Skanderbeg

Gjergj Kastrioti (c. 1405 – January 17, 1468), commonly known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanian feudal lord and military commander who led a significant rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what today encompasses Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Born into the noble Kastrioti family, Skanderbeg was sent as a hostage to the Ottoman court, where he graduated from the Enderun School and served Sultan Murad II for approximately twenty years. His military career flourished, culminating in his appointment as sanjakbey (provincial governor) of the Sanjak of Dibra in 1440. During the Battle of Nish in 1443, he deserted Ottoman forces and claimed rulership of Krujë and surrounding territories from Petrelë to Modrič. In March 1444, he established the League of Lezhë with support from local nobility, effectively unifying the Albanian principalities under his leadership.

In 1451, through the Treaty of Gaeta, Skanderbeg formally recognized Kingdom of Naples sovereignty over Albania, securing a protective alliance while maintaining de facto independence. His military prowess led him to support Ferdinand I of Naples in 1460-61, leading an Italian expedition against John II of Anjou. Pope Pius II designated him to command crusading forces in 1463, but the Pope's death prevented the planned European crusade from materializing. Until his own death, Skanderbeg fought alongside Venetian forces against the Ottomans during the First Ottoman-Venetian War (1463-1479).

Skanderbeg holds a distinguished place in military history as the most persistent—and uniquely undefeated—opponent of the Ottoman Empire during its zenith. He became a central figure during the Albanian National Awakening of the 19th century and remains widely honored in modern Albania through numerous monuments and cultural works. His exceptional military skills significantly impeded Ottoman expansion, earning him recognition throughout Western Europe as an exemplary figure of Christian resistance against Ottoman power.