Skanderbeg's Rise in Albania (around 1440)

Timeline

1. 1438–1440Albanian interior · AlbaniaGeorge Kastrioti grew up in the Ottoman court as a hostage from childhood, converting to Islam and taking the name 'Iskender Bey'. By the late 1430s he had risen to sanjakbey commanding the Albanian fortresses, loyal to the empire under the sultan while secretly consolidating his family's lands.
2. 1440Kruja fortress · KrujaBy 1440, Kastrioti strengthened defenses centered on Kruja and contacted Albanian clan chiefs across the region. Under the cover of his Ottoman appointment he gradually restored his family's independent standing, accumulating strength and prestige for his open break with the sultan and leadership of the anti-Turkish war three years later.