Battle of Otepää, 1217

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Livonian Crusade


caption=
date=February 1217
place=Otepää, Estonia
result=Estonian victory
combatant1=Livonian Order
combatant2=Estonians
Russians
commander1=?
commander2=?
strength1=Unknown
strength2=ca 20 000
casualties1=Heavy casualties
casualties2=Low casualties

Battle of Otepää was a battle during the Livonian Crusade in 1217 [Toivo Miljan, "Historical Dictionary of Estonia", Scarecrow Press 2004, ISBN 0810849046] . 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 siege 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 Estonians and Russians 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 are 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.

References