Battle of Otonetë
Encyclopedia
The battle of Otonetë occurred on September 27, 1446, in upper Dibra
in Albania
. The Ottoman commander, Mustafa Pasha, was sent into Albania, but was soon intercepted and defeated by Skanderbeg
. It was one of the many victories won by Skanderbeg.
. Another force was soon sent the year later but was again defeated by Skanderbeg at Oronichea. After establishing diplomatic relation with many major European powers, Murad II
resumed his campaign to crush all remaining resistance in the Balkans.
, who was in that year proclaimed regent of Hungary, he sent a force of 15,000 cavalry under Mustafa Pasha into Albania. The Turkish plan was to fight a war of attrition, pillaging the land and inflicting terror on the population, avoiding pitched battle. Mustafa split his force into two and sent one contingent to combat while keeping the other in a fortified position: Otonetë. As soon Skanderbeg learned that the Ottoman army was split, he attacked Otonetë with 5,000 men. The camp was soon set in disorder as the Albanians pierced through, soon "turning it into a slaughterhouse".
Dibër County
The County of Dibër is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Bulqizë, Dibër, and Mat and its capital is Peshkopi.Dibër is known for its resistance against the Turks. Historical Dibër included parts of Albania and Macedonia...
in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The Ottoman commander, Mustafa Pasha, was sent into Albania, but was soon intercepted and defeated by Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
. It was one of the many victories won by Skanderbeg.
Background
Soon after Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in 1443, the Ottoman Empire sent forces to quell the rebellion. The fist army to be sent was defeated in 1444 at TorviollBattle of Torvioll
The battle of Torvioll, also known as the battle of Lower Dibra, was fought on June 29 of 1444 in Albania. Skanderbeg was an Ottoman captain of Albanian origin who decided to go back to his native land and take the reins of a new Albanian rebellion...
. Another force was soon sent the year later but was again defeated by Skanderbeg at Oronichea. After establishing diplomatic relation with many major European powers, Murad II
Murad II
Murad II Kodja was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1451 ....
resumed his campaign to crush all remaining resistance in the Balkans.
Prelude and battle
As Murad prepared his forces to launch a campaign against HunyadiJohn Hunyadi
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ...
, who was in that year proclaimed regent of Hungary, he sent a force of 15,000 cavalry under Mustafa Pasha into Albania. The Turkish plan was to fight a war of attrition, pillaging the land and inflicting terror on the population, avoiding pitched battle. Mustafa split his force into two and sent one contingent to combat while keeping the other in a fortified position: Otonetë. As soon Skanderbeg learned that the Ottoman army was split, he attacked Otonetë with 5,000 men. The camp was soon set in disorder as the Albanians pierced through, soon "turning it into a slaughterhouse".