Karl Knutsson's campaign against Novgorod

Karl Knutsson's campaign against Novgorod
Part of the Swedish–Novgorodian Wars

1444 map of the Pskov Republic and its neighbours
DateAutumn 1444
Location
Gulf of Finland, Narva
Result German–Swedish victory
Belligerents
State of the Teutonic Order Teutonic Order
Livonian Order
Commanders and leaders
Kalmar Union Christopher of Bavaria
History of Sweden (800–1521) Karl Knutsson		 Maxim  (POW)
Units involved
History of Sweden (800–1521) Forces from Viborg Unknown
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Likely low Many killed
28 captured

Karl Knutsson's campaign against Novgorod (Swedish: Karl Knutsson Bondes tåg mot Novgoroderna) was a successful Swedish-German[1] campaign by the commander of Viborg, Karl Knutsson, against Novgorodian and Pskov[2] forces during their war with the Teutonic Order in 1444.

Background

In 1436, the Swedish council sent a proposal to the Livonian master of the order, Heinrich von Vincke, about a possible alliance against the Novgorodians.[3] This proposal was then seconded by Heinrich the same year when he sent another proposal to Christopher of Bavaria about a cooperation against the Novgorodians.[4]

Christopher would later promise the Teutonic Order that he would not allow his kingdoms to trade with Novgorod,[4][2] and he also sent Karl Knutsson with a force from Viborg against Pskov.[2]

Campaign

In May, it was clear to Karl Knutsson that the Novgorodians were about to attack Narva, and he warns the Estonians in the area about what was about to occur. In the autumn, the awaited Russian attack began and Christopher sent Karl Knutsson with troops to support Narva.[2] The Novgorodian chronicle claims that Karl "went down to the Narva river and cut down many Russians and captured a number of distinguished men" The number of people captured was 28[5][6][1] and among them was the son of the Posnadik Larivonov, Maxim. The people captured by the Swedes would later by freed after the Novgorodians paid for their ransom a year later.[6][7]

Aftermath

Some time after his campaign, the Teutonic Order and Novgorod agreed to a truce that would last until 1447.[3] Karl Knutsson is considered to have saved the Narva area from worse clashes with Novgorod through skillful diplomacy.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Harrison, Dick (2002). Karl Knutsson: en biografi (in Swedish). Historiska Media. ISBN 978-91-89442-58-0.
  2. ^ a b c d McKitterick, Rosamond; Allmand, C. T. (1995). The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 7, C.1415-c.1500. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-38296-0.
  3. ^ a b Jensen, Janus Møller (2007-04-30). Denmark and the Crusades, 1400-1650. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-474-1984-6.
  4. ^ a b Olesen, Jens Ejnar (2021-04-23). Rigsråd - kongemagt – union. Studier over det danske rigsråd og den nordiske kongemagts politik 1434-1449 (in Danish). Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN 978-87-26-78033-8.
  5. ^ Harrison, Dick (2024-02-01). Fienden: Sverige och Ryssland från vikingatid till idag (in Swedish). Ordfront. ISBN 978-91-7945-181-3.
  6. ^ a b c Sundberg, Ulf (1999). Medeltidens Svenska krig [Swedish wars in the Middle Ages] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg. p. 271. ISBN 9189080262.
  7. ^ Suomi (in Swedish). Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1848.