The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

1539 has got to be better than last year.

Far-away Burma has been having a civil war, and it ends with the winners going on to establish the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia.

The Spanish introduce pigs to North America. Second only to China, the US has 61,700,000 domestic pigs.

Lutheranism reaches Iceland. Today, 75% of Iceland is Lutheran.

The first printing press in North America is set up in Mexico City.

 

[Vince53]

1540

Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves, and it's legal--his other three wives are dead. The marriage was purely political, as Henry needed her German relatives as allies. Poorly educated, quiet and docile, Anne was chosen by Henry's advisors. But Henry disliked her from the beginning. He treated her kindly, but both of them reported that their marriage was never consummated, and six months later, they agreed to an annulment. Henry continued to treat her well, gave her a generous settlement (two castles included), and invited her to Court often. She outlived Henry and all his wives.

A 300 man Spanish army begins massacring its way across Texas, meeting such fierce Indian resistance than most of the Spanish do not survive.

Henry VIII finishes seizing all the Catholic monasteries and convents in England.

After defeating the dominant Mughal Empire of northern India, the Moslem Suri Empire begins sixteen years of expansion. Their Empire is prosperous and honest, but is eventually defeated and re-absorbed by the Mughals.

We'll return to 1540 tomorrow.

 

[Vince53]

We're back in 1540.

For eight years, Thomas Cromwell had been Henry VIII's Chief Minister. A leader in the English Reformation, he had helped engineer Henry's annulment to Catherine of Aragon and had tried to set the Church of England on an evangelical (salvation by faith) course. He had helped get Anne Boleyne executed, partly because Anne wanted the money seized from some of the monasteries to be given to the poor, rather than to Henry VIII. He also played a major role in setting up the new English government under Henry. But when he persuaded Henry to marry Anne of Cleaves, he fell into disfavor.

Catherine Howard was a silly, sexually immoral seventeen year old from a poor but aristocratic Catholic family.

Nineteen days after annulling his marriage to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII chops off Cromwell's head and marries Catherine Howard on the same day. He always felt bad about Cromwell.

After Turkish pirates raid Gibraltar at the west end of the Mediterranean, the Spanish build the Charles V Wall. Renovated a few times, it still stands. A month after the raid, a Spanish fleet destroys over half of a Turkish fleet.

"The Remotest Regions Submit to Him" begins his nineteen year reign as Emperor of Ethiopia. Waging furious combat, he drives all Moslem invaders out of Ethiopia and then invades them, plundering their land but unable to hold onto it. He received Jesuit ambassadors who attempted to persuade him to voluntarily bring the Ethiopian Church under Roman control, but he refused. His reign ends when he is killed in battle.

The first Japanese muskets arrive in Europe. Shaped like a rifle, the insides of their barrels is smooth, allowing the musket ball to bounce around and lose accuracy. But at short range, they were far superior to the firearms Europeans had been using.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1541, and Henry is having a good year.

After winning several small victories, Ethiopia is defeated by a combined African-Turkish army. A few months later, Portugal sends a 400 man army to help the Ethiopians.

Although strongly Catholic, Ireland declares Henry VIII and his descendents to be King of Ireland. Why? The Catholic Church had reduced Ireland to a Papal fiefdom, forced to pay tribute wherever the Pope commanded. The Pope had handed Ireland over to any Catholic monarch who could conquer it, and the Irish didn't want to get invaded and conquered in a war that would not benefit them.

South America's first bishop, who had brutrally mistreated the Indians, is captured by Indians and eaten.

Paracelsus dies. Who? The great Swiss doctor and scientist, he fought hard to replace philosohy with scientific observation in medicine. He is the father of toxicology and gave "zinc" ("pointed") its name after observing that zinc crystals had points sticking out of them. He sometimes risked his life to enter plague areas to aid the sick, was widely hated by jealous doctors, and was falsely accused of being a Lutheran. He was a Catholic and an occultist, but he moved steadily away from the occult in favor of science.

 

[Vince53]

1542

A 400 man Portuguese army annihilates a 1500 man Moslem army in Ethiopia. The Portuguese take eight killed.

Shortly after becoming Queen two years ago, Catherine Howard found herself being blackmailed by people who knew about her immorality. Then she returned to immorality and got caught. Adultery by the Queen was an act of treason, punishable by death, because any chldren she bore were suspect. This increased the chance of civil war. And so, Henry VIII has her beheaded.

Jane Bolyne had falsely testified that her husband had committed immorality with Queen Anne Bolyne, who was wrongly executed. He was also executed. Five years later, she helped Catherine Howard set up illicit meetings and was beheaded with her.

After winning three more battles, the Portuguese army in Ethiopia is defeated.

The Holy Roman Empire and England go to war against France and Scotland. And six day old Mary Queen of Scots becomes Queen of Scotland.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1543.

With help from their Portuguese allies, the Ethiopians drive out all remaining Moslem invaders.

For the next 36 years, Turkey and her allies, including France, will wage war with Hungary, with heavy casualties on both sides. This year, France and Turkey manage to capture several cities from Hungary and other parts of the Holy Roman Empire.

A few days before he dies from natural causes, 70-year-old Copernicus publishes his work showing that the Sun is the center of the universe

Another year and another wife, as Henry VIII marries Catherine Parr. A twice-widowed former Catholic, Catherine was a devout Protestant who carefully reared all of Henry's children from previous marriages. After surviving a Protestant attempt to have her executed for being too religious, she manages to outlive Henry and marry a fourth time.

Martin Luther publishes "On the Jews and Their Lies." Although praised by the Nazis, the work only called for persecution, not genocide. Defenders claim that the work only attacked Jewish religion, not Jewish people, but the work attacks Jews fiercely on a personal level.

And something important is happening in the southeastern United States. The Spanish have imported so many fine horses that they don't need them, and many have escaped. American Indians have captured many of them, and are learning how to breed and train them.

 

[Vince53]

1544 is a really bad year for France.

France and Scotland are allied against England and the Holy Roman Empire. France wins a battle in northern Italy but suffers defeats in eastern France. Meanwhile, England successfully invades northern France and Scotland. So France makes peace with the Holy Roman Empire but still can't drive out the English.

The Mongols have been quiet for a few decades, but this year they invade China. They manage to burn the suburbs around Peking but cannot capture the city itself.

Having arrived on European ships, rats are first reported in North America.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1545!

The Council of Trent, Catholicism's response to Protestantism, begins. Lasting eighteen years, through 25 sessions, the Council did not meet continuously.
The Council affirmed several controversial doctrines, but put a stop to abuses of those doctrines. It declared that the Catholic Church is the sole interpreter of Scripture, and that Catholic tradition is equal to Scripture. It condemned the Biblical doctrine of salvation through faith and placed solemn curses on those who disagreed with certain decrees. (Several of those curses apply to me, but fortunately, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus).
It standardized the Catholic Mass, issued a catechism, banned the sale of indulgences, and cleaned up a lot of corruption.
It was the beginning of the 103 year long "Counter Reformation," and was so successful that over three centuries would pass before the Catholic Church would hold another Council.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1545.

We're not sure how the "Mary Rose" sank. When most warships were simply modified merchant shops, this scientific wonder had been built from the ground up as a warship. After 33 years of successful service, she sinks in an inconclusive battle with the French, and we still don't know why. But the French fleet is driven off.

Excessive rainfall causes famine in China.

The Turks continue to win minor victories against eastern Europe.

Silver is dicovered in Bolivia. Potosi, a mining town, quickly becomes the largest city in the Americas, reaching a population of 150,000. Part of the Inca Empire, Bolivia became Spain's greatest source of silver. Around 1800, the silver was depleted, but tin is still mined in the same área.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1546 at last!

62 year old Martin Luther dies.

Catholics win a brief civil war against Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire.

Michelangelo is made chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In addition to two gigantic paintings, he strengthens the entire building and designs the magnificent dome (completed after his death) that is still considered the greatest single architectural masterpiece of the Renaissance.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1547!

Henry VIII dies. His nine year old son, Edward VI, begins his six year reign as King of England, but the nation is ruled the entire time by regents. The regents rule unsuccessfully, losing an expensive war with Scotland, and having social unrest. A devout Christian, Edward was able to get many of the problems with the Church of England solved through the Archbishop of Canterbury. Learning that he was terminally ill, he appointed his cousin Lady Jane Grey to succeed him.

A kind-hearted lad, he outlaws execution by boiling and later had John Knox, the Presbyterian Reformer, returned from exile to become his chaplain. Although kind to his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth, he was persuaded that if either one became Queen, she would restore Catholicism and persecute Protestants.

 

[Vince53]

You're not too late for 1548!

Five year old Mary, Queen of Scots, is betrothed to the future King of France. The idea is that France and Scotland could become one nation.

Siam and Burma begin three centuries of wars over boundary disputes. In this war, they invade and counter-invade each other, ending in a tie.

Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, had quickly (and legally) re-married when Henry died. This year she dies of childbirth complications after a legitimate pregnancy with her new husband.

 

[Vince53]

1549 is not the brightest year in the history of England.

Civil war breaks out in England with the introduction of the mandatory Book of Common Prayer. The Catholic Church had treated Cornwall kindly, making accommodations for their different language. But the Book required English and eliminated many Catholic practices. Other laws had decreased Catholic practices, and an unpopular sheep tax had antagonized the region. Thousands of Catholics, mostly peasants, are slaughtered before the rebellion is brought under control.

A second rebellion breaks out at the same time, when wealthy landowners fence off land that the peasants had been using for grazing.

And as soon as they get things settled, France and England return to war.

 

[Vince53]

1550 has got to be a better year for England than last year....Right?

Julius III begins his five year reign as Pope.
With the cardinals deadlocked into three groups, Julius successfully promoted himself as a compromise candidate. A successful diplomat who was thoroughly corrupt, he made few attempts to reform the Church, preferring instead to engage in Italian politics and scandals.

Iceland chops off the head of their Catholic bishop and turns Lutheran. Having fathered several illegitimate chldren, the bishop had organized military resistance to Iceland's Lutheran population.

Silver is discovered in Mexico, and a silver rush begins.

John of God dies. Alternating between being a soldier and a shepherd, he becomes a monk and labors diligently to help the sick in Spain. He is one of Spain's more important saints.

 

[Vince53]

1551

Moscow holds the Council of a Hundred Chapters. Organized by the government, and with the Czar present, the Council declared all Russian traditions valid, rejecting the authority of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church was declared independent of the government and established their own list of saints.

Just south of Sicily, Turkey and its pirate allies seize the island of Gozo and sell all 5500 of its inhabitants into slavery. A little later, Turkey captures Trípoli from the Knights of Malta.

 

[Vince53]

It is now 1552 AD.

It's a rough year for the Holy Roman Empire. France invades, and Saxony then invades and almost captures the Emperor. The problem is that both France and Saxony are parts of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Khanate of Kazan was one of the few surviving states of the once-mighty Mongolian Emprie. This year, Russia, which had been conquered by the Mongolians, conquers Kazan. Russia holds it to this day.

Scotland and England establish their permanent border, and it stands to this day.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1553!

Edward VI, King of England dies, after appointing 16 year old Lady Jane Grey as Queen. Catholics revolt at this blatantly illegal choice, and "Bloody Mary," the daughter of Henry VIII's first wife, is declared Queen. Shortly afterward, Jane is executed.

During her five year reign, Mary will burn over 280 Protestants at the stake and become Queen of Spain. She quickly arrests all Protestant bishops and restores Catholicism by force.The anniversary of her death will be celebrated for centuries.

In Switzerland, Calvinists burn Servitus at the stake. A medical, political, and religious genius, Servitus developed a complex plan for destroying both the Catholic and Protestant religions. Folks, let me put this bluntly. Servitus planned a massive war that would leave him ruling over the wreckage, and he was smart enough to make the first part possible. They had to kill him.

 

[Vince53]

1554

Bloody Mary has her half-sister Elizabeth imprisoned in the Tower of London shortly after she executes Lady Jane Grey.

The mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, is made Regeant of Scotland. She attempts to restore Catholicism and unite Scotland and France into one kingdom. When she dies after six years, the Protestants re-seize the government.

Bloody Mary marries Philip II, King of Naples. This incompetent ruler will at different times be King of Spain, Portugal, Ireland, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and others. His persecution of Protestants will provoke the Netherlands into Independence and will embroil much of Europe in wars that will not end until all the leaders are dead.

 

[Vince53]

1555 can't be worse than last year. Can it?

Marcellus II dies three weeks after becoming Pope. Already in poor health, he was further weakened by the stress of getting elected and the lengthy Church ceremonies that followed. He quickly and strongly demanded honesty, refused corrupt offers, demanded that Catholic kingdoms obey their peace treaties, and would not promote family members to Cardinals.

Paul IV is elected soon afterwards, and he sets out on four years of incompetence. He ends all peaceful dialogs with the Protestants and gets the Papacy tangled into military defeats against Spain. He holds strongly that salvation is impossible outside the Catholic Church and creates the Roman Inquisition, based on the Spanish Inquisition. He confines Jews to ghettos and forces them to wear distinctive clothing. His "Index of Prohibited Books" forbad all Protestant literature of any kind.
He did keep order, though, arresting Cardinals who disagreed with him.


John Rogers, who had helped translate parts of the Bible into English, becomes the first of Bloody Mary's martyrs.


The English words "China" and "Negro" are invented.

 

[Vince53]

Two bad years in a row. Can 1556 be better?

1556 is a very bad year for China. The worst earthquake in history hits eastern China, killing about 830,000 people. The Jiajing Great Earthquake destroys nearly every building in three cities. Its massive mudslides and landslides greatly increase the death toll.


Akbar begins his forty-nine year reign over the Mugdal Empire. By the time he dies, his Empire has tripled in size and controls most of northern and central India. Akbar rules well. He abolished corruption as much as possible, treated his subjects kindly, and built a strong economy. He ruled his diverse Empire peacefully by uniting them in their love for him while keeping a strong military.


Bloody Mary begins ethnic cleansing of Ireland. She seizes the lands of wealthy Irish and grants them to English Catholic settlers.


Surely you've heard of Ivan the Terrible, who this year conquers enough eastern European territory to open the Volga River to Russian trade. Evil and insane, his brilliant leadership will turn Russia into a powerful international Empire.