Battle of Wesenberg ( 1268 ) The Battle of Wesenberg , Rakvere or Rakovor was a battle fought on February 18 , 1268 , between the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Knights and a coalition of Russia n princes . Medieval accounts of the battle vary , with both sides claiming victory , such that the other was unable to mount further attacks . The most likely conclusion is that the battle was a tactical draw , with both sides withdrawing , badly bloodied , to defend their own lands . The two armies clashed within 7 . 5 kilometers ( roughly 4 . 5 miles ) from the Livonian town of Wesenberg ( Rakvere , Rakovor ) . Russian forces , numbering up to 30 , 000 troops , were led by Dmitry of Pereslavl ( representing the Novgorod Republic ) together with his future son - in - law , Daumantas of Pskov ( representing the Pskov Republic ) . Apart from the knights , the Livonian army included Danish forces ( right flank ) and local Estonian militia ( left flank ) . It is unclear who the overall commander of the crusading army was , as some sources claim that Livonian Ordensmeister Otto von Lutterberg was not present , while others claim he was . Bishop Alexander of Dorpat was likely one of the army ' s leaders , however . The Livonian forces deployed in their customary deep " boar ' s head " wedge of heavily armoured knights , called by the Russians the " great iron pig . " These deep wedges had considerable penetrative power , but were unmaneuverable and vulnerable to flank attack due to the resulting narrow frontage of the army , facts which led to the ultimate defeat of the Knights at the Battle of Lake Peipus . As a result , the Livonians attempted to remedy this situation at Rakvere by splitting their knightly assault force into two formations , deploying one wedge in the open and a second in ambush , so that when the first wedge was attacked on all sides by the Russians the second wedge would burst from ambush and in turn encircle the enemy . The tactic worked well at first , as the wedge of Livonian knights smashed the Novgorod and Pskov forces facing them , but then the second wedge , seeing the Russians in retreat , apparently assumed the battle was won and emerged from their ambush position to loot the Russian baggage . This abandonment of the battle plan led to the first wedge being encircled . The fighting to reduce the first wedge was apparently terrific . " Neither our fathers nor grandfathers have witnessed such a terrible battle " , reports the Novgorodian First Chronicle . At last the Novgorodian militia prevailed , although its leader , the posadnik Mikhailo Fyodorovich , was killed in action . The Russian princes pursued the knights up to Rakvere . Prince Daumantas of Pskov , whose bravery was recognized even in the Livonian chronicles of the battle , pursued the defeated knights all the way to the coast of the Baltic Sea , and took substantial booty before returning to the Russian lines . Upon his return to his camp , Dmitry of Pereslavl discovered that it had been looted by another regiment of the knights . He decided to wait for the morning . Three days passed and no new attack ensued on the part of the knights . The Russian leaders claimed victory and returned to Novgorod in triumph . The most proximate Livonian source for the battle , the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle , tells a very different story , however . According to the anonymous author , Ordenmeister Otto von Lutterburg was away , campaigning elsewhere , when the Russians invaded Estonia . As a result only a small number of brothers of the Livonian Order were present with the local troops , which included the forces of Bishop Alexander of Dorpat . In this account , the charge of the Livonian force drove the Russians back across the field of battle , and , despite the death of Bishop Alexander , and a heroic final defense mounted by Prince Dmitry , utterly defeated them . The Livonian force then laid siege to Pskov , but were defeated when a relief army arrived there from Novgorod , whereupon they returned home .