Battle of Garoza

Battle of Garoza was one of the biggest battles of the Livonian crusade which occurred in 1287 between Livonian Order and Semigallians in the territory of modern Latvia. It was a severe defeat for the order which lost its master and several komturs.

Battle
In March 1287 around 1400 semigallians attacked crusader stronghold at Ikšķile and plundered nearby lands. Almost immediately after the attack master of Livonian Order Willekin von Endorp took decision to invade in Semigallia as a revenge. Crusader army consisted from order's knights, units from citizens of Riga and unknown number of allied livonians and latgalians. Crusader army lost its track and a few days wandered through forests and marshes of Semigallia. Finally at the 26th march they made a camp near a Garoza river. However all the time crusaders were followed by semigallian scouts so location of their camp soon became known to main semigallian forces.

In the next morning semigallian army attacked crusaders. At first battle went with varying success but slowly semigallians got initiative and managed to besiege crusader forces. Many of knights were killed and many more including large number of allies were taken prisoner. (Rhymed chronicle claims that only few knights managed get back to Riga). Among casualties were master of Livonian Order Willekin von Endorp and semigallian commander (sources do not mention his name).