year = 2002| publisher=Botimet Toena |isbn = 9789992716274|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vwR3PQAACAAJ&q=kristo+frasheri+skenderbeu}} To reinforce his intention of gaining control of the former domains of Zeta, Skanderbeg proclaimed himself the heir of the Balsha family. After capturing some less important surrounding castles (Petrela, Prezë, Guri i Bardhë, Svetigrad, Modrič and others) and eventually gaining control over more than his father Gjon Kastrioti's domains, Skanderbeg abjured Islam and proclaimed himself the avenger of his family and country.{{Cite book|title =Volume 12|publisher =T. Cadell jun. and W. Davies|series= The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|last = Gibbon|first = Edward|author-link1=Edward Gibbon|year = 1802|pages = [https://archive.org/details/historydeclinea49gibbgoog/page/n186 168]|url = https://archive.org/details/historydeclinea49gibbgoog}} He raised a red flag with a black double-headed eagle on it: Albania uses a similar flag as its national symbol to this day.{{Cite book|title = Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu: jeta dhe vepra (1405-1468)|last = Frasheri|first = Kristo|year = 2002|isbn = 9789992716274|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vwR3PQAACAAJ&q=kristo+frasheri+skenderbeu}}

Dorotheos, the Archbishop of Ohrid and clerics and boyars of Ohrid Archbishopric together with considerable number of Christian citizens of Ohrid were expatriated by sultan to Istanbul in 1466 because of their anti-Ottoman activities during Skanderbeg's rebellion.{{Citation |last=Shukarova |first=Aneta |author-link=Aneta Shukarova |author2=Mitko B. Panov |author3=Dragi Georgiev |author4=Krste Bitovski |author5=Ivan Katardziev |author6=Vanche Stojchev |author7=Novica Veljanovski |author8=Todor Chepreganov |editor=Todor Chepreganov |title= History of the Macedonian People |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/66035878/History-of-The-Macedonian-People-ed-Todor-Chepreganov-Institute-of-National-History-Skopje-2008 |access-date= 26 December 2011| date= 2008 |publisher= Institute of National History |location= Skopje |isbn=978-9989159244 |oclc=276645834 |page=133 |quote= deportation of the Archbishop of Ohrid, Dorotei, to Istanbul in 1466, together with other clerks and bolyars who probably were expatriated because of their anti Ottoman acts during the Skender-Bey’s rebellion.}} Skanderbeg's rebellion was also supported by Greeks in the Morea.{{cite book|author=Judith Herrin|title=Margins and Metropolis: Authority Across the Byzantine Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKlR4xyOmKUC&pg=PA11|year=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-15301-8|page=11|quote=A revolt against Turkish authority in Albania, led by George Castriota (Iskender Bey or “Skanderbeg”) was successful for a brief period and was supported by dissident Greeks in the Morea.}} According to Fan Noli, the most reliable counselor of Skanderbeg was Vladan Jurica.{{cite book|last=Noli|first=Fan Stylian|author-link=Fan Stylian Noli|title=Vepra të plota: Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu (1405-1468)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u7FDAQAAIAAJ|year=1968|publisher=Rilindija.|page=138|quote=...Vladan Jurica, këshilltari i tij më i besueshëm, ...}} Himara also supported the war and supplied men to fight under Skanderbeg.

On 2 March 1444 the regional Albanian and Zetan chieftains united against the Ottoman Empire.{{cite book|last=Babinger|first=Franz|author-link=Franz Babinger|title=Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PPxC6rO7vvsC&pg=PA153|year=1992|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=0-691-01078-1|page=153|quote=... a solid military alliance was concluded among all the Albanian and Serbian chieftains along the Adriatic coast from southern Epirus to the Bosnian border.}} This alliance (League of Lezhë) was forged in the Venetian held Lezhë.{{cite web|url=http://uwhistory.romanhords.com/Skanderbeg/Timeline.html|title=A Timeline of Skanderbeg's Campaigns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607035926/http://uwhistory.romanhords.com/Skanderbeg/Timeline.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|access-date=March 28, 2011|url-status=dead}} The main members of the league were the Arianiti, Balšić, Dukagjini, Muzaka, Spani, Thopia and Crnojevići. All earlier and many modern historians accepted Marin Barleti's news about this meeting in Lezhë (without giving it equal weight), although no contemporary Venetian document mentions it.{{harvnb|Božić|1979|p=363}}{{quote|Мада ниједан савремени млетачки документ не помиње овај скуп, сви старији и многи новији историчари прихватили су Барлецијеве вести не придајући им, разуме се, исти значај.}} Barleti referred to the meeting as the generalis concilium or universum concilium [general or whole council]; the term "League of Lezhë" was coined by subsequent historians.{{cite book |last=Biçoku |first=Kasem |title=Kastriotët në Dardani |location=Prishtinë |publisher=Albanica |year=2009 |pages=111–116 |isbn=978-9951-8735-4-3 }}

Kenneth Meyer Setton claims that majority of accounts on Skanderbeg's activities in the period 1443–1444 "owe far more to fancy than to fact."Setton p. 73. Soon after Skanderbeg captured Krujë using the forged letter to take control from Zabel Pasha, his rebels managed to capture many Ottoman fortresses including strategically very important Svetigrad (Kodžadžik) taken with support of Moisi Arianit Golemi and 3,000 rebels from Debar.{{cite book|last=Stojanovski|first=Aleksandar|title=Istorija na makedonskiot narod|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJ0MAAAAIAAJ|year=1988|publisher=Makedonska kniga|page=88}} According to some sources, Skanderbeg impaled captured Ottoman officials who refused to be baptized into Christianity.{{cite book|last=II|first=Pope Pius|author-link=Pope Pius II|title=Europe (c.1400-1458)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4lvAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA114|date=1 November 2013|publisher=CUA Press|isbn=978-0-8132-2182-3|page=114|quote=George Skanderbeg, a man of noble birth, received his inheritance. ... fortress of Krujë by stratagem and declared himselfa Christian, going so far as to impale the Ottoman officials who refused to accept baptism; see Fine, LMB, 521–22, 556.}}{{cite book|last=(Firm)|first=John Murray|title=A Handbook for Travellers in Greece: Describing the Ionian Islands, Continental Greece, Athens, and the Peloponnesus, the Islands of the Ægean Sea, Albania, Thessaly, and Macedonia|url=https://archive.org/details/ahandbookfortra29firgoog|year=1872|publisher=J. Murray|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahandbookfortra29firgoog/page/n503 478]|quote=The names of religion and liberty provoked a general revolt of the Albanians, who indulged the Ottoman garrisons in the choice of martyrdom or baptism; and for 23 years Skanderbeg resisted the powers of the Turkish Empire, — the hero of ...}}

The first battle of Skanderbeg's rebels against the Ottomans was fought on 10 October 1445, on the mountain Mokra. According to Setton, after Skanderbeg was allegedly victorious in the Battle of Torvioll, the Hungarians are said to have sung praises about him and urged Skanderbeg to join the alliance of Hungary, the Papacy and Burgundy against the Ottomans. In the spring of 1446, using help of Ragusan diplomats, Skanderbeg requested support from the Pope and Kingdom of Hungary for his struggle against the Ottomans.{{cite book|author=Jovan Radonić|title=Zapadna Evropa i balkanski narodi prema Turcima u prvoj polovini XV veka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PD1pAAAAMAAJ|access-date=21 June 2013|year=1905|publisher=Izd. Matice srpske|page=249|quote=...с пролећа 1946 обраћао за помоћ папи и Угарској преко републике дубровачке...}}

{{Main|Albanian–Venetian War (1447–1448)}}

Marin Span was commander of Skanderbeg's forces which lost the fortress Baleč to Venetian forces in 1448 during Skanderbeg's war against Venice. Marin and his soldiers retreated toward Dagnum after being informed by his relative Peter Span about the large Venetian forces heading toward Baleč.{{harvnb|Srpska Akademija Nauka i Umetnosti|1980|loc=p. 39: "...да поруше обновљени Балеч с таквим снагама као да је у питању највећа тврђава. То је Петар Спан јавио свом рођаку Марину и овај је у последњем тренутку сакупио војнике и спустио се према Дању"}}.

{{Main|Treaty of Gaeta}}

On 26 March 1450 a political treaty was stipulated in Gaeta between Alfonso V for the Kingdom of Naples and Stefan, Bishop of Krujë, and Nikollë de Berguçi, ambassadors of Skanderbeg. In the treaty Skanderbeg would recognize himself a vassal of the Kingdom of Naples, and in return he would have the Kingdom's protection from the Ottoman Empire. After Alfonso signed this treaty with Skanderbeg, he signed similar treaties with other chieftains from Albania: Gjergj Arianiti, Gjin Muzaka, Gjergj Balsha, Peter Spani, Paul Dukagjini, Thopia Muzaka, Peter of Himara, Simon Zenebishi and Carlo II Tocco.

To follow the treaty of Gaeta, Naples sent a detachment of 100 Napolitan soldiers commanded by Bernard Vaquer to the castle of Kruje in the end of May 1451.{{cite book|last=Tibbetts|first=Jann|title=50 Great Military Leaders of All Time|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lsHLDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT571|date=30 July 2016|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-85505-66-9|page=571|quote=Following the Treaty of Gaeta, in the end of May 1451, a small detachment of 100 Catalan soldiers, headed by Bernard Vaquer, was established at the castle of Kruje.}} Vaquer was appointed as special commissioner{{cite book|last=Gegaj|first=Athanas|title=L'Albanie et l'Invasion turque au XVe siècle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=usxBAAAAYAAJ|access-date=19 December 2017|year=1937|publisher=Bureaux du Recueil, Bibliothéque de l'Université|language=fr|page=88|isbn=9780598935991 |quote=En vertu du traité, Alphonse V envoya en Albanie, au mois de juin 1451, un officier de sa trésorerie, Bernard Vaquer, avec les pouvoirs de commissaire spécial.}} and took over Kruje on behalf of the Kingdom of Naples and put its garrison under his command.{{cite book|last=Marinescu|first=Constantin|title=La politique orientale d'Alfonse V d'Aragon, roi de Naples (1416-1458)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9IPtrh4LbXQC&pg=PA182|year=1994|publisher=Institut d'Estudis Catalans|isbn=978-84-7283-276-3|pages=181, 182}}

Gjergj Balsha was perceived by Venice as Skanderbeg's successor,{{Citation |last=Jens Schmitt|first=Oliver |author-link=Oliver Jens Schmitt |author2=Konrad Clewing, Edgar Hösch |title= Südosteuropa : von vormoderner Vielfalt und nationalstaatlicher Vereinheitlichung : Festschrift für Edgar Hösch |year=2005 |publisher=Oldenbourg Verlag |language= de |isbn=978-3-486-57888-1 |oclc=62309552 |page=167 |chapter=Die venezianischen Jahrbücher des Stefano Magno (ÖNB Codd 6215–6217) als Quelle zur albanischen und epirotischen Geschichte im späten Mittelalter (1433–1477) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4eXlZq6aBrkC&pg=PA167 |quote= ...Ivan Strez Balsics, des von Venedig anerkannten Nachfolgers Skanderbegs,...}} whilst Lekë Dukagjini became the leader of the League. After Skanderbeg's death Ivan and his brother Gjok Balsha, together with Leke, Progon and Nicholas Dukagjini, continued to fight for Venice.{{harvnb|Schmitt|2001|p=297}}{{quote|die Skanderbegs Personlichkeit gelassen hatte, nicht zu füllen. Deshalb muste Venedig wie in den Jahrzehnten vor Skanderbeg mit einer Vielzahl von Adligen zusammenarbeiten; neben Leka, Progon und Nikola Dukagjin gehörten zu dieser Schicht auch Comino Araniti, wohl derselbe, der 1466 Durazzo überfallen hatte; die Söhne von Juani Stexi, di Johann Balsha, Machthaber zwischen Alessio und Kruja; Gojko Balsha und seine söhne der woiwode Jaran um Kruja (1477), und auch der mit seinem Erbe überforderte Johann Kastriota.}}

• Timeline of Skanderbeg

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Citation|last=Schmitt |first=Oliver Jens|author-link=Oliver Jens Schmitt|title=Die Albaner: eine Geschichte zwischen Orient und Okzident|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OD9D_tmufccC&pg=PA55 |year=2012|publisher=C.H.Beck|language=de|isbn=978-3-406-63031-6}}
• {{citation|last=Setton|first=Kenneth Meyer|year=1978|title=The Papacy and the Levant, 1204–1571|publisher=DIANE Publishing|isbn=978-0-87169-127-9}}
• {{cite book|last=Božić|first=Ivan|title=Nemirno pomorje XV veka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnkBAAAAMAAJ|access-date=12 February 2012|year=1979|publisher=Srpska književna zadruga|location=Belgrade |language= sr |oclc=5845972}}
• {{The Late Medieval Balkans}}
• {{cite book|author=Srpska Akademija Nauka i Umetnosti|title=Glas (Volumes 319–323)|year=1980|location=Belgrade|publisher=Serbian Academy of Science and Arts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kqorAQAAIAAJ&q=%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD|language=sr}}
• {{Cite book|title=Das venezianische Albanien (1392–1479) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eKKS3u7iPWcC |year=2001 |publisher=R. Oldenbourg Verlag |location= Munich|isbn=3-486-56569-9 |first=Oliver Jens |last=Schmitt |author-link=Oliver Schmitt}}

{{Wars and battles involving Albanians}}

{{Rebellions in the Ottoman Empire}}

{{Albania topics}}

{{Albanians under the Ottoman Empire}}

Category:15th-century rebellions

Category:Rebellions in the Ottoman Empire

Category:Warfare by Skanderbeg

Category:Ottoman–Spanish conflicts