League of Lezhë
Encyclopedia
The League of Lezhë was an alliance of Albanian Principalities
forged in Lezhë
on the 2nd of March 1444. It was initiated and organised by Skanderbeg with the aim of uniting the Albanian principalities that had been founded in the 12th - 14th centuries, to fight the Ottoman Armies. The league whose main remembers were the Arianiti, Dukagjini, Spani, Thopia, Muzaka as well as the Albanian highlander clans was led by George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. After Skanderbeg's death the League was led by Lekë Dukagjini
. The League of Lezhë had the trappings of a confederation where each principality over all maintained its sovereignty. Skanderbeg was the supreme commander of the military alliance.
(18 September 1385) where Albanian forces were defeated and Balsha II himself was killed. Albanian noblemen like Đurađ II, Theodor II Muzaka, Dhimiter Jonima, Zaharia Gropa with their armies participated in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.
In the 15th century the Ottoman Empire
established itself in the Balkans. No significant resistance was offered by local Christian nobles during this period. Many of them were still fighting each other and didn't see the advance of Ottoman empire as a threat to their power. Although a civil war broke out between Bayezid I
sons', during 1402-1413, none of the Christian noblemen in the Balkans at the time seized the opportunity to repel the Ottomans, in the contrary Serbs and Hungarians even helped the future sultan Mohammed I
seize power, by participating as his allies in the final battle against his brother. After the Ottoman civil war was over in favor of Mehmed I. His forces captured Kruja from Thopia family in 1415, Berat
in 1417 from Muzaka, Vlora and Kanina in 1417 from the widow of Balsha and Gjirokastër in 1418 from Zenebishti family.
At the same time the Republic of Venice
captured the Albanian populated coastal cities in the Adriatic. Under the pressure from Ottoman Empire and Venetic Republic, the Albanian principalities began to vacillate.
Together with occupation new rulers were appointed and the registration process of the population and properties was done from the Ottoman tax officers. Local population and old nobility was not happy with that and various local rebellions took place. The most famous ones being those of Gjon Kastrioti in 1429-1430 and Gjergj Araniti in 1432-1435.
In November 1443, Skanderbeg captured Kruja, which was the capital of principality of the Kastrioti, with his troops and declared its independence from the Sultan. However a more organised resistance than that of a single principality was needed.
In the light of modern geopolitical science, the League of Lezhë represented an attempt to form a state union. In fact, this was a federation of independent rulers who undertook the duty to follow a common foreign policy, jointly defend their independence, and contribute their armed forces to the alliance. Naturally, it all required a collective budget for covering the military expenditures, and each family contributed their mite to the common funds of the League.
At the same time, each clan kept its possessions, its autonomy in solving the internal problems of its own estate. The formation and functioning of the League, of which George Kastrioti was the supreme feudal lord or suzerain, was the most significant attempt to build up an all-Albanian resistance against the Ottoman occupation and, simultaneously, an effort to create, for the span of its short-lived functioning, some sort of a unified Albanian state. It is no accident at all that to this day Skanderbeg is a national hero of the Albanians, and the period of the Albanian League has been perceived by the Albanians as a peak in their history, especially if compared with the subsequent failed attempts, until the beginning of the 20th century, to constitute an independent statehood.
. For 25 years, from 1443–1468, Skanderbeg's 10,000 man army marched through Ottoman territory winning against the consistently larger and better supplied Ottoman forces. Threatened by Ottoman advances in their homeland, Hungary, and later Naples
and Venice
– their former enemies – provided the financial backbone and support for Skanderbeg's army. On May 14, 1450, an Ottoman army, larger than any previous force encountered by Skanderbeg or his men, stormed and overwhelmed the castle of the city of Kruja. This city was particularly symbolic to Skanderbeg because he had been appointed suba of Kruja in 1438 by the Ottomans. According to the Chronicles of Ragusa (also known as the Chronicles of Dubrovnik
), the fighting lasted four months and thousands of Albanian soldiers lost their lives. Even so, the Ottoman forces were unable to capture the city and had no choice but to retreat before winter set in. In June 1466, Mehmed II
, known as "the Conqueror", led an army of 150,000 soldiers back to Kruja but he still couldn't capture the city.
in 35 years (1443–1478):
Albanian Principalities
The term Albanian Principalities refers to a number of principalities created in the Middle Ages in Albania and Epirus that were ruled by Albanian noblemen...
forged in Lezhë
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
on the 2nd of March 1444. It was initiated and organised by Skanderbeg with the aim of uniting the Albanian principalities that had been founded in the 12th - 14th centuries, to fight the Ottoman Armies. The league whose main remembers were the Arianiti, Dukagjini, Spani, Thopia, Muzaka as well as the Albanian highlander clans was led by George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. After Skanderbeg's death the League was led by Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë III Dukagjini was an Albanian prince who fought against the Ottoman Empire. A contemporary of Skanderbeg, Dukagjini is known for the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, a code of law instituted in northern Albania.- Biography :...
. The League of Lezhë had the trappings of a confederation where each principality over all maintained its sovereignty. Skanderbeg was the supreme commander of the military alliance.
Background
After the collapse of Stefan Dushan empire of 1355 which had incorporated Albanian lands, Albanian noblemen established their own dominions. When Ottoman forces entered Albanian lands they were faced with small principalities, engaged in vicious fights among themselves. The first organised resistance against the Ottoman forces was that of Balsha II in the battle of SavraBattle of Savra
The Battle of the Saurian Field was fought on 18 September 1385 between Ottoman and much smaller Serbian forces. The Ottomans were victorious and most of the local Serbian and Albanian lords became vassals....
(18 September 1385) where Albanian forces were defeated and Balsha II himself was killed. Albanian noblemen like Đurađ II, Theodor II Muzaka, Dhimiter Jonima, Zaharia Gropa with their armies participated in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.
In the 15th century the Ottoman Empire
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...
established itself in the Balkans. No significant resistance was offered by local Christian nobles during this period. Many of them were still fighting each other and didn't see the advance of Ottoman empire as a threat to their power. Although a civil war broke out between Bayezid I
Bayezid I
Bayezid I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1389 to 1402. He was the son of Murad I and Valide Sultan Gülçiçek Hatun.-Biography:Bayezid was born in Edirne and spent his youth in Bursa, where he received a high-level education...
sons', during 1402-1413, none of the Christian noblemen in the Balkans at the time seized the opportunity to repel the Ottomans, in the contrary Serbs and Hungarians even helped the future sultan Mohammed I
Mehmed I
Mehmed I Çelebi was a Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1413 to 1421. He was one of the sons of Bayezid I and Valide Sultan Devlet Hatun Mehmed I Çelebi (Ottoman: چلبی محمد, Mehmed I or Mehmed Çelebi) (1382, Bursa – May 26, 1421, Edirne, Ottoman Empire) was a Sultan of the Ottoman Empire...
seize power, by participating as his allies in the final battle against his brother. After the Ottoman civil war was over in favor of Mehmed I. His forces captured Kruja from Thopia family in 1415, Berat
Berat Castle
Berat Castle is a fortress overlooking the town of Berat, Albania. It dates mainly from the 13th century and contains many Byzantine churches in the area and Ottoman mosques. It is built on a rocky hill on the left bank of the river Osum and is accessible only from the south.-History:After being...
in 1417 from Muzaka, Vlora and Kanina in 1417 from the widow of Balsha and Gjirokastër in 1418 from Zenebishti family.
At the same time the Republic of Venice
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...
captured the Albanian populated coastal cities in the Adriatic. Under the pressure from Ottoman Empire and Venetic Republic, the Albanian principalities began to vacillate.
Together with occupation new rulers were appointed and the registration process of the population and properties was done from the Ottoman tax officers. Local population and old nobility was not happy with that and various local rebellions took place. The most famous ones being those of Gjon Kastrioti in 1429-1430 and Gjergj Araniti in 1432-1435.
In November 1443, Skanderbeg captured Kruja, which was the capital of principality of the Kastrioti, with his troops and declared its independence from the Sultan. However a more organised resistance than that of a single principality was needed.
Formation
Skanderbeg's example gave impetus to the liberation movements in Central and Northern Albania. Nearly all princes rejected Ottoman rule, and the large Albanian clans reestablished their principalities. George Kastrioti made efforts to unite all moral and material resources of the individual families in a successful struggle against the Ottomans. To this effect, on 2 March 1444 he called in Lezhë an assembly of the Albanian princes, where almost all of them gathered: the Arianits, Dukagjin, Thopias, Muzakas, as well as the leaders of the free Albanian tribes from the high mountains. In spite of the discord among the princes, they founded a union, which went down in history by the name of the Albanian League of Lezhë. George Kastrioti - Skanderbeg was elected its leader, and commander in chief of its armed forces numbering 8,000 warriors.In the light of modern geopolitical science, the League of Lezhë represented an attempt to form a state union. In fact, this was a federation of independent rulers who undertook the duty to follow a common foreign policy, jointly defend their independence, and contribute their armed forces to the alliance. Naturally, it all required a collective budget for covering the military expenditures, and each family contributed their mite to the common funds of the League.
At the same time, each clan kept its possessions, its autonomy in solving the internal problems of its own estate. The formation and functioning of the League, of which George Kastrioti was the supreme feudal lord or suzerain, was the most significant attempt to build up an all-Albanian resistance against the Ottoman occupation and, simultaneously, an effort to create, for the span of its short-lived functioning, some sort of a unified Albanian state. It is no accident at all that to this day Skanderbeg is a national hero of the Albanians, and the period of the Albanian League has been perceived by the Albanians as a peak in their history, especially if compared with the subsequent failed attempts, until the beginning of the 20th century, to constitute an independent statehood.
Success
Under Skanderbeg's command the Albanian forces marched east capturing the cities of Dibra and OhridOhrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
. For 25 years, from 1443–1468, Skanderbeg's 10,000 man army marched through Ottoman territory winning against the consistently larger and better supplied Ottoman forces. Threatened by Ottoman advances in their homeland, Hungary, and later 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...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
– their former enemies – provided the financial backbone and support for Skanderbeg's army. On May 14, 1450, an Ottoman army, larger than any previous force encountered by Skanderbeg or his men, stormed and overwhelmed the castle of the city of Kruja. This city was particularly symbolic to Skanderbeg because he had been appointed suba of Kruja in 1438 by the Ottomans. According to the Chronicles of Ragusa (also known as the Chronicles of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
), the fighting lasted four months and thousands of Albanian soldiers lost their lives. Even so, the Ottoman forces were unable to capture the city and had no choice but to retreat before winter set in. In June 1466, Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
, known as "the Conqueror", led an army of 150,000 soldiers back to Kruja but he still couldn't capture the city.
Defeat
After Skanderbeg's death in 1468, the Sultan easily subdued Albania, but Skanderbeg's death did not end the struggle for independence, and fighting continued until 1479 when the Albanian lands were forced to succumb to the superior Ottoman armies.Battles of the League of Lezha
The League of Lezha fought the following 26 battles against the Ottoman EmpireOttoman 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...
in 35 years (1443–1478):
- Siege of Petrela (1443/1444)
- Siege of Stelluzi (1443/1444)
- First Siege of Sfetigrad (1443/1444)
- Battle of TorviollBattle of TorviollThe 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...
(1444) - Battle of Mokra (1445)Battle of Mokra (1445)The Battle of Mokra took place on October 10, 1445 near the city of Prizren, Kosovo . It was an Ottoman retaliation to a message sent by Skanderbeg to Murad II. The Albanian forces under Skanderbeg defeated the Ottoman forces under Firuz Pasha...
- Battle of OtonetëBattle of OtonetëThe 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....
(1446) - Albanian–Venetian War (1447–1448)
- Battle of the Drin (1448)
- Battle of Oranik (1448)
- Second Siege of Sfetigrad (1449)
- First Siege of Krujë (1450)
- Siege of Modrica (1452)
- Battle of Mokra (1453)
- Siege of Berat (1455)
- Battle of Oranik (1456)
- Battle of Albulena (1457)
- Skanderbeg's Italian expedition (1461–1462)
- Macedonian campaign (1462)Macedonian campaign (1462)Skanderbeg's Macedonian campaign was a preemptive campaign into the Ottoman Empire in Macedonia by Skanderbeg to defeat three Ottoman armies which had been prepared for the joint-invasion of Albania. From 1461 to 1462, Skanderbeg campaigned in Italy to protect his ally, Ferdinand I, from being...
- Macedonian campaign (1463)
- Battle of Ochrida (1464)
- Battle of Vajkal (1464)
- Battle of Vajkal (1465)
- Battle of Kashari (1465)
- Second Siege of Krujë (1466)
- Third Siege of Krujë (1467)
- Fourth Siege of Krujë (1478)
- Siege of Shkodër (1478)
