Battle of Torvioll

Battle of Torvioll Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe Woodcut of confrontation between Skanderbeg's forces and Ottoman forces Date June 29, 1444[1] Location Between Librazhd and Pogradec[2][3] Result Albanian victory Belligerents League of Lezhë Ottoman Empire Commanders Skanderbeg Ali Pasha Strength 15,000 (8,000 cavalry, 7,000 infantry)[4][5] 25,000 [3] to 40,000[6] Casualties and losses 100-120 dead, much more wounded (Primary sources)[7] 1,780 killed, 2,000 wounded, 400 of which died later (Modern estimate)[8] 8,000 dead, 2,000 captured (Modern estimate)[1] 22,000 dead, 2,000 captured (Primary sources)[7]

Ottoman-Albanian Wars (15th century) Arianiti's revolt – Torvioll – Mokra – Otonetë – Drin – 1st Oronichea – Sfetigrad – 1st Krujë – Berat – 2nd Oronichea – Ujëbardha – 2nd Krujë – 3rd Krujë – 4th Krujë

The battle of Torvioll, also known as the battle of Valikardi and the battle of Lower Dibra, was fought on June 29 of 1444 in Albania. The Albanian army under Skanderbeg managed to defeat the larger Ottoman force of Ali Pasha. It was the first major engagement of Skanderbeg's rebellion.

Background

After the battle of Nish, Skanderbeg deserted from the Ottoman army and moved towards Albania. He liberated his father's lands and called a congress in the Venetian occupied town of Lezhë to resist the Turks in the March of 1444, with the nobles electing Skanderbeg as the leader of the united Albanian armies. In the spring of 1444, Skanderbeg's scouts reported that the Ottoman army was planning to invade Albania, so Skanderbeg planned to move towards the anticipated entry point and prepared for an engagement.^[9]

Prelude

After having brought together an army of 8,000 cavalry and 7,000 infantry from the local Albanian cities and tribes, Skanderbeg exhorted to his soldiers the importance of the upcoming campaign. Orders were given to the soldies for their pay and divine services were performed, leading to Skanderbeg heading towards the planned place of battle in Lower Dibra. After having camped near a wooded mountain, Skanderbeg placed 3,000 cavalry under Gjin Muzaka in the forests with orders to advance on the Ottoman rear once the main force began combat. While Skanderbeg was preparing to lay the rest of his forces for an ambush, the Ottoman Turks under Ali Pasha arrived and encamped near the Albanians. The night before the battle, the Ottoman soldiers celebrated for the day to come, whereas the Albanians extinguished all the campfires and those who were not on guard were directed to rest. Parties of Turks made approaches to the Albanian camp and urged the Albanians to fight, but the Albanians were ordered to remain quiet. Skanderbeg sent out a scouting party to obtain information about the Ottoman army and ordered his cavalry to engage in small skirmishes.^[10]

Positioning

When morning arrived, Skanderbeg arranged his army for battle. The main force was placed at the bottom of a hill, with the intention to lure the cavalry based Ottoman army into a downhill charge. He placed Tanush Topia on the left wing with 1,500 horse and a like number of foot. In front of the wings, foot archers were placed to lure the enemy in. On the right wing, Skanderbeg placed Moisi Golemi in the same manner as Thopia. In the center, the rest of the army was positioned in a crescent shape curving inwards which was commanded by Skanderbeg. 1,000 horsemen were placed in front of the main division with orders to blunt the initial Turkish cavalry charge. Next to these horsemen was placed a like number of archers who were trained to accompany the horses. After the archers was the main body of infantry commanded by an officer named Aydin. The rest of the cavalry was commanded by Vrana Konti, an experienced warrior; this was the elite force of the Albanian army. This body acted as a reserve in case of trouble.^[10]

The Battle

After the army was marshaled, Skanderbeg would not permit the trumpets to give signal for battle until he saw Ali Pasha ready, advancing forward. After looking upon the arrangements of the Albanian army, the Pasha grew confident and ordered his army to engage. Pasha held one of the units in his army ahead of the rest. The front line retreated; Skanderbeg sent a body of horsemen to prevent the line from breaking and marshaled the retreating troops back to their places. The same situation occurred on the left wing and when all were in their places, the army prepared for the main offensive. As the offensive began, the wings were fiercely led on by Thopia and Golemi and pushed back the Ottoman wings. In the center, Skanderbeg assaulted a selected battalion. The 3,000 horsemen hidden in the woods sprung out and charged into the Ottoman rear, causing it to rout. The wings of the Albanian army turned towards the Ottoman center's flanks. Aydin, having charged the Turkish center, was met by fierce resistance and the Turks continued to pour in fresh forces until Vrana Konti came in with his reserves and decided the battle. The front ranks were destroyed except for 300 soldiers. Ali Pasha’s personal battalion fled, thus saving the general from death.^[10]

Aftermath

When the battle ended, 8,000 to 22,000 Turks died while 2,000 were captured. The Albanians were originally attributed to have lost lost as little as 120 men, while modern sources suggest higher figures with about 1,780 dead and 2,000 wounded.^[11] Skanderbeg remained quiet in his camp for the remainder of that day and the following night. Having addressed his troops, he directed his infantry to mount the captured horses. The spoils of the victory were so abundant that even the wounded took part in the pillaging. Skanderbeg thereafter ordered a general retreat toward Krujë.^[12] Skanderbeg's victory was loudly praised throughout the rest of Europe.^[13][14] The Hungarians urged Skanderbeg to join the alliance of Hungary, the Papacy, and Burgundy against the Turks.^[15] The European states thus began to consider a crusade to drive the Turks out of Europe.^[13][12] When Ali Pasha returned to Adrianople, he explained to the sultan that the loss should be attributed to his forces.^[12]

Notes

Bibliography

• An Outline of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. Tirana: 8 Nëntori, 1978.
• Fine, John V. A.. The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1994. ISBN 0472082604.
• Francione, Gennaro. Skenderbeu: Një hero modern. Trans. Tasim Aliaj. Tirana: Shtëpia botuese "Naim Frashëri", 2003. ISBN 992738758.
• Franco, Demetrio. Comentario de le cose de' Turchi, et del S. Georgio Scanderbeg, principe d' Epyr. Venice: Altobello Salkato, 1480.
• Gibbon, Edward. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Ed. Hart Milman. Vol VI. New York: Peter Fenelon Collier & Son, 1957.
• Hodgkinson, Harry. Scanderbeg: From Ottoman Captive to Albanian Hero. London: Centre for Albanian Studies, 1999. ISBN 1873928130.
• Jacques, Edwin. Shqiptarët: Historia e popullit shqiptar nga lashtësia deri në ditët e sotme. Trans. Edi Seferi. Tirana: Mcfarland, 1995. ISBN 0899509320.
• Moore, Clement Clark. George Castriot: Surnamed Scanderbeg, King of Albania. New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1850.
• Setton, Kenneth Meyer. The Papacy and the Levant (1204-1571). Vol. II. Darby, PA: DIANE Publishing, 1978. ISBN 978-0871691279.

External links

• Beteja e Torviollit, 1444 - Excerpt from Marin Barleti's Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum Principis (Albanian)