Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Karuse

Battle of Karuse was a battle fought on 23 February 1270 at Baltic Sea, in what is now Estonia. It was part of the Livonian Crusade. The recorded result: Lithuanian and Semigalian victory.

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A political map of the Medieval Livonia, circa 1260, along with surrounding areas
A political map of the Medieval Livonia, circa 1260, along with surrounding areas. No machine-readable author provided. Termer assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought23 February 1270
WhereBaltic Sea, Estonia58.500N, 23.500E
OutcomeLithuanian and Semigalian victory
BelligerentsGrand Duchy of Lithuania; SemigalliansagainstLivonian Order; Bishopric of Dorpat; Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek; Danish Estonia
Casualties and losses1,600 killedand52 knights and 600 low-rank soldiers
Part ofLivonian Crusade1198

Where it sits in the Livonian Crusade

Battle of Rodenpois, 1205Battle of Ümera, 1210Battle of Cēsis, 1210Battle of Riga, 1210Battle of Turaida, 1211Battle of Lehola, 1215Battle of Riga, 1215Battle of Otepää, 1217Siege of Tallinn, 1221Battle of Viljandi, 1223Siege of Tartu, 1224Battle of Saule, 1236Battle of Embūte, 1244Battle of Memel, 1257Battle of Karuse, 1270Battle of Aizkraukle, 1279Battle of Garoza, 128712051287Battle of Karuse, 1270
17 placed engagements of the Livonian Crusade in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date23 February 1270
PlaceBaltic Sea, Estonia
58.500N, 23.500E
KindBattle, medieval
Casualties and losses1,600 killed52 knights and 600 low-rank soldiers
Commanders
  • Traidenis
  • Otto von Lutterberg
  • Friedrich von Haseldorf
  • Hermann of Buxhoeveden, Bishop of Ösel-Wiek
Battle of KaruseBattle of KaruseBattle of Moon SoundBattle of MuhuOperation AlbionOperation BeowulfMoonsund Landing OperationBattle of Moon SoundOperation AlbionOperation BeowulfTallinnPärnuVentspilsViljandiHaapsalu100 km58.500N, 23.500E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1270

Battle of Karuse is one of 629 engagements of the 13th century in the atlas and one of 83 in present-day Estonia.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1049530, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Karuse, revision 1370444852, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.