Torvioll, Battle of

The Battle of Torvioll, also known as the battle of Lower Dibra, is fought on June 29 of 1444 in Albania.

Skanderbeg is an Ottoman captain of Albanian origin who decides to go back to his native land and take the reins of a new Albanian rebellion.

He, along with 300 other Albanians fighting at the battle of Nish, desert the Ottoman army to head towards Krujë, which falls quickly through a subversion.

He then formsthe League of Lezhë, a confederation of Albanian princes united in war against the Ottoman Empire.

Murad II, realizing the threat, sends one of his most experienced captains, Ali Pasha, to crush the rebellion with a force of 25,000 men.Skanderbeg, expecting a reaction, moves with 15,000 of his own men to defeat Ali Pasha's army.

The two meet in the Plain of Torvioll, where they camp opposite of each other.

The following day, June 29, Ali comes out of his camp and sees that Skanderbeg has positioned his forces at the bottom of a hill.

Expecting a quick victory, Ali orders all of his forces down the hill to attack and defeat Skanderbeg's army.

Skanderbeg expects such a maneuver and prepares his own stratagem.

Once the opposing forces are engaged and the necessary positioning is achieved, Skanderg orders forces hidden in the forests behind the Turkish army to strike their rear flanks.

The result is devastating for the Ottomans and the entire army routed with its commander narrowly escaping death.The victory lifts the morale of the Christian princes of Europe and is recognized as a great victory over the Muslim Ottoman Empire, whose expansions they have thus far had difficulty containing.

Murad, realizing the effect Skanderbeg's rebellion will have on his realm, continues to take proper measures for the later’s defeat, resulting in twenty-five years of war.

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