The first Albanian feudal state was declared at Krujë - Kroja by the Archon Progon in 1190. Progon's older son, Gjin Progonović was Lord of Krujë and Elbasan from 1200 to 1208. The
independent state of Albania founded by Progon lasted until the middle of the 13th century, after which the country relapsed into disunity. Kruja is the birthplace of 15th century hero George Kastrioti Skanderbeg /Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu/, Albania's national hero who gave the invading Turks a serious beating. Gjergj Kastrioti converted to Islam soon after arriving at Adrianople in 1423, adopting the name Iskendar, known as "Skanderbeg". He served the Sultan and became a high ranking military commander. On Skanderbey father's death, Sultan Murad II ordered Hasan beg, Ottoman Governor of Krujë, to take control of all the Kastriot property. Skanderbeg revolted in 1443, deserting the Ottoman army which opposed the western crusaders when they recaptured Niš commanded by Janos Hunyadi, a revered general known as the White Knight. Kastrioti-Skanderbeg entered the Turkish fortifications at Krujë and massacred the Turkish pasha and the Muslim contingent stationed there. The following morning the Kastrioti family's standard - a red flag emblazoned with a black, double-headed eagle that has since been adopted as Albania's national flag - fluttered in the breeze over the city's castle. Here Kastrioti-Skanderbeg reportedly made his historic pronouncement: "I have not brought you liberty, I found it here, among you."Skanderbeg obtained possession of Krujë by tricking Hasan beg with a forged instruction from the sultan, and announced his reconversion to Christianity. Skanderbeg allied himself with the Araniti family, marrying Gjergj Araniti's daughter. He called a congress at Alessio, inviting all the Albanian chiefs, and was appointed commander of the Albanian armies which defeated the Ottomans in June 1444 and again at Danj in September 1448. Skanderbeg defeated a further Ottoman attack in 1456, although in 1457 a large Ottoman army occupied the plains of Albania up to the borders of Venice's Alassio. With some assistance from the Vatican, as well as from the powerful lords of Naples and Venice, Kastrioti-Skanderbeg continued to repulse successive efforts by the Turks to invade Albania over the next 25 years, including at Dibër and at Ochrid in 1462. Skanderbey's major supporter, King Alfonso of Naples (1416-1458), made the Albanian general his vassal in 1451. Alfonso supplied the Albanian army with needed funds, military equipment, and additional troops, and also acted as a protector by extending sanctuary to Kastrioti-Skanderbeg and his family. After the Venetians were drawn into the war in 1463, Sultan Mohammed II agreed a peace treaty signed in April 1463, although the armistice soon collapsed. After unsuccessfully besieging Krujë in 1467, the Sultan returned the following year only to be defeated once more by Skanderbeg. Skanderbeg died on 7 January 1468 from natural causes. The legend says that, on hearing of Skanderbeg's death, Sultan Mehmed II exclaimed: "At last Europe and Asia belong to me! Poor Christendom. It has lost both its sword and shield!". Look at the Kruje Fortress dominating from the 611 meters hill Skanderbey was defending and you can understand how it is possible that the Albanians were able to resist for so long against a much stronger opponent. Kruja citadel with the ruins of the Fatiha mosque was the stronghold of the Skanderbeg (George Kastrioti) between 1443 and 1468 in his struggle against the Ottoman Empire.
Kruja is town 32 km north of Tirana, easy to reach on local transport, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albania. Kruja has commanding views of dramaticaly snow capped mountains and green valleys below. Inside the Skanderbeg Citadel in Kruja, on the slope of Sari Salltiku mountain, there is a stunning wall painting of the Battle led by King Skanderbeg, with his notable goat-helmet. Cobbled streets take you to the famous Kruja Old Baazar selling lots of traditional souvenirs and constantly visited with number of tourists throughout a year. The National Ethnographic Museum of Kruja is housed in the 18th century 'urban' building. There are around sixteen rooms in the Kruja Ethnographic Museum which exhibit several artefacts of the region from times bygone. Some of the exhibits of the National Ethnographic Museum in Kruja tell you about how people lived in ancient times. Adequate care has been taken to ensure that original items are displayed in the museum. Some of the items displayed in the National Ethnographic Museum in Kruja date back to 500 years ago. The samples of embroidery on cotton, silk and woollen clothes are exquisite to behold. Other items like pottery and metal objects are also interesting to explore. Kruja is one of the most frequented tourist sites in Albania.