1240–1241 Votia campaign

1240–1241 Votia campaign
Date	Winter 1240/41 – late 1241
Location	Votia (situated in the western parts of present-day Leningrad Oblast, bordering on Estonia)
Result	Novgorodian victory Livonians occupied Votia, built a castle in Koporye and imposed tribute; Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek and Teutonic Order divided Votia into fiefs; Novgorodians defeated Livonians; Livonians left Votia (1242);
Belligerents
Teutonic Order Livonian Order; ; Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek Local Votian leaders	civilians in Votia; civilians in Tesovo and Luga; Novgorod Republic;
Commanders and leaders
Henry of Ösel	Aleksandr Yaroslavich of Suzdal (late 1241)

The 1240–1241 Votia campaign was a military conflict occurring in the winter of 1240 to 1241 in Votia (in the western parts of modern-day Leningrad Oblast). An alliance of the Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek, the Livonian Order (the former Livonian Brothers of the Sword, which had recently been incorporated into the Teutonic Order), as well as Estonians (called Chud' in Rus' sources), marched into Votia, defeating what little resistance it met, likely supported by several local Votian leaders, and establishing a fortress at Koporye.

Surviving sources suggest the invading coalition, particularly bishop Henry of Ösel, was primarily interested in converting the local Finnic peoples from their forms of paganism to Christianity, as well as acquiring more territory to be divided amongst the Livonian gentry (the former Sword Brothers). Possibly, some knights with nominal fealty to king Valdemar II of Denmark (died March 1241) participated as well. Reportedly, they also plundered the countryside, attacking merchants and possibly the Novgorodian town of Luga, which caused a Novgorodian force under the Suzdalian prince Aleksandr "Nevsky" Yaroslavich to launch an assault on Koporye later in 1241, ousting the allies, and compelling them to withdraw to Livonia in 1242.