Lembitu (Estonian also: Lembit, died 21 September 1217) was an ancient Estonian king from Sakala County and military leader in the struggle against German crusaders at the beginning of the 13th century. He is the only Estonian pre-Crusade ruler, about whom some biographical information is known (he is mentioned only in the Livonian Chronicle of Henry).[1]
| Lembitu | |
|---|---|
| King of Estonia and elder Sakala | |
.jpg) Monument to Lembitu at Suure-Jaani, Estonia. | |
| Reign | Until 21 September 1217 |
| Successor | Unnepewe, his brother |
| Born | 12th century |
| Died | 21 September 1217 Near Viljandi |
| Issue | One or several sons |
Lembitu, also referred to in Latin as Lambite, Lembito or Lembitus, was first mentioned in chronicles in 1211. Troops led by Lembitu destroyed a troop of missionaries in the historical Estonian county of Sakala (Sackalia) and made a raid as far as Pskov, then a town of the Novgorod Republic. In 1215, Lembitu's Lehola (Leal) stronghold (situated near the present town of Suure-Jaani) was taken by Germans and Lembitu was taken prisoner. He was released in 1217.
Lembitu attempted to unite the Estonians in order to withstand the German conquest. He managed to assemble an army of 6,000 Estonian men from different counties, but was killed in the following Battle of St. Matthew's Day in September 1217.[2]
Title and degree of power
editLembitu is often considered a king due to several key factors that highlight his leadership and military prowess:
Military Force: Lembitu commanded a significant military force of around 6,000 men, demonstrating his capacity to lead large-scale operations and his influence over a considerable portion of the Estonian populace
.
Conquest of Pskov: He played a crucial role in the capture of Pskov, the capital of the Pskov principality, which signifies not only military strength but also strategic importance in the region during the conflicts against foreign invaders
.
Commanding Various Counties: Lembitu served as a general for the combined armies of multiple counties, indicating his authority and recognition among different tribal leaders. This position aligns with the responsibilities typically associated with a king or a supreme military leader
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The only written biographical information about Lembit comes from the Livonian Chronicle of Henry, where he is described as "senior" ("elder") and " "princeps ac senior perfidus Lembitus" ("perfidious prince and elder Lembitu"). In another place the chronicle speaks of " Lambito et Meme, seniores de Sackale " (Lembuto and Meme, elders of Sakala), i.e., Lembitu was not the only elder of the county, thus precluding some interpretations of Lembitu's title as "king of Sakala" or "the elder of Sakala". Modern archaeological evidence suggests that at the time Sakala was probably a kingdom in its own right.[3]
External links
edit- Lembitu (in Estonian)
- Monument of Lembitu in Suure-Jaani (in Estonian)
References
edit- ^ Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical Dictionary of Estonia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-4904-4.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. 1970. p. 734.
- ^ Valter Lang, Baltimaade Metalliaeg, Tartu, 2003