Samogitian and Semigalian victory Campaign against the Latvians Campaign against the Lithuanians The Battle of Saule (Lithuanian: Saulės mūšis / Šiaulių mūšis; German: Schlacht von Schaulen; Latvian: Saules kauja) was fought on 22 September 1236, between the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and pagan troops of Samogitians and Semigallians.

[7] Volkwin delayed starting military actions for an entire summer, hoping to escape a risky operation into unexplored lands.

[6] Volkwin gathered a large war party, which included troops from Pskov Republic,[5] Livonians, Latgallians, Curonians, and Estonians.

[8] Crossing the lands of Semigallians, which were not in the order's control,[7] the crusaders marched southward into Samogitia, raiding and plundering local settlements.

Unwilling to risk losing their horses in the swampland, the Holsteiners refused to fight on foot, forcing the knights to camp for the night.

[5] The next morning, on the day of Saint Maurice, the main pagan forces, possibly led by Duke Vykintas, arrived at the camp.

Traditionally, this was identified with Šiauliai (German: Schaulen, Latvian: Šauļi) in Lithuania or with the small town of Vecsaule near Bauska in what is today southern Latvia.

[12] The theory gained some academic support and in 2010 the Lithuanian government sponsored construction of the memorial in Jauniūnai – a 29-metre (95 ft) tall sundial, a pond, and a park of oaks.

[13] The village of Pamūšis, situated some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Janiūnai on the Mūša River, also claims to be the location of the battle.