"Skënderbeu, typical Albanian arrogance", Xhufi: How he turned to Venice for intrigues

Historian and diplomat Pëllumb Xhufi has stated that Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu had a typical Albanian arrogance in communicating with the country's partners at that time, although he was a diplomat.

Xhufi made the comments in Euronews Albania, on the 556th anniversary of the death of our national hero.

Xhufi said that Skenderbeu, at the time he was in partnership with Venice, asked them not to play a double game with intrigues, as otherwise he was ready to start a war with them as well, in addition to the war he was waging with the Ottomans.

"Venice was forced to fulfill several conditions, among which to give annually to Skanderbeg a sum of 1500 golden ducats and the second to give him 2 suits per year. Venice, which produced precious jewels in the Middle Ages, the only one in Europe, gave its friends one suit each year, and Skërderbeu 2 suits.

This was because he was doing Venice's work, since he could take Shkodra and Tivar from them. They wanted to keep Skenderbeu wise in the interest of keeping the Ottomans away from the coast. Skenderbeu, with a language that alternates diplomacy, wisdom and with a typical Albanian arrogance, says to them 'you have not given me the pension of 1500 ducats that I need now for the war, you gave me 200-300 once, it is better not to give me at all' .

About the suits he said 'I'm not small give me these' and they were forced to change them. He also told him that if they would continue with their intrigues, he would be ready for a second war with them," said Xhufi.