Kristen Nehemiah Horst

Hamza Kastrioti Kristen Nehemiah Horst

Publisher Marketing: Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Hamza Kastrioti (lat. Ameses Castriota) was the nephew of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Probably born in Ottoman territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they captured Kruja in 1443. After the marriage of Skanderbeg and the birth of his son Gjon, Hamza Kastrioti lost every hope of inheriting the principality of Kastrioti. He deserted to the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II in 1457 and alongside with Isak-Beg he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman troops in the Battle of Ujebardha. In that battle he was captured by Skanderbeg's forces and placed in detention in Naples on charges of treason. He was later freed and went to join his wife and children in Istanbul, and was probably poisoned there by Turkish agents. His loss was regarded as a tragedy by Albanians. He was one of the most brilliant generals of Skanderbeg and was very popular among the soldiers for his manners, second only to Skanderbeg. According to historians, along with him, Albania lost the chance to continue what Skanderbeg had begun.