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TheBattle of Lihula orBattle of Leal was fought between invadingSwedes andEstonians for the control of a castle inLihula,Estonia in 1220. The exact date remains uncertain, though some historians suggest that the battle took place on August 8. The event is described in theChronicle of Henry of Livonia and theLivonian Rhymed Chronicle.

Swedish troops, initially led by KingJohn, had earlier in 1220 invaded the western coast of Estonia, an area not yet conquered by theTeutonic Knights. The Swedish army took the Lihula stronghold and set up a small garrison. Swedish jarlKarl the Deaf and bishopKarl Magnusson ofLinköping, both from the powerfulHouse of Bjälbo, also remained in the castle.

On 8 August a combinedOeselian andRotalian army encircled the castle at dawn. The castle was set ablaze in the course of the fierce battle that ensued. Swedish troops tried to make their way out, but they were killed on site except for a few soldiers that succeeded in escaping toTallinn, which was held by Denmark. The jarl, the bishop, and almost 500 other Swedes were killed, leaving no Swedish presence in Estonia at all.

The short-lived Swedish attempt to gain foothold in Estonia was motivated by the quicklyadvancing Danish and German crusaders who had been able to conquer most of the area in the early 13th century. Defeat in the Battle of Lihula discouraged the Swedish expansion to Estonia for more than 300 years, and the country was left for the Teutonic knights, German bishops and Denmark to divide. In the meantime, Sweden focused onFinland and thepermanent conflict with Novgorod. It was not until 1561 thatSweden succeeded in establishing its rule in Estonia.

• Livonian Crusade
• Battle of the Neva
• Second Swedish Crusade

• Eesti Ajalugu I-II. 1997.History of Estonia, AS BIT 2000, 2002.ISBN 9985-2-0606-1.

• Chronicle of Henry of Livonia
• Livonian Rhymed Chronicle

• Battles of the Livonian Crusade
• 1220 in Europe
• Battles involving Sweden
• Battles involving Estonia
• Battles of the Middle Ages
• Conflicts in 1220
• Lääneranna Parish

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