Battle of Schmilau
The Battle of Schmilau was a battle in 1093 in the struggle for supremacy over the Abodritic Empire near the village of Schmilau in the Duchy of Lauenburg in Schleswig-Holstein .
initial situation
Heinrich , son of the Christian Abodrite Duke Gottschalk , who was killed in an uprising of his pagan subjects in 1066 , had returned from exile in Denmark in 1090 . He had Kruto , who as the head of the revolt against Gottschalk after his death had taken control of the entirety of the Abodrites, murdered . By marrying Kruto's widow Slavina, he came to power.
The majority of the pagan Abodrites and Polabians, however, showed themselves unwilling to accept the new prince, who, like his father, was a Christian and demanded that his subjects submit to Christianity. His demands for the payment of taxes reinforced the negative attitude. In 1093 there was an uprising with the aim of ending Heinrich's rule and putting a pagan prince in his place. An army was assembled for this purpose.
Course of the battle
Heinrich was informed of the insurgents' plans. He took countermeasures by asking his ally, the Saxon Duke Magnus , for arms help. He also sent requests for support to neighboring Holstein tribes. The Saxon-dominated armed forces deployed in this way, led by Duke Magnus, moved into Polabia , where the rebels had gathered on the Schmilau plain .
The Saxons met their opponents there in the morning hours. The numerical strength and good armament of the Abodrites caused the duke not to attack immediately, but to wait for the arrival of expected reinforcements. While the two armies were inactive, negotiators tried to settle the conflict by negotiating a compromise.
Finally at sunset, scouts reported to the Duke that the reinforcements were approaching. When the additional troops came into view, Magnus found himself able to go offensive. The Saxons attacked; According to eyewitness reports, the light of the low sun behind the Saxons blinded the Abodrites, putting them at a disadvantage. The Saxons broke through their lines, the Abodrites turned to flee and were slain in large numbers by their pursuers.
aftermath
The defeat of the pagan Abodrites at Schmilau meant the collapse of the revolt against Heinrich. Magnus subsequently took another fourteen rebel castles and thus secured Heinrich's rule.
After Heinrich's death in 1127, his line died out two years later with the death of the last remaining of his four sons.
swell
- Helmold von Bosau : Slavic Chronicle . Scientific Book Society Darmstadt, 1980