The Battle of Otonetë occurred on September 27, 1446, in upper

Dibra Dibra is an Albanian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Abdurrahman Dibra (1885–1961), Albanian politician * Arenc Dibra (born 1990), Albanian footballer * Dino Dibra (1975–2000), Australian suspected murderer * Fuad Dibra (18 ...

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

. The Ottoman commander, Mustafa Pasha, was sent into Albania, but was soon intercepted and defeated by

Skanderbeg , reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468 , predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti , successor = Gjon Kastrioti II , spouse = Donika Arianiti , issue = Gjon Kastrioti II , royal house = Kastrioti , father ...

. It was one of the many victories won by Skanderbeg.

Background

Soon after Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in 1443, the Ottoman Empire sent forces to quell the rebellion. The first army to be sent was defeated in 1444 at Torvioll. Another force was sent one year later but was again defeated by Skanderbeg at Mokra. After establishing diplomatic relations with many major European powers,

Murad II Murad II ( ota, مراد ثانى, Murād-ı sānī, tr, II. Murad, 16 June 1404 – 3 February 1451) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1444 and again from 1446 to 1451. Murad II's reign was a period of important economic deve ...

resumed his campaign to crush all remaining resistance in the Balkans.

Prelude and battle

As Murad prepared his forces to launch a campaign against Hunyadi, who was in that year proclaimed regent of Hungary, he sent a force of 15,000 cavalry under Mustafa Pasha into Albania. The Turkish plan was to fight a war of attrition, pillaging the land and inflicting terror on the population, while avoiding pitched battle. Mustafa split his force into two and sent one contingent into combat while keeping the other in a fortified position: Otonetë. When Skanderbeg learned that the Ottoman army was split, he attacked Otonetë with 5,000 men. The camp was set in disorder as the Albanians pierced through, "turning it into a slaughterhouse".

Aftermath

5,000 Ottoman soldiers fell and 300 were made prisoners. The whole camp and its supplies fell into Skanderbeg's hands. After this defeat, Murad ordered Mustafa to defend the border and to not perform any actions which may cause another defeat. The year was successful for the Albanians except that Pal Dukagjini, one of Skanderbeg's closest and strongest allies died of natural causes.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of Otonete Warfare by Skanderbeg Otonete Otonete 1446 in Europe Conflicts in 1446 1440s in the Ottoman Empire