campaign newly ottoman sultan ordered campaign chief shortly siege died succeeded son supported aggressive strategies conquest father continually rejected power ordered nearly annual invasions albania resulted multiple battles year expeditions sent dual command army approximately men campaign major test new sultan western europe high point diplomatic struggle major mediterranean powers albania time suffering crisis power chief vassal king worried growing adversary tried turn allies order weaken influence realizing opportunity ordered invasion albania knowing nature new sultan effect army immediately defeated acted quickly soon ottoman army split separate forces attacked defeated killed battle captured staff soon venetian adversaries relations relations west siege resulted heavy loss large portion land wasted long campaign turkish forces stationed half year country left resources produce crops large famine result year forces devastated country gained control ottoman_empire father death great energy apparent previous years accompanied father albania realized struck great difficulty lacked resources support successfully hold large invasion albania powerful making open negotiations turks suggesting internal conflict destroyed economy weakened army realized needed alliance powerful state league continue existence approached offering military alliance sort republic enjoying good relations ottomans refused offer rome offered monetary help looking turned controlled naples sicily wanted expand empire gibraltar order realize dreams need balkans march constantinople took offer establish diplomatic relations allies process obstacles nobles family previously allied venice offended asked attack venice refused devout christian found uneasy ally previously practiced islam ottoman court hand disillusioned failed send troops needed things changed thwarted venice grew interest expanding powers adriatic march treaty signed creating alliance sent diplomats italian states august venice sent messages duke milan inform victory turks desperate need supplies continue ottoman armies aid received venice responded wished turks settle peace response excuse state financially sound soldiers meant help prince offered large conflict control albania primary reason fear year old ambition empire stretched syria spain planning campaign albania defeated father factor geographically dominated kilometers nearest italian port ambitions symmetrical clear sort clash albania conflict monarchs roman times massive centralized army personal control controlling huge army widely acknowledged far reaching wisdom allowed produce highly advanced military armed newest models cannon strength resistance supposed fierce wanted league powerful seriously challenge ottoman_empire unlike troubled growing state sent experienced officers men plenty supplies june established alliance powerful league member southern albania later year created similar alliances important nobles allied pleased league political issues present remained aligned venice established friendly relations sultan focused defeating east intentions return albania brief period rest took rebuilding erected new fortress near lost siege turkish forces previously slipped fortress constructed heat summer months turkish posts present came huge blow ottoman efforts operations venetian cities trying allies order halt expansion response sent governor replaced later commander garrison men nominal ruler albania men dominant majority anti ottoman forces leaving virtual command albania venice continued efforts turn allies resisted venetian plots cut politics prepared war north relations instead allied venice gave flag bear venetian vassal promised protect serbian turkish attacks grew agitated venetian threatened renewed war venice pretext senate annually paying promised moved men leaving republic choice ease secretive diplomacy war east turkish cavalry forces begun raiding territories east common ottoman tactic weaken enemy beginning scale invasion april governor albania feared turkish invasion force turn islam sent letters aid believing leaders critical point ordered force inexperienced men reasoning weaken forces launch invasion force main command split forces parts command subordinate tied war east let ride west gathered men marched army planned defeat men personal command camped near new fortress time prepare july assaulted immediately fierce attack short work ottoman force resulting fleeing force fell field parts ran away pursued captured battle staff states fearing measures mercy arguing fought ordered according earliest biographers responded way ottoman officers began cry offered dinner ordered prisoners guard treated properly men freed end staff franco reports known albania ottoman_empire point men gained respect warrior intention advantage unfortunate confidence ability let enemies fight day kept captured ottoman foot soldiers control day defeated army sent men army moved center albania displayed captives captured ottoman standards order army intimidated split forces plains elite forces covering flanks sent moses rear flanks order weaken ottoman army launching main attack attacked men heat battle moses able spot fierce duel managed kill turks left commander fled aftermath battles ottoman forces left dead battlefield thousands horses suffered casualties exhaustion refused pursue fleeing ottoman forces staff sultan reported victory received great victory ruler powerful came great surprise reputation allies opted reconciliation order reduce risk ottoman expeditions prompted venice took steps relations republic autumn attacked venetian city sent troop men aid attack venice despite held animosity took step sent order ask military aid convince urge reconciliation venice request fulfilled responded men means help second request satisfied march sent letter venice paying supporting enemies urged measure venetian conflicts april sent expedition albania defeated killed action victory conquest constantinople weeks deeply troubled christian states europe called turned attention finally defeating crossing italy european powers locked internal conflicts war believed threat launching withheld european campaigns highest sent urgent requests venice prepare new ottoman offensive attempting develop venetian alliance recognizing threat sovereignty albania venice withheld establishment alliance promised send men annual pension pope nicholas sent albania serbia hungary loose anti ottoman coalition halt future turkish expansions
Mehmed II's first Albanian campaign