Hamza Kastrioti
Encyclopedia
Hamza Kastrioti was the nephew of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Probably born in Ottoman
territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they captured Kruja in 1443. After the marriage of Skanderbeg and the birth of his son Gjon, Hamza Kastrioti lost every hope of inheriting the principality of Kastrioti. He deserted to the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II
in 1457 and alongside with Isak-Beg
he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman troops in the Battle of Ujebardha
. In that battle he was captured by Skanderbeg's forces and placed in detention in Naples
on charges of treason. He was later freed and went to join his wife and children in Istanbul
, and was probably poisoned there by Turkish agents. His loss was regarded as a tragedy by Albanians. He was one of the most brilliant generals of Skanderbeg and was very popular among the soldiers for his manners, second only to Skanderbeg. According to historians, along with him, Albania lost the chance to continue what Skanderbeg had begun.
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...
territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they captured Kruja in 1443. After the marriage of Skanderbeg and the birth of his son Gjon, Hamza Kastrioti lost every hope of inheriting the principality of Kastrioti. He deserted to the Turkish 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...
in 1457 and alongside with Isak-Beg
Isak-Beg
Ishak Bey or Isak-Beg was the second ruler of Bosansko Krajište from 1414 to 1439. According to some sources he was a member of Hranušić family, released slave and adopted son of Pasha Yiğit Bey...
he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman troops in the Battle of Ujebardha
Battle of Ujebardha
The Battle of Albulena, also known as the Battle of Ujëbardha, was fought on 2 September 1457 between Albanian forces led by Skanderbeg and an Ottoman army under Isak bey Evrenoz and Skanderbeg's nephew, Hamza Kastrioti....
. In that battle he was captured by Skanderbeg's forces and placed in detention in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
on charges of treason. He was later freed and went to join his wife and children in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, and was probably poisoned there by Turkish agents. His loss was regarded as a tragedy by Albanians. He was one of the most brilliant generals of Skanderbeg and was very popular among the soldiers for his manners, second only to Skanderbeg. According to historians, along with him, Albania lost the chance to continue what Skanderbeg had begun.