The Livonian Civil War began in 1296 in the region known as Terra Mariana (modern-day Latvia and Estonia). The conflict arose between the burghers (citizens) of Riga and the Livonian Order, a branch of the Teutonic Knights. The tensions were driven by power struggles between the growing independence of urban communities and the military-religious authority of the Order.
Initially, Johannes III von Schwerin, the Archbishop of Riga, tried to mediate the dispute but later joined the side of Riga’s citizens. However, this alignment did not end well for the archbishop, as he was defeated and taken prisoner by the Livonian Order. The war intensified when Riga, seeking additional military support, allied with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1298.
The conflict continued with notable events like the Battle of Turaida in 1298, where Riga’s forces, supported by Lithuanian troops under Vytenis, dealt a major blow to the Livonian Order. However, the Livonian Order quickly regrouped with reinforcements from the Teutonic Knights, retaliating by besieging Riga and inflicting heavy losses. A fragile truce followed, mediated by Pope Boniface VIII and Eric VI of Denmark, though the alliance between Riga and Lithuania persisted for several more years, prolonging instability in the region.