War with Venice 1447 to 1448 Skanderbeg

at beginning of albanian insurrection, republic of venice supportive of skanderbeg, considering forces buffer between them , ottoman empire. lezhë, eponymous league established, venetian territory, , assembly met approval of venice. later affirmation of skanderbeg , rise strong force on borders, however, seen menace interests of republic, leading worsening of relations , dispute on fortress of dagnum triggered albanian-venetian war of 1447–48. after various attacks against bar , ulcinj, along Đurađ branković , stefan crnojević, , albanians of area, venetians offered rewards assassination. venetians sought every means overthrow skanderbeg or bring death, offering life pension of 100 golden ducats annually person kill him. during conflict, venice invited ottomans attack skanderbeg simultaneously east, facing albanians two-front conflict.

woodcut depicting engagement between albanian , ottoman forces.

on 14 may 1448, ottoman army led sultan murad ii , son mehmed laid siege castle of svetigrad. albanian garrison in castle resisted frontal assaults of ottoman army, while skanderbeg harassed besieging forces remaining albanian army under personal command. on 23 july 1448, skanderbeg won battle near shkodër against venetian army led andrea venier. in late summer 1448, due lack of potable water, albanian garrison surrendered castle condition of safe passage through ottoman besieging forces, condition accepted , respected sultan murad ii. primary sources disagree reason why besieged had problems water in castle: while barleti , biemmi maintained dead dog found in castle well, , garrison refused drink water since might corrupt soul, primary source, ottoman chronicler, conjectured ottoman forces found , cut water sources of castle. recent historians concur ottoman chronicler s version. although loss of men minimal, skanderbeg lost castle of svetigrad, important stronghold controlled fields of macedonia east. @ same time, besieged towns of durazzo (modern durrës) , lezhë under venetian rule. in august 1448, skanderbeg defeated mustafa pasha in dibër @ battle of oranik. mustafa pasha lost 3,000 men , captured, along twelve high officers. skanderbeg learned these officers venetians pushed ottomans invade albania. venetians, upon hearing of defeat, urged establish peace. mustafa pasha ransomed 25,000 ducats ottomans.

skanderbeg addressing people, 16th-century engraving jost amman.

on 23 july 1448 skanderbeg crossed drin river 10,000 men, meeting venetian force of 15,000 men under command of daniele iurichi, governor of scutari. skanderbeg instructed troops on expect , opened battle ordering force of archers open fire on venetian line. battle continued hours until large groups of venetian troops began flee. skanderbeg, seeing fleeing adversaries, ordered full-scale offensive, routing entire venetian army. republic s soldiers chased right gates of scutari, , venetian prisoners thereafter paraded outside fortress. albanians managed inflict 2,500 casualties on venetian force, capturing 1,000. skanderbeg s army suffered 400 casualties, on right wing. peace treaty, negotiated georgius pelino , signed between skanderbeg , venice on 4 october 1448, envisioned venice keep dagnum , environs, cede skanderbeg territory of buzëgjarpri @ mouth of river drin, , skanderbeg enjoy privilege of buying, tax-free, 200 horse-loads of salt annually durazzo. in addition venice pay skanderbeg 1,400 ducats. during period of clashes venice, skanderbeg intensified relations alfonso v of aragon (r. 1416–1458), main rival of venice in adriatic, dreams empire opposed venetians.

one of reasons skanderbeg agreed sign peace treaty venice advance of john hunyadi s army in kosovo , invitation skanderbeg join expedition against sultan. however, albanian army under skanderbeg did not participate in battle prevented joining hunyadi s army. believed delayed Đurađ branković, allied sultan murad ii, although brankovic s exact role disputed. result, skanderbeg ravaged domains punishment desertion of christian cause. appears have marched join hunyadi after making peace venetians, , have been 20 miles kosovo polje when hungarian army broke.