Bridge with Three Arches

Begins in March 1377

1. Seizure near crossing point of Ujana e keqe (the river, "wicked waters"); taken as sign.

2.  Visitors offer to build bridge there.

3. "Boats and Rafts" tries to squelch deal.

4. Road rights purchased by Ottoman representatives.

5. Bridge designer-engineer comes; Gjelosh befriends him.

6. 17 April: builders arrive.

7. Bridge survives first challenge by the elements; Ajkuna foments trouble in the background (and for remainder of book).

8.  Dervishes and wandering bards show up

9. The Lord, his visitors, and the hunt.

10. Damages – sabotage – to the  bridge.

11. Monk Brockhardt shows up; stories, legends, setting stage for next step.

12. Count agrees to punishment of saboteur.

13. Collector of folktales and customs comes.

14. More sabotage.

15. Carts of pitch headed for Vlore.

16. Immurement of Murrash Zenebisha.

17. Completion of the bridge.

18. Turks take over the Vlore naval base (from Byzantine and Albanian control).

19. Ferryman dies.

20. Tolls set up on bridge.

21. Many Albanian leaders accept condition of vassalage to Ottoman empire.

22. Ottoman "commination" of Europe.

23. Skirmish on bridge; seven Ottoman horsemen vs Albanian guards; bloodshed on bridge on Christmas Eve 1377.