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| League of Lezhë painting |
It was March 2, 1444, when Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, after returning from the Ottoman Empire, managed to gather all the Albanian principals, in order to cope with the Ottoman attack. Exactly, the realization of the unification of all the Albanian princes in a joint assembly by Skanderbeg constitutes one of his biggest and most innovative ideas.
By browsing the historic calendar, today, on March 2, we remember the 575th anniversary of the Assembly of Lezhë , where are laid the foundations of the national union, held on March 2, 1444 in the Church of St. Koll, in Lezha, known as the League of Lezhë . So just like today, on March 2, 1444, in the Church of St. Koll in Lezha, where today is the memorial of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, is held the Lezha Assembly, one of the most important events of the history of the Albanian people of the medieval period.All the Albanian principalities gathered from the North to the South in the Assembly of Lezha, where the most important were the Arianites, Dukagjinas, Balshaj and Topiaj, while from the Balkan point of view in the Prince of Montenegro also participated in this Assembly.
The Assembly established the General Commander of the League Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, recognizing his political and military authority. Since that union, the legendary leader increased the resistance of his army and led the war for 25 years against the Ottoman invasion. The Assembly realized the great Albanian Covenant, which gave birth to the most powerful medieval state of Arber, where the spirit of Arbër and our national identity is forged.
Referring to the historical documentation, this Assembly is not casually hosted in the town of Lezha, which at that time was in the possession of Venice. This important event took place in this city, as Lezha did not represent the capital of principals and thus avoided potential quarrels and created the idea of equality.
This was described by many figures of that time as one of the diplomatic actions of Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu. The Assembly was held in Lezha, knowing that Lezha through Venetian power would serve as a factor of support in Europe as one of the biggest ideas of the League was Albania's integration into the Western Europe.
March 2 is the message of Union, in one, for the Homeland, who needs more than ever to see all its honest sons in one mind and heart, living and working for the common good.