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Guardians of Scotland's 10-year-old David II Bruce flee with him to France; he will be unable to return until 1341 (see 1346).
Lady Agnes Randolph, 34, holds her Scottish castle for 5 months against the earl of Salisbury, whose English siege force includes many engineers with elaborate equipment. The wife of Patrick, 4th earl of Dunbar and 2nd earl of March, she will be remembered as "Black Agnes."
Serbia's Stefan Dusan launches a war against the Byzantine Empire, reaches the gates of Salonica, and extends his borders far to the south before making peace with the emperor Andronicus III Palaeologus in August (see 1332; 1335).
The Mughal sultan Mohammed Tughlak welcomes the Arab scholar Ibn Battutah to Delhi with lavish gifts in hopes that the young Moor may help him conquer the world (see 1333). Unpredictably generous and cruel as the mood strikes him, the sultan will appoint Ibn Battutah qadi of Delhi, threaten his life, restore him to favor, and in 1342 make him his envoy to the Chinese emperor (see 1349).
Poland's new king Casimir III encourages immigration of Jews and grants them extensive privileges; he needs them as bankers and tax collectors (see 1348).
Philosopher-theologian Durand de Saint-Pourçain dies at Meaux September 10 at age 64 (approximate), having attacked the teachings of the late Thomas Aquinas. Except in articles of faith, he has insisted, a philosopher must place the conclusions of his own reason ahead of any authority, whereas truths of faith do not depend on reason. Church authorities have censured Durand on occasion for his views.
Pope John XXII dies at Avignon December 4 at age 85 after an 18-year papacy in which he has levied heavy taxes on Christian Europe in an effort to regain independence and prestige for the Church. He is succeeded by the Cistercian cardinal Jacques Fournier, who will reign as Pope Benedict XII until his death in 1342.
Painting: Madonna and Child with Saints andScenes by Florentine painter Taddeo Gaddi, 34, whose teacher Giotto di Bondone is now 68.
Florence appoints Giotto di Bondone official architect, and he begins work on a campanile for the city's cathedral.
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