Albanian situation Skanderbeg's Italian expedition

pius ii: fresco located in piccolomini library in duomo of siena

constant news of ottoman campaigns against bosnia , morea not against albania seemed suggest skanderbeg mehmed ii had been considering armistice skanderbeg. latter took advantage of lull in fighting preparing voyage italy , securing northern frontiers possible attack skanderbeg s elusive ally in northern albania, lekë dukagjini, had been trying expand realm reaching agreement turks. in order curb ambitions, skanderbeg seized shat fortress , presented gift venice. skanderbeg established alliance venice against dukagjini, while dukagjni strengthening turkish alliance. new pope issued bull against dukagjini, giving him fifteen days break alliance ottomans , reconcile skanderbeg, or subject interdiction; dukagjini conceded , chose former option. reestablished alliance skanderbeg , venice , accepted of losses.

pius ii continued support skanderbeg, did not provide him financial aid calixtus had since believed skanderbeg s military skill , soldiers aptitude battle enough hold turkish armies. however, pope still considered skanderbeg s assistance essential plans anti-ottoman crusade. in 1459, after mehmed ii completed conquest of serbia, ottoman envoys appealed three-year armistice between skanderbeg s albania , ottoman empire. sultan s purpose distance skanderbeg pope s crusade believed crusade s hope success skanderbeg. in order give albania break fifteen years of continuous ottoman invasion, skanderbeg considered accepting proposal had pope s approval. pius did not allow such agreement , began doubt skanderbeg s loyalty. ottomans operating in western balkans, pius feared ottoman soldiers break truce , pour albania. in order regain pope s trust, skanderbeg did not agree peace. skanderbeg, nevertheless, disappointed rome s response , responded not participating in council of mantua held plan future crusade. council ended in failure, signifying skanderbeg receive no west. sent ambassadors pope saying willing land in italy if ceasefire turks arranged, rome allowed.

before sending men italy, ragusa (dubrovnik) receive skanderbeg s envoy on 9 june 1460. requested city s support transport of warriors southern italy on adriatic. venice not consulted since pursued own interests in italy, whereas ragusa held close economic relations crown of aragon. meanwhile, skanderbeg sent martin muzaka rome presented pius skanderbeg s plans, , pius in turn notified ferdinand. pius ordered venice guard albanian coastline. skanderbeg decided send troop of men while remained in albania. in mid-june 1461, skanderbeg agreed ceasefire mehmed used time conquer trebizond (trabzon) in northeastern part of modern turkey. truce agreed last 3 years.