Ballaban Badera
Encyclopedia
Ballaban Badera was a battle-hardened and experienced Janissary
commander who fought for the Ottoman Empire
.
He was born Michael, son of Milosch and Helena, and was kidnaped, when a child, during Ottoman raids. Ballaban Badera was said to be the first climbing the walls of Constantinople
and proved instrumental in the Ottoman Conquest of the Balkans
.
), and Philippopolis
(modern day Plovdiv
), in a settlement near the place known as the Pass of Isladi
, or the Pass of Slatiza
, modern day Bulgaria. Ballaban Badera, or Ballaban Pasha, was born as Michael, to mother Helena and father Milosch. Milosch and Helena had also another son: Constantine, younger brother of Michael. The people of the high mountainous settlement, where Ballaban Badera was born as Michael, to Milosch and Helena, lived as shepherds, practiced Christianity with a mixture of remnants from pagan customs, spoke slavic language, and were of serbian ethnicity.
Army under Sultan
Mehmed II
. George Kastriota (Skanderbeg
), with whom Ballaban Badera would cross paths of history, was raised as a Janissary
as well, under the same Devshirme system Ballaban Badera was developed.
. The Albanians were victorious, but at a terrible cost: Ballaban Pasha showed his military prowess and thirteen highest ranking generals of George Kastriota were captured; among them was Moisi Arianit Golemi
of Dibra, George Kastriota's, (Skanderbeg
's), second in command. Moisi Arianit Golemi was the organizer of Skanderbeg's desertion from the Ottoman Court
and subsequent return to Albania
. Moisi Golemi was also the main political organizer and the heart and soul, if you will, of the Albanian Cause. Moisi Arianit Golemi
, two of George Kastriota's nephews, and the other captured generals were sent to Constantinople
, modern day Istambul. George Kastriota offered great many captured Ottoman Pashas and great many Ottoman Prisoners, and enormous amounts of treasure in exchange for Moisi Golemi and the other generals, but Mehmet II refused: Moisi Golemi and the other captured Albanian Generals were all an invaluable prize to the Ottomans. Ballaban Badera had dealt a terrible blow to the Albanian resistance by capturing Moisi Golemi and high ranking George Kastriota's generals, and the effect of that terrible blow was to be felt with time, after the death of George Kastriota.
Ballaban and Moisi Arianit Golemi
As usual, Mehmet II made attempts to win alliances of the captured Albanian Generals against George Kastriota, but such attempts failed. Moisi Arianit Golemi
was not presented with such an offer: He had previously approached the Sultan, had betrayed George Kastriota, and had led an Ottoman Army against George Kastriota. In doing so, Moisi Golemi had hoped to save his people, and his country of Albania
, from the utter devastation and the disastrous burden of the war against the Ottomans. Moisi Golemi calculated that it was better accepting the Ottoman yoke for a period in which the country could regain life and survive, so he decided to submit to the Ottomans and betray his Prince: George Kastriota. Under Ottoman command, Moisi Golemi, who was a very astute strategist, and who was man of great wisdom and visionary, saw, experienced, and perfectly understood the futility of his submission to the Ottomans for the benefit of his people and his country. He deserted the Ottomans and returned to George Kastriota. Eventually, George Kastriota pardoned Moisi Golemi. But there was no clemency expected from Mehmet II, who was an astute strategist himself and understood what Moisi Golemi strived for. Mehmet II would seek searing vengeance for Moisi Golemi's apostasy. The stage is set and Moisi Arianit Golemi
suffered an ignominious death, and so did all the other twelve captured Albanian Generals: They were all skinned alive publicly in Istanbul
.
Ballaban's campaign (1465)
Ballaban's brother Constantine
Ballaban received further help from the Sultan and was sent leading Ottoman Armies against Skanderbeg once more, alongside an Albanian Pasha called Jakub Bej Arnauti, this time near Upper Dibra, in the Valley of Vaikal
, but Ballaban, Jacub Bej Arnauti, and Ottoman Armies were again defeated. Jacub Bej Arnauti perished in that battle
.
During all these historical endeavors, Constantine, son of Milosch and Helena, brother of the boy Michael who had become Ballaban Badera, was a soldier under the command of George Kastriota fighting against the Ottoman Armies led by his brother. Milosch, father of the kidnapped boy Michael, was also a soldier under George Kastriota's command. Even though a Serbian, Milosch identified with the Albanian Cause having been left no choice by the policies of the Serbian Despot, George Brankovic
, who would become either Moslem or Christian depending on policies of the moment.Milosch became sworn brothers ("vllam" in Albanian and "probratim" in Serbian), a wide spread practice among Albanians and Serbs at the time, with the forester of Musache de Stresses, the Lord of Skadar (modern day Shkoder). Milosch and the forester of De Stresses would foster Morsinia (named after Elizabeth Morsiney bride of King Sigismund of Hungary), the Albanian Heiress of De Stresses, daughter of Musache de Stresses and Mara Cernoviche who were murdered by Amesas Kastriota
, the infamous nephew of George Kastriota (Skanderbeg
).
Amesas Kastriota had appropriated the vast estates of the De Stresses and had birth claims over the estates of the Kastriotas; Ballaban Badera saw the opportunity and organized the coronation of Amesas Kastiota
as a Moslem King of Albania, under vassalage of the Ottomans. George Kastriota (Skanderbeg) learned of the coronation plans and gives the order over all of Albania that the coronation of a Moslem King must be stopped at any cost and all of Albania must take up arms. The Battle of Albulena ensued and Amesas Kastriota
was captured.
Ballban Badera later came as a commanding general of the army under Mehmet II during the Second Siege of Krujë (1466), where he kept the city besieged for just under a year. In that battle, Ballaban Badera was killed by an arquebus
shot to the neck by Gjergj Aleksi, a defender of the city and a hunter in his civilian life. After Ballaban's death, the Ottoman Army stationed in Albania lost its unity and was soon defeated.
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
commander who fought for the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
He was born Michael, son of Milosch and Helena, and was kidnaped, when a child, during Ottoman raids. Ballaban Badera was said to be the first climbing the walls of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and proved instrumental in the Ottoman Conquest of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
.
The Pass of Slatiza
Ballaban Badera was of serbian ethnicity. His place of birth it is not precisely known, but the best geographical approximation that can be made, following historical records, is that the family to whom Ballaban Badera was born lived in the Southern Slopes of the Balkan Mountains, between Serdica (modern day SofiaSofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
), and Philippopolis
Philippopolis
The term Philippopolis , which translates as "Philip's Town," may refer to the following cities:*Plovdiv, Bulgaria *Shahba, Syria...
(modern day Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
), in a settlement near the place known as the Pass of Isladi
Via Militaris
Via Militaris or Via Diagonalis was an ancient Roman road, starting from Singidunum , passing by Danube coast to Viminacium , through Naissus , Serdica , Philippopolis , Adrianopolis , and reaching Constantinople...
, or the Pass of Slatiza
Via Militaris
Via Militaris or Via Diagonalis was an ancient Roman road, starting from Singidunum , passing by Danube coast to Viminacium , through Naissus , Serdica , Philippopolis , Adrianopolis , and reaching Constantinople...
, modern day Bulgaria. Ballaban Badera, or Ballaban Pasha, was born as Michael, to mother Helena and father Milosch. Milosch and Helena had also another son: Constantine, younger brother of Michael. The people of the high mountainous settlement, where Ballaban Badera was born as Michael, to Milosch and Helena, lived as shepherds, practiced Christianity with a mixture of remnants from pagan customs, spoke slavic language, and were of serbian ethnicity.
Two Janissaries
Milosch had served in the army of Vallachian Prince Myrtche, fighting against the Ottoman Turks. Michael, son of Milosch and Helena, was kidnaped during the Ottoman Turkish raids. Ballaban Badera's biological mother, Helena, was killed during the Turkish raids, and most probably raped. Milosch, biological father of Ballaban Badera, and brother Constantine escaped and survived the raids. Michael was raised as a Janissary and named Ballaban Badera, or Ballaban Pasha; he was a product of the Devshirme system, just as the entire troop of Janissaries was, and one of the best generals of the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Army under Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
. George Kastriota (Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
), with whom Ballaban Badera would cross paths of history, was raised as a Janissary
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
as well, under the same Devshirme system Ballaban Badera was developed.
Ballaban and George Kastriota
Ballaban fought George Kastriota (Skanderbeg) in April 1465 close to OhridOhrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
. The Albanians were victorious, but at a terrible cost: Ballaban Pasha showed his military prowess and thirteen highest ranking generals of George Kastriota were captured; among them was Moisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi, , the Albanian feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni....
of Dibra, George Kastriota's, (Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
's), second in command. Moisi Arianit Golemi was the organizer of Skanderbeg's desertion from the Ottoman Court
Ottoman court
Ottoman court or the culture that evolved around the court of the Ottoman Empire was known as the "Ottoman Way". To get a high position in the empire, one must be skilled in the Way. It included both knowing Persian, Arabic and Ottoman Turkish and how to behave in court, in front of the sultan, and...
and subsequent return to Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Moisi Golemi was also the main political organizer and the heart and soul, if you will, of the Albanian Cause. Moisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi, , the Albanian feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni....
, two of George Kastriota's nephews, and the other captured generals were sent to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, modern day Istambul. George Kastriota offered great many captured Ottoman Pashas and great many Ottoman Prisoners, and enormous amounts of treasure in exchange for Moisi Golemi and the other generals, but Mehmet II refused: Moisi Golemi and the other captured Albanian Generals were all an invaluable prize to the Ottomans. Ballaban Badera had dealt a terrible blow to the Albanian resistance by capturing Moisi Golemi and high ranking George Kastriota's generals, and the effect of that terrible blow was to be felt with time, after the death of George Kastriota.
Ballaban and Moisi Arianit GolemiMoisi Arianit GolemiMoisi Arianit Golemi, , the Albanian feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni....
As usual, Mehmet II made attempts to win alliances of the captured Albanian Generals against George Kastriota, but such attempts failed. Moisi Arianit GolemiMoisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi, , the Albanian feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni....
was not presented with such an offer: He had previously approached the Sultan, had betrayed George Kastriota, and had led an Ottoman Army against George Kastriota. In doing so, Moisi Golemi had hoped to save his people, and his country of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, from the utter devastation and the disastrous burden of the war against the Ottomans. Moisi Golemi calculated that it was better accepting the Ottoman yoke for a period in which the country could regain life and survive, so he decided to submit to the Ottomans and betray his Prince: George Kastriota. Under Ottoman command, Moisi Golemi, who was a very astute strategist, and who was man of great wisdom and visionary, saw, experienced, and perfectly understood the futility of his submission to the Ottomans for the benefit of his people and his country. He deserted the Ottomans and returned to George Kastriota. Eventually, George Kastriota pardoned Moisi Golemi. But there was no clemency expected from Mehmet II, who was an astute strategist himself and understood what Moisi Golemi strived for. Mehmet II would seek searing vengeance for Moisi Golemi's apostasy. The stage is set and Moisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi
Moisi Arianit Golemi, , the Albanian feudal lord of Dibra, and grandnephew of Gjergj Arianit Komneni....
suffered an ignominious death, and so did all the other twelve captured Albanian Generals: They were all skinned alive publicly in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
.
Ballaban's campaign (1465)Ballaban's campaign (1465)On August 1465, Ballaban Badera, an Albanian-born janissary launched his fourth but largest campaign against Skanderbeg. He was defeated in both battles of Ohrid and Vajkal the year before. Ballaban had previously inflicted severe casualties on the Albanian side and soon received high favor from...
Ballaban's brother ConstantineBallaban received further help from the Sultan and was sent leading Ottoman Armies against Skanderbeg once more, alongside an Albanian Pasha called Jakub Bej Arnauti, this time near Upper Dibra, in the Valley of Vaikal
Battle of Vaikal
The Battle of Vaikal occurred in April 1465 in the valley of Vaikal, southeastern Albania. A new Ottoman captain of Albanian origin, Ballaban Badera, was sent by Sultan Mehmed II to inflict heavy losses on the Albanian forces. Skanderbeg had been prepared for the battle and prepared his troops for...
, but Ballaban, Jacub Bej Arnauti, and Ottoman Armies were again defeated. Jacub Bej Arnauti perished in that battle
Battle of Vaikal
The Battle of Vaikal occurred in April 1465 in the valley of Vaikal, southeastern Albania. A new Ottoman captain of Albanian origin, Ballaban Badera, was sent by Sultan Mehmed II to inflict heavy losses on the Albanian forces. Skanderbeg had been prepared for the battle and prepared his troops for...
.
During all these historical endeavors, Constantine, son of Milosch and Helena, brother of the boy Michael who had become Ballaban Badera, was a soldier under the command of George Kastriota fighting against the Ottoman Armies led by his brother. Milosch, father of the kidnapped boy Michael, was also a soldier under George Kastriota's command. Even though a Serbian, Milosch identified with the Albanian Cause having been left no choice by the policies of the Serbian Despot, George Brankovic
George Brankovic
George Brankovic is an old English transliteration/anglicization of several Serbian rulers:* Đurađ Branković * Đorđe Branković * Đorđe Branković...
, who would become either Moslem or Christian depending on policies of the moment.Milosch became sworn brothers ("vllam" in Albanian and "probratim" in Serbian), a wide spread practice among Albanians and Serbs at the time, with the forester of Musache de Stresses, the Lord of Skadar (modern day Shkoder). Milosch and the forester of De Stresses would foster Morsinia (named after Elizabeth Morsiney bride of King Sigismund of Hungary), the Albanian Heiress of De Stresses, daughter of Musache de Stresses and Mara Cernoviche who were murdered by Amesas Kastriota
Hamza Kastrioti
Hamza Kastrioti was the nephew of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Probably born in Ottoman territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they...
, the infamous nephew of George Kastriota (Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
).
Amesas Kastriota had appropriated the vast estates of the De Stresses and had birth claims over the estates of the Kastriotas; Ballaban Badera saw the opportunity and organized the coronation of Amesas Kastiota
Hamza Kastrioti
Hamza Kastrioti was the nephew of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Probably born in Ottoman territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they...
as a Moslem King of Albania, under vassalage of the Ottomans. George Kastriota (Skanderbeg) learned of the coronation plans and gives the order over all of Albania that the coronation of a Moslem King must be stopped at any cost and all of Albania must take up arms. The Battle of Albulena ensued and Amesas Kastriota
Hamza Kastrioti
Hamza Kastrioti was the nephew of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Probably born in Ottoman territory, after the death of his father he was raised by Skanderbeg, who took him in his military expeditions. He supported Skanderbeg's uprising and was the vice captain of Skanderbeg's troops when they...
was captured.
Ballban Badera later came as a commanding general of the army under Mehmet II during the Second Siege of Krujë (1466), where he kept the city besieged for just under a year. In that battle, Ballaban Badera was killed by an arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
shot to the neck by Gjergj Aleksi, a defender of the city and a hunter in his civilian life. After Ballaban's death, the Ottoman Army stationed in Albania lost its unity and was soon defeated.
Popular culture
- Ballaban is one of the characters introduced in the Ballad of Heores expansion pack to the game Legendary Warriors. He is portrayed as a very powerful warrior and a skilled commander, and a rival to SkanderbegSkanderbegGeorge Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
. He spends much of the game in Albania fighting Skanderbeg, so is not closely associated with the other Ottoman generals. He wields a pair of large cutlasses.