Battle of Aizkraukle

The Battle of Aizkraukle or Ascheraden was a battle between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on March 5, 1279 - led by the Grand Duke Traidenis - and the Livonian Order close Aizkraukle ( German: Ascheraden ) was fought in present-day Latvia. The Order suffered a bitter defeat: 71 knights, the Grand Master Ernst von Rassburg and the leader of the Knights Danish - Estonian Express's Hoberg were killed. This was the second- largest defeat of the Livonian Order in the 13th century. After this battle Nameisis, the prince of Semgallen, Traidenis recognized as his suzerain.

Background and course of the battle

1273 had the Livonian Order in Dvinsk ( Daugavpils ) - built a castle - to actually Traidenis of the dominated area. The castle had a great strategic importance: it was used as a base for raids into the interior of Lithuania, in the hope that a weakened Traidenis would its support for the Semgallen who rebelled against the Order set. As Traidenis the castle for a month besieged without being able to take it, began the Livonian Order, to plan a large-scale campaign to Lithuania. Thus it was hoped to achieve a devastating blow, the Traidenis would urge from the war.

The army of the Order came up after Kernavė. They did not hit it on the open resistance and plundered many villages. On their way home, the Knights were followed by a small force from Traidenis ' force. When the Livonian Aizkraukle reached, the Grand Master sent the bulk of the native warriors with their part of the booty home. Immediately afterwards attacked the Lithuanians and won a decisive victory.

The Order lost the gains of the past six years: the Semgallen, who had retired as one of the first from the battlefield, rebelled again against the Order and Traidenis surrendered in return for their protection. However Traidenis died about 1282 and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it was impossible to take possession of all profits. The Livonian Order decided to elect a common grandmaster with the Teutonic Order, so that future attacks could be carried out simultaneously from the west and from the north.