1242 battle of lake Peipus

[Huron34]

Hello everyone,

I'm going to introduce you to a project that has been close to my heart for many years.
It's about the battle of Lake Peipus, which put an end to the expantionist ideas of Christianity in Slavic countries.
Why did you wait so long?
I'm not a wargamer, but a miniaturist who likes to make dioramas (when his wife gives him the time and space), and the appearance of the manufacturer “Northern Crusades Miniatures” has been offering miniatures in action, in combat, etc. for a few years now, so the choice is starting to become interesting.
First of all, for those who are used to reading me, a bit of history. I'll keep it as short as possible.
This battle was the conclusion of a long campaign orchestrated by Prince-Bishop Hermann Von Buxhoeved of Tartu to halt the excursions of his Pagan neighbors. To this end, a “mini-croisade” was organized.  In addition to his vassals, he invited Danes and Teutonics. The campaign was a long one, and after many twists and turns, it came to a conclusion on the shores of a frozen lake against the “Kievan-Russ” armies commanded by Alexander Nevsky. The Teutonics had strongly advised us to suspend the campaign in view of the winter.

The opposing forces:

The body of the Prince Bishop of Tartu:
300 vassal knight and sergeants, I have no information on the color of their coat of arms. If anyone has this information, I'm interested.
His knights are more or less well equipped.
Then 1000 Estonnian auxiliaries.

The Danes:
200 vassal knight and sergeants
Plus local auxiliaries

Les Teutoniques:
350 knight and sergents
Plus des auxiliaires Estoniens

Les forces Russes:

Deux Corps de cavalerie et un corps d'infanterie très bien équipés (Druzina). : 1000 guerriers
Milices de Novgorod : 2000 fantassins
Finno-Ugrain Tribesmen : 1400 guerriers
Archers à cheval : 600 cavaliers

Nous pouvons constater que les forces des croisés chrétiens sont dépassés en nombre.

Mais cela ne fait pas peur aux chevaliers teutonique qui ont l'habitude de se battre en infériorité.

Now let's put some preconceived ideas to rest.

The ice on the lake broke under the weight of the German knights, resulting in the loss of the Teutonic army: False!
Otherwise, if the ice had broken, it would have led to the loss of the Teutonic and Russian armies. At the edge of the lake, the ice may have broken, but nothing serious.

The 600 horsemen are Mongolian archers. I don't think so either.
But why?

The Mongols are the Russians' adversaries and have beaten them to the punch in many bloody battles.
The Mongols were a formidable army at the time, with well-organized cavalry and infantry corps (heavy and light units, scouts, etc.), engineering corps, war machines...
So I don't see the Mongol emperor sending just 600 light cavalry.
As far as I'm concerned, we're dealing with steppe tribes:
- Chernye Klobuki (in Russian), the black heads, allies of the Russians in many battles.
- Poloviets (in Russian), Kipchac, nomadic tribes who often fought with Russian principalities before allying themselves with the Russians.
- Cuman? Perhaps, yes. But less sure.
In any case, given their numbers, we're dealing with an alliance of different steppe tribes.

An army of Teutonic knights: Wrong!
The Teutonic knights are first and foremost the remnants of the order of sword-bearing knights.
This order was crushed at the Battle of Saule.
The Teutonic Order therefore asked the Pope to take it under his tutelage. Once this was accepted, the Teutonic Order was obliged to find knights, sergeants and ecclesiastics to replace the losses suffered by the order of sword-carrying knights in the provinces and fortresses.
This order became known as the Livonian Order.
Moreover, the number of knights was very low. Around a hundred for the campaign. Fewer at the time of battle.
So where does this figure of 300 knights and sergeants come from?
In times of conflict, the Teutonic Order calls on volunteers.
These are of two kinds:
- Con-freres, knights who join the order for the duration of a campaign or crusade, and on their death cede half their fortune to the Teutonic Order.
- Guests, Christian knights who take up the cross (it's less dangerous to fight in Europe than in the Holy Land).

The battle itself:

On the side of the crusaders:
- The Teutonic army holds the center, the Danes the left side and the body of Hermann von Tartu the right. The militia is in the rear.

On the Russian side:
- The militia is placed on at least 3 line on the brges of the lake, with in support back a Druzina to feet.
On the right side, Alexander’s brother with a "light" Druzina supported by the archers of the steppes.
On the left side Alexander and a "heavy" Druzina
They fight under their own banner (Saint George for the Germanic knights and Lady's Note for the others), but depend on the command of the Teutonic Knights.

the fight:

The charge of the Teutonic knights is sinking into the lines of the militia like a corner in wood.
Alexandre sends all his troops in the canteen to resist the shock.
It is then that the archers of the steppes intervene who strike the Danish troops from their arrows. The Danes, not being accustomed to this type of combat, reflux and flee by training the auxiliary militia of the crusaders.
From there it is the end for the crusader army.

The Russian cavalry encircles the crusades and their numbers massacre the Christians.

Nevertheless, it was not the end of the Teutonic because out of 400 dead knights, the figure is perhaps a little exaggerated by the chronicles of the time, only 20 Teutonic perished. But among the 20 how many were true knights of the order?

I will stop there for now. Ja will try to join plates of uniforms (my computer is capricious)







Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Huron34]

ordre de Livonie

[Huron34]

First plates Teutonics, Livonians and allied, mercenary

[Huron34]

Russian, Alexander and heavy druzina, light cavalry, mercenary.
Russian shield wall

[Huron34]

Russiancavalry, milician and mercenary

[Huron34]

Black heads'tchornie kubluki),  Kipchac (Poloviets), Cuman

[Huron34]

Mongols and assault on Kiev and Vladimir

[Huron34]

Russian and Poloviets

[Huron34]

Teutonics, Livonians, Con-frere (con-brother)

[Huron34]

Livonian cavalry allieds of Crusaders

[Huron34]

Kipchaks and Cuman

[Huron34]

Russian heavy cavalry

[Huron34]

Here are my sources. Now I'm waiting for my figures cast by ‘Studio Historia’.
I hope you have a pleasant evening

[Advario]

That sounds like a really cool topic and project idea!

And thank you so much for all the links to such amazing images of medieval russian armour!!

I will be looking forward to updates with your minis

[Huron34]

I Hope