From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Battle of Lena |
|
|
| Belligerents |
| Danish-backed rebels |
Sweden |
| Commanders |
| Sverker II of Sweden |
Eric X of Sweden |
| Strength |
| 12,000 - 18,000 soldiers and knights |
7,000 - 10,000 armed peasants |
| Casualties and losses |
| Almost the whole army was destroyed |
Light |
- This page is about the Battle of Lena of 1208; for other battles, see Battle of Helena (disambiguation).
The Battle of Lena took place January 31, 1208, and it was probably located near Kungslena (58°14′N, 13°50′E) which is located in the Tidaholm Municipality in Västergötland.
It was an important battle between the former Swedish king Sverker and prince Eric. Sverker arrived with a large Danish army provided by the Danish king Valdemar the Victorious. Medieval sources has this army to number as many as 12 000, or even 18 000 men, but that is with all certainty an overstatement and the exact size of this force is unknown. The Swedes numbered around 7,000 to 10,000 men, another exaggeration. Sweden were also backed up by a small number of Norwegian auxillaries.
The Swedes won, according to legend aided by Odin, and Sverker had to flee back to Denmark. He would return in the Battle of Gestilren and would die there.
