Battle of Lena


 * This page is about the Battle of Lena of 1208; for other battles, see Battle of Helena (disambiguation).

The Battle of Lena occurred on January 31, 1208, and probably took place near Kungslena (58.23333°N, 13.83333°W), which is located in the Tidaholm Municipality in Västergötland, Sweden.

It was an important battle between the Danish-backed former Swedish King Sverker II of Sweden and Prince Eric. Danish King Valdemar the Victorious provided Sverker with a large army; medieval sources estimate the size of the force at 12,000 to 18,000. The defending Swedish force numbered between 7,000 and 10,000, and were additionally backed up by a small number of Norwegian auxiliaries.

The Swedes won, according to legend aided by Odin, and Sverker fled to Denmark. He returned for the Battle of Gestilren, where he died. Some historians claim that the Swedes used the winter weather to their advantage, as the Danish knights were slow and vulnerable in heavy snow.