[1][2] Soon after Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in 1443, the Ottoman Empire sent forces to quell the rebellion.

After establishing diplomatic relations with many major European powers, Murad II resumed his campaign to crush all remaining resistance in the Balkans.

The Turkish plan was to fight a war of attrition, pillaging the land and inflicting terror on the population, while avoiding pitched battle.

Mustafa split his force into two and sent one contingent into combat while keeping the other in a fortified position: Otonetë.

The year was successful for the Albanians except that Pal Dukagjini, one of Skanderbeg's closest and strongest allies died of natural causes.