Battle of Lihula

Coordinates: 58°41′40″N 23°50′22″E / 58.69444°N 23.83944°E / 58.69444; 23.83944
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Lihula
Part of Livonian Crusade
Date8 August 1220
Location58°41′40″N 23°50′22″E / 58.69444°N 23.83944°E / 58.69444; 23.83944
Result Estonian victory
Belligerents
Oeselians
Rotalians
Sweden
Commanders and leaders
?
Strength
? 500 men
Casualties and losses
? Entire garrison slain[1]

The Battle of Lihula or Battle of Leal was fought between invading

Chronicle of Henry of Livonia and the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle
.

History

Swedish troops, initially led by King

jarl Charles the Deaf (Swedish:Karl Döve) and bishop Karl Magnusson of Linköping, both from the powerful House of Bjelbo
, also remained in the castle.

On 8 August a combined Oeselian and Rotalian army encircled the castle at dawn. The castle was set ablaze in the course of the fierce battle that ensued. Swedish troops tried to make their way out, but they were killed on site except for a few soldiers that succeeded in escaping to Tallinn, which was held by Denmark. The jarl, the bishop, and almost 500 other Swedes were killed, leaving no Swedish presence in Estonia at all.

The short-lived Swedish attempt to gain foothold in Estonia was motivated by the quickly

permanent conflict with Novgorod. It was not until 1561 that Sweden succeeded in establishing its rule in Estonia
.

See also

References