Ballaban's campaign of 1465

In August 1465, Ballaban Badera, an Albanian-born janissary who served as the sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Ohrid, launched his largest campaign against Skanderbeg. He had been defeated in the battle of Vajkal in April of the same year. Ballaban had previously inflicted severe casualties on Skanderbeg's forces and soon received high favor from Mehmed II. Ballaban and Jakup Arnauti, both being Albanian peasants by birth, were chosen to lead a joint-campaign against Skanderbeg's forces. According to some scholars, this act of inclusion by the Sultan was a promotion of a social revolution within Albania to wean forces away from Skanderbeg.

Whatever the motives, the Ottoman army marched forth with two separate forces: one from the south under Arnauti and the other, under Ballaban's personal command, from the east. Applying a pincer movement, the goal of this action was to meet in central Albania in full force, storming what was supposed to be a hesitant Albanian defense. Skanderbeg, however, defeated both armies thoroughly by marching against Ballaban's column first, defeating it and engaging Arnauti's column afterwards with the same result. The victory brought great joy and relief to the Albanian people, who had been expecting a serious defeat. Despite the tremendous results, Mehmed II marched forth again the next year, bringing great devastation to the country.