The Battle of Ērģeme (also Battle of Ermes) (Estonian: Härgmäe lahing; German: Schlacht bei Ermes; Russian: Битва под Эрмесом; Latvian: Ērģemes kauja) was fought on 2 August 1560 in present-day Latvia (near Valka) as part of the Livonian War between the forces of Ivan IV of Russia and the Livonian Confederation. It was the last battle fought by the German knights in Livonia and an important Russian victory. The knights were defeated so thoroughly that the order had to be dissolved.
Battleedit
Trikāta Castle, near the camp of the Livonian Confederation forcesIvan the Terrible tortures his rivals in Livonia
Troops of the Livonian Confederation under the command of Philipp Schall von Bell - the Land Marshal of the Livonian Order and the Commander of Riga - gathered near the settlement of Trikāta to repel the Russian forces invading Livonia. On August 2nd 30 knights set off to collect fodder within a distance of about 27 km from their camp. On the other side of the river they suddenly came across a Russian guard of 500 men. Both sides opened fire; as a result of the skirmish, one Russian was killed and the rest retreated across the meadow to the main army, alerting them. Eighteen Livonian knights turned back for reinforcements, and twelve stayed behind to pursue the retreating enemy. As soon as they saw Russia's main force, they also turned back and rode back to the camp to alert the commanders, losing several people in process. When the first group arrived at the camp, Philip von Bell ordered his 300 horsemen to attack the Russians, expecting to find approximately 500 of them. Initially, the knights successfully trampled a Russian outpost and drove the retreating enemy to the latter's main units, only to find themselves unexpectedly surrounded on all sides.
In the battle with the main forces, many German soldiers and mercenaries were killed or taken prisoner. Those who still remained in the Trikāta camp fled. The German chronicle estimates the total losses of the German knights at 261 people. Among the prisoners was Land Marshal Philip von Bell himself, who was considered "the last hope of Livonia", and 10 more commanders. There is no information about the number of Russians killed, but it was said that it took them 14 carts to take their dead to the place where the corpses were burned. In Moscow captivity, Philip von Belle was questioned by Ivan the Terrible, but the Land Marshal's insolent and haughty answers infuriated the Tzar. Ivan the Terrible ordered to execute Philip von Bell along with his most senior commanders, including his brother, Werner Schall von Bell (Komtur of Goldingen). Some of the remaining prisoners were either executed or oholopleny (lit. "peasantified", i.e. forced to stay in Russia as serfs); there is no credible source on their numbers.
The sole survivor among the high-ranking prisoners of the war, the Bishop of DorpatHermann II Wesel, who had been captured in 1558, somehow retained the Tzar's favor and was allowed to bury the dead outside of town in accordance with the manner of the Catholic faith.
Referencesedit
Plakans, Andrejs (1995). The Latvians: A Short History. Hoover Press. p. 36.
Turnbull, Stephen; Peter Dennis (2004). The Stone Castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185-1560. Osprey Publishing. p. 22. ISBN978-1-84176-712-3.
De Madariaga, Isabel (2005). Ivan the Terrible: First Tsar of Russia. Yale University Press. p. 134. ISBN978-0-300-09757-3.
Urban, William (2003). Teutonic Knights: A Military History. Greenhill Books. ISBN1853675350.
April 12, 2024
battle, Ērģeme, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, september, 2014, learn, when, remove, this, template, message,. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Battle of ErgemePart of the Livonian WarDate2 August 1560LocationErgeme near Valga Livonia now Latvia 57 48 20 N 25 48 57 E 57 805506 N 25 815828 E 57 805506 25 815828ResultRussian victoryBelligerentsLivonian ConfederationTsardom of RussiaCommanders and leadersPhilipp Schall von Bell POW Vasily Ivanovich BarbashinStrength330 knights12 000 totalCasualties and losses261 knights The Battle of Ergeme also Battle of Ermes Estonian Hargmae lahing German Schlacht bei Ermes Russian Bitva pod Ermesom Latvian Ergemes kauja was fought on 2 August 1560 in present day Latvia near Valka as part of the Livonian War between the forces of Ivan IV of Russia and the Livonian Confederation It was the last battle fought by the German knights in Livonia and an important Russian victory The knights were defeated so thoroughly that the order had to be dissolved Battle edit nbsp Trikata Castle near the camp of the Livonian Confederation forces nbsp Ivan the Terrible tortures his rivals in LivoniaTroops of the Livonian Confederation under the command of Philipp Schall von Bell the Land Marshal of the Livonian Order and the Commander of Riga gathered near the settlement of Trikata to repel the Russian forces invading Livonia On August 2nd 30 knights set off to collect fodder within a distance of about 27 km from their camp On the other side of the river they suddenly came across a Russian guard of 500 men Both sides opened fire as a result of the skirmish one Russian was killed and the rest retreated across the meadow to the main army alerting them Eighteen Livonian knights turned back for reinforcements and twelve stayed behind to pursue the retreating enemy As soon as they saw Russia s main force they also turned back and rode back to the camp to alert the commanders losing several people in process When the first group arrived at the camp Philip von Bell ordered his 300 horsemen to attack the Russians expecting to find approximately 500 of them Initially the knights successfully trampled a Russian outpost and drove the retreating enemy to the latter s main units only to find themselves unexpectedly surrounded on all sides In the battle with the main forces many German soldiers and mercenaries were killed or taken prisoner Those who still remained in the Trikata camp fled The German chronicle estimates the total losses of the German knights at 261 people Among the prisoners was Land Marshal Philip von Bell himself who was considered the last hope of Livonia and 10 more commanders There is no information about the number of Russians killed but it was said that it took them 14 carts to take their dead to the place where the corpses were burned In Moscow captivity Philip von Belle was questioned by Ivan the Terrible but the Land Marshal s insolent and haughty answers infuriated the Tzar Ivan the Terrible ordered to execute Philip von Bell along with his most senior commanders including his brother Werner Schall von Bell Komtur of Goldingen Some of the remaining prisoners were either executed or oholopleny lit peasantified i e forced to stay in Russia as serfs there is no credible source on their numbers The sole survivor among the high ranking prisoners of the war the Bishop of Dorpat Hermann II Wesel who had been captured in 1558 somehow retained the Tzar s favor and was allowed to bury the dead outside of town in accordance with the manner of the Catholic faith References editPlakans Andrejs 1995 The Latvians A Short History Hoover Press p 36 Turnbull Stephen Peter Dennis 2004 The Stone Castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185 1560 Osprey Publishing p 22 ISBN 978 1 84176 712 3 De Madariaga Isabel 2005 Ivan the Terrible First Tsar of Russia Yale University Press p 134 ISBN 978 0 300 09757 3 Urban William 2003 Teutonic Knights A Military History Greenhill Books ISBN 1853675350 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Ergeme amp oldid 1193114977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
