Austrian experts reconfirm arrival of Skanderbeg’s helmet, sword

TIRANA, July 24 – Experts of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where Skanderbeg’s personal armament are displayed, have reconfirmed the Albanian national hero’s helmet and sword will be brought to Tirana in exhibition next November when Albania marks its 100th anniversary of independence.
In a visit to the National Museum of History in Tirana this week, where they inspected security and indoor climate conditions, Austrian specialists said Skanderbeg’s personal items could be displayed in Tirana for up to three months.
“We will do the impossible so that the exhibition of Skanderbeg’s personal items is successful to the Albanian public and is made in the best pavillion of this museum,” Christian Beaufort of the Kunsthistorisches Museum told reporters after meeting the Albania national museum director Luan Malltezi. Sotirulla Hoxha, a senior museum official said the three Austrian specialists decided Skanderbeg’s helmet and sword will be displayed in the Middle Ages pavillion where a statue of Skanderbeg, some frescos, imitation arms and original publications in several languages are on display. An original 16-th century portrait of Skanderbeg will also be part of the exhibition. This is the first time Skanderbeg’s personal items will be back in Albania since the 15th century.
The visit by officials of the Kunsthistorisches Museum comes after Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger promised Albanian authorities Skanderbeg’s sword and helmet will be back in Tirana for an exhibition. A national hero, Skanderbeg who in the 15th century era successfully managed to keep the Ottoman army away from Albania for more than 20 years, is a symbol of unity also used by Renaissance writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Yet, all that remains of Scanderbeg’s personal military armament are his helmet and sword which are now preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria. How Scanderbeg’s personal belongings turned up in Vienna so far away from his native land of Albania is attributed to the 16th Century Archduke Ferdinand II of Tirol and, especially, his secretary, Shrenke, according to Frosina.org. The first mention of Scanderbeg’s sword and helmet was in a letter dated October 15, 1578, from the Duke of Urbino to Archduke Ferdinand stating that he would send the helmet and sword to Ambras. In 1605, Ambras castle including the armory was sold to the Austrian Emperor where Scanderbeg’s sword and helmet remained until 1806 when they were transferred with the rest of the military artifacts collection to Belvedere castle and finally, in 1888, to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna where they have remained on display to the present day.
It is believed that Scanderbeg’s helmet and sword were brought to Italy by his wife and son and other members of his family who had emigrated to Italy after Scanderbeg’s death in 1468 where they were eventually acquired by the Duke of Urbino.
Skanderbeg obelisk reconstructed
The reconstruction of an obelisk dedicated to the battle of Zidoll, led by Skanderbeg in 1467 was inaugurated this week in Kruja, some 30 km from Tirana. The obelisk reconstruction was financed by the Durres regional council in the frame of events commemorating the independence centenary.
The obelisk of the Zidoll battle build near the historic town of Kruja commemorates the victories of Skanderbeg’s army against the Ottoman armies.
“Every visitor to Kruja remembers the destroyed obelisk which had lost its values. Facing this situation the Durres regional council examined the possibility of reconstructing the obelisk, bringing back to Kruja a monument that commemorates the glorious battle of Zidoll and Skanderbeg’s army in the second and third siege of Kruja,” said Eglantina Begteshi, the head of the Durres regional council.