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The story of Skanderbeg, is that of an epic character, the protagonist of dozens of battles. An excellent strategist, defender of Christianity, we talk about a figure extraordinary life tried by exceptional events, all passed with the strength and dignity of a hero.

Skanderbeg, was born in 1405 (the date is uncertain) from one of the most important families in Albania feudal of the time, that of Kastrioti. The baptismal name was imposed Giorgio, then, before the extraordinary events that later tell the affidassero to posterity as Skanderbeg, he was called "Gjergj Kastrioti." ll father, John Kastrioti was lord of Kruja, and intratteneva close relations of friendship with the Republic of Venice. At the small Albania was a strategically important area, was the land border with the dangerous empire turkish who regularly tried to expand to the west, with the ambition to invade the Balkans, Italy and of course Rome. John Kastrioti, for years had opposed the advance of the Ottomans, also counting on the support of the Serenissima, but also arrived for the moment Kruja terrible yield. The Sultan Murat claims a huge tribute and delivery of his four sons. So when he was 9 years (even smaller according to some sources) George Kastrioti was away from his family and the Christian world.

During the captivity the fate of the four brothers was different; Stanislaus and Reposio were killed, Constantine became monaco, Giorgio was brought to court of Edirne where it was launched in a rigorous course of military education. At the court were struck by the deep intelligence of boy, who is distinguished growing use of weapons and knowledge of war-fighting techniques. The same sultan Murat it was conquered, both by granting them positions of importance. It was the Sultan to give him the name Islamic Iskender Bej (literally: Prince Alessandro) from Iskander or Skander derives SKANDERBEG. Skanderbeg travelled brilliantly stages of military career to become general of the terrible Jeniçer (bodies of dead Turks). Scanderbeg, was not only an excellent captain, but also a deeply cultured man. He spoke the turkish, Arabic, greek, Italian, Bulgarian, and of course serbo-croatian Albanian. It was of such open-mindedness that the truth about its origin was able to join him, and he did not hesitate to question his high position inside of the Ottoman Empire.

THE CONVERSION
In Albania, came the news of deeds of Skanderbeg, the population malsopportava the tyranny began to trust in the young leader. They hoped that he had not forgotten its origins. Skanderbeg received the brave emissaries Albanians in his command, and welcomed the prayers of his people. It converted to Christianity and following the death of his father decided to take sides on the side of Albanians. The occasion was given by the defeat of Sultan Murat to Nyssa, in 1443. Skanderbeg took advantage of the moment of loss of the turkish, to gather a host of loyal among its soldiers who would become the hard core on which to build the legendary army of Albanian resistance. They start as the famous 25 years of victories Albanians who have so much in the survival of Christian Europe.

THE RETURN
Skanderbeg took the stronghold of Kruja with a stratagem. He came with its 300 loyal riders and became entrust the command arguing that the sultan had appointed for that task. Skanderbeg immediately taken control of the castle and made it the headquarters of the Albanian. In March 1444 a large assembly of principles Albanians gathered in Venice, unanimously proclaimed Skanderbeg as a guide of the "League of Albanian people", an army of 10,000 men. The reaction was immediate Sultan Murat, was sent an army larger than Albanian, but the technical and strategic choices of Skanderbeg were rewarded. The sultan organized other expeditions, but the Albanian leader continued to win.

THE MILITARY STRATEGY The battle plans of Skanderbeg are revolutionaries, the clash in the open air was accompanied by a kind of "guerrilla warfare" carried out in gorges and nell'impervio territory of the Albanian mountains. The Turks had to expect sudden attacks at any place and at any time of day or night. The night raids of Skanderbeg are legendary: a night he added to his troops a large number of herds with the effect of terrorising the Turks. It tells of the despair of Muslim soldiers, when they saw go down from the mountains thousands of riders who ran noisy holding torches in hand. The camp taken of surprised himself in a tight grip, and it was easy to get rid Scanderbeg. It was already late when the Turks are realized that most of the riders threatening consisted of .. goats! Skanderbeg had tied to their horns torches .. the first of them run like crazy down from the mountains!

WIN The epic of Skanderbeg embraced quarter of a century; were twenty-five years of victories, achieved with courage and consistency. Send repeatedly by the armies of Sultan Murat Turks, led by commander Ali Pasha to Torvjolli in 1444; Firuz Pasha in the gorges of Prizren (1445); Mustafà Pasha in 1446. Then in the camps Pollogut, Dibra, Ohrid, and Domosdove; gorges in the rivers of Drin; Shkumbin in camps in the years 1444-48, 1450-56, 1462-65; fields in the White Water in 1457; near Ohrid in 1462, in the plain of Vajkan in 1465. One of its latest and most glorious victories was one in which defeated the Sultan Mohammed II in 1567

THE DEATH The life of the Albanian leader was a war continues, he fought successfully and without pause until the death, arrived on the Alessio in 1468, following a malarial fever. Scanderbeg, died unbeaten, but after him it was not possible to identify a leader capable of guiding the 'Albanian army. George Kastrioti Skanderbeg had rejected the advance of the Ottoman Empire after the final fall of Constantinople, a period when Christian Europe was in serious danger. When his death came, the mire imperialist Ottomane west were now resized, but destiny wanted that Albania completely lost their freedom. THE AFTER-SKANDERBEG During the long years of struggle, Skanderbeg had given his arm Aragonese even the army, fighting in Puglia against Giovanni d'Anjou and sconfiggendolo to Orsara in 1462. Ferdinand I of Aragon showed its gratitude to the Albanian leader, giving the feuds in southern and when he died housed at the court of Naples his wife Marina Donica Arianiti and his son John. The Aragons also welcomed the thousands of Albanians that from the death of Scanderbeg, fled from his native land, invaded by the Ottomans. Most countries Albanians in southern Italy, was founded in the years immediately following the death of Scanderbeg

CURIOSITY ' For his dedication received the title of "Athlete Christi," and several times was listed his name as leader of a real crusade by the popes Eugene IV, and Pius II. Sull'elmo of Scanderbeg, was beautiful exhibition itself the effigy of a head of goat, animal that is well suited to the mountainous nature of Albanian territory, and that well represented the stubborn determination of its inhabitants. Another element by the strong symbolic significance is the heavy sword Skanderbeg; currently held in Vienna had the hilt forged in the shape of dragon.

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