Battle of Ümera ( et, Ümera lahing) or Battle of Imera ( lv, Kauja pie Imeras), recorded by

Henry of Latvia Henry of Latvia ( la, Henricus de Lettis, german: Heinrich von Lettland, lv, Latviešu Indriķis, et, Läti Henrik; 1187 – after 1259), also known in the English-speaking world as Henry of Livonia, was a priest (Catholic Church), priest, mis ...

was fought south of

Valmiera Valmiera (; german: link=no, Wolmar; pl, Wolmar see other names) is the largest city of the historical Vidzeme region, Latvia, with a total area of . As of 2002, Valmiera had a population of 27,323, and in 2020 – 24 879. It is a state city ...

( et, Volmari), near the

Gauja River The Gauja River ( et, Koiva jõgi, german: Livländische Aa) is a river in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. It is the only large river of Latvia that begins and ends its flow in Latvia. Its length is 460 km, of which 93.5 km (approxim ...

( et, Ümera) in August or September 1210, during the

Livonian Crusade The Livonian crusade refers to the various military Christianisation campaigns in medieval Livonia – in what is now Latvia and Estonia – during the Papal -sanctioned Northern Crusades in the 12–13th century. The Livonian crusade was cond ...

between Crusaders and

Estonians Estonians or Estonian people ( et, eestlased) are a Finnic ethnic group native to Estonia who speak the Estonian language. The Estonian language is spoken as the first language by the vast majority of Estonians; it is closely related to other ...

. The Estonians won the battle. The retreating Estonian forces crossed the Gauja River and set up an ambush at its

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...

. The pursuing Crusaders believed their enemy was fleeing in haste, something that had been confirmed by their scouts. The vanguard consisted of some 20 knights of the

Livonian Brothers of the Sword german: Schwertbrüderordenfrench: Ordre des Chevaliers Porte-Glaive , image= , caption= , dates=1204–1237 , country= Terra Mariana , allegiance= Catholic Church , garrison= Wenden (Cēsis), Fellin (Viljandi), Segewold (Sigulda). Aschera ...

, led by ''Landmarschall'' Arnold. They were followed by

Livonians The Livonians, or Livs ( Livonian: ''līvlizt''; Estonian: ''liivlased''; Latvian: ''līvi'', ''lībieši''), are a Balto-Finnic people indigenous to northern and northwestern Latvia. Livonians historically spoke Livonian, a Uralic language c ...

led by

Caupo of Turaida Caupo of Turaida, or Kaupo (died 21 September 1217) was a leader of the Finnic-speaking Livonian people in the beginning of the 13th century, in what is now part of Latvia and Estonia. He is sometimes called a 'King of Livonia', the Chronicle o ...

, and

Latgalians Latgalians (, nds, Letti, Lethi, modern ; variant translations also include Latgallians, Lettigalls or Lettigallians) were an ancient Baltic tribe. They likely spoke the Latvian language, which probably became the ''lingua franca'' in present-d ...

. The Estonians hiding in the forest around Gauja River charged the enemy unexpectedly. The sudden attack caught the Crusaders off guard. Around hundred Livonians, Latgalians and Germans were captured. The knights tried to regroup around their banner, but as soon as their reinforcements escaped, they too fled the battlefield. The Estonians pursued them and some were captured and killed on the scene. According to the

Livonian Chronicle Livonian Chronicle may refer to one of the following chronicles. *Livonian Rhymed Chronicle **By anonymous (1180–1290) **By Bartholomäus Hoeneke (1340s) *Chronicle of Henry of Livonia (1220s) *By Hermann de Wartberge (up to 1378) *By Hermann He ...

, some of the prisoners were burned alive, while others had crosses carved on their backs with swords, before being executed as well. A victory over the Brothers of the Sword was a huge morale booster for the Estonians. A message of this feat was sent to all counties with a promise to be as "one heart and one soul against the Christian name".

References

Battles of the Livonian Crusade Battles involving Estonia 1210 in Europe Battles involving Livs Battles involving Letts Battles involving the Livonian Brothers of the Sword Battles in Latvia Vidzeme Conflicts in 1210 {{Estonia-hist-stub