Battle of Cēsis (1210)
Encyclopedia
In 1210 the Estonian counties launched several raids on the strongholds in Latvia
, guarded by the Sword Brethren
. A large number of Estonian troops began besieging the stronghold of Cēsis
, which had become a very important strongpoint for the Livonian Order. The Estonians attempted to set the stronghold on fire by building a large turret
. Attacking from above and below, the defenders were put in a difficult situation. The stronghold was attacked for three days and the defenders probabaly wouldn't have been able to keep defending it, if on the fourth day the besiegers hadn't unexpectedly left. The Estonians had received a message from their scouts that a large number of enemy troops was heading towards Cēsis to relieve the army trapped inside the stronghold. Without waiting for the whole relief army, the besieged troops began chasing the retreating Estonian army with some of the newly-arrived Livonians and Latgalians.
In the Battle of Ümera
which followed, the Estonians turned on their pursuers and soundly defeated them.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, guarded by the Sword Brethren
Livonian Brothers of the Sword
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword were a military order founded by Bishop Albert of Riga in 1202. Pope Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204. The membership of the order comprised German "warrior monks"...
. A large number of Estonian troops began besieging the stronghold of Cēsis
Cesis
Cēsis , is a town in Latvia located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river overlooking the woods below...
, which had become a very important strongpoint for the Livonian Order. The Estonians attempted to set the stronghold on fire by building a large turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
. Attacking from above and below, the defenders were put in a difficult situation. The stronghold was attacked for three days and the defenders probabaly wouldn't have been able to keep defending it, if on the fourth day the besiegers hadn't unexpectedly left. The Estonians had received a message from their scouts that a large number of enemy troops was heading towards Cēsis to relieve the army trapped inside the stronghold. Without waiting for the whole relief army, the besieged troops began chasing the retreating Estonian army with some of the newly-arrived Livonians and Latgalians.
In the Battle of Ümera
Battle of Ümera
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....
which followed, the Estonians turned on their pursuers and soundly defeated them.