121-438: Derveni may refer to: Albania [ edit ] Derven, Albania , a village in the municipality of Krujë Greece [ edit ] Derveni, Achaea , part of the municipal unit of Diakopto , Achaea Derveni, Arcadia , part of the municipality of Megalopoli, Arcadia Derveni, Corinthia , a town in the municipal unit Evrostina, Corinthia Derveni, Thessaloniki ,
242-571: A scorched earth strategy (thus denying the Ottomans the use of necessary local resources), Skanderbeg left a protective garrison of 1,500 men under one of his most trusted lieutenants, Vrana Konti , while, with the remainder of the army, which included many Slavs, Germans, Frenchmen and Italians, he harassed the Ottoman camps around Krujë by continuously attacking Sultan Murad II's supply caravans. The garrison repelled three major direct assaults on
363-524: A Venetian force of 15,000 men under the command of Daniele Iurichi, governor of Scutari . Skanderbeg instructed his troops on what to expect and opened battle by ordering a force of archers to open fire on the Venetian line. The battle continued for hours until large groups of Venetian troops began to flee. Skanderbeg, seeing his fleeing adversaries, ordered a full-scale offensive, routing the entire Venetian army. The Republic's soldiers were chased right to
484-466: A church dedicated to Saint Alexander was built near Mount Krujë. In the late 9th century David of Krujë is mentioned as one of the bishops, who participated in the Fourth Council of Constantinople . In the early 10th century Krujë had an Eastern Orthodox suffragan bishop, subject to the metropolitan bishop of Durrës. The Roman Catholic bishopric of Krujë was established in 1167, when its bishop
605-581: A gift to the King. More explicitly, Skanderbeg recognized Alfonso's sovereignty over his lands in exchange for help against the Ottomans. King Alfonso pledged to respect the old privileges of Krujë and Albanian territories and to pay Skanderbeg an annual 1,500 ducats, while Skanderbeg pledged to make his fealty to King Alfonso only after the expulsion of Ottomans from his lands, a condition never reached in Skanderbeg's lifetime. Skanderbeg married Donika ,
726-535: A hostage for an unspecified time; this way, the Sultan was able to exercise control in the area ruled by the hostage's father. The treatment of the hostages was not bad. Far from being held in a prison, the hostages were usually sent to the best military schools and trained to become future military leaders. Skanderbeg was sent as a hostage to the Ottoman court in Adrianople ( Edirne ) in 1415, and again in 1423. It
847-584: A huge blow to Ottoman efforts whose Albanian operations were thus inhibited. Right after the Treaty of Gaeta, Alfonso V signed other treaties with the rest of the most important Albanian noblemen, including Gjergj Arianiti , and with the Despot of the Morea , Demetrios Palaiologos . These efforts show that Alfonso thought about a crusade starting from Albania and Morea , which however never took place. Following
968-537: A location north-east of Thessaloniki Derveni (mountain) , a mountain in the southern part of the Evros Chani Derveni , a place located near Megara , Attica Other [ edit ] Derveni (Metsovo) Derveni Krater , found at Derveni, Thessaloniki, near ancient Lete, Macedon Derveni papyrus , found at Derveni, Thessaloniki, near ancient Lete, Macedon See also [ edit ] Derven (disambiguation) Topics referred to by
1089-565: A member of the notable Toptani family of the region and officer of the Ottoman army, captured the town and incorporated it in the Republic of Central Albania making it a center of his movement, but in June of the same year it was reincorporated by Prênk Bibë Doda in the Principality of Albania . On 20 December 1914 the local anti-Essadists, led by Abdi Toptani and Mehmet Gjinali, formed
1210-452: A nearby forest under the command of Hamza Kastrioti . At a given signal, they descended, encircled the Ottomans, and gave Skanderbeg a much needed victory. About 8,000 Ottomans were killed and 2,000 were captured. Skanderbeg's first victory echoed across Europe because this was one of the few times that an Ottoman army was defeated in a pitched battle on European soil. On 10 October 1445, an Ottoman force of 9,000–15,000 men under Firuz Pasha
1331-684: A possible member of the Serbian Branković family or a local Bulgarian noble family. Although there are no primary or archival sources linking Voisava to the Branković family. The other view is that she was a member of the Albanian Muzaka family , daughter of Domenico Moncino Musachi a relative of Muzaka house. Skanderbeg had three older brothers: Stanisha , Reposh and Constantine , and five sisters: Mara , Jelena , Angelina , Vlajka and Mamica . According to
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#17327655001561452-651: A reconciliatory intervention of the Pope, and in 1454, a peace treaty between them was finally reached. On 22 April 1453, Mehmed sent another expedition to Albania under Ibrahim Pasha. The same day, despite the storms, Skanderbeg launched a swift cavalry attack which broke into the enemy camp causing disorder and chaos. Ibrahim was killed in action along with 3,000 of his men. Skanderbeg's army continued looting before returning to Debar. He returned triumphantly with his army with whom he had split his booty. Five weeks later Mehmed II captured Constantinople , which deeply troubled
1573-508: A red standard with a black double-headed eagle on Krujë (Albania uses a similar flag as its national symbol to this day). Despite his military valor, he was only able to hold his own possessions within the very narrow area in today's northern Albania where almost all of his victories against the Ottomans took place. Skanderbeg abandoned Islam, reverted to Christianity, and ordered others who had embraced Islam or were Muslim settlers to convert to Christianity or face death. From that time on,
1694-520: A single galley and a modest sum of money, promising more ships and larger amounts of money in the future. On 23 December 1457, Calixtus III declared Skanderbeg a Captain-General of the Curia ( Holy See ) in the war against the Ottomans. The Pope gave him the title Athleta Christi , or Champion of Christ . Meanwhile, Ragusa bluntly refused to release the funds which had been collected in Dalmatia for
1815-559: A trip to Split; Ruscus from Cattaro; and others. The Ragusan Gondola/Gundulić merchant family had a role similar to Gazulli. Correspondence was written in Slavic, Greek, Latin, and Italian. Documents in Latin were written by notaries from Italy or Venetian territories in Albania. In Albania, the rebellion against the Ottomans had already been smouldering for years before Skanderbeg deserted
1936-476: Is Artur Bushi , who was elected in the 2015 local elections as a candidate of the Socialist Party of Albania . Krujë has an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfb ) with warm summers, cool winters, and abundant precipitation. The total population of Krujë is 51,191 as of the 2023 census, in a total area of 339.20 km . The population of the municipal unit is 8,921. In 1922
2057-497: Is Kastrioti Stadium , which has a capacity of 8,500 people. Krujë is twinned with: Skanderbeg Gjergj Kastrioti ( c. 1405 – 17 January 1468), commonly known as Skanderbeg , was an Albanian feudal lord and military commander who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania , North Macedonia , Greece , Kosovo , Montenegro , and Serbia . A member of
2178-545: Is assumed that he remained at Murad II 's court as iç oğlan for a maximum of three years, where he received military training at Enderun School . The earliest existing record of George's name is the First Act of Hilandar from 1426, when Gjon (John) Kastrioti and his four sons donated the right to the proceeds from taxes collected from two villages in Macedonia (in modern Mavrovo and Rostuša , North Macedonia ) to
2299-693: Is assumed to have been a comparison of Skanderbeg's military skill to that of Alexander the Great . This name was itself used by Skanderbeg even after his re-conversion to Christianity and was later held by his descendants in Italy who became known as the Castriota-Scanderbeg . Skanderbeg always signed himself in Latin : Dominus Albaniae ("Lord of Albania"), and claimed no other titles but that in surviving documents. There have been many theories on
2420-575: Is believed that he was delayed by Đurađ Branković , then allied with Sultan Murad II , although Brankovic's exact role is disputed. Skanderbeg was outraged at the fact that he had been prevented in participating in a battle which could have changed the fate of his homeland if not the entirety of the Balkan Peninsula. As a result of this he let his armies raid into Kosovo, he then set fire to Serbian villages and slaughtered their inhabitants to punish Brankovic. He then returned to Krujë towards
2541-461: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Kruj%C3%AB Krujë ( Albanian definite form : Kruja ; see also the etymology section ) is a town and a municipality in north-central Albania . Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River , the city is 20 km north of the capital of Albania, Tirana . Krujë was inhabited by
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#17327655001562662-648: The Adriatic , where his dreams for an empire were always opposed by the Venetians. One of the reasons Skanderbeg agreed to sign the peace treaty with Venice was the advance of John Hunyadi 's army in Kosovo and his invitation for Skanderbeg to join the expedition against the sultan. However, the Albanian army under Skanderbeg did not participate in this battle as he was prevented from joining with Hunyadi's army. It
2783-589: The Albanian Revolt of 1432-1436 the city was unsuccessfully besieged by Andrea Thopia . Until 1432, the subaşi (governor) of Krujë had been Zagan Bey , then Hizir Bey, and later during 1437—1438 Skanderbeg was its governor. In November 1438 Hizir Bey was again appointed as subaşi of Krujë until he was replaced in April 1440 by Umur Bey. On 28 November 1443 Skanderbeg gained control over Krujë by deceiving its subaşi with forged sultan's letter, and raised
2904-520: The House of Thopia gradually lost control of the town, which by 1395 had come under Ottoman vassalage. The Ottomans lost control of Krujë in the early 15th century, when it was captured by Niketa Thopia and regained it in 1415. After its recapture it was incorporated in the Sanjak of Albania and formed an administrative unit with the status of Subaşilik as attested in the regional register of 1431. During
3025-457: The League of Lezhë under Vrana Konti and Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman force of about 100,000 men led by Sultan Murad II , who had tried to bribe Konti to surrender the castle of the town. In the following decade Krujë was first besieged in 1466 and then in 1467 unsuccessfully by Ballaban Pasha and Sultan Mehmed II , whose total troops were about 150,000. After Skanderbeg's death in 1468,
3146-486: The battle of Oranik . Mustafa Pasha lost 3,000 men and was captured, along with twelve high officers. Skanderbeg learned from these officers that it was the Venetians who pushed the Ottomans to invade Albania. The Venetians, upon hearing of the defeat, urged to establish peace. Mustafa Pasha was soon ransomed for 25,000 ducats to the Ottomans. On 23 July 1448, Skanderbeg crossed the Drin River with 10,000 men, meeting
3267-500: The hit-and-run tactics of the Albanians. Skanderbeg fought a guerrilla war against the opposing armies by using the mountainous terrain to his advantage. During the first 8–10 years, Skanderbeg commanded an army of generally 10,000–15,000 soldiers, but only had absolute control over the men from his own dominions, and had to convince the other princes to follow his policies and tactics. Skanderbeg occasionally had to pay tribute to
3388-514: The 1450s. The Ottoman Turks gave him the name اسکندر بگ ( İskender bey or İskender beğ ), meaning "Lord Alexander", or "Leader Alexander". Skënderbeu and Skënderbej are the Albanian versions, with Skander being the Albanian form of "Alexander". Latinized in Barleti 's version as Scanderbegi and translated into English as Skanderbeg or Scanderbeg , the combined appellative
3509-751: The Albani, while the town is located near the Iron Age Illyrian site of Zgërdhesh . Some scholars have identified the site with the main settlement of the Albani , Albanopolis , while others identified Albanopolis with Krujë itself. During the Illyrian Wars the area of Krujë was captured by the Roman Republic . Early medieval artifacts of Krujë include dress items and weaponry found in fifth- and sixth-century cemeteries, which display
3630-595: The Albanian-Ottoman wars, during which the castle was besieged four times by the Ottoman army. The national ethnographic museum of Krujë was founded in 1989 and is located in a 15–6-room villa of the Toptani family built in 1764. The main exhibits of the museum are objects of artisanship, whose age varies from 60 to 500 years. Krujë's most important football club is KS Kastrioti , founded in 1926 and briefly renamed as Puna Krujë in 1951. The club's home ground
3751-576: The Christian states of Europe. Mehmed, by then called "the Conqueror", turned his attention to finally defeating the Kingdom of Hungary and crossing into Italy. Skanderbeg informed King Alfonso that he had conquered some territories and a castle, and Alfonso replied some days later that soon Ramon d'Ortafà would return to continue the war against the Ottomans and promised more troops and supplies. In
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3872-618: The Director General of Health Services appointed the first director of health services in Krujë, Ihsan Korça while the last to hold the post before the establishment of the Socialist People's Republic of Albania was Abdulla Mehmeti. The first hospital and the first polyclinic of Krujë were built in 1946 and 1948 respectively. During 1968–69 a new medical laboratory and a department of surgery were added and expanded. In 1970
3993-474: The Directorate of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the district was established in the town. In 1977-9 a new hospital and polyclinic were built, while in 1986 the first Obstetrics and gynaecology hospital of the town was opened. In 2008 the first hospital was rebuilt and renamed after its first director Stefan Gjoni. In antiquity Krujë was a site used for pagan rituals , while after the spread of Christianity
4114-703: The Ottoman Empire during its heyday. He became a central figure in the Albanian National Awakening of the 19th century. He is honored in modern Albania and is commemorated with many monuments and cultural works. Skanderbeg's military skills presented a major obstacle to Ottoman expansion, and many in Western Europe considered him to be a model of Christian resistance against the Ottomans. The Kastrioti, in comparison to other Albanian noble families, so far remain absent from historical or archival records until their first historical appearance at
4235-471: The Ottoman army and those of Durazzo supplied Skanderbeg's army. An angry attack by Skanderbeg on the Venetian caravans raised tension between him and the Republic, but the case was resolved with the help of the bailo of Durazzo who stopped the Venetian merchants from furnishing the Ottomans any longer. Venetian help to the Ottomans notwithstanding, by September 1450, the Ottoman camp was in disarray, as
4356-460: The Ottoman army stationed in the city against the rebels of Krujë. After prolonged confrontations the Ottoman officials offered to begin negotiations with the rebels. On 20 September 1906 the leaders of Krujë and the Ottoman diplomats met at the Tallajbe quarter of Krujë to discuss the administrative status of the town, however, the Ottoman army under Şemsi Pasha ambushed the rebel leaders. During
4477-617: The Ottoman army. He immediately led his men to Krujë , where he arrived on 28 November, and by the use of a forged letter from Sultan Murad to the Governor of Krujë he became lord of the city that very day. To reinforce his intention of gaining control of the former domains of Zeta, Skanderbeg proclaimed himself the heir of the Balšić family . After capturing some less important surrounding castles ( Petrela , Prezë , Guri i Bardhë, Sfetigrad , Modrič , and others) he raised, according to Frashëri,
4598-602: The Ottoman army. In August 1443, Gjergj Arianiti again revolted against the Ottomans in the region of central Albania. Under Venetian patronage, on 2 March 1444, Skanderbeg summoned Albanian noblemen in the Venetian-controlled town of Lezhë and they established a military alliance known in historiography as the League of Lezhë . Among those who joined the military alliance were the powerful Albanian noble families of Arianiti , Dukagjini , Muzaka , Zaharia , Thopia , Zenevisi , Dushmani and Spani , and also
4719-505: The Ottoman force, resulting in them fleeing. The same day Skanderbeg attacked Tahip's army and defeated them, with Tahip killed and the Ottomans were thus left without their commander as they fled. Skanderbeg's victory over a ruler even more powerful than Murad came as a great surprise to the Albanians. During this period, skirmishes between Skanderbeg and the Dukagjini family , which had been dragging on for years, were put to an end by
4840-535: The Ottoman forces found and cut the water sources of the castle. Recent historians mostly concur with the Ottoman chronicler's version. Although his loss of men was minimal, Skanderbeg lost the castle of Sfetigrad, which was an important stronghold that controlled the fields of Macedonia to the east. At the same time, he besieged the towns of Durazzo (modern Durrës ) and Lezhë which were then under Venetian rule. In August 1448, Skanderbeg defeated Mustafa Pasha in Dibër at
4961-550: The Ottomans in 1478 after being besieged for over a year. This success was viewed by the Ottomans as a good omen that the siege of Shkodra would also be successful. During the rise of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire Krujë became the battlefield of various anti-Ottoman rebellions also related with the imposition of new taxes. In 1906 the people of Krujë revolted once more against the Ottoman Empire. The Wāli of Shkodër , Sali Zeki Pasha sent four battalions of
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5082-517: The Ottomans referred to Skanderbeg as "hain (treacherous) İskender" . The small court of Skanderbeg consisted of persons of various ethnicities. He was supposedly also the manager of Skanderbeg's bank account in Ragusa. Members of the Gazulli family had important roles in diplomacy, finance, and purchase of arms. John Gazulli, a doctor, was sent to the court of king Matthias Corvinus to coordinate
5203-573: The Ottomans, but only in exceptional circumstances, such as during the war with the Venetians or his travel to Italy and perhaps when he was under pressure of Ottoman forces that were too strong. In the summer of 1444, in the Plain of Torvioll, the united Albanian armies under Skanderbeg faced the Ottomans who were under direct command of the Ottoman general Ali Pasha, with an army of 25,000 men. Skanderbeg had under his command 7,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry. 3,000 cavalry were hidden behind enemy lines in
5324-482: The Ragusans informed Pope Nicholas V. Through financial assistance, Skanderbeg managed to hold Krujë and regain much of his territory. Skanderbeg's success brought praise from all over Europe and ambassadors were sent to him from Rome, Naples , Hungary , and Burgundy . Although Skanderbeg had achieved success in resisting Murad II himself, harvests were unproductive and famine was widespread. After being rejected by
5445-640: The Serbian monastery of Hilandar . Afterwards, between 1426 and 1431, Gjon Kastrioti and his sons, with the exception of Stanisha, purchased four adelphates (rights to reside on monastic territory and receive subsidies from monastic resources) to the Saint George tower and to some property within the monastery as stated in the Second Act of Hilandar . The area which the Katrioti family had donated to
5566-421: The Serbian nobleman Stefan Crnojević of Zeta. This was the first time that much of Albania was united under a single leader. For 25 years, from 1443 to 1468, Skanderbeg's 10,000-man army marched through Ottoman territory, winning against consistently larger and better-supplied Ottoman forces. Skanderbeg organized a mobile defense army that forced the Ottomans to disperse their troops, leaving them vulnerable to
5687-641: The Sultan's hostage. According to Marin Barleti , a primary source, Skanderbeg and his three older brothers, Reposh, Kostandin, and Stanisha, were taken by the Sultan to his court as hostages; however, according to documents, besides Skanderbeg, only one of the brothers of Skanderbeg, probably Stanisha, was taken hostage and had been conscripted into the Devşirme system, a military institute that enrolled Christian boys, converted them to Islam , and trained them to become military officers. 21st-century historians are of
5808-676: The Union of Krujë, which quickly extended its authority in central Albania. Following the Italian invasion of Albania the country became a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy . Mustafa Merlika-Kruja , a native of Krujë, who became the Prime Minister of the new regime ordered the formation of a 300-man gendarmerie force to defend the town against resistance groups. However, soon afterward, resistance leader Abaz Kupi , another native of
5929-722: The Venetians, Skanderbeg established closer connections with King Alfonso V who, in January 1451, appointed him as "captain general of the king of Aragon" . Following Skanderbeg's requests, King Alfonso V helped him in this situation and the two parties signed the Treaty of Gaeta on 26 March 1451, according to which Skanderbeg was formally a vassal in exchange for military aid. Authors have disagreed on whether Krujë belonged to Skanderbeg or to Alfonso V; while C. Marinesco claimed that Krujë no longer belonged to Skanderbeg, but to Alfonso, who exercised his power through his viceroy, this thesis
6050-475: The act; however, his treason was discovered and he was sent to prison in Naples. In 1456, Skanderbeg's son, Gjon Kastrioti II , was born. Hamza Kastrioti , Skanderbeg's own nephew and his closest collaborator, lost his hope of succession after the birth of Skanderbeg's son and defected to the Ottomans in the same year. In the summer of 1457, an Ottoman army numbering approximately 70,000 men invaded Albania with
6171-604: The ancient Illyrian tribe of the Albani . In 1190 Krujë became the capital of the first Albanian state in the Middle Ages , the Principality of Arbër . Later it was the capital of the Kingdom of Albania , while in the early 15th century Krujë was conquered by the Ottoman Empire , but then recaptured in 1443 by Skanderbeg , leader of the League of Lezhë , who successfully defended it against three Ottoman sieges until his death in 1468. The Ottomans took control of
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#17327655001566292-476: The area, the Venetians offered rewards for his assassination. The Venetians sought to overthrow or assassinate Skanderbeg by any means, even offering a life pension of 100 golden ducats annually for the person who would kill him. During the conflict, Venice invited the Ottomans to attack Skanderbeg simultaneously from the east, facing the Albanians with a two-front conflict. On 14 May 1448, an Ottoman army led by Sultan Murad II and his son Mehmed laid siege to
6413-526: The battle that followed, which became known in history after the Tallajbe district, about 30 people died including uninvolved civilians. Throughout the Albanian Revolt of 1912 , that led to the creation of the Albanian Vilayet and later in the Declaration of Independence of Albania Krujë, which was captured on 14 August, was one of the major anti-Ottoman centers. In 1914 Essad Toptani ,
6534-480: The beginning of 1454, Skanderbeg and the Venetians informed King Alfonso and the Pope about a possible Ottoman invasion and asked for help. The Pope sent 3,000 ducats while Alfonso sent 500 infantry and a certain amount of money to Skanderbeg. Meanwhile, the Venetian Senate was resenting Skanderbeg's alliance with Naples, an old enemy of Venice. Frequently they delayed their tributes to Skanderbeg and this
6655-423: The castle of Sfetigrad . The Albanian garrison in the castle resisted the frontal assaults of the Ottoman army, while Skanderbeg harassed the besieging forces with the remaining Albanian army under his personal command. On 23 July 1448, Skanderbeg won a battle near Shkodër against a Venetian army led by Andrea Venier . In late summer 1448, due to a lack of potable water, the Albanian garrison eventually surrendered
6776-541: The castle was still not taken, the morale had sunk, and disease was running rampant. Murad II acknowledged that he could not capture the castle of Krujë by force of arms before the winter, and in October 1450, he lifted the siege and made his way to Edirne . The Ottomans suffered 20,000 casualties during the siege, and many more died as Murad escaped Albania. A few months later, on 3 February 1451, Murad died in Edirne and
6897-476: The castle with the condition of safe passage through the Ottoman besieging forces, a condition which was accepted and respected by Sultan Murad II. Primary sources disagree about the reason why the besieged had problems with the water in the castle: While Barleti and Biemmi maintained that a dead dog was found in the castle well, and the garrison refused to drink the water since it might corrupt their soul, another primary source, an Ottoman chronicler, conjectured that
7018-486: The chroniclers of the early period ( Aşıkpaşazade and the " Tarih-i Al-ı Osman "), and the latter historians ( Müneccim Başı ) are not at all explicit, and regarding the dates, do not agree with the Western sources. The Turkish chronicles of Neshri , Idris Bitlisi , Ibn Kemal and Sadeddin only mention the first revolt of the "treacherous Iskander" in 846 H. (1442–43), the campaign of Sultan Murad in 851 H. (1447–48) and
7139-505: The city walls by the Ottomans, causing great losses to the besieging forces. Ottoman attempts at finding and cutting the water sources failed, as did a sapped tunnel, which collapsed suddenly. An offer of 300,000 aspra (Ottoman silver coins) and a promise of a high rank as an officer in the Ottoman army made to Vrana Konti, were both rejected by him. During the First Siege of Krujë, the Venetian merchants from Scutari sold food to
7260-402: The city's garrison was supplemented by troops of the Republic of Venice . In 1476 the town was once more besieged by a ten-thousand-man army under Gedik Ahmed Pasha ; however, the local garrison led by proveditor Pietro Vetturi fended off the Ottoman besiegers, who retreated after the arrival of reinforcements under Francesco Contarini and Nikollë Dukagjini. The city was eventually conquered by
7381-573: The clerics Fra Lorenzo da Palerino and Fra Giovanni dell'Aquila to Albania with a flag embroidered with a white cross as a symbol of the Crusade which was about to begin. Even though this crusade never materialized, the Neapolitan troops were used in the Siege of Berat , where they were almost entirely annihilated and were never replaced. The Siege of Berat, the first real test between the armies of
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#17327655001567502-416: The crusade and which, according to the Pope, were to have been distributed in equal parts to Hungary, Bosnia, and Albania. The Ragusans even entered into negotiations with Mehmed. At the end of December 1457, Calixtus threatened Venice with an interdict and repeated the threat in February 1458. As the captain of the Curia, Skanderbeg appointed the duke of Leukas (Santa Maura), Leonardo III Tocco , formerly
7623-415: The daughter of Gjergj Arianiti , one of the most influential Albanian noblemen, strengthening the ties between them, a month after the treaty on 21 April 1451 in the Orthodox Ardenica Monastery , Their only child was Gjon Kastrioti II , however an elder daughter named Voisava is mentioned in some sources as well. In 1451, Mehmed was focused on defeating the Karamanids and Menteşe in the East, but it
7744-484: The end of March 1456. On 5 April 1456, Skanderbeg entered Kruja and Moisi fled to him professing his willingness to take up arms against the Ottomans, and Skanderbeg pardoned him, remaining loyal until his death in 1464. From time to time, Venice succeeded in stirring up Skanderbeg's relatives and weaker neighbors, who set up in opposition to him the elderly Gjergj Arianiti as "captain of all Albania" from Scutari to Durazzo in 1456, but in clan warfare Skanderbeg usually had
7865-568: The end of November. Antonio Bonfini an Italian courtier of the Hungarian king believed the battle could have been won if Skanderbeg had participated. He appears to have marched to join Hunyadi immediately after making peace with the Venetians, and to have been only 20 miles from Kosovo Polje when the Hungarian army finally broke. In June 1450, two years after the Ottomans had captured Sfetigrad, they laid siege to Krujë with an army numbering approximately 100,000 men and led again by Sultan Murad II himself and his son, Mehmed II . Following
7986-474: The end of the 14th century. The historical figure of Konstantin Kastrioti Mazreku is attested in Giovanni Andrea Angelo Flavio Comneno's Genealogia diversarum principum familiarum . Angelo mentions Kastrioti as Constantinus Castriotus, cognomento Meserechus, Aemathiae & Castoriae Princeps (Constantinus Castriotus, surnamed Meserechus, Prince of Aemathia and Castoria). The toponym Castoria has been interpreted as Kastriot , Kastrat in Has, Kastrat in Dibra or
8107-517: The eponymous league was established, was Venetian territory , and the assembly met with the approval of Venice. The later affirmation of Skanderbeg and his rise as a strong force on their borders, however, was seen as a menace to the interests of the Republic, leading to a worsening of relations and the dispute over the fortress of Dagnum which triggered the Albanian-Venetian War of 1447–48 . After various attacks against Bar and Ulcinj, along with Đurađ Branković and Stefan Crnojević , and Albanians of
8228-422: The first Albanian flag on the same day. In 1444 Skanderbeg incorporated it in the League of Lezhë , the confederation of the Albanian principalities . From 1450 until 1477 Krujë was defended successfully by the Albanian troops four times against the Ottoman army, which eventually captured it in 1478 during the fourth Siege of the city . During the first siege of Krujë in 1450, the 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers of
8349-449: The gates of Scutari, and Venetian prisoners were thereafter paraded outside the fortress. The Albanians managed to inflict 2,500 casualties on the Venetian force, capturing 1,000. Skanderbeg's army suffered 400 casualties, most on the right-wing. The peace treaty, negotiated by Georgius Pelino and signed between Skanderbeg and Venice on 4 October 1448, envisioned that Venice would keep Dagnum and its environs, but would cede to Skanderbeg
8470-426: The geopolitical contexts of the time, Gjon Kastrioti changed allegiances and religions when allied to Venice as a Catholic and Serbia as an Orthodox Christian. Gjon Kastrioti later became a vassal of the Sultan since the end of the 14th century, and, as a consequence, paid tribute and provided military services to the Ottomans (such as in the Battle of Ankara in 1402). In 1409, he sent his eldest son, Stanisha, to be
8591-430: The high status and the wealth of the burials. Originally a middle-sized fortress like other urban centers, Krujë expanded to a town probably from the sixth to the ninth century AD. In 1190 Krujë became the capital of the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, the Principality of Arbër founded by Progon of the House of Progon . During the reign of Gulam of Albania the principality was dissolved and incorporated in
8712-410: The hope of destroying Albanian resistance once and for all. This army was led by Isak-Beg and Hamza Kastrioti, the commander who knew all about Albanian tactics and strategy. After wreaking much damage to the countryside, the Ottoman army set up camp at Ujebardha field, halfway between Lezhë and Krujë. After having avoided the enemy for months, calmly giving to the Ottomans and his European neighbours
8833-475: The impression that he was defeated, on 2 September Skanderbeg attacked the Ottoman forces in their encampments and defeated them killing 15,000 Ottomans, capturing 15,000 and 24 standards, and all the riches in the camp. This was one of the most famous victories of Skanderbeg over the Ottomans, which led to a five-year peace treaty with Sultan Mehmed II. Hamza was captured and sent to detention in Naples . After
8954-460: The last campaign of Mehmed II in 871 H. (1466–67). In early November 1443, Skanderbeg deserted the forces of Sultan Murad II during the Battle of Niš , while fighting against the crusaders of John Hunyadi . According to some earlier sources, Skanderbeg deserted the Ottoman army during the Battle of Kunovica on 2 January 1444. Skanderbeg quit the field along with 300 other Albanians serving in
9075-571: The microtoponym "Kostur" near the village of Mazrek in the Has region . In connection to the Kastrioti family name, it is very likely that the name of one the different Kastriot or Kastrat which were fortified settlements as their etymology shows ( castrum ) was as their family name. The Kastrioti may have originated from this village or probably had acquired it as pronoia . Angelo used the cognomen Meserechus in reference to Skanderbeg and this link to
9196-478: The new sultan and Skanderbeg, ended up in an Ottoman victory. Skanderbeg besieged the town's castle for months, causing the demoralized Ottoman officer in charge of the castle to promise his surrender. At that point, Skanderbeg relaxed his grip, split his forces, and departed the siege, leaving behind one of his generals, Muzakë Topia , and half of his cavalry on the banks of the Osum River in order to finalize
9317-630: The newly founded Kingdom of Albania . During the late 13th and early 14th century the Byzantine and the Thopia family and in 1343 the Serbian Empire took control of the city. The Kingdom of Albania was eventually dissolved between 1363 and 1368, when Karl Topia captured its capital Durrës and incorporated its territories, including Krujë in 1363 in the Princedom of Albania . After 1389
9438-528: The noble Kastrioti family , he was sent as a hostage to the Ottoman court . He graduated from the Enderun School and entered the service of the Ottoman sultan Murad II ( r. 1421–1444 ) for the next twenty years. His rise through the ranks culminated in his appointment as sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Dibra in 1440. During the Battle of Nish in 1443, he deserted the Ottomans and became
9559-426: The offensive against Mehmed II. The knight Pal Gazulli was travelling frequently to Italy, and another Gazulli, Andrea, was ambassador of the despot of Morea in Ragusa before becoming a member of Skanderbeg's court in 1462. Some adventurers also followed Skanderbeg, such as a man named John Newport; Stefan Maramonte , who acted as Skanderbeg's ambassador to Milan in 1456; Stjepan Radojevic, who in 1466 provided ships for
9680-463: The opinion that while Stanisha might have been conscripted at a young age, and had to go through the Devşirme, this was not the case with Skanderbeg, who is assumed to have been sent hostage to the Sultan by his father only at the age of 18. It was customary at the time that a local chieftain, who had been defeated by the Sultan, would send one of his children to the Sultan's court, where the child would be
9801-415: The place where Skanderbeg was born. One of the main Skanderbeg biographers, Frashëri, has, among others, interpreted Gjon Muzaka 's book of genealogies, sources of Raffaele Maffei ("il Volterrano"; 1451–1522), and the Ottoman defter (census) of 1467, and placed the birth of Skanderbeg in the small village of Sinë , one of the two villages owned by his grandfather Pal Kastrioti . Fan Noli 's placement of
9922-473: The planning of a new crusade which Alfonso would have presented to Pope Nicholas V in a meeting in 1453–54. During the five years which followed the first siege of Krujë, Albania was allowed some respite as the new sultan set out to conquer the last vestiges of the Byzantine Empire , but in 1452 the newly acceded Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II ordered his first campaign against Skanderbeg. An expedition
10043-419: The point where Pope Pius II suggested entrusting Skanderbeg's dominions to Venice during his Italian expedition. After Serbian Despot Stefan Branković was dethroned in April 1459, he travelled to Albania and stayed with Skanderbeg and supported his anti-Ottoman activities, forging plans to recapture Serbia from Ottomans and return to Smederevo . In November 1460 Despot Stefan married Angelina Arianiti ,
10164-559: The population in his father's former properties and also with other Albanian noble families . Skanderbeg's Rebellion (1443–1468) Contemporaneous Campaigns (1447–1462) Resistance until the Fall of Shkodra (1468–1479) Beside Barleti , other sources on this period are the Byzantine historians Chalcocondylas , Sphrantzes and Critoboulos , and the Venetian documents, published by Ljubić in "Monumenta spectantia historiam Slavorum Meridionalium". The Turkish sources –
10285-609: The prince of Arta and "despot of the Rhomaeans ", a figure known in Southern Epirus, as a lieutenant in his native land. On 27 June 1458, King Alfonso V died at Naples and Skanderbeg sent emissaries to his son and successor, King Ferdinand . According to historian C. Marinesco, the death of King Alfonso marked the end of the Aragonese dream of a Mediterranean Empire and also the hope for a new crusade in which Skanderbeg
10406-494: The relations that their father had with the Republic of Ragusa and the Republic of Venice ; in 1438 and 1439, they sustained their father's privileges with those states. During the 1438–43 period, he is thought to have been fighting alongside the Ottomans in their European campaigns, mostly against the Christian forces led by Janos Hunyadi . In 1440 Skanderbeg was appointed sanjakbey of Dibra . During his stay in Albania as Ottoman governor, he maintained close relations with
10527-614: The ruler of Krujë and nearby areas extending from Petrelë to Modrič . In March 1444, he established the League of Lezhë , with support from local noblemen , and unified the Albanian principalities . In 1451, through the Treaty of Gaeta , he recognized de jure the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Naples over Albania, ensuring a protective alliance, although he remained a de facto independent ruler. In 1460–61, he supported Ferdinand I of Naples ( r. 1458–1494 ) in his wars and led an Italian expedition against John II of Anjou ( r. 1453–1470 ). In 1463, he
10648-827: The same name is produced in other sources and reproduced in later ones like Du Cange 's Historia Byzantina (1680). These links highlight that the Kastrioti used Mazreku as a name that highlighted their tribal affiliation ( farefisni ). The name Mazrek(u), which means horse breeder in Albanian, is found throughout all Albanian regions. Skanderbeg's first name was Gjergj (George) in Albanian. Frang Bardhi in Dictionarium latino-epiroticum (1635) provides two first names in Albanian: Gjeç ( Giec ) and Gjergj ( Gierg ). In his personal correspondence in Italian and in most biographies produced after his death in Italy, his name
10769-450: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Derveni . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Derveni&oldid=1259759786 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
10890-400: The same year Gjon had to seek forgiveness from the Venetian Senate because Skanderbeg participated in Ottoman military campaigns against Christians. In 1430, Gjon was defeated in battle by the Ottoman governor of Skopje , Ishak Bey , and as a result, his territorial possessions were extremely reduced. Later that year, Skanderbeg continued fighting for Murad II in his expeditions, and gained
11011-547: The sister of Skanderbeg's wife Donika . Skanderbeg gave the dethroned Despot Stefan an unknown estate as appanage. With Skanderbeg's recommendations, Despot Stefan moved to Italy in 1461 or 1466. In 1460, King Ferdinand had serious problems with another uprising of the Angevins and asked for help from Skanderbeg. This invitation worried King Ferdinand's opponents, and Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta declared that if Ferdinand of Naples received Skanderbeg, Malatesta would go to
11132-496: The sultan. In 1437–38, he became a subaşı (governor) of the Krujë subaşılık before Hizir Bey was again appointed to that position in November 1438. Until May 1438, Skanderbeg controlled a relatively large timar (of the vilayet of Dhimitër Jonima ) composed of nine villages which previously belonged to his father (registered as "Giovanni's land", Turkish : Yuvan-ili ). According to İnalcık , at that time Skanderbeg
11253-409: The surrender. It was a costly error—the Ottomans saw this moment as an opportunity for attack and sent a large cavalry force, led by Isak-Beg , to reinforce the garrison. The Albanian forces lulled into a false sense of security. The Ottomans caught the Albanian cavalry by surprise while they were resting on the banks of the Osum River , and almost all the 5,000 Albanian cavalry laying siege to Berat
11374-577: The tekke, which was restored by Baba Husayn of Dibër in the mid-19th century. In the early 20th century, Hasluck wrote that the population of Krujë ("Croia") appeared to be almost entirely Bektashi. The museums of Krujë include the Skanderbeg Museum and the national ethnographic museum. The Skanderbeg Museum, founded in 1982, was built in the environs of the Krujë Castle . Its collection includes mostly 15th century artefacts related to
11495-401: The territory of Buzëgjarpri at the mouth of the river Drin , and also that Skanderbeg would enjoy the privilege of buying, tax-free, 200 horse-loads of salt annually from Durazzo. In addition, Venice would pay Skanderbeg 1,400 ducats. During the period of clashes with Venice, Skanderbeg intensified relations with Alfonso V of Aragon ( r. 1416–1458 ), who was the main rival of Venice in
11616-517: The title of sipahi . Several scholars have assumed that Skanderbeg was given a fiefdom in Nikopol in northern Bulgaria , because a certain "Iskander bey" is mentioned in a 1430 document holding fiefs there. Although Skanderbeg was summoned home by his relatives when Gjergj Arianiti and Andrew Thopia along with other chiefs from the region between Vlorë and Shkodër organized the Albanian revolt of 1432–1436 , he did nothing, remaining loyal to
11737-416: The town after the fourth siege in 1478, and incorporated it in their territories. A 1906 local revolt against the Ottoman Empire was followed by the 1912 Declaration of Independence of Albania . In the mid-1910s Krujë was one of the battlefields of the conflict between the short-lived Republic of Central Albania , founded by Essad Toptani , and the Principality of Albania . In 1914 Toptani managed to seize
11858-575: The town but during the same year it was reincorporated by Prênk Bibë Doda in the Principality of Albania. During World War II it was the centre of the activities of resistance leader Abaz Kupi . The museums of Krujë include the Skanderbeg Museum , located in the environs of the Krujë Castle , and the national ethnographic museum. The name of the city is related to the Albanian word kroi , krua , meaning " fountain " or "water source", from Proto-Albanian * krana < * krasna . The city
11979-543: The town, created one of the first permanent resistance forces of Albania in Krujë and gradually took control of the region. In 1943 at the assembly of Tapizë Balli Kombëtar proposed to the LNÇ the creation of provisional resistance government, with Krujë as the capital city, but this proposal was rejected by the LNÇ leaders. In the end of November 1944, the last German troops stationed in the area were defeated and LNÇ battalions entered
12100-438: The town. Krujë is found at an altitude of 600 m (1,969 ft) on the foot of Mount Krujë ( Albanian : Mali i Krujës ), while south and west of the town is found the plain of the Ishëm River . The town is located in the northern part of the outer Albanides tectonic unit, which consists of anticlines of Mesozoic carbonate platforms . The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Krujë, but it also includes
12221-511: The treaty, in the end of May 1451, a small detachment of 100 Catalan soldiers, headed by Bernard Vaquer, was established at the castle of Krujë. One year later, in May 1452, another Catalan nobleman, Ramon d'Ortafà , came to Krujë with the title of viceroy . In 1453, Skanderbeg paid a secret visit to Naples and the Vatican , probably to discuss the new conditions after the fall of Constantinople and
12342-685: The upper hand. Skanderbeg took over possessions of the Zenevisi and the Balšić as well. Skanderbeg's followers that ruled over northern Albania and all of the chieftains on both sides of the Tomor mountains remained loyal to him. In 1456, one of Skanderbeg's nephews, George Strez Balšić , sold the Modrič fortress (now in North Macedonia ) to the Ottomans for 30,000 silver ducats. He tried to cover up
12463-498: The victorious Battle of Ujëbardha , Skanderbeg's relations with the Papacy under Pope Calixtus III were intensified. The reason was that during this time, Skanderbeg's military undertakings involved considerable expense in which the contribution of Alfonso V of Aragon was not sufficient to defray. In 1457, Skanderbeg requested help from Calixtus III. Being himself in financial difficulties, the pope could do no more than send Skanderbeg
12584-433: The villages of Barkanesh, Brre and Picerragë. The closest cities to Krujë are Tiranë and Durrës at a distance of 20 and 37 km respectively. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Bubq , Cudhi , Fushë-Krujë , Krujë, Nikël and Kodër-Thumanë , that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Krujë. The current mayor of Krujë
12705-497: The year of his birth in 1405 is now largely agreed upon, after earlier disagreements, and lack of birth documents for him and his siblings. His father Gjon Kastrioti held territory between Lezhë and Prizren that included Mat , Mirditë and Dibër in north-central Albania. His mother was Voisava , whose origin is disputed. One view holds that she was a Slavic princess from the Polog region, which has been interpreted as her being
12826-468: Was assigned a leading role. The relationship of Skanderbeg with the Kingdom of Naples continued after Alfonso V's death, but the situation had changed. Ferdinand I was not as able as his father and now it was Skanderbeg's turn to help King Ferdinand to regain and maintain his kingdom. In 1459 Skanderbeg captured the fortress of Sati from the Ottoman Empire and ceded it to Venice in order to secure cordial relationship with Signoria. The reconciliation reached
12947-576: Was attested for the first time as Kroai (in Medieval Greek Κροαί) in Byzantine documents of the early 9th century. In medieval Latin it was known as Croia , Croya and Croarum . During the Ottoman era it was also known as Ak Hisar or Akçahisar from the Turkish words ak (white) and hisar (castle). In ancient times the region of Krujë was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of
13068-533: Was consecrated by Pope Alexander III . In 1284 the Byzantine Empire expelled the Catholic bishop of Krujë, while after Stefan Uroš II Milutin captured the town, he also expelled the Catholic bishop Andreas Croensis in 1317. In Illyricum Sacrum Daniele Farlati documented fourteen Catholics bishops of the town from 1286 to 1694, while Konrad Eubel documented four additional bishops. Bektashism
13189-498: Was earmarked to be the chief commander of the crusading forces of Pope Pius II , but the Pope died while the armies were still gathering and the greater European crusade never took place. Together with Venetians, he fought against the Ottomans during the First Ottoman–Venetian War (1463–1479) until his death. Skanderbeg ranks high in the military history of that time as the most persistent—and ever-victorious—opponent of
13310-532: Was in his intentions to return to Albania. During this brief period of rest, Skanderbeg took up the rebuilding of Krujë and erected a new fortress in Modrica in the Drin Valley near Sfetigrad (which had been lost in a 1448 siege) where Ottoman forces had previously slipped through unhindered. The fortress was constructed in the heat of summer within a few months when few Ottoman posts were present. This came as
13431-583: Was introduced in the region of Krujë in the early 18th century. During the Ottoman era a tekke dedicated to the Bektashi saint Sari Saltik was built near the church of Saint Alexander. In 1789–99 the Dollma tekke was built by the Dollma family near the castle. In 1807 Sheikh Mimi , sent by Ali Pasha to Krujë founded another tekke in the town. However, Sheikh Mimi was executed by Kaplan Pasha, who destroyed
13552-424: Was killed along with 1,500 of his men. Skanderbeg defeated the Ottomans two more times the following year, once when Ottoman forces from Ohrid suffered severe losses, and again in the Battle of Otonetë on 27 September 1446. At the beginning of the Albanian insurrection, the Republic of Venice was supportive of Skanderbeg, considering his forces to be a buffer between them and the Ottoman Empire. Lezhë, where
13673-441: Was killed. Most of the forces belonged to Gjergj Arianiti, whose role as Skanderbeg's greatest support diminished after the defeat. The attitude of other Albanian nobility was also somewhat affected. Moisi Golemi defected to the Ottomans and returned to Albania in 1456 as the commander of an Ottoman army of 15,000 men, but he was defeated by Skanderbeg in the Battle of Oranik and lost his territory of Debar to Skanderbeg toward
13794-772: Was long a matter of dispute between the parties, with Skanderbeg threatening war on Venice at least three times between 1448 and 1458, and Venice conceding in a conciliatory tone. In June 1454, Ramon d'Ortafà returned to Krujë, this time with the title of viceroy of Albania, Greece, and Slavonia, with a personal letter to Skanderbeg as the Captain-General of the Neapolitan-aligned armed forces in parts of Albania ( Magnifico et strenuo viro Georgio Castrioti, dicto Scandarbech, gentium armorum nostrarum in partibus Albanie generali capitaneo, consiliario fideli nobis dilecto ). Along with d'Ortafà, King Alfonso V also sent
13915-586: Was referred to by the monks in Hilandar as the Arbanashki pirg or Albanian tower . Reposh Kastrioti is listed as dux illyricus or Duke of Illyria in Hilandar. After Skanderbeg graduated from Enderun , the sultan granted him control over one timar (land grant) which was near the territories controlled by his father. His father was concerned that the sultan might order Skanderbeg to occupy his territory and informed Venice about this in April 1428. In
14036-472: Was referred to in Ottoman documents as Juvan oglu Iskender bey . It was because of Skanderbeg's display of military merit in several Ottoman campaigns, that Murad II (r. 1421–51) had given him the title of vali . At that time, Skanderbeg was leading a cavalry unit of 5,000 men. After his brother Reposh's death on 25 July 1431 and the later deaths of Kostandin and Skanderbeg's father (who died in 1437), Skanderbeg and his surviving brother Stanisha maintained
14157-558: Was rejected by A. Gegaj , who claimed that the disproportion in numbers between the Spanish forces (100) and Skanderbeg's (around 10–15 thousand) clearly showed that the city belonged to Skanderbeg. It is presumed that Skanderbeg de facto had full control over his territories: while Naples' archives registered payments and supplies sent to Skanderbeg, they do not mention any kind of payment or tribute by Skanderbeg to Alfonso, except for various Ottoman war prisoners and banners sent by him as
14278-529: Was sent to prevent Skanderbeg from moving into Macedonia. Firuz had heard that the Albanian army had disbanded for the time being, so he planned to move quickly around the Black Drin valley and through Prizren. These movements were picked up by Skanderbeg's scouts, who moved to meet Firuz. The Ottomans were lured into the Mokra valley, and Skanderbeg with a force of 3,500 attacked and defeated the Ottomans. Firuz
14399-449: Was sent under the dual-command of Tahip Pasha, the main commander, and Hamza Pasha, his subordinate, with an army of c. 25,000 men split between the two. Skanderbeg gathered 14,000 men and marched against the Ottoman army. Skanderbeg planned to first defeat Hamza and then to move around Tahip and encircle him. Skanderbeg did not give Hamza much time to prepare and, on 21 July, he assaulted immediately. The fierce attack made short work of
14520-457: Was succeeded by his son Mehmed II (r. 1451–1481). After the siege, Skanderbeg was at the end of his resources. He lost all of his possessions except Krujë . The other nobles from the region of Albania allied with Murad II as he came to save them from the oppression. Even after the sultan's withdrawal, they rejected Skanderbeg's efforts to enforce his authority over their domains. Skanderbeg then traveled to Ragusa , urging for assistance, and
14641-502: Was written as Giorgio . His name on his official seal and signature was Georgius Castriotus Scanderbego (Latin). His correspondence with Slavic states ( Republic of Ragusa ), was written by scribes like Ninac Vukosalić . Skanderbeg's name in Slavic is recorded the first time in the 1426 act of sale of St. George's tower to his father Gjon Kastrioti in Hilandar as Геѡрг and appears as Гюрьгь Кастриѡть in his later correspondence in
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