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Siege of Krujë (1467)

Coordinates: 41°31′N 19°48′E / 41.517°N 19.800°E / 41.517; 19.800
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This article is about the third siege of Krujë. For other events, see Siege of Krujë.
Third Siege of Krujë
Rrethimi i tretë i Krujës
Part of the Albanian–Ottoman Wars (1432–1479)
DateSummer 1467
Location
Krujë, Albania
Result Albanian–Venetian victory
Belligerents
 Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Strength
1,000 soldiers garrisoned[2] Unknown

The Third Siege of Krujë (Albanian: Rrethimi i tretë i Krujës) by the Ottoman Empire took place in the summer of 1467 in Krujë in Albania.

The destruction of Ballaban Pasha's army and the siege of Elbasan during the previous siege of Krujë forced Mehmed II to attack Skanderbeg again in the summer of 1467, only 2 months after the latter's victory in the previous siege.

Mehmed sent troops to raid the Venetian possessions (especially Shkodër and Durrës, which was also besieged and bombarded for a short time) and keep them isolated. He then besieged Krujë for a few days, but upon realizing that a direct assault wasn't practical, he decided to retreat.

Background

Mehmed II probably intended to send a fleet against the Venetians in 1467, targeting regions such as the Morea or Euboea. Consequently, he initiated the construction of new ships to support this endeavour.[3] However, Skanderbeg's successful liberation of Krujë in the second siege, together with the demise of Ballaban Pasha and heavy losses for the Ottomans, marked a notable shift. Mehmed II was forced to abandon his plans for a naval expedition and attack Skanderbeg again.[4][5]

Subsequent news of Mehmed's renewed march towards Albania caused concern to Venice, particularly with the inference that he intended to capture Durrës. The city was of strategic importance to the Ottomans as a base for operations against the Italian coast.[6]

Campaign

During the spring of 1467, Mehmed II embarked on a military campaign into Albania, choosing Berat as the point of entry, located south of the territories under the control of Skanderbeg.[5] This time, Skanderbeg didn't immediately retreat to the mountains, but decided to confront the Ottoman army to give the civilian population time to retreat into the mountains.[7]

In the historical account, Tursun Beg chronicles the initial engagement in the Buzurshek valley near Elbasan, characterized by its rugged terrain flanked by towering mountains. Upon encountering resistance from Albanian forces entrenched in the elevated positions, Anatolian troops advanced from one end of the ravine while Rumelian forces approached from the other. Under cover of night, the Anatolians launched a surprise assault, resulting in the deaths of adult males and the enslavement of women, girls, and boys.[5] Skanderbeg then retreated as the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha pursued him, but Skanderbeg managed to escape to the mountains. Mahmud Pasha spent fifteen days in the mountains searching every part, but Skanderbeg had managed to escape to the coast.[8]

Buna river near Shkodër

Subsequently, the Ottomans proceeded northward along the Mat river, securing strategic strongholds nestled in the mountainous terrain. As described by Michael Critobulus, they systematically traversed the region, asserting control over mountains, ravines, gullies, valleys, defiles, and other natural features, indiscriminately subjugating the populace and laying waste to the land for a period of two weeks.[5] From their position along the Mat river, the Sultan dispatched Mahmud Pasha to besiege the Venetian stronghold of Shkodër in northern Albania. After pillaging the surrounding area, Mahmud Pasha and his forces traversed the impassable Buna river, launching raids further northward.[5][9][10]

On July 8, Skanderbeg penned a letter to the Venetian council from Shkodër, urgently requesting assistance. In response, he was assured that the Venetian authorities had been directed to extend all feasible aid to him. Additionally, a contingent of 1,000 infantry and 300 cavalry was swiftly mobilized and dispatched to the areas under threat.[11]

By this time, reports had surfaced that Mehmed and his vast army had encamped near the Erzen River, five miles north of Durrës. The city, though well supplied, had been abandoned by its inhabitants. Large numbers of refugees arrived in Brindisi to escape Ottoman retaliation. This influx raised concerns about possible disease outbreaks in Apulia.[12] Durrës was nearly deserted, as residents of neighboring villages sought refuge in the mountains. Ottoman troops feigned retreat only to ambush returning peasants and shepherds, subjecting them to slaughter or enslavement.[13] Even bronze church bells were removed and taken to prevent their use in making Ottoman cannons.[14][15] Disturbing reports reached the West detailing the mass exodus into the mountains and the brutal fate awaiting those captured by the enemy.[16]

The Sultan had deployed a force of 12,000 horsemen to the harbor vicinity. However, according to the reports received by the Signoria, it appears that the attempted assault on Durrës and its surrounding areas was unsuccessful. The Ottoman cavalry encountered staunch resistance from the troops entrenched within the city walls, preventing its capture. Consequently, the horsemen redirected their efforts towards Krujë.[17]

However, it appears that the Ottomans withdrew eastward without successfully capturing Krujë.[18] Realizing they couldn't take it by force, Mehmed chose to return and left some of his troops to keep up the blockade and siege.[19]

Aftermath

Mehmed II's second campaign against Albania ended in mid-to-late summer without achieving its goals,[20] as the Sultan's involvement was hesitant and sporadic. Krujë, though no longer under Skanderbeg's control, remained impregnable. Skanderbeg entrusted its defense to a Venetian garrison as he sought refuge in Lezhë.[5]

As the campaign ended unsuccessfully, the Albanians breathed a collective sigh of relief, and those who had fled or been displaced gradually returned to their homes.[21]

References

  1. ^ Schmitt 2009, p. 286:

    Kruja, befehligt von Baldassare Perduzzi ...
  2. ^ Schmitt 2009, p. 286:

    Zunächst wandte sich Mehmed II. wieder gegen Kruja, das aber von 1000 Kriegern Skanderbegs und venezianischen Söldnern unter Einsatz von Feuerwaffen entschlossen verteidigt wurde.
  3. ^ Stavrides 2001, p. 163:

    Mehmed II probably planned to send a fleet against the Venetians, to the Morea or Negroponte, in 1467, and for this reason he ordered the construction of new ships.
  4. ^ Stavrides 2001, p. 163:

    Events, however, did not follow the planned course: In Albania, Skanderbeg attacked the Ottoman force that was besieging Kruje and killed Balaban, its leader. This forced the Sultan to turn his attention once more to Albania and he decided to proceed to a new campaign there.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Imber 1990, p. 197
  6. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 259:

    Mehmed would now do everything in his power to take Durres, in order to establish himself on the Adriatic and gain a strong base opposite the Italian coast for operations against the peninsula.
  7. ^ Schmitt 2009, p. 285
  8. ^ Stavrides 2001, pp. 163–164:

    When the Ottoman army arrived, Skanderbeg took refuge in the Albanian mountains. Mehmed II sent Mahmud Pasha to the mountains, together with the greatest and most experienced part of the army in order to pursue Skanderbeg ... The Grand Vezir spent fifteen days in the mountains, searching every part and taking much booty and many prisoners. However, they did not find Skanderbeg, who had managed to flee to the coast.
  9. ^ Stavrides 2001, p. 164:

    According to Tursun Bey and İbn Kemal, before his return, the Sultan sent Mahmud Pasha to raid the city of Shkoder (Scutari), which was held by the Venetians. After crossing the Boyana river by swimming, Mahmud Pasha attacked the city and destroyed the area around it. He returned to the Sultan with much booty.
  10. ^ Schmitt 2009, p. 287:

    Dafür schickte er am 14. Juli 1467 seinen Großwesir Mahmud Pascha mit 60000 Reitern nach Norden. Ziel war Skutari. Um nicht an den Flüssen Drin und Bojana zu scheitern, hatten die Osmanen dort im Juni Brücken schlagen und diese mit Schanzen befestigen lassen, diesmal mit Erfolg; kein Skanderbeg hinderte sie mehr daran. Drei Tage lang verwüsteten die Osmanen den reichen Bezirk Skutari, wobei sie große Mengen Vieh erbeuteten.
  11. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 260:

    On July 8 Skanderbeg had written the Venetian council from Shkoder, pleading for help. He received a reply to the effect that the Venetian rcttori had been instructed to give him all possible assistance and that 1,000 foot soldiers and 300 horsemen were being dispatched to the threatened zone.
  12. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 260:

    On the following day (July 4) he was expected before Durres, which was well supplied but whose inhabitants had fled in droves. No fewer than nine ships full of desperate fugitives had reached Brindisi ... Not without reason, an outbreak of contagious disease was feared in Apulia.
  13. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 260:

    Durres was almost deserted. The inhabitants of the nearby villages had fled to the mountains. The Turkish troops pretended to withdraw, but when the peasants and shepherds returned to their homes, they were mercilessly cut down or carried off into slavery.
  14. ^ Schmitt 2009, p. 286:

    Die Einwohner hatten den Angriff nicht abgewartet, sondern sich mit Hab und Gut nach Apulien geflüchtet; sogar die Kirchenglocken, aus denen Geschütze gegossen werden konnten, nahmen sie mit.
  15. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 260:

    Everywhere the bronze bells had been carried away to safety lest they provide the Turks with metal from which to cast cannon.
  16. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 260:

    Increasingly grim reports reached the West concerning the flight of great masses to the mountains and the butchering of all those who fell into the hands of the enemy; no one over seven years of age was spared.
  17. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 260:

    The sultan had sent 12,000 horsemen into the harbor region, but from the reports reaching the Signoria we must conclude that the attack on Durres and its environs failed ... The horsemen then moved off toward Kruje.
  18. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 261:

    The Ottomans, however, seem to have withdrawn eastward without having taken Kruje.
  19. ^ Stavrides 2001, p. 164:

    Mehmed II, after ravaging the rest of the land, went to Kruje and besieged it for several days. When he realized that it would not be taken by assault, he decided to return, leaving behind a force to continue the blockade and siege.
  20. ^ Barleti 2012, p. 247
  21. ^ Babinger 1978, p. 261:

    The whole country breathed easier and those who had fled or been driven away returned to their homes.

Sources

  • Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2009). Skanderbeg: der neue Alexander auf dem Balkan (in German). Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet. ISBN 978-3-7917-2229-0.
  • Stavrides, Theoharis (2001). The Sultan of Vezirs: The Life and Times of the Ottoman Grand Vezir Mahmud Pasha Angelović (1453-1474). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-12106-5.
  • Babinger, Franz (1978). Hickman, William C. (ed.). Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time. Translated by Manheim, Ralph. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-01078-6.
  • Imber, Colin (1990). The Ottoman Empire. Istanbul: The Isis Press. ISBN 975-428-015-0.
  • Barleti, Marin (2012). Hosaflook, David (ed.). The Siege of Shkodra: Albania's Courageous Stand Against Ottoman Conquest, 1478. Translated by Hosaflook, David. Tirana: Onufri. ISBN 978-99956-87-77-9.

41°31′N 19°48′E / 41.517°N 19.800°E / 41.517; 19.800

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