January 17 marks the 555th death anniversary of the Albanian national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. 

Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu personifies an entire era of the national history of the Albanians, more than a century-long struggle against the Ottoman invasion (end of the 14th century – beginning of the 16th century) for the protection of land, wealth and freedom. Under his leadership, the struggle of the Albanians rose to a high and organized level, marked a decisive turning point in the political development of the country and in the strengthening of their national consciousness.

 Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu was the greatest Albanian military leader. As a member of the noble family of the Kastriots, he was taken as a hostage to the Ottoman imperial court, where he was educated and entered the service of the sultan, for the next twenty years. He rose through the ranks, culminating in his appointment as Sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Dibra in 1440.

In 1443, he deserted the Ottomans during the Battle of Nish and became the ruler of Kruja, Sfetigrad and Modriça. In 1444, he was appointed head of the League of Lezha, which consolidated the nobility of the time in Albania. Despite his military value, he was unable to do more than keep his possessions within a very small territory in northern Albania, where almost all of his victories against the Ottomans took place. Skanderbeg waged a defensive war, and for 25 years, from 1443 to 1468, the army of tens of thousands of warriors fought and won against the Ottoman forces, which were constantly larger and better supplied. In 1451, he signed a treaty with Alfonso of Naples to secure a protective alliance, although he remained a de facto independent ruler. In 1460–1461, Skanderbeg took part in the Italian civil wars in support of Ferdinand I of Naples. In 1463, he became commander-in-chief of Pope Pius II’s forces, but the pope died while the armies were disbanded. Together with the Venetians he fought against the Ottomans during the Ottoman–Venetian War of 1463–1679, until his death in January 1468. Skanderbeg’s military skills constituted a major obstacle to Ottoman expansion, and he was considered by many in Western Europe as a model of resistance against the Turks.

Today, among Albanians, Skënderbeg is known as the undisputed national hero in all Albanian countries and of Albanians everywhere in the world.

/k.s/