Athleta Christi: George Kastrioti Skanderbeg

Elton Varfi

The Return to Albania

The Prince of Serbia, George Brankovich, deposed by Murad II, sought the help of Pope Eugene IV (1431-1447) to reclaim his kingdom. The Pope sent Cardinal Julian to induce Ladislaus, King of Hungary and Poland, to assist the Serbian sovereign.

Title page of the work: M. Barletius Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis Rome 1506.

Eugene IV also organized a crusade against the Turks, urging the entire Christian community to take up arms to expel them from Europe.

In the spring of 1443, the Hungarian army, led by John Hunyadi, the governor of Transylvania, entered Serbia. Sultan Murad II sent an army of 20,000 men under the command of Kara Bey, Pasha of Rumelia, and Skanderbeg to keep the enemy at bay until he could arrive with another army. The opposing armies camped on the banks of the Morava River near Niš.

On November 3, 1443, Hunyadi crossed the river with an army of 10,000 men and attacked the Turkish army before the Sultan's reinforcements could arrive.

The Turkish general, astonished by the Hungarians' aggressiveness, was about to flee but, seeing that Hunyadi's army was small, ordered the battle to begin. Skanderbeg was waiting for this moment. The Turks, expecting the order to return to the assault, unexpectedly received the order to retreat, which gradually turned into a chaotic flight.

In the confusion of the retreat, Skanderbeg managed to find the chancellor and, with sword in hand, forced him to issue a firman (decree with the imperial seal) for the surrender of the fortress of Krujë. Having obtained the decree, he killed the chancellor to prevent him from revealing the ruse and, with the precious document, set off for Albania, accompanied by three hundred Albanian warriors who had served in the Turkish ranks due to previous agreements made years before by John Kastrioti with the Sultan, including his nephew Hamza, son of Reposio.

Barleti implies that Skanderbeg was in cahoots with Hunyadi, who dared to begin the offensive despite having a small army. On the other hand, Barleti leaves no doubt that Skanderbeg, through a carefully prepared plan, caused the Turkish army's defeat by initially organizing a retreat that turned into a general rout, attracting those who followed him and dispersing the wing of soldiers under his command.

Demetrio Franco, however, reports that Skanderbeg fought but, as soon as the Turkish army was defeated, during the retreat, decided to return to Krujë; only later, by chance, did he encounter the chancellor and amicably obtain the firman from him. Regardless of how the event transpired, Skanderbeg arrived in Dibra and sought to know the sentiments of the Dibra people towards him, as they were the most loyal subjects of the Kastrioti princely house.

Later, he called the most authoritative citizens and, speaking of his intentions, asked for their help. The joy of the Dibra people upon seeing the son of their prince was indescribable; some could not believe their eyes, thinking they were dreaming, while others jumped for joy, some cried, covering him with kisses and blessings, offering their lives, those of their children, and their possessions for the cause of freedom.

Moved by this reception, Skanderbeg urged them to place guards at all the passes to prevent news of his return from reaching the commander of Krujë. He then ordered the gathering of more men who, at his signal, would be ready to help him occupy the country. Since his intention was to take Krujë with the firman and not by force, he requested only three hundred men familiar with the paths, hiding them in a forest near the city during the night. Later that night, he set off quickly for Krujë. Once near the city, he sent his nephew Hamza Kastrioti, in the role of his secretary, to inform the fortress commander that Skanderbeg was arriving with the order from Sultan Murad II to take command.

Hamza, born and raised in Adrianople, where his father had married a Turkish woman, spoke Turkish fluently and astutely carried out his mission. Hassan Bey Verzesda believed him, and when Skanderbeg arrived and showed him the firman, he received him with great honor, leaving the fortress in Skanderbeg's hands.

The next day, there were no longer any Turks or renegades in the city. The flag of Murad II and every sign of Ottoman domination disappeared, replaced everywhere by Albanian flags. From every house came the cry of "Long live Skanderbeg!" The young leader, returning to the religion of his birth and in possession of the land of his ancestors, began the resurrection of the Albanian people from Krujë.

The League of Lezhë

How much useless blood had the Homeland shed until that day! So much waste and display of warrior virtues, small rivalries dissipated in individual actions, and no one directed or led them to the goal because no one until then had been accepted by the others as a leader, taking on the burdens and responsibilities of the leader and demanding full, unquestioned, devoted loyalty. George Kastrioti hurried to gather the Albanian Princes in Krujë. These individualists found a leader who united them. Due to this influence, what had been desired for years happened.

Petrela, Tomorr, Stelushi, Sfetigrad fell one after the other into Albanian hands.

But it was not enough.

George Kastrioti convened for the first time a congress of all the Princes of the region, bypassing the territories of each and convening the assembly in Lezhë, where Venice dominated at the time.

Image from "Focus Storia" October 2018

On March 1, 1444, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Lezhë was packed with a multicolored crowd. The most authoritative Princes who took part were: Arianiti of Kanina, Andrea Thopia, greatgrandson of Charles Thopia, Prince of the lands between Krujë and Durazzo, with his two sons and nephew Tanushi Thopia, Theodore Korona Musachi, Prince of Berat, with some other Princes of Musachi, George Stresio Balsha, nephew of Skanderbeg through his sister Jella, Prince of the lands between Krujë and Lezhë, Paul and Nicholas Dukagjini, whose principalities extended from Drin to Kosovo to the borders of Serbia, Alexander Zaccaria Altisferi, Prince of Dajç, Peter Spani, Prince of the Highlands of Shosh and Shala, with his four sons Alexander, Bozdar, Orosio, and Mark, Alexander Dusmani, Prince of Zadrima, Stephen Cernovich, Skanderbeg’s brotherinlaw, Prince of Montenegro, with his two sons George and John; there were also other Gheghi and Tosk Princes.

A representative of the Venetian Republic was also present to observe the deliberations.

It was decided to form a League of Albanian Princes, and Skanderbeg was unanimously elected its leader and the commander of the confederate army. All the Princes committed to supporting him with money, provisions, and men according to their abilities in the fight against Sultan Murad II. This obligation was not to be a vague promise. Arianiti of Kanina proposed that each Prince specify the annual sum they would contribute. He set the example by committing to a quota, and the other Princes followed suit. Lesser chiefs who could not guarantee financial support offered a greater number of men. On this point, Paul Dukagjini proposed that the number of men each Prince had to provide be established, and after much deliberation, the matter was left to the discretion of the various Princes.

Skanderbeg’s annual revenues amounted to two hundred thousand gold ducats, mostly from contributions by the League’s Princes, his principality’s revenues, and the salt mines of Campo Episcopo near St. Nicholas of Petra north of Durazzo. The League’s army numbered about 18,000 men, evenly divided between cavalry and infantry. Of these, three or four thousand belonged to Skanderbeg’s paternal principality, including Krujë, Mati, Mirdita, and Dibra.

Once the Congress ended, a Te Deum was sung, and prayers were recited for the League’s fortune. Skanderbeg then returned to Krujë, accompanied by his nephews and Paul Dukagjini.

The creation and organization of a regular army was the most arduous task Skanderbeg dedicated himself to after his return to Krujë, especially knowing that he would soon face the Turkish empire’s army. He introduced conscription into his principality, a new method of recruitment unknown in Europe and difficult to implement in Albania, creating complete lists of men capable of bearing arms for military service when needed. Skanderbeg attached such importance to this reform that he personally led the recruitment commission, touring all his lands to review the recruits and compile the lists.

Skanderbeg had witnessed the importance of a regular, permanent army ready for war at any moment in Turkey, where he had seen the services rendered by the Janissaries. The victories of the Turks were due to this particular and select military corps founded by Sultan Orhan I. Skanderbeg, after adopting this system in Albania, formed an elite corps of more than two thousand Albanian soldiers who, for discipline, skill, and loyalty, were unmatched in the world.

From that moment, there would be no more guerrilla warfare, no more blind assaults relying on individual valor. Method was needed to defeat the Sultan and give him the impression that an iron will and exceptional intelligence guided the fortunes and affirmed the value of the Albanian nation.

George Kastrioti established a military espionage service. His men penetrated even into the Sultan’s court in search of useful information, mingling with the Viziers and Pashas. These reports were transmitted to the leader, who studied the topography of his land, establishing lookout points and battlefields. He examined the gorges, passes, plains, and river courses, becoming familiar with every secret of the enemy and knowing every meter of territory to defend while waiting for the adversary to appear.

George Kastrioti, with an army smaller than the Turkish one, faced Ali Pasha, reported by his informers as having just left Adrianople at the head of a powerful army with which Murad II intended to crush the audacity of whom he considered a traitor. This army entered Albania from the Kosovo side and descended into Lower Dibra.

The approach of the Turkish army prompted the peasants to flee, seeking refuge in fortresses or mountains. The men inside the castles worked day and night to repair the walls, dig trenches, and guard the gates as if the enemy were about to arrive. The elderly, women, and children spent the whole day in churches, praying to the Almighty to spare Albania the impending scourge. Reports indicated a continuous increase in the Turkish army’s units, causing a strong sense of discomfort and fear among the soldiers.

Only Skanderbeg remained undaunted, encouraging them to find hope and confidence in themselves. Until then, the Albanians had known only defeats and misfortunes, making it difficult for them to believe that victory would be on their side, especially since the success of Skanderbeg’s entire endeavor depended on this first battle. The forecasts were not very favorable. Soldiers and officers were all young and inexperienced in a pitched battle fought according to the rules of military art, about to face the strongest army of that time. Skanderbeg had only two veteran officers who knew their trade perfectly: Aidino Musachi, who had fought for many years as an officer in the Turkish army and had fled to join Skanderbeg, and Uranakont, who had fought in the army of Alfonso, King of Naples, participating in many wars and thus learning the art of war on the battlefield under the command of an illustrious and valiant captain. All the others would now receive their baptism of fire in a regular battle, and Skanderbeg watched with a suspended heart the first steps of his novices, who inspired him with full confidence but could lead to disaster and catastrophe with the slightest mistake.

With this army, after celebrating mass and blessing the banners, Skanderbeg marched towards Lower Dibra, heading towards the plain of Torvioll, long designated for battle. The plain of Torvioll measured seven miles in length and three in width, surrounded by mountains, hills, and woods. Skanderbeg’s plan was to hide part of the army in the woods and direct it against the enemy at the opportune moment. To avoid arousing suspicion about the ambush, he left only a part of the infantry in Torvioll, advancing with the entire army before the Turkish army to lure it with a feigned retreat to the predetermined location.