battle battle known fought september forces led ottoman army nephew leader decade seen victories ottoman arms loss hands betrayed trusted officers returned year ottoman force command defeated battle rejoined army later dissatisfied betrayed offered joint command second ottoman invasion force ottomans arrived late marched tried delay vanguard composed approach main force decided retreat familiar tactics leader adopted new split army groups ordered march separate directions mountains remain unseen ottoman forces signal given remained separate formations september time ottomans convinced defeated september finally gave order armies launched surprise attack ottoman camp killing capturing men later sent prisoner naples italy victory strengthened morale officers soldiers deserted battle seen brilliant victory ottomans marked high point resistance beginning new phase quarter century long war include ottoman invasions died january war drag later year main fortress fell finally annexation albania ottoman_empire background ruler albania latin served years ottoman army soldier commander returning homeland beginning uprising ottoman_empire second battle ended defeat forces way arrive army blocked unable provide help engaged ottomans thinking coming ravaged domains result defeat ottomans free hungarian pressure limited belgrade laid siege fortress seized control result catastrophic succumbed ottoman counterattack temporary departure main force helpful important ally suffered blow ambitions included pan mediterranean empire able recover morale pope begun worry plans crusade undermined promised aid planned crusade commenced turkish decided march hungary albania april sent ambassador west letter cardinal informing holy need aid ottoman invasion came moses captain deserted loss met men battle force defeated mercy allowed return ranks punishment july marched large army hungarian held belgrade serbia defeated later year dynasty tried create anti ottoman alliance include realm act concert defeat sultan plans practice resources worn decade continuous war pope provide fully venice continued undermine considered war maintained alliance relations italian state worsened elusive ally north captured participate venice launch expedition war started venetian relations sunk lowest point venetian continued provoke time grown relatively weak nephew important officers joining ottomans dissatisfied growing power received sultan offered control albania conquered betrayal offered ultimatum venice halt begin war crusade anticipated ottomans venice want pro ottoman eased stance albania campaign end large ottoman army seen approaching albania sent letter informing ottoman arrival dire need military aid pope responded promise send fleet albania enemy land arrive left fight oncoming ottoman army placed command force experienced commander crushed rebellion led ottoman counterattack brought nobles personal knowledge tactics expect total ottoman forces numbered men armies size usually commanded sultan rumors spread leading campaign contrast men stand opposition disappearance ottoman army march albania group detachments arrive marched stalled force advance main force arrived able offer resistance withdrew realizing ottoman commanders familiar terrain tactics decided adopt new means engagement normally lure enemy trap ambush new tactic similar normal chose approach different manner impossible followed split forces groups ordered respective commanders march forests mountains different directions assemble assault ottomans instructed warriors supplied locals supply depots set mountains marched ottomans marched mat area took parallel routes mountains engaged decided albania main fortress sure fate camped men area north wait appearance region called located south modern day surrounded series protective hills guards placed served main base ottoman camp siege prepared resistance find effort came vain challenged forces unsure ottoman commanders strengthened camp northern defenses eastern direction remained lightly defended ottoman scouts crossed northern albania seen gates venetian held ventured deeper venetian territory disappearance rumors began spread fled unable confront ottomans men betrayed upheld continued wary reconnaissance forces reached far north remained mountains july august known certainty army mountains planned wear ottomans forcing wait believe decisively defeated sent george rome ambassador pope impression albania decisively conquered aid necessary force ottomans albania september notified sent help fund crusade time arrived situation changed battle local population remained faithful reveal whereabouts grew confident defeated began withdraw judged time right gave signal army separate groups assemble seen ottomans army gathered hills weakest point ottoman camp direction september split groups assault ottoman camp trusted men climbed high peak scout ottoman camp saw ottomans resting descended chosen band eliminate watching guards saw fled camp arrived order maintain surprise ordered men ready battle accompaniment loud noise metallic tools weapons charged turkish camp ottomans caught surprise despite large numbers terrified fury assault thinking attacking larger numbers actually tried men assuring tried send reinforcements men arrival new contingents forced turn attention series cavalry charges counter charges kept battle moving rain missiles forcing ottomans heart camp seeing surrounded ottoman force began panic melted away captured fled ottoman dead high unlikely suffered deaths addition men taken prisoner standards captured camp lost multitude men captured fallen warriors buried village kilometres east near battlefield aftermath battle significant southern resistance ottoman_empire historian ottoman_empire describes battle brilliant victory battle strengthened morale men rarely deserted army sent prisoner naples realm captured ottoman envoy sent ransom standard distinguished prisoners envoy tried settle truce responded accept lost respectively restored state seeing accept terms strengthened garrisons area victory bought albania italy time signed armistice lasted years gave opportunity land italy help son ferdinand naples crowned father died battle opened new phase ottoman war saw high water mark resistance ottoman invasions albania war war fall
Battle of Albulena