Albanian–Venetian War
The Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–48 was waged between Venetian and Ottoman forces against the Albanians under George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. The war was the result of a dispute between the Republic and the Dukagjini family over the possession of the Dagnum fortress. Skanderbeg, then ally of the Dukagjini family, moved against several Venetian held towns along the Albanian coastline, in order to pressure the Venetians into restoring Dagnum. In response, the Republic sent a local force to relieve the besieged fortress of Dagnum, and urged the Ottoman Empire to send an expeditionary force into Albania. At that time the Ottomans were already besieging the fortress of Svetigrad, stretching Skanderbeg's efforts thin.
| Albanian-Venetian War of 1447–48 | |||||||||
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| Part of the Albanian–Turkish Wars | |||||||||
Rivers Drin and Buna in Shkodër as seen from Rozafa Castle, the former Venetian fortress. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| League of Lezhë |
Republic of Venice Ottoman Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Skanderbeg Vrana Konti Hamza Kastrioti |
Daniel Jurich Mustafa Pasha (POW) | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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9,000 concentrated against the Venetians under Skanderbeg. 6,000 fought against the Turks, 3,000–4,000 of which were placed beforehand in Dibra under Vrana Konti to hold off a possible Ottoman incursion. |
15,000 Venetian soldiers and local mercenaries stationed in the area of Shkodër; small numbers of soldiers stationed in Durrës and Lezha. 15,000 Ottoman soldiers were sent to Dibra. | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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Venetian:
Ottoman :
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However, the League of Lezhë defeated both the Venetian forces and the Ottoman expedition. The League won over the Venetian forces on 23 July 1448 at the gates of Scutari, and over the Ottomans three weeks later, on 14 August 1448, at the Battle of Oronichea. The Republic was, thereafter, left with few soldiers to defend Venetian Albania. As a result, the League soon signed peace with the Republic of Venice, while continuing the war against the Ottoman Empire. After the Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–1448, Venice did not seriously challenge Skanderbeg or the League, allowing Skanderbeg to focus his campaigns against the Ottoman Empire.