In the city of Gaeta (Italy), representatives of the parties signed the Treaty of Gaeta, alliance agreement between George Castriote Skanderbeg and Alfonso I, King of Aragona and Naples. Based on this treaty, Alfonso I committed to provide military and financial assistance to Skanderbeg for the protection and liberation of the country from the Ottoman occupation. He would respect the privileges enjoyed by Arbëria. He would recognize Skanderbeg as the lord of the lands that would be freed from the Ottoman rule by joint efforts. In contrast, the Albanian side would recognize Alfons, according to medieval custom, as the chief lord after he had sent Albania effective help against the Ottomans. With this treaty, Skanderbeg intended to draw the kingdom of Naples into the war. But the help given by Alfons was insufficient and remained so therefore Skanderbeg did not send any tribute to Alfons and did not take the oath of loyalty towards him, as stipulated in the treaty. The relations thus remained at the level of a simple alliance, which remained on paper, given that Alfons, after the battle of Berat in 1455, refused to engage in a war that required large means and forces. (In the photo: Illustrative photo from the Gjergj Kastrioti National Museum, Krujë.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2735.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idriz_Seferi
Graphic processing: AHCF
