Fourth Siege of Krujë
Encyclopedia
The Fourth Siege of Krujë by the Ottoman Empire
of Krujë
in Albania
occurred in 1478, following the death of the Skanderbeg
, and resulted in the town's capture after the failure of three prior sieges.
Demoralized and severely weakened by hunger and lack of supplies from the year-long siege, the Albanian defenders surrendered to Sultan Mehmed II
, who had promised them they could leave unharmed in exchange. As the Albanians
evacuated with their families, however, the Ottomans reneged on this promise, killing the men and enslaving the women and children, taking many of the younger women as wives. A year later the Ottoman forces captured Venetian
-controlled Shkodër
, the last Albanian castle
free of Ottoman control. After this, no Albanian unified force would ever again threaten the Ottoman Empire, only Albanian highlanders and tribesmen in the northern Albanian mountains. Most of the Albanian population would gradually convert to Islam
, and Albania remained a part of the Ottoman Empire until the early 1900s.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
of Krujë
Krujë
Krujë is a town in north central Albania and the capital of the municipality and the Krujë District. It has a population of about 15,900. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana....
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...
occurred in 1478, following the death of the 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...
, and resulted in the town's capture after the failure of three prior sieges.
Demoralized and severely weakened by hunger and lack of supplies from the year-long siege, the Albanian defenders surrendered to Sultan Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
, who had promised them they could leave unharmed in exchange. As the Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
evacuated with their families, however, the Ottomans reneged on this promise, killing the men and enslaving the women and children, taking many of the younger women as wives. A year later the Ottoman forces captured Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
-controlled Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, the last Albanian castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
free of Ottoman control. After this, no Albanian unified force would ever again threaten the Ottoman Empire, only Albanian highlanders and tribesmen in the northern Albanian mountains. Most of the Albanian population would gradually convert to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and Albania remained a part of the Ottoman Empire until the early 1900s.
See also
- Siege of Krujë (1450)
- Siege of Krujë (1466)
- Siege of Krujë (1467)
- Davud PashaDavud PashaDavud Pasha also known as Da'ud Pasha was an Albanian general and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1482 to 1497 during the reign of Bayezid II.- Early life :...