Chandra Prakash Bhongir, Civil Engr, May04 - Repositories

memory of Scanderbeg to the Albanian community in Southern Italy. 5 Even though
Barleti’s data in the book is exaggerated in terms of casualties during the battles,
Scanderbeg’s oratorical skill and the dates when Scanderbeg was sent as a hostage to the
Porte, his is the only work that provided the foundation upon which the Abanian exiles in
Italy would continue to commemorate the memory of Scanderbeg. Even in
acknowledging the deficiencies in Barleti’s work it is important to note that it is his work
that carried for many Albanians the images of Scanderbeg as a man, a husband, a father
and a warrior. Perhaps of most importance is to realize that while Barletti’s work should
be examined closely, most of the scholarly analysis on Scanderbeg’s speeches comes
directly from Marin Barleti’s records. 6
Another quoted source on Scanderbeg and contemporary of Marlin Barleti was
Raphael Volaterranus. He published his work in 1506, Thirty Eight Commentary Books
on the History of Rome 7 , which provided detailed information about the time Scanderbeg
spent in the Ottoman court. The volumes also contain information about the death of
Scanderbeg’s father John, Scanderbeg’s return to Albania, and his betrayal by his nephew
5 Barleti, Marin, Historia e Jetes dhe e Vepravet te Skenderbeut, [The History of the Life and
Actions of Scanderbeg] trans. Stefan Prifti, (Tirane: Universiteti Shteteror i Tiranes, 1967): 51.
The debate over the accuracy of Barleti’s work continues even today. G. T. Petrovic views the book as a
good starting block in the study of Scanderbeg, but another historian, Pal Jovi on the other hand disputes
the importance of Barleti, since [Barleti] gave much praise to Scanderbeg. Other historians like Gibbon and
Jorga subscribe to this view as well as noted by Fan Noli in Noli, Fan S., George Castrioti Scanderbegh,
(New York: International Universities Press, 1947.)
6 The most quoted line in every story goes back to one of Scanderbeg’s speeches that later served
as the rallying cry for Albanian independence. When Scanderbeg returned in Albania and repossessed his
castle from the Ottoman Turks he held a speech in front of his soldiers and people. He is quoted by Barleti
as saying:
“I did not bring you freedom, I found it amongst you. …The kingdom and this city I did not give
you; you delivered it to me. I did not bring you weapons, I found you already armed. You have
freedom all around you, in your chest, in your forehead, in your swords and spears…” (Barleti,
76.)
7 Bicoku, Kasem and Jup Kastrati eds, Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu: Bibliografi1454-1835,
(Tirane: Biblioteka Kombetare, 1997): 62.
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