Vrana Konti

Count Vrana (fl. 1450–1458†) was a Napolitan nobleman, who received the title of conte (count) by King Alfonso the Magnanimous and later became one of the closest allies of George Kastrioti "Skanderbeg" in Albania. He was Skanderbeg's counselor and one of his best generals.
Vrana participated in all of Skanderbeg's major battles until 1458. He is known mainly for his resistance as the commander of the Albanian garrison during the First Siege of Krujë. He was offered a great deal of money and a high-ranking post in the Ottoman administration by Sultan Murad II conditional on his surrender, but he refused.

Identity

The real identity of Vrana has yet not been determined.

There are no reliable information regarding his surname.

• According to Zanović (1751-1786), he was part of the Ćuda family.
• Hopf identified Hamza Kastrioti (Branilo) with Vrana, although Gopčević dismisses the theory, stressing that Hamza was the nephew of Skanderbeg.
• According to J. G. v. Hahn: Hopf's finds do not provide any insight into the ancestry of Vrana. Barleti only says the following about his ancestry: "Vranacontem Epiro oriundum gratum et avorum rueritis et propria virtute". Muzaka gives little information, it is undetermined whether Maria Zardari was the wife or daughter-in-law of Vrana, but the notice that she was just married, when in 1466 she fled to Naples together with Skanderbeg's widow, could rather support the assumption of being the daughter-in-law. In addition, Muzaka only mentioned that she married after both lost i loro stati paterni. In lack of certain information, Hahn speculates the Branai as a side branch of Kastrioti (named after Branilo, governor of Alexander Gioritsch). Considering that according to Muzaka, Skanderbeg's mother was a Tripalda, and that a descendant of Vrana held the title "Marchese di Tripalda", Hahn speculated that Vrana and Voisava Tripalda were related by blood. Vrana was the forefather of the dukes of Ferrandina, who descended from Skanderbeg maternally (through Skanderbeg's granddaughter who married Antonio Branai). The theory that the dukes of Ferrandino were paternally Kastrioti is a weak assumption.
• According to Noli, his surname was "Altisferi", the same given to Leke Zaharia.
  • Some sources name him Simon Altisfieri or Altafoglia. The Altafoglias were a noble family in Brescia prominent in the 14th century.

Early history

Vrana served King Alfonso the Magnanimous, from whom he received the title of count. He entered the service of Skanderbeg in 1450. Vrana has been described as a man of great authority and experience, and noted for his intelligence and judgement. He became one of the best friends of Skanderbeg. He was an associate of Vlladan Grivici, and Vladan Jurica.

Siege of Krujë

Skanderbeg had given Vrana the governorship of Krujë prior to the Siege.

In June 1450, two years after the Ottomans had captured Svetigrad, they laid siege to Krujë with an army numbering approximately 100,000 men and led again by Sultan Murad II himself and his son, Mehmed. Following a scorched earth strategy (thus denying the Ottomans the use of necessary local resources), Skanderbeg left a protective garrison of 1,500 to 4,000 under Vrana, while, with the remainder of the army, which included many Slavs, Germans, Frenchmen and Italians, he harassed the Ottoman camps around Krujë by continuously attacking Sultan Murad II's supply caravans. The garrison repelled three major direct assaults on the city walls by the Ottomans, causing great losses to the besieging forces. Ottoman attempts at finding and cutting the water sources failed, as did a sapped tunnel, which collapsed suddenly. An offer of 300,000 aspra (Turkish silver coins) and a promise of a high rank as an officer in the Ottoman army made to Vrana Konti, were both rejected by him. Vrana addressed the army with encouraging speeches in order to raise morale, in Albanian and Italian, and through interpreters.

After the triumph of Skanderbeg, Vrana was given the county of Mat.

Siege of Berat

The sultan sent an army of 20,000 troops in mid-July 1455, led by Issa beg Evrenoz, which surprised Skanderbeg's army. Only one commander, Vrana, managed to resist the initial Ottoman onslaught and pushed back several attacking waves. When Skanderbeg returned, however, the Ottoman relief force was repulsed and defeated. But the Albanians were exhausted and their numbers had dwindled to the point where the siege could not be continued.

More than 5,000 of Skanderbeg's men died, including 800 men of a 1,000 man strong contingent of Neapolitans from Alfonso, who were experts in demolition, artillery, and siege warfare. The commander of the siege, Muzaka Thopia, also died during the conflict.

Vrana died in 1458, at an old age. He married Maria Zardari, the daughter of Paul Zardari and Theodora Muzaka. According to Hahn, he possibly had a son, while according to İnalcık it was possibly Zaganos Pasha.