Nevertheless, Skanderbeg's exhortations and the support of the clergy, who claimed to have had visions of angels and victory, motivated the Albanians to defend the capital of the League, Krujë, at all costs.

After leaving a protective garrison of 4,000 men under his trusted lieutenant Vrana Konti (also known as Kont Urani), Skanderbeg harassed the Ottoman camps around Krujë and attacked the supply caravans of Sultan Murad II's army.

The Ottoman army acknowledged that the castle of Krujë would not fall by strength of arms, lifted the siege, and made its way to Edirne.

After several failed invasions of Albania by Ottoman captains, Murad II laid siege to the fortress of Svetigrad (which is thought to be today's Demir Hisar) on May 14, 1448, with a force of 80,000 men.

[14] The small garrison, composed of Albanians, Bulgarians, and other Europeans held the fortress while Scanderbeg attacked the Ottoman camp from outside.

When the Turks began marching towards Krujë on April 5, 1450,[3] the people claimed to have seen cherubims and angels flying over Albania.

[19] Skanderbeg himself claimed that he had received a vision of St. George handing him a flaming sword to "destroy the enemies of true religion (Christianity).

The women and children of Krujë were sent for protection to Venetian possessed cities, whereas the others were ordered to burn their crops and move into the mountains and fortresses.

The attacks made by Skanderbeg caused the Turks to aim some of their cannons towards the expected guerrilla forces instead of the fortress.

A large force of Turkish cavalry was sent out, which Skanderbeg followed up to the mouth of the Ishëm River, until they turned back to Krujë.

Moisi Golemi and Tanush Thopia raised a couple thousand more, and the force was split between the three, making attacks on the Turkish camp easier.

The pasha tried to convince the count that Murad would be a more suitable master than Skanderbeg was and that the siege was almost over, but Vrana refused to surrender.

Skanderbeg also refused replying: "Nay if Murad did divide with me and make me co-partner with all his empire, I would never suffer the name of Albania to be stained and blemished with this blot of disgrace and infamy.

[36] Skanderbeg then became a vassal of Alfonso V, on March 26, 1451, by the Treaty of Gaeta, gaining much needed men and supplies from the crown of Aragon.

After the siege was lifted, Skanderbeg commemorated his victory by designing a helmet with the head of a goat on it, as a reference to his "ingenious tactics" used that night.

[29] Naim Frashëri, a prominent Albanian poet, wrote of how the siege of Krujë had saved Europe from Ottoman invasion.