Battle of Lyndanisse

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Battle of Lyndanisse

Part of Northern Crusades

Dannebrog falling from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse.

Date	June 15, 1219
Location	Lyndanisse (Tallinn), Estonia
Result	Danish victory

Belligerents

Revalia,Harria

Denmark

Commanders

Valdemar II

Strength

1000-2000^[1]

"several thousand"

Casualties and losses

The Battle of Lyndanisse took place on June 15 1219.

Under pretext of helping the Crusade in Palestine, the Danish king Valdemar II Sejr defeated the Estonians at Lyndanisse (Estonian: Lindanise) under orders from the Pope.

With a number of longboats, the king, together with Bishop Anders Sunesen, Bishop Theoderik of Estonia, Count Albert of Nordalbingien and Vitslav I of Rügen sailed to Lyndanisse what is today known as Tallinn and took over the castle there (Castrum Danorum).

On 15 June, the Estonians attacked the Danes near the castle which came as such a surprise to the crusaders that they fled in all directions. But under Vitslav, they regrouped and drove off the Estonians.

Legend holds that during this battle, in the Danes' hour of need, the Danish flag, Dannebrog fell from the sky and gave them renewed hope. The Dannebrog remains the oldest state flag in use today.