Aizkraukle, Battle of
1279 CE
The Battle of Aizkraukle or Ascheraden is a battle fought on March 5, 1279 between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by Traidenis, and the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order near Aizkraukle (German: Ascheraden) in present-day Latvia.
The Order suffers a great defeat: seventy-one knights, including the Grand Master Ernst von Rassburg, and Eilart Hoberg, leader of the knights from Danish Estonia, are killed.
Itis the second-largest defeat of the Order in the thirteenth century.
After this battle, Duke Nameisis of the Semigallians recognized Traidenis as his suzerain.
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Lithuania is suffering a famine and Traidenis's brother Sirputis is raiding Polish lands around Lublin.
The Livonian army, which includes men from the Livonian Order, Archbishopric of Riga, Danish Estonia, and local Curonian and Semigallian tribes, reaches as far as Kernavė, the center of Grand Duke's lands.
They do not meet any open resistance and plunder many villages.
On their way home, the knights are followed by a small force of Traidenis's troops.
When the enemies approach Aizkraukle on March 5, 1279, the Grand Master sends most of the local warriors home with their share of loot.
At this point, the Lithuanians attack.
The Semigallians are among the first to retreat from the battlefield and the Lithuanians achieve a decisive victory.