Battle of Strėva

Coordinates: 54°48′N 24°25′E / 54.800°N 24.417°E / 54.800; 24.417
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Battle of Strėva
Part of the Lithuanian Crusade

Monument located at the site of the battle.
Date2 February 1348
Location
Strėva River near Žiežmariai
54°48′N 24°25′E / 54.800°N 24.417°E / 54.800; 24.417
Result Teutonic Order Victory
Belligerents
Teutonic Order Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Commanders and leaders
Grand Commander Winrich von Kniprode Kęstutis or Narimantas

The Battle of Strėva, Strebe,

Neman River, near present-day Žiežmariai.[3] Chronicler Wigand of Marburg publicized this battle as a great victory for the Knights: he claims that some 18,000 Lithuanians were killed or drowned while only 8 knights and 60 other soldiers died on the Order's side.[3] Narimantas and Manvydas, two sons of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, are thought to be killed in the battle.[4]

Campaign and battle

In 1347, the Teutonic Knights saw an influx of crusaders from France and England, where a truce was made during the

Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Smolensk) which shows that the army was assembled beforehand, probably for a campaign into the Teutonic territory.[5]

The Knights were in a difficult position: they could cross the frozen Strėva River only a few men at a time and once most of their forces had crossed, the remaining soldiers would be annihilated.[1] The knights had limited supplies and could not wait. The Lithuanians, led by Kęstutis or Narimantas, also had short supplies and decided to attack by hurling arrows and spears injuring a great number. However, at the critical moment the crusaders counter-attacked with their heavy cavalry and the Lithuanians lost their formation.[1] So many of them drowned in the river that Knights could cross it with "dry feet." This episode caused much criticism of the source: the Strėva River is shallow, especially during winter, and could not have caused such a massive drowning.[3]

Aftermath

As a result of the defeat Lithuanians were weakened: the same year the Knights attacked and pillaged

Wehlau.[5] However, due to the change in leadership (the Grand Master Heinrich Dusemer was troubled by poor health and died in 1353) and spreading Black Death, the Knights did not take full advantage of one of the biggest defeats of the Grand Duchy.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-929700-56-2
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-14-026653-4
    .
  3. ^
    LCCN 74-114275
    .
  4. ^ Jokimaitis, Rimantas; Algis Kasperavičius; Eugenijus Manelis; Beatričė Stukienė (1999). World and Lithuanian History. VI-XVIII centuries. The World and Lithuania. Vilnius: Kronta. pp. 118–135. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-9986-827-05-4
    .
  6. ^ Baranauskienė, Inga (2002-12-07). "Kęstutis ir Algirdas: 1344–1345 m. perversmas ir valdžios dalybos". Voruta (in Lithuanian). 23 (521). Archived from the original on 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
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