[4] Gjon II Kastrioti was born in 1456 in Petralba castle (today Petrelë, Tirana) and according to Marin Barleti, Skanderbeg before battle of Albulena took his wife and son to Krujë.

He was fighting against the Ottomans in Otranto, when representatives of the Albanian insurgents asked Gjon II Kastrioti to return to Albania and he accepted their request, starting the Albanian Rebellion of 1481–1488 Taking advantage of the interest of the Neapolitan court at this time in expanding the front of the war against the Ottoman invaders, Gjon II Kastrioti managed to obtain from King Ferdinand the necessary means of navigation to come to Albania together with a number of warriors.

To withstand the attack of the Ottoman army, Gjon II Kastrioti sent a part of his fighters to defend a path from which the enemy troops would pass.

This loss shook Gjon II Kastrioti's confidence in the success of the uprising, so he thought of leaving Albania and returning to Italy.

About 7,000 Albanian infantry gathered around Gjon II Kastriot[7] and in the first half of August 1481 attacked and defeated an Ottoman army of 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers.

Also during August 1481, in the western parts of southern Albania, especially in the region of Himara, fierce fighting took place between Albanians and Ottoman troops.

After the victories of the Albanians during the month of August 1481 against the army of Sulejman Pasha, their military actions for the liberation of the cities and castles in Albania were expanded.

The fall of the anti-Ottoman resistance forced Gjon II Kastrioti to leave Albania and settle again in the properties that the Kastriots had in Italy.

[13] Rreth 7 mijë luftëtarë u grumbulluan rreth Gjon Kastriotit Më 1481, i biri i Skënderbeut, Gjon Kastrioti, i thirrur prej Shqiptarëve, shkoi nga Italia në Himarë, zaptoi një pjesë të madhe të Labërisë, edhe theu një ushtëri turke prej 2000 që u dërgua kundër tij.