Battle of Modrič

After the death of Murat II, his son Mehmed II ascended the Ottoman throne (campaign in 1451–1481), who would not hesitate to send his forces against the Albanian free territories. Thus, in 1452, an Ottoman army of 12,000 men marched on the fortress of Modrica, on the banks of the Black Drin, which Skanderbeg had just erected. When Ottoman troops were climbing the hill to the castle of Modrica, they were attacked from above by the Albanians, and most were killed and taken prisoner along with their commander, Hamza Bey.^[6]

Hamza was captured in the battle^[4] as well as his staff. Francesco Sansovino, in Historia universale dell'origine et imperio de'Turchi, states that Hamza, fearing punitive measures, begged for mercy, arguing that he had only fought against Skanderbeg since he had been ordered to.^[3] According to Demetrio Franco, one of Skanderbeg's earliest biographers, Skanderbeg responded in such a way that the Ottoman officers began to cry and he offered to have dinner with them. After this, he ordered for his prisoners to be put under guard and to be treated properly.u01 The men were freed in the end, but Hamza and his staff were ransomed for 13,000 ducats.^[7] Franco reports that Skanderbeg's magnanimity became known throughout Albania and the Ottoman Empire to the point where many of his men gained much more respect for him as a warrior. Skanderbeg's intention in doing so was to show that he would not take advantage of the unfortunate and that he had enough confidence in his ability to let his enemies fight him again another day.^[5]