Siege of Krujë (1450) and its aftermath Skanderbeg

in june 1450, 2 years after ottomans had captured svetigrad, laid siege krujë army numbering approximately 100,000 men , led again sultan murad ii himself , son, mehmed ii. following scorched earth strategy (thus denying ottomans use of necessary local resources), skanderbeg left protective garrison of 1,500 men under 1 of trusted lieutenants, vrana konti, while, remainder of army, included many slavs, germans, frenchmen , italians, harassed ottoman camps around krujë continuously attacking sultan murad ii s supply caravans. garrison repelled 3 major direct assaults on city walls ottomans, causing great losses besieging forces. ottoman attempts @ finding , cutting water sources failed, did sapped tunnel, collapsed suddenly. offer of 300,000 aspra (ottoman silver coins) , promise of high rank officer in ottoman army made vrana konti, both rejected him.

first siege of krujë, 1450, woodcut jost amman.

during first siege of krujë, venetian merchants scutari sold food ottoman army , of durazzo supplied skanderbeg s army. angry attack skanderbeg on venetian caravans raised tension between him , republic, case resolved of bailo of durazzo stopped venetian merchants longer furnishing ottomans. venetians ottomans notwithstanding, september 1450, ottoman camp in disarray, castle still not taken, morale had sunk, , disease running rampant. murad ii acknowledged not capture castle of krujë force of arms before winter, , in october 1450, lifted siege , made way edirne. ottomans suffered 20,000 casualties during siege, , many more died murad escaped albania. few months later, on 3 february 1451, murad died in edirne , succeeded son mehmed ii (r. 1451–1481).

after siege skanderbeg @ end of resources. lost of possessions except krujë. other nobles region of albania allied murad ii came save them oppression. after sultan s withdrawal rejected skanderbeg s efforts enforce authority on domains. skanderbeg travelled ragusa, urging assistance, , ragusans informed pope nicholas v. through financial assistance, skanderbeg managed hold krujë , regain of territory. skanderbeg s success brought praise on europe , ambassadors sent him rome, naples, hungary, , burgundy.