1388

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political events

The Battle of Näfels April 9 ends in victory for the Helvetic Confederation over Hapsburg forces. The truce declared after the Battle of Sempach 2 years ago has expired in February, men in Glarus have resumed hostilities, Austria's duke Albrecht III has advanced into Glarus with an army, but troops from Schwyz have come to the support of the Glarus rebels, who have held the heights above Näfels to check the invasion. Their bloody counterattack is followed by further Swiss successes (see 1389).

France's Charles VI begins his personal reign at age 19 following the death of the duc d'Anjou, which leaves Philippe, duc de Burgundy, in a position of great power. Charles replaces Burgundy with his own brother Louis, duc d'Orléans, but Louis is an unpopular dandy; Burgundy gains the support of the king's 17-year-old wife, Isabelle of Bavaria, and poses as a reformer.

Mercenary Sir John Hawkwood and his White Company undertake a military campaign against Milan's new tyrant Gian Galeazzo Visconti, but it fails (see 1378). The Florentines will mount a larger effort against Milan in 1390 and appoint Hawkwood commander in chief.

The Battle of Otterburn in Northumberland August 19 ends in victory for a 7,000-man Scottish force over an 8,000-man English army under the command of Sir Henry Percy (known as Harry Hotspur), now 46. The English have been chasing a Scottish raiding party and made an attack on its encampment at dusk. The Scots capture Sir Henry and his brother Thomas. The English sustain 2,000 casualties, but the Scots leader, James Douglas, 2nd earl of Douglas, is killed at age 30. The Scots resume their march to the north, carrying their plunder, and will continue their border raids until 1402 (see 1402).

Norwegians elect Margrethe of Denmark queen; disaffected Swedish magnates ask for her help against their king Albrecht of Mecklenburg (see 1387; 1389).

The Muscovite heir apparent Basil Dmitriyevich leads a Muscovite military contingent in support of the Tatar khan Toqtamish against Tamerlane in Central Asia (see Kars, 1387). Upon his return to Moscow he receives the patent to rule as grand prince of Vladimir (see 1389).

Korean warlord Yi Songgye deposes the pro-Mongol king Wu as disorder continues (see 1369; 1392).

commerce

Venice signs a treaty with the Ottoman Turks in its first effort to assure trading privileges in the eastern Mediterranean in the face of rising Turkish power.

education

The University of Cologne receives a charter (see Thomas Aquinas, 1256).

communications, media

The first complete English translation of the Bible is completed by John Purcey on the basis of work begun by the late John Wycliffe in an effort to reach the people directly with a bible that they can read for themselves (date approximate).

music

The English in centuries hence will sing the ballads "The Battle of Otterburn" and "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (or "Chevy Chase") to celebrate the events of 1388.

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