Gisdar Aga

Gisdar Aga or Albanes Gisdar (died 1500) was an Ottoman commander of Albanian Epirote origin[1] defending the Castle of St. George during the Siege of the Castle of Saint George on the island of Kefalonia against the Spanish and Venetians led by Benedetto Pesaro and Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba in 1500.[2] Gisdar had 700 jannisaries under his command. When he was required to surrender he allegedly responded “I return you thanks, Christians. I return you thanks for being the cause of so much glory, as well as for apportioning us, whether alive or nobly slain, such a laurel meed for our fidelity to Bajazet our emperor. Your menaces do not intimidate us, for destiny hath stamped upon the brow of each the term of his career. Go, tell your general, that every one of my soldiers possesseth seven bows, and seven thousand arrows, with which we will at least avenge our fall, even though we fail to resist your power, or your better fortune".[3] He was killed during the siege with 300 others.[4][5]

References
  1. Sánchez, Carlos José Hernando (2000). Las Fortificaciones de Carlos V (in Spanish). Ediciones del Umbral. p. 325. ISBN 9788495457097.
  2. QUINTANA, Manuel José; RUSSELL (Translator.), Joseph (1851). Memoirs of G. Fernandez de Cordova, styled the great Captain. Translated from the Spanish ... by J. Russell. p. 65.
  3. QUINTANA, Manuel José; Barrameda.), Manuel José; PRESTON, T. R. (1833). Lives of celebrated Spaniards, comprising the Cid Campeador, Guzman the Good, Roger de Lauria, the Prince of Viana, the Great Captain (Gonzalo de Cordova). Translated from the Spanish ... by T. R. Preston. p. 256.
  4. HISTORY OF THE LATIN AND TEUTONIC NATIONS.
  5. The London Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, Etc. H. Colburn. 1832. p. 825.
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