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| Pëllumb Xhufi in an online interview (archive) |
Historian and diplomat Pëllumb Xhufi expressed that Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg had a typical Albanian arrogance in his communication with the country's partners at that time, despite being a diplomat.
Xhufi made these comments on Euronews Albania during the 556th anniversary of our national hero's death.
According to Xhufi, during Skanderbeg's partnership with Venice, he demanded that they not engage in double play with intrigues, as otherwise, he was ready to start a war with them, in addition to the ongoing conflict with the Ottomans.
"Venice was forced to fulfill certain conditions, among which giving Skanderbeg an amount of 1500 gold ducats every year and secondly providing him with 2 costumes per year. Venice, which produced valuable fabrics in the Middle Ages, the only one produced in Europe, gave one costume per year to its friends, while to Skanderbeg, they gave 2 costumes.
This was because Skanderbeg did the work of Venice, as he could take Shkodra and Tivari from them. They wanted to keep Skanderbeg wise in the interest that he kept the Ottomans away from the coast. Skanderbeg, with a language alternating diplomacy, wisdom, and with a typical Albanian arrogance, said, 'you have not given me the pension of 1500 ducats that I need for war now, you have given me only 200-300 once, better not to give it to me at all.'
Regarding the costumes, he said, 'I am not small to be given these,' and they were forced to change them. He also said that if they continued with their intrigues, he would be ready for a second war with them," said Xhufi.