Battle of Riga (1215)
Encyclopedia
In 1215, after the raid of Ridala
and loss of Leole
stronghold, the Estonian
forces decided to start acting decisively. A large-scale counter-offensive strategic plan was made, which end result was "the complete destruction of the nearby German colonies". According to the plan, the Oeselians
were to close the Daugava River estuary and besiege the city of Riga
. The Rotalian
s' objective was to attack the Livonians in Turaida
, the Sackalians' and Ungannians' task was the harassment of Latgalians
so that the latter wouldn't be able to assist Riga.
In the end of April or beginning of May 1215, the Oeselians closed the estuary of Daugava River. The old ships they brought along and the wooden obstacles built on the spot were filled with rocks and then sunk, in order to prevent the German cog
s from breaking out. Some Oeselians reached just outside of Riga and took positions in the field outside the city. When a strong enemy force charged out of the city, the Oeselians pulled back to the estuary to wait for reinforcements. Unexpectedly for the besiegers, two German cogs arrived from the sea. Considering the threat of being caught between two armies, the Oeselian fleet decided to break out to the sea.
In the meantime, malevs
from other counties were engaging in the areas of Livonians and Latgalians
. They didn't achieve much success because the villagers had been able to take shelter in the strongholds. The hoped-for cooperative attack didn't bring any results due to the insufficient amount of troops.
Ridala Parish
Ridala is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Lääne County. It has a population of 3,017 and an area of 253.4 km².- Villages :Aamse, Allika, Ammuta, Emmuvere, Erja, Espre, Haeska, Herjava, Hobulaiu, Jõõdre, Kabrametsa, Kadaka, Kaevere, Kiideva, Kiltsi, Kiviküla, Koheri, Koidu, Kolila, Kolu,...
and loss of Leole
Lõhavere
Lõhavere is a village in Suure-Jaani Parish, Viljandi County in central Estonia. It has a population of 183 ....
stronghold, the Estonian
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...
forces decided to start acting decisively. A large-scale counter-offensive strategic plan was made, which end result was "the complete destruction of the nearby German colonies". According to the plan, the Oeselians
Oeselians
The Oeselians were a historical Finnic people inhabiting Saaremaa , an Estonian island in the Baltic Sea. They are first thought to be mentioned as early as the 2nd century BC in Ptolemy's Geography III. The Oeselians along with Curonians were known in the Old Norse Icelandic Sagas and in...
were to close the Daugava River estuary and besiege the city of Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. The Rotalian
Lääne County
Lääne County , or Läänemaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-east, Rapla County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, and the island counties of Saare and Hiiu to the west...
s' objective was to attack the Livonians in Turaida
Turaida
Turaida is a part of Sigulda in the Vidzeme Region of Latvia. Its most famous site is the Brick Gothic Turaida Castle.-External links:*...
, the Sackalians' and Ungannians' task was the harassment of Latgalians
Latgalians
The term Latgalians The term Latgalians The term Latgalians (Latgalian: latgalīši, latgali, (also spelt Latgallians and sometimes known as Lettigalls, Latgolans, or Lettigallians) can refer to the inhabitants of the Latgale region in eastern Latvia in general, the ethnic Latvians of Latgale...
so that the latter wouldn't be able to assist Riga.
In the end of April or beginning of May 1215, the Oeselians closed the estuary of Daugava River. The old ships they brought along and the wooden obstacles built on the spot were filled with rocks and then sunk, in order to prevent the German cog
Cog (ship)
A cog is a type of ship that first appeared in the 10th century, and was widely used from around the 12th century on. Cogs were generally built of oak, which was an abundant timber in the Baltic region of Prussia. This vessel was fitted with a single mast and a square-rigged single sail...
s from breaking out. Some Oeselians reached just outside of Riga and took positions in the field outside the city. When a strong enemy force charged out of the city, the Oeselians pulled back to the estuary to wait for reinforcements. Unexpectedly for the besiegers, two German cogs arrived from the sea. Considering the threat of being caught between two armies, the Oeselian fleet decided to break out to the sea.
In the meantime, malevs
Malev (military unit)
A malev is an ancient Estonian military unit led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry division. A malev was originally based on a manpower of county and was led by a county vanem. Malev is bigger than a pataljon but smaller than a diviis...
from other counties were engaging in the areas of Livonians and Latgalians
Latgalians
The term Latgalians The term Latgalians The term Latgalians (Latgalian: latgalīši, latgali, (also spelt Latgallians and sometimes known as Lettigalls, Latgolans, or Lettigallians) can refer to the inhabitants of the Latgale region in eastern Latvia in general, the ethnic Latvians of Latgale...
. They didn't achieve much success because the villagers had been able to take shelter in the strongholds. The hoped-for cooperative attack didn't bring any results due to the insufficient amount of troops.