In the Battle of Bornhöved (German: Schlacht auf dem Sventanafeld) or, possibly *Vir·Gento·Vedo, on the field of Sventanafeld (Sventanapolje or "Schwentine field") near the village of Bornhöved near Neumünster in 798 the Obodrites, led by Drożko, allied with the Franks, defeated the Nordalbingian Saxons.
The battle was part of the effort by the Frankish emperor, Charlemagne, to conquer and convert Old Saxony.
The victory of Charlemagne in the battle finally broke the resistance of the Nordalbingian Saxons to Christianisation.
Charlemagne decided to massacre the Nordalbingian Saxons or deport them: their areas in Holstein became sparsely populated and were handed over to the Obodrites.
In 810 the Limes Saxoniae - the fortified line to protect Frankish-Saxon territories from further attacks by the Obodrites from Ostholstein - was mentioned for the first time.