At Kruja, I returned to the story of resistance that had accompanied our journey. The castle makes the scale of that history feel close, and I shared my amazement at its defence.
The museum’s guide lists the three unsuccessful Ottoman sieges as 1450, 1466 and 1467. Kruja was eventually conquered in 1478. Kruja Museum’s historical guide.
One detail needs care when retelling this story. The first siege belonged to the reign of Murad II; the later campaigns were under Mehmed II. Referring to all three as attempts by the sultan who conquered Constantinople mixes those rulers together. Historical account published by Diaspora Shqiptare.
The corrected chronology does not make the visit less moving. It gives the admiration a firmer foundation. Standing there, I was thinking about the strength of a place that means so much to our history. Getting the names and dates right is part of sharing that history with others.
Original social post · 2026-10-14