Encouraged by Pope Eugene IV, Albanian leaders in 1433, rose up against the Turkish invasion. The first one was Gjergj Arianiti. His victory also encouraged Albanians from other provinces to attack Turkish garrisons. Gjirokastra’s people called the son of Gjin Zenebishtit, their former ruler, Depë Zenebishtin, who was sheltered in Corfu. The insurgents surrounded Gjirokastra which was the capital of Albanian Sandzak. The Turkish garrison resisted surrounded, until came the help of Turhan Pasha. The Albanians found themselves in the middle of and left over 1,000 killed in the battlefield. Even Depe Zenebishti was captured and killed.
