Battle of Ümera
Encyclopedia
Battle of Ümera , recorded by Henry of Livonia was fought near Valmiera
on the Ümera river in 1210, during the Livonian Crusade
between Estonians and Crusaders. The Estonians
won the battle.
The Estonian troops moved across the Koiva river
and stopped at its tributary the next day for an ambush. The chasing Livonians and Latgalians
assumed that their enemy was escaping with "their head over heels" which also had been confirmed by their scouts. The German squad was moving in front with the Livonians and Latgalians behind them.
The hidden Estonians in the forest around Ümera charged the enemy unexpectedly. The attack was a success. Many Germans, Livonians and Latgalians were killed. The Germans had tried to regroup around their banner, but as soon as their reinforcements escaped, they too fled the battlefield. The Estonians chased them and some were captured and killed on the scene. According to the Livonian Chronicle
, out of 14 prisoners some were burned alive and others had been made a cross on their backs with a sword before executing them as well.
A victory over the Livonian Order was a huge morale booster for the Estonians. A message of this feat was sent to all counties and they promised to be as "one heart and one soul against the Christian name".
Valmiera
Valmiera is the largest city of the historical Vidzeme region, Latvia, with a total area of 18.1 km². It is the center of the Valmiera District. As of 2002, Valmiera had a population of 27,323, and in 2008 – 27,569....
on the Ümera river in 1210, during the Livonian Crusade
Livonian Crusade
The 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...
between Estonians and Crusaders. 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...
won the battle.
The Estonian troops moved across 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...
and stopped at its tributary the next day for an ambush. The chasing 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...
assumed that their enemy was escaping with "their head over heels" which also had been confirmed by their scouts. The German squad was moving in front with the Livonians and Latgalians behind them.
The hidden Estonians in the forest around Ümera charged the enemy unexpectedly. The attack was a success. Many Germans, Livonians and Latgalians were killed. The Germans had tried to regroup around their banner, but as soon as their reinforcements escaped, they too fled the battlefield. The Estonians chased them and some were captured and killed on the scene. According to the Livonian Chronicle
Livonian Chronicle
Livonian Chronicle may refer to one of the following chronicles.*Livonian Rhymed Chronicle**By anonymous **By Bartholomäus Hoeneke *Chronicle of Henry of Livonia *By Hermann de Wartberge...
, out of 14 prisoners some were burned alive and others had been made a cross on their backs with a sword before executing them as well.
A victory over the Livonian Order was a huge morale booster for the Estonians. A message of this feat was sent to all counties and they promised to be as "one heart and one soul against the Christian name".