Battle of Lyndanisse
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Lyndanisse was a battle
which helped King Valdemar II of Denmark
establish the territory of Danish Estonia
during the Northern Crusades
. Valdemar II defeated the Estonians
at Lyndanisse , during the Northern Crusades
, by orders from the Pope
.
, Bishop Theoderik of Estonia and his vassal
s Count Albert
of Nordalbingia
and Vitslav I
of Rügen
sailed to the northern Estonian province of Revalia in the beginning of July. The crusading army camped at Lyndanisse and built a castle there, named Castrum Danorum
, which the Estonians called Taani-linn, (later Tallinn
), meaning Danish castle. The Estonians sent several negotiators, but they were only playing for time, so that they could recruit a large enough army to fight the Danes.
On 15 June, the Estonians attacked the Danes near the castle, right after suppertime. They attacked from five different directions, and completely surprised the crusaders, who fled in all directions. Bishop Theoderik was killed by the Estonians, who thought that he was the king. The Danes were saved by their Wendish
vassals, as Vitslav lead a quick counterattack, that stopped the Estonian advance. This gave the crusaders time to regroup, and the Estonians were routed.
Tradition has maintained that the flag appeared at Lyndanisse on 15 June 1219.
Legend holds that during this battle of Lyndanisse, in the Danes' hour of need, the Danish flag, Dannebrog
fell from the sky and gave them renewed hope. As the Estonians attacked the Danish stronghold, the Danes were hard pressed. As Anders Sunesen
, the Archbishop of Lund, raised his hands to the sky in prayer, they held tight as long as his hands were raised. As Archbishop Sunesen became exhausted, he eventually had to lower his arms, and the Estonians were on the verge of victory. Then, a red flag with a white cross fell from the sky, and gave the Danes the victory.
This account builds on two different versions from the early 16th century, of an even older source. According to legend, Denmark received its national flag, the Dannebrog
, during the battle. This legend is mentioned in History of the Kings and heroes of the Danes in the last three volumes (14-16) which describe Danish conquests on the south shore of the Baltic Sea and the Northern Crusades. The Latin volumes of Danorum Regum heroumque Historiae, were edited by Danish Canon, Christiern Pedersen
, and published by Jodocus Badius
on March 15, 1514.
This older source set the emergence of Dannebrog as a battle in Livonia
in 1208. But the Franciscan monk Peder Olsen (c. 1527) rectified the year as 1219. The legend became affixed to the Battle of Lyndanisse. The legend of Dannebrog as originating in the Northern Crusades holds true, as the red flag with a white cross originated as a crusader symbol.
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
which helped King Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
establish the territory of Danish Estonia
Danish Estonia
Danish Estonia refers to the territories of present-day Estonia that were ruled by Denmark firstly during the 13th–14th centuries and again in the 16th–17th centuries....
during the Northern Crusades
Northern Crusades
The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were crusades undertaken by the Christian kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian and Teutonic military orders, and their allies against the pagan peoples of Northern Europe around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea...
. Valdemar II defeated the Estonians
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
at Lyndanisse , during the Northern Crusades
Northern Crusades
The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were crusades undertaken by the Christian kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian and Teutonic military orders, and their allies against the pagan peoples of Northern Europe around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea...
, by orders from the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
The Battle
Valdemar II, along with Archbishop Anders Sunesen of LundAnders Sunesen
Anders Sunesen was a Danish archbishop of Lund, Scania, from March 21, 1201, at the death of Absalon, to his own death in 1228. He is the author of the Latin translation of the Scanian Law and was throughout his life engaged in integrating a Christian worldview into the old legislature...
, Bishop Theoderik of Estonia and his vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s Count Albert
Albert I, Duke of Saxony
Albert I was a Duke of Saxony, Angria, and Westphalia; Lord of Nordalbingia; Count of Anhalt; and Prince-elector and Archmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire...
of Nordalbingia
Nordalbingia
Nordalbingia was one of the four administrative regions of the medieval Duchy of Saxony, the others being Angria, Eastphalia, and Westphalia....
and Vitslav I
Wizlaw I, Prince of Rügen
Wizlaw I. was a Prince of Rügen.- Life :The first surviving mention of Wizlaw I dates to 1193. His parents were Jaromar I and Hildegard of Denmark , the daughter of Canute V of Denmark Wizlaw I. (c. 1180 - 7 June 1250) was a Prince of Rügen.- Life :The first surviving mention of Wizlaw I dates to...
of Rügen
Principality of Rugia
The Principality of Rugia or Principality of Rügen was a Danish principality consisting of the island of Rügen and the adjacent mainland from 1168 until 1325. It was governed by a local dynasty of princes of the Wizlawiden dynasty...
sailed to the northern Estonian province of Revalia in the beginning of July. The crusading army camped at Lyndanisse and built a castle there, named Castrum Danorum
Castrum Danorum
Toompea Castle is a castle on the limestone hill of Toompea in the central part of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, which for a time was also one of the names for the whole settlement of Tallinn during the times of Danish Estonia in the 13th and 14th centuries.The first wooden castle...
, which the Estonians called Taani-linn, (later Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
), meaning Danish castle. The Estonians sent several negotiators, but they were only playing for time, so that they could recruit a large enough army to fight the Danes.
On 15 June, the Estonians attacked the Danes near the castle, right after suppertime. They attacked from five different directions, and completely surprised the crusaders, who fled in all directions. Bishop Theoderik was killed by the Estonians, who thought that he was the king. The Danes were saved by their Wendish
Wends
Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used...
vassals, as Vitslav lead a quick counterattack, that stopped the Estonian advance. This gave the crusaders time to regroup, and the Estonians were routed.
Dannebrog
Legend holds that during this battle of Lyndanisse, in the Danes' hour of need, the Danish flag, Dannebrog
Flag of Denmark
The national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side...
fell from the sky and gave them renewed hope. As the Estonians attacked the Danish stronghold, the Danes were hard pressed. As Anders Sunesen
Anders Sunesen
Anders Sunesen was a Danish archbishop of Lund, Scania, from March 21, 1201, at the death of Absalon, to his own death in 1228. He is the author of the Latin translation of the Scanian Law and was throughout his life engaged in integrating a Christian worldview into the old legislature...
, the Archbishop of Lund, raised his hands to the sky in prayer, they held tight as long as his hands were raised. As Archbishop Sunesen became exhausted, he eventually had to lower his arms, and the Estonians were on the verge of victory. Then, a red flag with a white cross fell from the sky, and gave the Danes the victory.
This account builds on two different versions from the early 16th century, of an even older source. According to legend, Denmark received its national flag, the Dannebrog
Flag of Denmark
The national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side...
, during the battle. This legend is mentioned in History of the Kings and heroes of the Danes in the last three volumes (14-16) which describe Danish conquests on the south shore of the Baltic Sea and the Northern Crusades. The Latin volumes of Danorum Regum heroumque Historiae, were edited by Danish Canon, Christiern Pedersen
Christiern Pedersen
Christiern Pedersen was a canon, humanist scholar, writer, printer and publisher.-Education:Christiern Pedersen was born in Helsingør, Denmark. He was schooled in Roskilde and studied from 1496 at the University of Greifswald...
, and published by Jodocus Badius
Jodocus Badius
Jodocus Badius was a pioneer of the printing industry.Sometimes called Badius Ascensius from the village of Asse, near Brussels, where he was born, he became an eminent printer at Paris. His establishment came to be known as the Prelum Ascensianum...
on March 15, 1514.
This older source set the emergence of Dannebrog as a battle in Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
in 1208. But the Franciscan monk Peder Olsen (c. 1527) rectified the year as 1219. The legend became affixed to the Battle of Lyndanisse. The legend of Dannebrog as originating in the Northern Crusades holds true, as the red flag with a white cross originated as a crusader symbol.
See also
- Castrum DanorumCastrum DanorumToompea Castle is a castle on the limestone hill of Toompea in the central part of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, which for a time was also one of the names for the whole settlement of Tallinn during the times of Danish Estonia in the 13th and 14th centuries.The first wooden castle...
- Danish EstoniaDanish EstoniaDanish Estonia refers to the territories of present-day Estonia that were ruled by Denmark firstly during the 13th–14th centuries and again in the 16th–17th centuries....
- Flag of DenmarkFlag of DenmarkThe national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side...
- History of EstoniaHistory of EstoniaEstonia was settled near the end of the last glacial era, beginning from around 8500 BC. Before the German invasions in the 13th century proto-Estonians of the Ancient Estonia worshipped the spirits of nature...
- Livonian CrusadeLivonian CrusadeThe Livonian Crusade refers to the German and Danish conquest and colonization of medieval Livonia, the territory constituting modern Latvia and Estonia, during the Northern Crusades...
- Northern CrusadesNorthern CrusadesThe Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were crusades undertaken by the Christian kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian and Teutonic military orders, and their allies against the pagan peoples of Northern Europe around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea...
Other sources
- Urban William L. The Baltic Crusade (Northern Illinois University Press. 1994) ISBN 0875800521
- Lindholm, David; Nicolle, David The Scandinavian Baltic Crusades 1100-1500 (Osprey Publishing; 2007) ISBN 978-1841769882
- Christiansen, Eric Northern Crusades: The Baltic and the Catholic Frontier (University of Minnesota Press, 1981) ISBN 978-0140266535