The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

Four years after seven, it's 1411.

It's a fairly quiet year. China begins massive repairs on the Grand Canal of China. 165,000 laborers dredge it out, repair locks, build new reservoirs, and add a new dam.

A group of Augustinian monks had fled persecution from a rival Pope and settled in Scotland. Pope Benedict XIII grants them a chárter and some money, and they found Saint Andrew's University. Still in existence, it is Scotland's oldest university.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1412.

About this year, Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Romée have a daughter, whom they name "Joan." Despite there being three Popes, plus a Hussite revival against the corruption of the Church, Isabelle determines to raise her daughter to be a devout Catholic. And to this day, Joan of Arc is a legend.

Stories about Joan contradict each other, but I've always been fascinated by what happened. We'll be spending a lot of time trying to explain the story, but do remember that a variety of contradictory tales make the exact truth difficult to figure out.

Shoko begins his sixteen year reign as Emperor of Japan. When Korea invades a Japanese island that was a major pirate base, he negotiates a successful treaty by which Korea withdraws, Japan cracks down on pirates, and trade is increased.

Eric of Pomerania becomes sole ruler of the Kalmar Union (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Greenland) upon the death of Queen Margaret. His reign is plagued by revolts. Eventually deposed, he settles in his castle and spends the next ten years organizing pirate attacks.

 

[Vince53]

1413 is now arriving.

Henry V begins his nine year reign as King of England. Untruthfully described by Shakespeare as a wild youth, he had years of military experience before becoming King. He quickly stabilizes political unrest before renewing the Hundred Years War with France, forcing the French to let him marry their Princess and become heir to the throne of France. But he dies suddenly and the conflict over the monarchy continues.

 

[Vince53]

1414 is a good year for science.

China sends a fleet of giant junks, carrying three thousand Chinese, to explore the Indian Ocean. They sail down the east coast of Africa as they explore. And what exactly IS a Chinese junk? Still in use today, junks have a wide variety of designs, but they all have sails with rigid horizontal poles holding the sails fully open at all times.

Trying to build habitable islands out of their often-flooded lands, the Dutch begin using windmills to pump inland water out to sea.

Timur the Lame had conquered the Delhi Sultanate, a Moslem kingdom in northern India. This year the governor quietly rebels and starts his own dynasty, but he agrees to pay tribute to Timur's Empire. Timur himself had died nine years earlier, but his son now rules the Empire.

 

[Vince53]

Folks, I posted for 1415 yesterday, but it didn't take, so I'll try again.

Pope Gregory XII convenes the Council of Constance. He immediately rules that all their decisions are valid, and then he resigns. Not until 2013 will another Pope resign voluntarily.

After granting safe passage to Czech Reformer John Hus, the Council of Constance has him burned at the stake. To be fair, Hus had pledged not to preach his doctrines while under the safe passage, but he broke his word and preached Anyway. John XXIII, one of the two remaining Popes, led in the execution efforts.

Considered the second of the great Catholic Reformers (after John Wycliffe), Hus strongly condemned the abuses of the Catholic Church while never leaving it, although he was excommunicted. His bizarre theology was that salvation was obtained by works, but that God had unconditionally elected those whom He would help be good enough to earn their own salvation. He taught that "the Church" consisted only of those who were elected, reducing the Catholic Church to a position of teaching and charity, but denying that is essential to salvation.
Falsely accused of a variety of teachings he honestly never had taught, he refused to recant those he had, even when offered his life in return. His execution made him a Czech hero, and a century later, about 90% of Czechoslavakia was Hussite. But a Hussite was a Catholic who demanded a pious Church, and only a few small Protestant groups survive as his followers.

 

[Vince53]

So much happened in 1415 that we've returned for more.

After executing some disloyal nobility in England, King Henry V personally leads an invasion of France. At the Battle of Agincourt, English archers kill about 8,500 French, while losing 112 of their own.

The Swiss have been quiet for a while, but this year they seize Aargau from the House of Habsburg. Today it is one of the most northerly Swiss cantons.

China reopens the Grand Canal, reducing food shortages in the capital.

 

[Vince53]

And now it is 1416.

What? You've never heard of the Republic of Dubrovnik? Located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, it survived until 1808. This year, it oulaws slavery.

Jerome of Prague, a very highly-educated man, had been travelling around Europe spreading the doctrines of John Hus and criticizing the corruptions of the Catholic Church. Imprisoned under harsh conditions, he recanted everything, and then recanted his recantation. The Catholic Church burns him at the stake.

The Trezzo Bridge in Italy had been the longest bridge in the world for four centuries. It leads to a castle, and this year, the besieged defenders destroy the bridge.

 

[Vince53]

1417

Martin V begins his sixteen year reign as Pope, effectively ending the Great Schism and the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy. The Avignon Pope refuses to resign, but he is generally ignored.
Three years after his election, he began persecution of the Hussites and the Wycliffites, beginning the Hussite Wars. He restored the rights granted to Jews by previous Popes, and through negotiations and political mariages of family members regained some of the lost Papal territories without war.
As Pope, he officially endorsed the African slave trade, evan accepting ten African slaves as gifts from the King of Portugal. However, he forbad selling Christian slaves to non-Christian owners.

London installs its first street lights.

 

[Vince53]

1418 is a really rough year for France.

The Burgundians were a French group that claimed the throne for themselves, and this year they seize Paris. This produces enough chaos for their fourteen year old rival, Charles VII, to be declared heir to the throne of France.

In northern France, the English begin the Siege of Rouen. They produce mass starvation in the city, finally taking it in January of next year. The starving survivors quickly swear allegiance to the English. With their most strongly defended city gone, the French quickly lose almost all of northern France.

 

[Vince53]

The bad times continue for France in 1419.

Supporters of French Dauphin (uncrowned Heir to the Throne) Charles VII murder the leader of the rival Burgundians during a peace conference. Burgundy's new leader, Philip the Good, then allies with the English invaders and the two armies seize large areas of France.

A Catholic priest who was a Hussite was leading a demonstration through Prague (in modern Czechoslavakia), demanding that the city council release Hussite prisoners. From the city council building, someone threw a rock that hit the priest. The protesters stormed the building, throwing about fifteen council members out the windows to their deaths.

Persia sends a large delegation to China. Their accounts of Chinese government and life provide a valuable historical reference.

Portuguese explorers discover the Madeira Islands. Southwest of Portugal, they are part of the nation today, with over a quarter of a million people.

 

[Vince53]

1420

Moslems construct the Bayezid Mosque in northeastern Greece. Its internal wooden roof, still in place, is an architectural masterpiece.

The shattered French nation acknowledges the King of England as their rightful King, to take effect when the current French King dies. Charles, the Dauphin and uncrowned heir to the Throne of France, is disinherited.

China comnpletes The Forbidden City as their seat of government, and Beijing (which surrounds The Forbidden City) is declared the capital.

The Hussite Wars begin. They were a series of often uncoordinated battles in which Hussite peasants tried to seize the wealth and lands of the wealthy, including the Catholic Church. The revolt spreads rapidly across Bohemia, and the Holy Roman Emperor personally leads Catholic troops in an unsuccessful battle.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1421

A massive flood in the Netherlands kills about 10,000 people.

For the first time, European explorers (from Portugal) pass Cape No on Africa's western coast, and live to tell the tale. Every know European ship to pass that point in the past had disappeared.

Having little better to do, the Burgundians burn the village of Donremy in northern France. Nine year old Joan of Arc, who lives there, is easily convinced that God is on the side of the French.

To the surprise of everyone, England launches a surprise attack on a combined French-Scottish army and suffers a major loss. The Heir to the Throne of England is killed, and Scotland becomes an important force in the Hundred Years War.

Did the Chinese land in California in 1421? A thoroughly discredited map shows they did, but historians have shown that it is a fraud.

 

[Vince53]

1422

A small Hussite army surprises 2,000 Catholic cavalry, capturing fifty supply trains in one of their biggest victories in the Hussite Wars.

A peace treaty establishes the Prussian-Lithuanian border with Russia. The border remains unchanged until World War 1.

Now it gets complicated. Nine month old Henry VI is declared King of England and France. But the uncrowned Dauphin, is declared Charles VII, King of France.

Ignoring their peace treaty, France and England continue the Hundred Years War, with England capturing another major French city.

 

[graciesings]

Hi Vince,
I'm really enjoying your "Second Millennium" thread but it's been a while since I've had time to really study it and update my notebook! A few thoughts and things you might want to include:

1387
Keep in mind that the Nestorian church was connected to the fourth century heresy, but didn't fully embrace it. (And I loved that bit about Richard II. Magna Charta + 172 years!)

1389
Is "carnality" the word you're after in paragraph 1?

1401
While on the subject of reformers, John Huss was ordained a priest in 1401

Somewhere in this decade the Medici bank begins gathering real power in Florence.

1409
I have a note about the Council of Pisa, that must the name for the group that appointed Alexander V.

1410
One more important thing about John XXIII. He was financed and supported by the Medici.

Poland conquered West Prussia in 1410.

I have an undated (between 1410 and 1415) that Antipope John XXIII placed Prague under interdict because of John Huss. That was a problem in the middle ages, it meant no baptisms, no marriages, no burials.

1415
If you haven't seen the 1990? movie version of Shakespeare's Henry V, you should. I love it.
BTW, I'm descended from some of those particular nobles that needed executed before the Battle of Agincourt.

1417
This is purely opinion, but I think the reformers did as much to end the Great Schism as the Council of Constance did. The reformers gave the Catholic hierarchy a common enemy, so they didn't have as much time to fight with each other.

1418
The first edition of Thomas A Kempis' "The Imitation of Christ" was published in 1418. It is one of the most published books, under the Bible, and was one of the first devotionals.

1421
However, I would not thoroughly discredit this idea, I have read some authors arguing that Chinese wreckage/stoneware has been found in the area. I suspect DNA tests from some natives would be the only good way to find out, though.

1422

Now it gets complicated. Nine month old Henry VI is declared King of England and France. But the uncrowned Dauphin, is declared Charles VII, King of France.

Ignoring their peace treaty, France and England continue the Hundred Years War, with England capturing another major French city.

Henry V's idea of marrying a French princess and letting their children inherit the throne would have worked very well if he had lived longer. Dying in 1422, he left the French king still alive (The Treaty of Troyes had assumed Henry V would die after the French king) and his son too young to fight. Oh, well...

God bless you,
Grace

 

[Vince53]

Glad to hear from you, Gracie. Everyone is Welcome to post on this thread, and all historical information is appreciated.

And now it is 1423!

Remember that the Hussite War was essentially a Catholic civil war. The Hussites were Catholics who wanted a purified Catholic Church whose lands could be seized by the Hussites. Their opponents wanted a corrupt church that would support the status quo with unchallenged authority.

With no one else available to fight, two Hussite factions fight a battle with each other. Each side has about 3,000 men, and after the battle they cut down on their internal fighting.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. An English army attacks a French army twice its size, and inflicts almost four times as many causualties on the French.

The Pelopennise Peninsula is a large Greek "island" connected to the mainland by a narrow land route. The Ottoman Turks break through its defenses and seize the península from the tottering Byzantine Empire. After pillaging as much as they can, the Turks withdraw.

Former Pope Benedict XIII, who had resigned, dies of natural causes.

 

[Vince53]

1424

England inflicts 8,000 casualties on a French-Scottish army, killing their leaders. The Scottish army in France is no longer a major factor, and England tightens its control over northern France. The English take 1600 casualties.

About this time, twelve-year-old Joan of Arc starts hearing things. Hoo boy, wait until we get into this one.

 

[Vince53]

One reason that Joan of Arc remains a legend is that it's impossible to explain what happened. A hyper-devout Catholic, twelve-year-old Joan begins hearing things, and the controversy over what she heard cannot be resolved.

1) The voices of saints. The Catholic Church at the time rejected this. And why couldn't Joan understand what they were saying at the beginning?

2) Demons. Taught as fact by William Shakespeare, but devout Catholics don't listen to demons, and Joan's life clearly showed that she was a devout Catholic.

3) Demons, but Joan didn't know that. Seriously considered by her Catholic captors, but these voices never denied the Word of God. I'll be getting into spiritual gifts in a later article, but I believe that Joan had the gift of prophesy. Her sayings were neither evil nor inaccurate enough to come from demons.

4) She was lying. Her Godly life disproves this.

5) She was insane. Her brilliant grasp of military strategy, and her ability to analyze and exploit reality, disprove this.

6) She had an ear infection. This is what I believe. Possibly tinnitus, Joan heard sounds, and being hyper-devout, attributed it to a miracle, eventually convincing herself that she was hearing the voices of saints. Blended in with her gift of prophecy, Joan was receiving accurate messages and was convinced that she was hearing from the saints.

 

[Vince53]

1425

In the Mediterranean the island of Malta successfully revolts against its tyrannical ruler. After repelling a Sicilian invasion, the Maltese agree to submit after their rights are guaranteed.

Beijing, the new capital of China, becomes the largest city in the world.

The Netherlands establishes "The Old University of Leuven," which survives until 1797. The university is most famous for its strong belief in Jansenism during the eighteenth century. The Jansenists taught salvation by faith, along with the importance of remaining in the Catholic Church.

 

[Vince53]

1426 is a rather bellicose year.

In northern France, the English win a military victory over the French. Brittany, one of the few places France still holds in northern France, is forced to submit to English rule.

In Bohemia, 70,000 Catholic Crusaders attack 24,000 Hussites. The Catholics break through the Hussite defenses but are then defeated, leaving about 4,00 dead, with much of the rest of their army deserting.

Egypt invades Cyprus, capturing their King, pillaging everything they can, and then withdraws.

 

[Vince53]

1427

The Hussites win another victory, and for the next four years, the Catholic Church leaves them alone. The Hussites were the first army to effectively use "tanks." They would take heavy wagons, chain them into a circle or square, and fire their cannon from behind them. The Catholics eventualy had to attack, would be cut down by crossbows and firearms, and then the Hussites would attack their flanks while still firing from behind their wagons.

The Gypsies reach Paris. They seem to have originated in India, and are descendents of musicians who were exiled. Today, they are a significant minority group, with about 1 million in the US, and about 800,000 in Brazil.

Portuguese navigators discover the uninhabites Azores. With nine main islands, the Azores are part of Portugal today and have a population of almost a quarter million. Some of the islands are closer to Canada than to Portugal.

Taking advantage of the problems from Turkey, a Greek kingdom invades Byzantium. The Byzantines win a crushing naval victory over them (Byzantium's last naval victory) and extend their control over parts of Greece.