[1] During the Northern Seven Years' War, the mutual ravages by both the Danes and Swedes in southern Scandinavia and their struggle over Älvsborg and Halmstad took up much of both of their treasuries.

[1] However, the Danish position was much weaker than the Swedish one, as the Swedes could more easily send reinforcements to their holdings in Estonia from Finland, while the commanders on Ösel were being consistently deprived of support by Copenhagen.

[1][2][3] He received strict orders from Eric XIV that in the event of a war breaking out between Sweden and Denmark, he was to conquer the Danish possessions in Ösel–Wiek.

[1] Åke managed to besiege and later capture both Hapsal and Leal with around 450 men[4] on the west coast of Estonia in August.

[8] Since the Swedish force was so numerous, they were able to quickly repair the damage, and a short time later, the Swedes once more captured Leal.