Principality of Kastrioti
| Principality of Kastrioti | ||||||||||
| Principata e Kastriotit | ||||||||||
| Principality | ||||||||||
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 Principality of Kastrioti in the 15th century
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| Capital | Krujë (after November 1443) | |||||||||
| Languages | Albanian | |||||||||
| Religion | Christianity Catholicism | |||||||||
| Government | Principality | |||||||||
| Prince | ||||||||||
| • | 1389–1417 | Gjon Kastrioti | ||||||||
| • | 1443–1444 | George Kastrioti | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval | |||||||||
| • | Established | 1389 | ||||||||
| • | Fall under Ottoman Empire | 1417 | ||||||||
| • | Regained control | 1443 | ||||||||
| • | Disestablished | 1468 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | ||||||||||
Coat of arms
Principality of Kastrioti (1389–1444) was one of the most important principalities in Medieval Albania. It was created by Gjon Kastrioti and then ruled by the national hero of Albania, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg.
Gjon Kastrioti had originally only two small villages. In short time John Kastrioti managed to expand its lands so as to become the undisputed lord of Central Albania. He married Voisava Tripalda who bore five daughters - Mara, later wife of Stefan Crnojević of Montenegro; Jela, then wife of Gjin (Gino) Musacchio; Angjelina (Angelina), later wife of Vladan Arianit Comnenus Thopia; Vlajka, later wife of Stefan Maramonte Balšić; Mamica, later wife of Karol Musacchio Thopia - and four sons: Repoš, Staniša (Stanislaus), Kostandin (Constantine) and George Kastrioti. Gjon Kastrioti was among those who opposed the early incursion of Ottoman Bayezid I, however his resistance was ineffectual. The Sultan, having accepted his submissions, obliged him to pay tribute and to ensure the fidelity of local rulers, George Kastrioti and his three brothers were taken by the Sultan to his court as hostages. After his conversion to Islam, the young George Kastrioti attended military school in Edirne and led many battles for the Ottoman Empire to victory. For his military victories, he received the title Arnavutlu İskender Bey, (Albanian: Skënderbe shqiptari, English: Lord Alexander, the Albanian) comparing Kastrioti's military brilliance to that of Alexander the Great.
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Wikipedia