1483
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Contents: political eventsscience religion education art |
England's Edward IV dies at Westminster April 9 at age 40 after a tyrannical reign in which he has multiplied his wealth by confiscating the estates of his enemies and putting his money to work in partnership with London merchants. Edward's capable brother Richard, duke of Gloucester, is proclaimed king and begins a brief reign as Richard III; diplomat-soldier William, Baron Hastings, gains the affections of Edward's former mistress Jane Shore, who encourages him to challenge Richard's claim to the throne, and Richard has him beheaded at age 53. A quasi-legal Parliament rules June 5 that Edward's 1464 marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid and that the two sons by that marriage are illegitimate. The boys are found smothered in the Tower of London. It is widely believed that they were murdered on Richard's orders, and Elizabeth flees to safety while the late king's mistress Jane Shore finds a new protector (see 1470; 1486).
Henry Stafford, 29, duke of Buckingham, leads a rebellion against Richard III, but supporters of Richard suppress the revolt, capture Buckingham, and execute him at Salisbury (see Bosworth Field, 1485). Richard makes his 57-year-old supporter John Howard 1st duke of Norfolk, creating a new dukedom that will survive as the oldest in England.
France's Louis XI (the Spider) dies at Plessis-les-Tours August 30 at age 60 after a 22-year reign in which the nation's prosperity has revived despite oppressive taxes. His wife, Charlotte, dies December 1. The tyrannical Louis is succeeded by his ugly, deformed, 13-year-old son, who will never be more than barely literate but will reign until 1498 as Charles VIII.
The astronomical tables prepared in 1252 and known as the Alfonsine Tables are printed for the first time, making them more easily accessible to astronomers (see Nikolaus von Cusa, 1440; Copernicus, 1540).
Pope Sixtus IV says Mass August 9 in Rome's new Sistine Chapel, which has been named for him.
The Spanish Dominican monk Tomas de Torquemada, 63, takes command of the Inquisition in all Spanish possessions at the request of Ferdinand and Isabella (see 1481). A nephew of Cardinal Juan de Torquemada, the first grand inquisitor will persecute "heretics" with unparalleled zeal (see 1487).
The College of Santa Cruz is founded at Valladolid by Pedro Cardinal González de Mendoza as part of a new educational system for clergymen.
Painting: The Magnificat by Sandro Botticelli, who was summoned to Rome last year along with Florentine painter Ghirlandajo (Domenico di Tommaso Bigordi), 34, and others to help decorate the chapel of Sixtus IV. Botticelli's round picture of the Madonna with singing angels will be his most copied work; The Virgin and Child and Six Saints by Giovanni Bellini for Venice's Church of San Job; Coronation of the Virgin by Piero Pollaiuolo for the Church of San Agostino at San Gimignano.
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