by Bjoern Andersen
The stamp of Scanderbeg
A few years ago a Danish archaeologist, Dr Peter Pentz from The Danish National Museum, published an article about the seal-stamp of Scanderbeg, a brass-stamp to seal documents. The stamp had been bought in Italy in the middle of the 17th century to the Danish king of a commission agent. For many years the stamp was looked upon as an artefact from the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople. Now, Dr Pentz made a thorough study and discovered that the seal-stamp had something to do with Scanderbeg. According to the inscription, which is in Greek, the stamp belongs to Alexander (= Skender) who is described as an Emperor of the Romans and a King of the Turk, the Albanians, the Serbs and the Bulgars. Since Scanderbeg never was in a position in which he could describe himself as an emperor or a king – or would be accepted as such of the other nobles in Albania – it is most likely that the stamp has been manufactured in Italy some years after his death of political or economic reasons, either in the 16th or in the first part of the 17th century. Furthermore, we do not know of any documents with this seal. Dr Pentz adds that another stamp is known with a simple and modest text: Georgius Castriotus Scendarbigo.
Ludvig Holberg
When discussing the stamp Dr Pentz and I recalled a text about Skanderbeg by Ludvig Holberg. Holberg was born in Bergen, Norway, in 1684 and moved to Copenhagen to study theology; at that time Norway, Iceland and Denmark were united with the Danish king as the sovereign. Later on, Holberg became a professor of the university which he was till he passed away in 1754. Today he is widely acknowledged as one of the main characters in the Danish-Norwegian Enlightenment. Holberg was a great scholar and a highly productive and versatile writer. His writings were on natural law and natural rights, history and philosophy, but he also made up scathing satires and vivid comedies that are performed even today. Some of the comedies are The Political Tinker, Erasmus Montanus and Jeppe of the Hill. Holberg wrote against haughtiness and false wisdom – in the comedies and in his essays as well. In his late essays – the Epistles – he discussed many problems of contemporary importance; like other European writers of that time he – for instance grappled with the insoluble theodicy-problem, the discrepancy between the good and almighty God and the overwhelming evil.
Holberg on Scanderbeg
In 1739 Holberg published The Achievements of Great Heroes. He had taken inspiration from the ancient Greek writer Plutarch, who once compared outstanding Greek and Roman characters. Holberg wrote about 12 pairs: Zoroaster and Mohammed, Sulla and Caesar, Socrates and Epaminondas – and Zizka and Scanderbeg. The characters were as it appears – highly important persons from different times and different places. One of the favourites of Holberg was Socrates, whom he highly appreciated because of his approach to knowledge and his moderation. Scanderbeg was appreciated as one of the greatest generals ever lived -and for his modesty. According to Holberg Scanderbeg never overrated his position, but stood up as an humble Christian Soldier since he left the Ottoman army and abandoned Islam. Writing about Scanderbeg Holberg took the work of Marinus Barletius (or Barleti) as a starting point, but he formed his own judgement. Possibly, he had an aim of his own to pursue – to promote certain virtues and to discredit other ones. Holberg realized that Scanderbeg -with limited support – was capable of holding his ground against the Ottoman forces. Even more, he fought the enemy vigorously, defeated him and often put him to flight. Holberg took an interest in Scanderbeg because of his great military achievements against the Muslims. Here we have to bear in mind the Ottoman attack on Vienna in 1683 (led by one of the Albanian-Turk K
