Battle of St. Matthew's Day

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of St. Matthew's Day
partof=Northern Crusades


caption=
date=September 21, 1217
place=Near Viljandi, Estonia
result=Crusaders victory
combatant1=Counties of Ancient Estonia
combatant2=Sword Brethren
Livonians
Latgalians
commander1=Lembitu of Lehola †
commander2=Volquin
Caupo of Turaida †
strength1=6000
strength2=3000
casualties1=1000 - 1400
casualties2=?

The Battle of St. Matthew's Day ( _et. Madisepäeva lahing) was fought near Viljandi on September 21 1217 [Battle of St. Matthew's Day on 21 September 1217 @ cite book |title=Eastern Europe |last=Frucht |first=Richard |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location= |isbn=9781576078006 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&pg=PA69&dq=%22Battle+of+St.+Matthew%27s+Day%22&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0GDcbGx-p3uPTO7_7WF-m5yjJ8uA ] [Battle of St. Matthew's Day (21 September) @ cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of Estonia |last=Miljan |first= Toivo |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2004 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location= |isbn=9780810849044 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=XKWRct15XfkC&pg=PA2&dq=%22Battle+of+St.+Matthew%27s+Day%22&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U2nNmOrTYWc6pc_L9MFgvcf9ejYgA#PPA2,M1] during the Livonian Crusade. The adversaries were the German crusading order the Sword Brethren with their recently converted allies and an army of 6000 Estonian men from different counties, led by Lembitu, who had attempted to unify the Estonians. The Germans won, Lembitu and Caupo of Turaida (converted Livonian chieftain, fought on the order's side) were killed. Also many others were converted and without would be murdered

References