Siege of Krujë (1478)

The fourth siege of Krujë by the Ottoman Empire of Krujë in Albania occurred in 1478, ten years after the death of the Skanderbeg, and resulted in the town's capture after the failure of three prior sieges.

For other sieges of Krujë, see First siege of Krujë, Second siege of Krujë, and Third siege of Krujë.

Fourth siege of Kruje
Part of Ottoman–Venetian wars
DateSpring 1477 — 1478
Location
Krujë, modern-day Albania
Result

Ottoman victory

  • Fall of Krujë
Belligerents
League of Lezhë
Republic of Venice		 Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Lekë Dukagjini
Kararslan Kalogirou[1]		 Mehmed II
Koca Davud Pasha[2]
Mihaloğlu Ali Bey
Turahanoğlu Ömer Bey
Evranos-zâde Ahmed
Strength
Garrison of 2,000 to 5,000 infantry and 500 civilians[3]
10,000 (siege relief army)		 Small

Demoralized and severely weakened by hunger and lack of supplies from the year-long siege, the defenders surrendered to Sultan Mehmed II, who had promised them they could leave unharmed in exchange. One of the important historical sources about this siege is the fourth volume of the Annali Veneti e del Mondo manuscript written by Stefano Magno.[4]

Defeat of the relief army

The Sultan now wanted to put an end to the Albanian issue. Because at this time, peace negotiations with the Venetians began. It was necessary to resolve the Shkodra issue before these negotiations ended and an agreement was made.

Evrenos-zâde Ahmed Bey and Turahanoğlu Ömer Bey were sent in front of the army to build roads and repair bridges. Despite this, the army's movements were very difficult on Albanian lands, which were very difficult. Thus, the army, advancing in great difficulties, came to Kruje. First of all, Mehmed wanted this castle to be taken. Because at that time, a small force was defending Kruje, which was in the hands of the Venetians. This city, which had been besieged for a year, was exhausted. The Venetians sent auxiliary forces to the city. However, Ahmed Bey defeated these forces, which were estimated to number more than 10,000, with a much smaller force and eliminated the possibility of helping the castle. After this, the garrison's hope was completely crushed. The defenders of Kruje, who ate cats and dogs because of hunger, were running low on weapons, and heard that the Sultan himself had arrived, surrendered, realizing that there was no other way of salvation.[5]

See also

References
  1. Frashëri, Kristo (2002), Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu: jeta dhe vepra, 1405–1468 (in Albanian), Botimet Toena, ISBN 99927-1-627-4
  2. Babinger, Franz (1992). Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time. Bollingen Series 96. Translated from the German by Ralph Manheim. Edited, with a preface, by William C. Hickman. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 362. ISBN 0-691-09900-6. OCLC 716361786.
  3. Bešić, Zarij M. (1970). Istorija Črne Gore, Volume 2, Part 2 (in Serbian). Titograd: Redakcija za istoriju Črne Gore. p. 312. Опсада Кроје, предузета с прољећа 1477. год., трајала јевише од године дана. Млечани су, шаљући веће снаге, покуша-вали да продру до града и да браниоцима дотуре помоћ. Јер, у Кроји је било само 250 пјешака и 500 стадавника, а хране и муницијесамо за шест мјесеци.
  4. Setton, Kenneth M. (1978). The Papacy and the Levant (1204–1571), Volume II: The Fifteenth Century. Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society. p. 329. ISBN 0-87169-127-2.
  5. Tansel, Selahattin. Osmanlı Kaynaklarına Göre Fatih Sultan Mehmed'in Askerî Faaliyetleri (PDF) (in Turkish). p. 143.
  • Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy . History of the Ottoman Turks

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