Italian situation Skanderbeg's Italian expedition

portrait of skanderbeg in uffizi, florence

on 27 september 1458, alfonso v of aragon, skanderbeg s important , helpful ally after stipulation of treaty of gaeta, died. in 1448, gesture of friendship alfonso, skanderbeg sent detachment of albanian troops commanded general demetrios reres crotone quell rebellion against alfonso. next year, many of these men allowed settle 4 villages in sicily alfonso controlled. upon hearing of ally s death, skanderbeg sent emissaries new king of naples, ferdinand i, give condolence father s death, congratulate him on accession throne of naples. succession not without turbulence, however: rené d anjou laid claim throne since family had controlled naples before aragon had taken control of it, , because ferdinand alfonso s illegitimate son. southern italian nobility, many of angevin background, supported rené d anjou on aragonese ferdinand. among them giovanni antonio del balzo orsini, prince of taranto, , jacopo piccinino, famed condottieri had been invited angevins. francisco sforza, duke of milan, wary of french presence in italy, sided ferdinand , sent nephew, alessandro sforza, command army in southern italy. pope calixtus, spaniard wished see compatriot in control of naples, in no position weak ferdinand, turned skanderbeg help. however, time, piccinino , men had conquered of southern italy except naples, capua, aversa, gaeta, troia, , barletta, ferdinand besieged.

skanderbeg had received aid ferdinand s father, alfonso, , still vassal of crown of aragon, felt need repay crown. accepted pope s pleas go italy , aid ferdinand. skanderbeg s stated reasoning twofold: wanted remain loyal ally , wanted prevent angevin takeover of naples since had maintained friendly relations turks. skanderbeg feared if angevins took naples, turn albania had maintained kingdom. on other hand, before undertaking action against angevins, took measures soften relations venice. seeing southern italy locked in conflict, venice no longer feared aragonese-albanian alliance , senate decided take friendlier approach in albanian-venetian relations. meanwhile, pope calixtus iii had died , succeeded pope pius ii. sensing war begin, pius tried convince giovanni orsini, ferdinand s main rival, settle differences king. french king, louis xi, took angevin stance and, in hopes of convincing pius allow french takeover of naples, proposed repeal of pragmatic sanction of bourges undermined pope s power , declared willing lend 70,000 men planned papal crusade. pius, however, wary of insincerity , disregarded these proposals. further effort deter skanderbeg s landing made sigismondo malatesta, lord of rimini , italy s feared petty tyrant, had tried invite mehmed italy detailed map of adriatic if ferdinand sent albanian. manuscript, however, never reached sultan , fell pius hands.