The battle of Sfetigrad, one of the main of the Albanian army commanded by Skanderbeg, is commemorated today

Engraving of an engagement during the siege of Svetigrad. 

Credit: Wikipedia

 The first battle of Sfetigrad took place in 1448. It was one of the main battles of the Albanian army, commanded by Skanderbeg, against the Ottoman army.

This battle took place from May 14 to the end of July. The Ottoman army was commanded by Sultan Murat II himself. On May 14, its vanguard reached Lower Dibra and besieged Sfetigrad.

Skanderbeg, in order to facilitate the defense of the castle, withdrew the Turkish vanguard to the Rovik gorge and defeated it. When the Ottoman army arrived in Stefigrad, Skanderbeg approached the entire army a few miles from its camp. Murat II demanded the surrender of the castle, bombed it, but failed.

Map of the location of the Battle of Svetigrad, in today Debar in North Macedonia

Meanwhile, Skanderbeg hit the Ottoman camp day and night and, together with the defenders of the castle, put the enemy between the two fires. The Ottoman troops, guarding the backs of their main forces, had many killed and wounded, including their commander, Firuz Pasha.

On the night of June 22, Albanians attacked and entered the Turkish camp. It was only when the Ottomans found the castle's aqueduct and cut off its water supply that the defenders were forced to surrender, provided they were free to leave and armed.

Although they occupied Sfetigrad, due to heavy losses and the prolongation of the siege for more than two and a half months, the Ottomans were forced to cease their attack and retreat, chassed by the Albanian army.