Battle of Wesenberg (1268)

The Battle of Wesenberg (Russian Раковорская битва ) was a battle between the German and Danish knights on one side and the Russian army on the other side. They occurred on February 18, 1268 near the present Estonian town Rakvere ( Wesenberg German, Russian Раковор ) and ended with a decisive victory of the Russians.

The Teutonic Knights were led by Otto von Lutterberg. They were allied with the Danish knights who dominated the northern Estonia. In the ranks of the German -Danish army were many Estonian servants. The Russian troops established a covenant of the Republic of Novgorod, the Republic of Pskov and the Grand Duchy of Vladimir - Suzdal out its leaders were the governor of Novgorod Mikhail Fedorovich, Daumantas of Pskov, and Grand Duke Dmitri Aleksandrovich, the son of Alexander Nevsky, who represented the Vladimir - Suzdal.

The knights had learned from the Battle on the Ice, in their wedge formation, although showed the high penetrating power, but then proved unable to maneuver. Therefore, they divided their army into two parts and intended to attack from an ambush in the course of the battle with the second wedge. This tactic was initially successful. The center of the Russian army, which consisted mainly of Novgorod and Pskowern, was brought into serious trouble, among other things, was the leader Mikhail Fedorovich. The Novgorod Chronicle describes the mutual slaughter as something that " what our fathers and grandfathers never seen " would.

However, the second part of the Knights army did not keep to the original plan because he believed the battle already won as, and hastened to plunder the Russian convoy. In this case, however, the unexpected flank attack of troops from Vladimir - Suzdal Grand Prince Dmitri Alexandrovich decided under the battle in favor of the Russians. The Knights were persecuted, killed or captured several kilometers long. The German - Danish expansion for the next 30 years was stopped by this battle.