Battle of Otepää, 1217
Encyclopedia
Battle of Otepää was a battle during the Livonian Crusade
in 1217. The battle ended with a victory for the Estonians and Russians.
In February 1217 a large Russian force along with Estonians arrived at Otepää to besiege it. The number of the besiegers is said to have reached 20 000 men. Because the stronghold was located on a very well defended hill, the siege lasted for 17 days.
The Germans sent 3000 men from Riga
headed by the master of the order to relieve the trapped German force in Otepää. Near the stronghold they met the Estonian and Russian forces in battle. The Germans managed to get into the stronghold but with very heavy casualties. The situation became very difficult for them. The long siege decreased the people's food and fodder to the minimum. The horses were said to have eaten the horsetails off each other. On the third day after the German relief army had arrived the stronghold, the negotiations started. Based on the peace they made, the Germans had to leave not only from Otepää but from all of Estonia. It was the greatest defeat for the Germans in 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...
in 1217. The battle ended with a victory for the Estonians and Russians.
In February 1217 a large Russian force along with Estonians arrived at Otepää to besiege it. The number of the besiegers is said to have reached 20 000 men. Because the stronghold was located on a very well defended hill, the siege lasted for 17 days.
The Germans sent 3000 men from 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,...
headed by the master of the order to relieve the trapped German force in Otepää. Near the stronghold they met the Estonian and Russian forces in battle. The Germans managed to get into the stronghold but with very heavy casualties. The situation became very difficult for them. The long siege decreased the people's food and fodder to the minimum. The horses were said to have eaten the horsetails off each other. On the third day after the German relief army had arrived the stronghold, the negotiations started. Based on the peace they made, the Germans had to leave not only from Otepää but from all of Estonia. It was the greatest defeat for the Germans in 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...
.