Battle of Lode

Battle of Lode
Part of Livonian War
Date January 23, 1573 Location Koluvere, near Lode in Estonia Result Decisive Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Clas Åkesson Tott	Simeon Bekbulatovich
Strength
1,300 men	16,000 men
Casualties and losses
light	5,000–7,000

Battle of Lode was a battle fought during the Livonian War, between Sweden and Russia at January 23, 1573. The battle was won by the Swedes.

Battle

At 23 January a Swedish army of 700 infantry and 600 cavalry under command of Clas Åkesson Tott clashed with an Russian army of 16,000 men under the command of Simeon Bekbulatovich, by the village of Koluvere, just outside Lode. Swedish commander Tott, gave orders to his cavalry to engage the Russians. Despite being heavily outnumbered they managed to tear up their formations and break in, but was later forced to retreat over the mighty numbers. Tott, However, used this opportunity to strike with his infantry and cavalry once more and after a while the whole Russian force was scattered and fled. The Swedish cavalry persecuted and cut down many Russians on their rout.

It is said the Russian force lost about 7,000 men during the battle, which, most likely is of exaggerated numbers – however, they were probably heavy. The Swedish casualties were light. Tott returned to Reval with all their artillery, hundreds of horses and a big amount of sleds the Russians left during their rout. The Russian Czar, Ivan IV later began peace negotiations and sent a letter to Johan III king of Sweden. But due to the previous mistreated negotiations he doubted the Russians will to make peace.

Sources

• Sundberg, Ulf: Svenska krig 1521-1814, p. 78, Hjalmarson & Högberg Bokförlag, Stockholm 2002, ISBN 91-89660-10-2
• Anders Anton von Stiernman, Swea och Götha Höfdinga-Minne, Volym 2
• Fridolf Ödberg, Tidsbilder ur 1500-talets svenska häfder, C. E. Fritzes kungl. hofbokhandel, 1896
• Сказанія князя Курбскаго, Андрей Михайлович Курбский