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Athens falls to the Ottoman Turks, who will rule Greece and most of the Balkans for the better part of the next 4 centuries. The sultan Mehmet II lays siege to Belgrade, but the Hungarian regent, János Hunyadi, provisions and arms the fortress, collects an army of mercenaries that is joined by a poorly equipped peasant army, and with these additions to his own troops is able to destroy the Ottoman fleet July 14 and rout the besieging Ottoman army July 21 and 22. A final assault on Belgrade is repulsed August 6, and Mehmet II is forced to return to Constantinople. János Hunyadi dies of dysentery in an epidemic at Belgrade August 11 at age 49, but his victory will keep Hungary free of Ottoman rule for 70 years. Hunyadi's elder son, László, has Hungary's new regent, Ulrich von Cilli, assassinated at Belgrade November 9 at age 50 (see 1457).
Walachia's Vlad Dracula, now 24, avenges his father's 1447 murder and reassumes his throne (see 1448). He will reign until 1462, resisting Turkish demands for recruits (see 1462; Bucharest, 1459).
Jacques Coeur commands a fleet of 16 galleys on a crusade undertaken by Pope Callistus (or Calixtus) III, arrives at Chios, but dies there November 26 at age 61.
Tomiko Hino marries the shōgun Yoshimasa Ashikaga, whose regime she will soon control. Still only 16, she is the daughter of a powerful Japanese family.
A comet that will later be called "Halley's Comet" blazes across the skies of Europe (see 1066; Halley, 1705); people pray for protection from the Devil, the Turk, and the Comet.
Poetry: Le Petit Testament by French poet François Villon, 25, is published in 40 stanzas. Villon stabbed a priest to death last year and is involved this year in a robbery at the College de Navarre in Paris.
Painting: Niccola da Tolentino by Andrea del Castagno.
Florence's Church of Santa Maria Novella receives a new facade designed by Leon Battista Alberti.
An earthquake strikes Naples December 5, taking 35,000 lives.
Sugar from Madeira reaches Bristol, giving many Englishmen their first taste of the sweetener (see 1432). The word sweetmeat comes into use to denote anything rich in sugar.
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