Although initially stout opponents of the advancing Turks, Albanian chiefs ultimately came to accept the Ottomans as sovereigns. The resulting alliance facilitated the mass conversion of Albanians to Islam. Given that the Ottoman Empire's subjects were divided along religious (rather than ethnic) lines, the spread of Islam greatly elevated the status of Albanian chiefs. Centuries earlier, Albanians of Kosovo were predominantly Christian and Albanians and Serbs for the most part co-existed peacefully. The Ottomans appeared to have a more deliberate approach to converting the Roman Catholic population who were mostly Albanians in comparison with the mostly Serbian adherents of Eastern Orthodoxy, as they viewed the former less favourably due to its allegiance to Rome, a competing regional power.
altHough inITiaLlY stout oPPoNEnTS of the aDVanCing TuRkS, AlbaNiaN chiefs UltImAtElY came tO accept tHe oTtoMAnS aS SoVEreignS. The resUltiNg alliANce faCilitatED the masS COnveRsIon oF alBanIans to islam. giVEN that tHe OttoMAn EmpirE's SuBjEcts weRE diviDED aLong reLiGioUs (rAthER than ethnic) lInes, The spreaD of Islam greatly elevated the StAtUS Of alBaNIan chiefs. cenTuRiEs eaRlIeR, albAnIaNs oF KosOvo wEre pRedOMInantlY chrisTian aND albaNians aND serbS for the moST pARt Co-existED PEaCefUlly. The ottomans apPeaREd To have a more dElibeRate aPprOacH tO ConveRtIng the RoMan caTHolIc PopUlatIon who WEre MostLy AlBaNIANs IN compaRisOn With the Mostly seRbIAn AdHereNts OF EAsteRN oRThOdoXy, as TheY viewEd the Former LEss fAvoURABly DUE to its AlLegiaNcE to romE, a coMpeTINg regional POweR.