Skanderbeg
1405–1468 · Albanian · Ottoman Wars in Europe
Known for: Defied the Ottoman Empire for 25 years, never losing a battle in defense of Albania
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg was Albania's greatest national hero—a man raised as an Ottoman hostage who became an Ottoman officer, then dramatically defected to lead Albanian resistance against the empire for 25 years. He never lost a major battle, using Albania's mountainous terrain to neutralize the Ottomans' numerical superiority.
He united Albania's fractious tribal chieftains into a fighting force that defeated every army the Ottomans sent. After his death in 1468, Albanian resistance collapsed, and the country fell to Ottoman rule for 450 years. Pope Calixtus III called him 'Athleta Christi' (Champion of Christ).
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