Citet from author Lovorka Čoralić, “Albanska obitelj Kruta i neki njezini zaslužni pojedinci – prilogpoznavanju istočnojadranskih komunikacija u ranom novovjekovlju”. Izvorni znanstveni članak UDK: 929.52 Kruta
Mihovil Kruta (Kryethi or Crutta) was an Albanian soldiers of the Crutta (Kryethi) tribe of Croatia. He served as the governor of the military area of Zadar. He died in 1649 fighting the Ottomans in the siege of Risno.
Life and background
“The previously mentioned (in Šimun Kruta’s will and as the executor of Helena Mizia’s will) governor Mihovil Kruta can rightly be considered one of the most prominent lawyers of that family in the XVII century. century.
Already recorded in the springs from the end in the twenties of the XVII. century, Mihovil Kruta during the forties of the same century, he reaches the peak of his military career under the banner of Saint Mark – he holds the responsible position of governor of the Zadar military area, and in the Candian War is one of the most prominent military commanders of the elite Venetian units called Soldati Albanesi and Croati a Cavallo.
Kandian War
Numerous data on his participation in to the Kandian War (that is, the initial years of the war, when the largest were recorded Venetian military successes on the wider Dalmatian front) are recorded in the comprehensive historical chronicle of Šibenik Franjo Divnić. In 1646, Kruta is often recorded (together with the commander of the Croatian troops, Zadar noble Karl Benjo) as a commander of the Albanians in the battles around Zadar.
Battle of Malpaga and Krutas administrative and judicial authority
In August, together with Croatian troops, successfully resists Ottoman encroachments in the area villages of Malpaga. In the same month (and at the beginning of September) Albanian and Croatian Krutina units of the famous officer Franjo Posedarski, Turanj and Biograd dams, but they were – after unsuccessful resistance – forced to leave and burn so as not to become strong Ottoman military strongholds on this part of the Zadar coastline.
Mihovil Kruta then is explicitly recorded as the commander of the Croatian units of Biograd, and he had – except military administration – both administrative and judicial authority over the entire area.
Kruta wounded in the leg and Albanian soldier Ghega Progoni
In the following military activities, Kruta’s troops, on the orders of the Venetian Commander-in-Chief Leonardo Foscolo, reach Tisno and besiege Rakitnica – unable to captured the castle, they set fire to the settlement and retreated to Vodice. Then Kruta’s troops participate in the failed attack on Skradin and, at the beginning of October, in smaller skirmishes with the Ottomans near Šibenik.
There he is in a minor skirmish with the Ottomans troops and Mihovil Kruta himself was wounded in the leg. In September 1646, Kruta
recorded, also in the rank of governor, in the will of a prominent Albanian officer in the Venetian service. It is about captain Ghega (Ghega) Progoni, temporarily settled in Zadar, in whose will the governor of Kruta was appointed executor.
Zadar-Sibenik front of 1647
During 1647, Kruta and his troops continued their military operations on part of the Zadar-Sibenik front. As a governor, he is noted in the battles around Zadar, and his units stand out especially during the conquest of Zemunik (six died in the battle ensign and 40 soldiers from Kruta’s regiment).
In the same year – particularly successful in terms of the Venetian conquests of the Ottoman forts in the hinterland of the Dalmatian cities – Krutini The Albanians make a significant contribution to the conquest of Nadine (where Kruta also leads the Croatians troops), Vrana, Skradina and Kamen forts.)
Due to the action of Kruta’s soldiers, the salt fortifications were set on fire so that they could not serve the Ottomans in the continuation of the war, while the mills on the Žrnovnica river were destroyed. In the continuation of the war in 1647.
Battle of Bokanjac, Dikl, Crni and Dračevac
Kruta’s troops, together with the Croatian troops of Fran Posedarski, participate in the battles with the Ottomans near Bokanjac, Dikl, Crni and Dračevac and then – giving once again noted contribution to the overall Venetian forces – in the defense of Šibenik at to the great Ottoman siege from August 21 to September 15, 1647.
The capture of Drniš
Krutini Cappelletti held an important strategic point in the defense of the city in the area of the St. Martin. In 1648, the Venetian supreme commanders especially praised the contribution of Mihovil Kruta in the capture of Drniš (although his troops ravaged and looted the city after the battle) and in the important battle in the conquest of Klis (he was particularly distinguished in the capture of strategic approaches was established on the eve of the siege).
Death in 1649 during the siege of Risno
Finally, in 1649, the successful military career of Mihovil Kruta. That year, in February, Governor Kruta died during the Venetian siege of Risno. Respecting the merits of that distinguished Albanian officer, the chronicler wrote for Kruta that he was “uno de’ migliori capi, e de’ più fruttuosi, che militassero in questa guerra in Dalmazia” (tr: one of the best and most fruitful leaders who fought in this war in Dalmatia).
Mihovil Kruta was married to a certain Marija (unknown origin)
Mihovil Kruta, thanks to his notable contributions to the Venetian conquests across the Dalmatian front in the early years of the Candian War, it certainly is one of the best-known and best-studied Albanian lawyers in the literature genus. However, in relation to the information about his military activities, Kruta’s private life is poorly known. It is known, based on Zadar notary records, that was married to Marija (of unknown origin).
Krutas widow re-marrying Jakov Cestani (Jakup Shestani)
Her will from February 1649. Although its content is very limited, it testifies that Marija is very fast after the death of her husband, entered into a new marriage. Her second husband was also Albanian
officer – captain Jakov Cestani – commander of the Albanes unit under the supreme under the command of Venetian Lorenzo Dolfino.
Reference
Balkan Academia 