Swedish troops, initially led by King John, had earlier in 1220 invaded the western coast of Estonia, an area not yet conquered by the Teutonic Knights. The Swedish army took the Lihula stronghold and set up a small garrison. Swedish jarl Charles the Deaf (Swedish:Karl Döve) and bishop Karl Magnusson of Linköping, both from the powerful House of Bjelbo, also remained in the castle.