Gjergj Pelini
Encyclopedia
Gjergj Pelini was an Albanian
Catholic priest and diplomat of the League of Lezhë
.
. His abbey was under the jurisdiction of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar
, but he was not in good relations with its titulars, due to his ambitions of becoming himself head of Archdiocese. In 1441, together with Gjon Gazulli
he is mentioned as a member of a diplomatic mission in Italy. Together with Andrea, the Bishop of Arbër, he participated as a negotiator between Skanderbeg and Venice Republic during the peace treaty negotiations that ended Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–1448.
While Venice proveditors in Albania were helping the Ottoman army during the First Siege of Krujë
, as a representative of Skanderbeg, in October 1450 in a diplomatic maneuver, he proposed to the Venice to handed them over the city of Krujë if they wanted too. On November 1450 Venice informed him that his request was not accepted, because it had not enough soldiers to do so. Mainly due to his efforts the peace treaty privileges and payment conditions were renewed in 1456. At the same year he was appointed as Protonotary apostolic
. In 1457 in the name of Skanderbeg he went in a diplomatic mission to Pope Callixtus III
, asking help to resist the Ottoman campaign of that year. In 1458 during the conflict between Skanderbeg and Lekë Dukagjini
, he acted as an intermediary between Skanderbeg and Venice, achieving a personal success in forging the bases for a future military alliance between them. In a sign of good will, in 1459 Skanderbeg handed over to Venice the castle of Shas, that he had captured from Lekë Dukagjini that year. Pleased by this act, Venice rewarded Gjergj Pelini's brothers with a monthly pension. In 1460 Skanderbeg appointed him as his personal ambassador to Venice and Rome. While with his Italian campaign
Skanderbeg played a great role in saving the Kingdom of Naples
, which was the eternal enemy of Venice, their mutual relations worsened. However due to Gjergj Pelini efforts, their obligations under current treaties were respected. In 1463 he played an important role in the signing of an alliance treaty between Skanderbeg
and the Republic of Venice. He is last mentioned in sources in August 1463 and he presumably died later that year.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
Catholic priest and diplomat of the League of Lezhë
League of Lezhë
The League of Lezhë was an alliance of Albanian Principalities forged in Lezhë on the 2nd of March 1444. It was initiated and organised by Skanderbeg with the aim of uniting the Albanian principalities that had been founded in the 12th - 14th centuries, to fight the Ottoman Armies...
.
Life
Pelini's birthdate is unknown, but his birthplace Novobërdë is stated in a 1441 document. From 1438 to 1463, he was the head of the Saint Mary abbey in Rotec, in nowadays SutomoreSutomore
Sutomore is a small coastal town in Bar Municipality, Montenegro. A 2003 census put the population at 1,827.-History:...
. His abbey was under the jurisdiction of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Montenegro. It is centred in the city of Bar . It was erected as a diocese in the 9th century and elevated to an archdiocese in 1089...
, but he was not in good relations with its titulars, due to his ambitions of becoming himself head of Archdiocese. In 1441, together with Gjon Gazulli
Gjon Gazulli
Gjon Gazulli Gjadër, Republic of Venice, 1400 – Republic of Ragusa, 19 February 1465) was an Albanian Dominican friar, humanist scholar, and diplomat.-Life:...
he is mentioned as a member of a diplomatic mission in Italy. Together with Andrea, the Bishop of Arbër, he participated as a negotiator between Skanderbeg and Venice Republic during the peace treaty negotiations that ended Albanian–Venetian War of 1447–1448.
While Venice proveditors in Albania were helping the Ottoman army during the First Siege of Krujë
First Siege of Krujë
The First Siege of Krujë occurred in 1450 when an Ottoman army of approximately 100,000 men laid siege to Krujë in Albania. The League of Lezhë, led by Skanderbeg, suffered to low morale after the losses of Svetigrad and Berat in 1448-1450...
, as a representative of Skanderbeg, in October 1450 in a diplomatic maneuver, he proposed to the Venice to handed them over the city of Krujë if they wanted too. On November 1450 Venice informed him that his request was not accepted, because it had not enough soldiers to do so. Mainly due to his efforts the peace treaty privileges and payment conditions were renewed in 1456. At the same year he was appointed as Protonotary apostolic
Protonotary apostolic
In the Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college of prelates in the Roman Curia or, outside of Rome, an honorary prelate on whom the pope has conferred this title and its special privileges.-History:In later antiquity there were in...
. In 1457 in the name of Skanderbeg he went in a diplomatic mission to Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III , né Alfons de Borja, was Pope from April 8, 1455 to his death in 1458.-Biography:...
, asking help to resist the Ottoman campaign of that year. In 1458 during the conflict between Skanderbeg and Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë III Dukagjini was an Albanian prince who fought against the Ottoman Empire. A contemporary of Skanderbeg, Dukagjini is known for the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, a code of law instituted in northern Albania.- Biography :...
, he acted as an intermediary between Skanderbeg and Venice, achieving a personal success in forging the bases for a future military alliance between them. In a sign of good will, in 1459 Skanderbeg handed over to Venice the castle of Shas, that he had captured from Lekë Dukagjini that year. Pleased by this act, Venice rewarded Gjergj Pelini's brothers with a monthly pension. In 1460 Skanderbeg appointed him as his personal ambassador to Venice and Rome. While with his Italian campaign
Skanderbeg's Italian expedition
Skanderbeg's Italian expedition was undertaken to aid his ally Ferdinand I of Naples, whose rulership was threatened by the Angevin Dynasty. George Kastrioti Skanderbeg was the ruler of Albania who had been leading a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire since 1443 and allied himself with several...
Skanderbeg played a great role in saving the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, which was the eternal enemy of Venice, their mutual relations worsened. However due to Gjergj Pelini efforts, their obligations under current treaties were respected. In 1463 he played an important role in the signing of an alliance treaty between 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...
and the Republic of Venice. He is last mentioned in sources in August 1463 and he presumably died later that year.