Moisi Arianit Golemi, lord of Debar, and one of Skanderbeg's officers, deserted to the Ottomans following the defeat at Berat in 1455.

Golemi set off from Adrianople with an army to capture Albania but was swiftly defeated by Skanderbeg's smaller forces.

The fight continued on foot until Zaharia stabbed Ahimaz in the throat and cut off his head whilst the two horses rode towards the Albanian lines, which was taken as a good omen by Skanderbeg's forces.

As Skanderbeg began to move towards him, Moisi turned around and fled back to his own army, giving orders to begin the attack on the Albanians.

Skanderbeg's force, comprising 6,000 men on horse and 4,000 on foot, were divided into three lines with the commander in charge of the middle.

Both Turkish lines quickly broke under the shock of the Albanian cavalry attack and the battle turned to hand-to-hand fighting with both commanders dangerously involved.