Preparations and Ragusan voyage Skanderbeg's Italian expedition

map of republic of ragusa

a venetian ambassador on way constantinople reported skanderbeg had assembled 1,000 cavalry , 2,000 infantry along several papal , neapolitan ships @ capo-di-lachi (albanian: kepi lagjit) near modern-day kavajë. still awaiting supply of grain , 2 neapolitan ships, however, continued wait. on 21–22 august 1461, 4 galleys sent ferdinand arrived. boarded thereafter did not send entire force directly apulia. sent gjokë balsha (who had returned italy) 500 cavalry , 1,000 infantry besieged ferdinand, whereas skanderbeg himself went ragusa convince rectors there give him needed funds. balsha s men landed in barletta on 24 august 1461. angevin forces, among whom giovanni orsini, feared skanderbeg himself leader of force, lifted siege of barletta immediately. balsha informed ferdinand skanderbeg arrive after voyage ragusa. ferdinand felt skanderbeg s personal involvement essential , began worry when did not come in 2 days, balsha had promised.

skanderbeg reached ragusa on 24 august 1461 along pal engjëlli, archbishop of durrës. men stayed on ships anchored in harbor while went city. due papal pressure, ragusans had reconsidered skanderbeg s requests. fame visible when walked through city-gates , population poured streets see him. had been greeted ceremony , tour of city inspecting walls , weaponry. received financial sum had come for. men supplied food coming campaign. popularity allowed him well-kept ragusans largest albanian community outside of albania present. on 29 august 1461, skanderbeg set off apulia, storm forced him anchor off dalmatian island. on 3 september 1461, skanderbeg reached barletta.