First siege of Krujë
- When
- 1450–1451
- Where
- Krujë; Albania; Gaeta; Krujë Castle
- Episodes
- 5
In 1450, Sultan Murad II besieged Krujë but withdrew due to winter conditions and militia harassment. Following his death in 1451, Skanderbeg secured Neapolitan protection via the Treaty of Gaeta.
Episodes
- Ottoman Camp Security
Ottoman forces reinforced camp security against surprise attacks, placing a force under Prince Mehmed's command.
- Ottoman Withdrawal
Murad II retired from Albania to avoid winter losses, suffering casualties from militia attacks during the retreat.
- Ottoman Advance
Ottoman forces marched toward Krujë in April 1450, prompting local reports of divine signs.
- Treaty of Gaeta
Skanderbeg became a vassal of Alfonso V, securing Neapolitan protection and supplies.
- Neapolitan Reinforcements
A detachment of 100 Neapolitan soldiers arrived at Krujë Castle in late May 1451 to support the treaty.
Background and detail
Strategic Context. The League of Lezhë faced low morale after losing Svetigrad and Berat between 1448 and 1450. In early 1450, the capture of Berat by Ottoman forces caused Gjergj Arianit to desert Skanderbeg's cause, weakening the defensive coalition before the main siege began.
The Siege. Ottoman forces marched toward Krujë in April 1450. The campaign involved intense combat, including Ottoman efforts to guard their camp against surprise attacks under Prince Mehmed's command. Murad II eventually retired from Albania to avoid further losses from the winter climate and local militia attacks.
Diplomatic Aftermath. Murad II died in Edirne in the winter of 1450–51, succeeded by Mehmed II. Skanderbeg then formalized a vassalage with Alfonso V of Naples via the Treaty of Gaeta in March 1451, securing military protection and supplies against the Ottoman Empire.
People involved
- Murad II · Ottoman Sultan
- Skanderbeg · Albanian Leader
- Alfonso V · King of Naples
Sources
- Siege of Krujë (1450) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-30
- Treaty of Gaeta Wikipedia, revision of 2026-04-11
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.