Battle of Garoza

Livonian Crusade
Date March of 1287 Location Salgale parish, Latvia Result Semigallian victory
Belligerents
Livonian Order Livonians Latgalians Citizens of Riga	Semigallians
Commanders and leaders
Willekin von Endorp†	Unknown Semigallian commander †
Strength
More than 40 knights more than 50 crusaders unknown number of allies	Around 1400
Casualties and losses
Willekin von Endorp, 33 knights including several komtur's, unknown number of allies. More than 6 knights taken prisoners.	Unknown

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).

Sources

• Livonian Rhymed Chronicle
• Chronica der Prouintz Lyfflandt (Chronicle of Balthasar Rusow)