In mid-October 1443, a small interlude after the Battle of Nis was taking place in the lands of Southeast Europe.
Ever since Arnavutlu Iskender Pasha fled with 500 Albanian cavalry of his own people amidst the chaos, they had been operating in secret, lest the Ottoman High Gate, which still believed they were merely missing, discover them.
While temporarily stationed in the countryside of Skopje, Anaftolu Pasha's nephew, Hamza Kastrioti, stepped forward and anxiously asked his uncle on behalf of the worried group,
"Uncle, although we have decided to betray the Sultan, what should we do when we return to our homeland with less than a thousand men?"
Arnavutlu Iskender Pasha himself merely calmly retorted:
"Hamza… no, since we have escaped the Turks, there is no need for such a false name. Emeses, didn't we already make up our minds before we set off? Since we have decided to follow God's guidance, there is nothing to hesitate about.
"From the moment we chose not to return to Edirne to report, there was no turning back."
Emeses was well aware of his uncle's words, but still, feeling uncertain about the future, he continued to ask anxiously, "Then where are we going?"
"Home."
At this, the middle-aged Albanian sat down, and after motioning for his nephew to be quiet, he pulled out a portrait and a document from under the table. Upon closer inspection, the portrait depicted a couple dressed as Albanian nobles, and between them stood their nine children. If one looked carefully, they would notice that the boy in the very center bore a faint resemblance to Anaftrou.
As he gently caressed the portrait, the 39-year-old general was visibly moved, softly muttering, "Just a little longer, just a little longer…
"I will be back soon, my homeland."
Soon, his expression became incredibly resolute, and he said to his nephew and subordinates with a determined tone:
"Destination, Albania, Krujë.
"As for how to establish ourselves there, we will rely on this, after all, it bears the personal signature of the Turkish Sultan." Saying this, Anaftrou waved the document in his hand, "And for now, I even specifically asked the Bosphorus Caesar to help us make some preparations in Krujë."
On November 25, 1443, Arnavutlu Iskender Pasha, formerly a prominent general under the Ottoman, led his 500 Albanian warriors to Krujë. After deceiving the local governor into opening the city gates with a forged letter bearing the Sultan's personal signature, he immediately launched a mutiny that night, executing the governor of Krujë and the Ottoman officials in the area, swiftly taking control of Krujë. Three days later, on November 28, he publicly renounced his Islam faith and embraced Christianity, declaring the establishment of the Principality of Albania, proclaiming himself Prince, and breaking away from the rule of the Ottoman Sultanate. His name was consequently changed back from the former Islam name of Anaftrou Iskander to his original name, George Kastrioti.
In the following week, through intelligence exchanges with Bosphorus contacts, George Kastrioti quickly grasped the reality of the Ottoman's weak control over the area and acquired the necessary information. He led his subordinates in a series of miraculous military operations in Ottoman-controlled Central Albania, and by Christmas, he had taken control of the entire Krujë region.
Thanks to the success of these military operations, he was revered by the military and civilians under his rule, and his nickname, "Alexander of Albania" (Skënderbeshqiptari), gradually became well-known. In the process of its spread, the nickname was quickly shortened to: Skanderbeg.
After clearing out the Ottoman forces in the area, the heroic deeds of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg were swiftly sung throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The Roman Curia and the Christian nations of Eastern Europe subsequently took notice of this small Albanian state that had broken away from the Ottoman. Pope Eugene IV and King Alfonso V of Aragon, who had recently jointly ruled Naples, even extended an olive branch to him, hoping that Skanderbeg would ultimately choose the Roman Catholic faith for the rest of his life in exchange for aid and recognition from the Catholic world.
To the Christian nations, who had now effectively become his allies, Skanderbeg responded with appropriate diplomatic etiquette, but regarding the choice of faith, he did not give a direct answer, instead being somewhat ambiguous.
As for why this situation occurred, it must be traced back to Christmas—
In early December, Bosporus had sent an envoy to Albania, but it was not until Christmas Eve that he arrived in Krujë and met Skanderbeg, who had just established himself there.
Ever since the tyrannical Ottoman governor died at Skanderbeg's hands at the end of last month, Skanderbeg and his forces, upon returning home, adopted a mild rule, completely opposite to that of the Ottoman: on one hand, they reduced the high taxes that Christians had faced under Ottoman rule to win over the people, and on the other hand, they ordered Muslim settlers to convert to Christianity or face death, thereby seizing their wealth to alleviate the situation.
Therefore, on Christmas Eve, Krujë was much livelier than it had been a few years prior. Many Christians, who had previously lived in fear under Ottoman rule, now lit bonfires, celebrating the birth of the Holy Son with their families and neighbors.
While the city was filled with warmth, inside Krujë Castle, Skanderbeg, having changed his attire from the previous Turk military uniform to a clean white Albanian fustanella, was engaged in a harmonious conversation with a Roman envoy dressed in a grayish-white dalmatica standing opposite him.
"So, Mr. Mana, if your Manuel wishes me to convert to the orthodox faith in exchange for the aid and recognition of the orthodox world, then I regret to say that, given the current situation, I still need to be cautious in my words and actions." Towards the end of the conversation, the Albanian Prince informed the envoy opposite him, who was Georgia Mana, the emissary sent by the Bosphorus Autocratic State.
Mana seemed unsurprised by Skanderbeg's reply. The Foreign Affairs Director, personally promoted by Caesar Manuel, now merely probed with an unchanged expression:
"Such agreements… Alas, it truly is as Manuel predicted when he entrusted me."
"But I still want to ask, have you truly made this decision?
"Even if the intelligence regarding the Krujë region that you received last month was provided by us, and we have been promoting your deeds without charge all this time?"
"Everything must adapt to the circumstances, Mr. Mana."
"Holy Mother Mary, I knew it would be like this." Saying this, Mana sighed helplessly, imitating his Manuel, "Never mind, let's not talk about these things. However, if you think I am here to pressure you on behalf of Manuel, then you are mistaken."
Hearing this, Skanderbeg's eye twitched slightly. Before he could say anything, the Bosphorus envoy stood up and added, "As long as you are willing to continue fighting the Ottoman until this Holy War ends, regardless of whether you believe in Catholic or orthodox, Manuel's support for you will not diminish. And my personal visit to Krujë is not to force you to choose one or the other on behalf of Manuel, but to represent the Autocratic State in recognizing your rightful position in Albania."
Having said that, Mana turned to leave. At this moment, Skanderbeg, behind him, directly called out to him,
"Holy Father above, please convey my due gratitude to Manuel."