TheBattle of Verchen (German:Schlacht bei Verchen) was abattle betweenSaxons andWest SlavicObotrites on 6 July 1164.
The Obotrites were attacked by Saxons andDanes in 1160, resulting in the death of the Obotrite prince,Niklot, and the partition of the Obotrite lands. Niklot's sonPribislav rose in revolt in 1163, capturing the castles ofMalchow andQuetzin.
The army of DukeHenry the Lion of Saxony was concentrated atVerchen nearDemmin and consisted of troops fromSaxony,Holstein,Dithmarschen, andFrisia. TheChristian army was also assisted by a fleet from KingValdemar the Great ofDenmark. They were opposed by a force of Slavs led by Pribislav and thePomeranian dukesBogislaw I andCasimir I.
The outcome of the resulting bloody battle with the Slavs was in doubt, although the Christian lords were eventually victorious. Slavic casualties amounted to 2,500, while the Saxon Count of Holstein,Adolf II, fell in battle along with 450 Saxons.
The land of the Obotrites was ravaged by the campaign and many inhabitants, including Pribislav, fled to Pomerania.
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