Battle of Turaida (1211)
Encyclopedia
By summer of 1211, a larger military plan had been made by Estonia
n counties whose objective was to capture the stronghold held by Caupo of Turaida
and thereafter attack Riga
. Estonian troops from the mainland and the Oeselian
fleet arrived accordingly on an appointed date at the stronghold of Turaida
. The stronghold was surrounded and the attack began. The besiegers promised to keep attacking until they either take the stronghold or the Livonians inside agree to join the Estonians
for the attack on Riga.
Soon after, a large German
reinforcement army arrived from Riga with whom a fierce battle began. The Livonian and German crossbowmen from the stronghold also charged out to join the attack. The Estonian forces were caught between to enemy forces, which made them fall back. They regrouped on a hill between the stronghold and the Koiva river
. The battle lasted from morning to night, and eventually the Estonians were forced to surrender and agree to being baptized
. At night, however, they secretly tried to escape to the sea along the Koiva using their ships. Unfortunately for them, the Germans had built a bridge with towers on the river, where they fired upon the fleeing Estonians with spears and arrows. The next night the Estonians left their ships and broke away using the roads on the mainland.
The Estonian losses were heavy, which was further ellaborated in the Chronicle of Livonia. Approximately 2000 were killed with nearly the same amount of captured horses and over 300 ships captured as well. These are most likely exaggerations.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n counties whose objective was to capture the stronghold held by Caupo of Turaida
Caupo of Turaida
Caupo of Turaida, or Kaupo was a leader of the Finnic-speaking Livonian people in the beginning of the 13th century, in what is now Latvia. He is sometimes called 'King of Livonia', Chronicle of Henry of Livonia calls him quasi rex, 'like a king'.He was the first prominent Livonian to be christened...
and thereafter attack 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,...
. Estonian troops from the mainland and the Oeselian
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...
fleet arrived accordingly on an appointed date at the stronghold of 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 stronghold was surrounded and the attack began. The besiegers promised to keep attacking until they either take the stronghold or the Livonians inside agree to join 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...
for the attack on Riga.
Soon after, a large German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
reinforcement army arrived from Riga with whom a fierce battle began. The Livonian and German crossbowmen from the stronghold also charged out to join the attack. The Estonian forces were caught between to enemy forces, which made them fall back. They regrouped on a hill between the stronghold and the Koiva river
Gauja
The Gauja is one of the longest rivers in Latvia, with a length of and a catchment area of . Its source is in the hills southeast of Cēsis. It first flows east and north and forms the border with Estonia for about . South of Valga and Valka, it turns west towards Valmiera, continuing southwest...
. The battle lasted from morning to night, and eventually the Estonians were forced to surrender and agree to being baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
. At night, however, they secretly tried to escape to the sea along the Koiva using their ships. Unfortunately for them, the Germans had built a bridge with towers on the river, where they fired upon the fleeing Estonians with spears and arrows. The next night the Estonians left their ships and broke away using the roads on the mainland.
The Estonian losses were heavy, which was further ellaborated in the Chronicle of Livonia. Approximately 2000 were killed with nearly the same amount of captured horses and over 300 ships captured as well. These are most likely exaggerations.