1340

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political events

Denmark's anarchy ends in April with the murder of Gerhard, count of Holstein, during a visit to Jutland (see 1332). The youngest (20-year-old) son of the late Kristoffer II has lived until 2 years ago at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig IV (the Bavarian), receiving the emperor's help and that of Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg, in his efforts to end the rule of Gerhard and Johann the Mild, counts of Holstein. He comes to an agreement with John and ascends the throne as Valdemar IV Atterdag, beginning a reign that will continue until his death in 1375 (see 1346).

The Battle of Sluys June 24 gives England's Edward III victory over a French fleet after Philippe VI has dismissed two squadrons of Levantine mercenary ships. Sir John Chandos distinguishes himself in the engagement; Edward gains mastery of the Channel and free access to northern France (see Crécy, 1346). Heavily in debt despite having received generous parliamentary grants since 1336, Edward has seized wool exports and borrowed recklessly from English, Flemish, and Italian bankers; Parliament increases its power by requiring parliamentary sanction for non-feudal levies and changes in levies (see commerce, 1341); it grants Edward one ninth of all produce, but the grant fails to yield significant financial returns, and when Edward returns home in the fall he accuses John Stratford, archbishop of Canterbury, of having worked against him while running the country in the king's absence.

The Battle of Río Salado (Battle of Tarifa) near Seville October 30 ends forever the Moorish threat to Granada and the rest of Spain. Aided by Portuguese troops under the command of Afonso IV, Castile's Alfonso XI gains a decisive victory over a combined force of Spanish and Moroccan Muslims. Led by Abual-Hasan, the Marinids have mobilized a huge Maghribian army, destroyed the Castilian fleet in the Strait of Gibraltar, and marched inland. But although they use cannon for the first time in any European battle their defeat is so disastrous that they are obliged to retreat to North Africa. Observers of the battle include Henry of Grosmont, earl of Derby (later 1st duke of Lancaster), who has served with the Royal Navy at the Battle of Sluys and returns home with reports of the cannon used by the Moors (see Battle of Crécy, 1346).

commerce

Some 300 families control 60 percent of all the wealth in Western Europe; about 50 of them are in England, and their annual income is beyond reckoning.

The Florentine bankers financing Edward III in his war with France demand and receive as collateral the person of John Stratford, archbishop of Canterbury. Florence's Peruzzi banking house asks 120 percent interest and charges an additional 60 percent when payment is not prompt, taking a lien on state income and installing two merchants to supervise Edward's household accounts (but see 1343).

transportation

The road from the Black Sea to Cathay (China) is safe both by day and by night, reports The Merchant's Handbook by Pegolotti.

medicine

Travelers on the road from China will return with rat-borne ticks or fleas that will bring bubonic plague (the Black Death) to Europe (see 1333; 1343).

education

Queen's College is founded at Oxford University by the queen consort Philippa of Hainaut's chaplain (see Oriel, 1326; New College, 1394).

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