Battle of Cedynia
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| Battle of Cedynia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Combatants | |||||||
| Poland | Lusatia | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Mieszko I of Poland | Margrave Hodo of Lusatia, Northern and Saxon March | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown, supposed to be not more than 4000 | Unknown, supposed to be not more than 4000 | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| Unknown, supposed to be low | Unknown, chronicles say that "All the great knights have died" | ||||||
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Battle at Cidini Ceden, Cedin , Zehden, since 1945 Cedynia happened on 24 June 972 during the rule of Duke Mieszko I, the first Christian ruler of the Polans and a later country called Poland. There was a war raging over the western border of the young country, because Mieszko wanted to capture the lightly defended and economically important estuary of the Oder River. This led to a conflict with Margrave Hodo of the Nordmark Northern March and Saxon March, who was also ruler of the neighbouring marchy of Lusatia (an antecedent of Brandenburg). Margrave Hodo wanted to extend his territory and gathered his forces. He received support from another man, Count Sigfried and decided to attack. He was sure of victory and his raid was a private conflict which was against the agreements made by the German emperor. However, the battle was won by Mieszko, also a subject of the empire.
[edit] The Forces
The numbers are unknown, but the military abilities and the rank of opponents indicate that they could not have had more than 4,000 man on each side. It is known, however, that the German forces consisted of heavy cavalry while the Polish consisted of cavalry and infantry.
[edit] The Battlefield
The duke of the Polans wanted to avoid a long campaign on his territory and stop the enemy on the borders. The fight was on one of the furts or passes through the Oder River directly across at later town Oderberg, just north of Frankfurt Oder. The place was picked carefully. The only way was next to a high hill grown with trees and most of the area was swamp-like. Also there was a town of Cidini a bit deeper.
[edit] The battle
When the Germans were going through the river, Mieszko led an attack on them. Then he posed a retreat and the Germans chased him. However then, his brother Czcibor attacked from the forest. The Germans were flanked and fell back to the swampy terrain. There, unable to defend, they were slaughtered.
[edit] Aftermath
Not many Germans escaped, however Sigfried and Hodo did. Eventually the son of Mieszko was taken by the German emperor, Otto I. Otto II wanted to have a revenge in 979, but was also defeated.
[edit] Sources
Based upon "Słynne bitwy w historii Polski" (Famous battles in Polish history) by Rafał Korbal. Information about this battle is found in the Gall Anonim Chronicle and the Thietmar Chronicle. After the city of Zehden in Brandenburg was conquered by Soviet Army in 1945, it was called Cedynia and a monument was erected by Poland to commemorate the battle.
Also see Brandenburg Early Middle Ages
