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Contents: political eventsreligion communications, media music |
Philippe le Bon, duc de Burgundy, takes the "vow of the pheasant" February 17, swearing to fight the Ottoman Turks.
The Peace of Lodi April 9 ends 11 years of hostilities between Venice, Milan, and Florence. The Bergamo-born soldier of fortune Bartolomeo Colleoni, 54, has deserted Milan for the last time and become generalissimo of Venice, having changed sides many times in his career as condottiere (neither side now trusts him). Pope Nicholas V has negotiated the treaty, which creates an Italian League whose members recognize common interests and agree to support each other against foreign aggressors.
Venice's doge Francesco Foscari signs a treaty April 18 with the new sultan Mehmet II on terms favorable to Venice.
France's Charles VII shuts himself up with his mistress Antoinette de Maignelais following the death of her husband, André de Vellequier, July 1. Charles gives Antoinette the right to inherit the château plus 2,000 livres to maintain herself in queenly style.
Jacques Coeur escapes from confinement in the château at Poitiers in October (see 1453), finds refuge in a monastery at Montmorillon, and makes his way to Rome, where he receives a hearty welcome from Pope Nicholas V (see 1456).
Rebel Prussian groups in Poland petition Casimir IV for support against the Teutonic Knights, who have held Gdansk (Danzig) since 1308. Casimir declares war on the order, beginning hostilities that will continue until 1466 (see Battle of Puck, 1462).
Castile's Juan II dies at Valladolid July 21 at age 49 after a 48-year reign in which he has fought Aragon and the Moors. His son will reign until 1474 as Enrique IV.
James Douglas, 9th earl of Douglas, openly accuses Scotland's James II of having murdered his brother William 2 years ago and gathers a force of more than 4,000 men to oppose the king, but another branch of the family (the Red Douglases) rallies to the king's support, the earl's allies desert him as they did in 1452, and he flees to England (see 1455).
England's Henry VI recovers from a bout of insanity at year's end and dismisses Richard Plantagenet, 3rd duke of York, as his protector. The duke of Somerset returns to power (see 1455).
Siam's king Trailok stabilizes society by establishing rules of land tenure; each official and subject is assigned a numerical rank (sakdi na) expressed in terms of units of land, ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 acres for the highest ministers down to between 10 and 160 for the lowliest freeman. An official appointed by higher state officials may own from 160 to 1,000 acres, but the 10-acre minimum means that nobody need go hungry.
John Cardinal Kempe dies at London March 22 at age 73 (approximate), having served as archbishop of Canterbury and lord chancellor of London, distinguishing himself more by his political skills (he began as an ecclesiastical lawyer) than service to his ministries in York and his dioceses. By supporting Richard Plantagenet, 3rd duke of York, he has antagonized many Englishmen.
Printers at Mainz use movable metal type for the first time (traditional date) (see 1381; Gutenberg Bible, 1455).
Some 28 French musicians inside a huge pie perform at the Feast of the Pheasant for Philippe le Bon, duc de Burgundy. A Mother Goose rhyme about "four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie" will commemorate the event (see Poetry, 1697).
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