Turkish historian's Declaration on Skenderbeun Fearing Turkey

Halil Inalchik, who passed away last year, is considered one of the best Turkish historians ever known internationally, writes Konica.al.

As a legalist at the University of Chicago, he is the author of a series of serious works for early stages of Ottoman conquests in the Balkans.

Focusing on his interest has also been the first Ottoman possessions in Albania, including the power system and various cadastral records.

Portal Conica.al brings a fragment of the voice «A RNAWULUK» in the Encyclopedia of Islam, a 1960 publication.

Inalchik, who is author of this encyclopedia's voice to Albania and Albanians, provides a sharp explanation of the country's history and geography.

The introduction begins by accepting the Illyrian origin of Albanians, since according to him, the «ilistan and the ancient epitrox, based on the personal and local names, is considered prototypes of gay Albanian and tossquet».

Since Skenderbeu and his world are sparking ongoing debates in Albanian publicistia, here are some notes of the Turkish historian on Skenderbeu:

«From 847/1443 from now on, Skenderbeu the son-in-law of Aran took the lead in the uprising; his unusual energy and bravery; and the international situation that has been invited at this time, gave movement an important international character. Putting aside the legend that is luxuriant about his person, it should be noted that the origin and motives of his uprising were not different from those of other Albanian masters.

Assigned as the subject of Kruja (Accahisar), about 842/1438, he was removed with 1440. He wanted to turn Kruja and her father's possessions into their entirety and toʹte possessed the feeudal god, not as the imar-bearer. True, he made an alliance with other feudal families such as Topiaj, Balasaj, Dukagjinas, Dushmans, Leke Zaharina and Arani (Léja's meeting, on March 1, 1444), but the idea of a Albania united by a national leader is far from reality.

It controlled only northern Albania until central and southern Albania remained under Ottoman control. Subs and sandjackbets, from Gjirokastra, Ohrid and Berat, made efforts to crush it with local force. He fought guerrillas all the time.

Many of the battles described by Marin Barlett, with fantastic figures, were just local clashes. The personal forces of Skenderbeh seem to have never exceeded 3,000.

With the 26 March agreement of 1451, he became vassal of Alfonso V of Naples and handed Crewe over to his people. Aranini, who had possessions in southern Albania (Vagnet, Vlora and Kanini), followed suit. Arani had been authorized by the king to accept in his name the determination of other Albanian masters. Thus Zenebish and others became vassals of Alfonso. In exchange, the king agreed to give him an annual pension ranging from 300 to 1400 dukes for each of these vassals and to give him shelter in cases of danger.

This simple change of owners was clearly conditional on the fact that the Aramaic system seemed more favourable than the Ottoman regime of Albanian masters. But as proved by an Aramaic document, ordinary people had no complaint against the Ottoman administration (see C. Marinesco, Alpine V III., Michael. de lécole Roum. En France, Paris 1923, 104). A recording of the yams taken in 871/1466-67 included Debar, Golloberda, Reka, Mattin and Cermenica (BASbakalic Archives, Istanbul, Maliye no. 508).

So after the afternoons of Mehmet II at 870/1466, the copper system was extended to these trains. Whatever his true motives, Skenderbeu, who rebelled in the mountains against Murat II (in 82/1448) and 854/1450) and Mehmet II (at 870/1466 and 871/1467) were legalised in his life as Christ's champion by the Pope and as National Albanian Hero by nationalists in the nineteen-fourx0>.