The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

Sakes alive! It's 1475!

England invades France--and gets away with it. France quickly pays tribute and a pension to the King of England, and the English withdraw. Burgundy had rebelled against France, and now France is free to deal with them, eventually absorbing them back into France.

Moldavia (now part of Romania) was a small but powerful kingdom on the northwest border of the Ottoman Empire. It had successfully repelled both Poland and Hungary, and now the Turks want it. Among other things, Moldavia had a major seaport on the northwest Black Sea.

In what is perhaps the greatest single defeat Islam ever had, a massive Turkish army invades Moldavia and is shattered by a force 1/3 its size.

The Duchess of Bavaria marries the Duke of Bavaria. So? Every four years, they still have a massive pageant, involving about 2,000 actors, to celebrate. It is a major tourist attraction.

Checkmate! The first recorded game of chess is played. Growing out of an Indian game that was about 1200 years old, modern chess rules were established in 1475 and the game is still going strong.

 

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1476 is a rough year for the Burgundians. France had made peace with England, freeing French troops to bring Burgundy back under control. And this year, Burgundy is defeated twice by the Swiss.

Burgundy deserved it, too. They had recaptured one of their castles and executed the entire garrison. This motivated a Swiss relief army to fight hard, and after winning (they killed about 1,000 Burgundians, losing 100 Swiss) they found the bodies of the executed garrison. This infuriated them so much that in the next battle, they annihilated the Burgundian army. Several months later, Burgundy's rebellion against France collapsed.

Turkey invades Moldavia again. Both sides take such heavy losses that the Moldavians retreat to Poland to re-organize, while the Turks are too weak to capture any remaining Moldavian strongholds. Count Dracula is killed leading a counter-attack, and the victorious Turks cut off his head as a trophy. Still, the weakened Turkish army is forced to withdraw.

 

[Vince53]

1477 is a very unsuccessful year for Burgundy. Their King is killed in Battle. His daughter, the new Queen, is forced to return rights to her disgruntled subjects. Then, she marries the Holy Roman Emperor, bringing Burgundy into the Holy Roman Empire, separated from France--for now.

Sweden founds Uppsala University, the oldest university in Scandinavia and one of the leading universities in northern Europe today. (It isn't that great).

In a loose sense, the Soviet Union begins. Russia invades and annexes Novgorod, and then it keeps going. Termed "Russian Colonialism," Russia will expand east and south, absorbing much of the collapsed Mongolian Empire. In 1991, the Soviet Union will collapse into independent republics.

 

[Vince53]

Things don't go great in 1478!

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella institute the Spanish Inquisition. Feeling that the Papal Inquisition was not strong enough, they desired to promote the orthodox Catholicism of Jewish and Moslem converts. By seizing the property of the accused, the Inquisition provided Spain with much-needed wealth.
Later, it became so wild that the Pope unsuccessfully tried to control it. The later Spanish Inquisition required a mandatory death sentence to anyone who appealed its decisions to the Pope. Protestantism was fairly small in Spain, and the execution of about 200 Protestants virtually ended Protestantism in Spain. Most of its victims were either Catholics or Jews. The Inquisition illegally forced Jews and Moslems to convert to Catholicism (The Catholic Church forbade forced conversions and permitted forced converts to return to their original religion) and most of its persecution was against Jews and Moslems who tried to go back.
The Spanish Inquisition also actively censored books in Spain.



Six year old Eskender becomes Emperor of Ethiopia. His sixteen year reign ws hevily controlled by regents and military defeat. He did come up with one brilliant idea, however. When European diplomats arrived, he would not allow them to leave, forcing them to become his advisers, treating them well. This kept Europe from gaining military information on Ethiopia.


Turkey capture Kruje in north central Albania. They hold it until 1906, when it becomes the center of a successful Albanian revolt against Turkey, leading to an independent Albania.

 

[Vince53]

Things go fine in 1479! At least if you're Turkish.

The Treaty of Constantinople ends the war between Venice and Turkey. Venice cedes several cities to the Turks and agrees to pay an annual tribute. What is left of Albania falls quickly, and the entire nation is annexed by Turkey.

Rolling forward in victory, the Turks then invade Hungary, where they suffer a smashing defeat and are driven out.

France invades the Netherlands, but is defeated by an Austrian army.

 

[Vince53]

1480 just pulled into the station.

In South America, the Inca Empire conquers northwestern Argentina.


Portugal and Spain make peace. Portugal hands Spain the Canary Islands (still part of Spain today) and Spain recognizes Portuguese colonies in Africa.


After failing to capture Rhodes, Turkey invades Italy. Landing in the Kingdom of Naples, the Turks massacre Catholic leaders and behead 800 men who refuse to convert to Islam. Next year, a coalition of Catholic nations will drive the Turks out.


Hoping to join forces with a Polish army on the west, the Mongolian Empire sends an army from the east to attack Russia. Several nations switch sides as they betray each other, but when it is over, the Mongolians withdraw, and Russia is now totally free of them.

 

[Vince53]

1481 is lot of fun! Unless you're a Turk.

Catholic nations send troops into Italy to drive out the Turkish invaders. The 800 Catholics who were beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam are later declared to be saints.

Bayezid the Just begins his successful 31 year rule over the Ottoman Empire. Later, when Spain exiles all Jews, he actually sends ships for them, settling them throughout his Empire. Despite working hard to establish a prosperous economy, he is plagued by rebellions, usually sponsored by rival Moslem nations that fear his power. But by the time he abdicates to his son, he has established a strong naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Tizoc begins his unhappy five year reign over the Aztec Empire. He does some building before being assassinated by family members.

 

[Vince53]

What's new in 1482?

Flanders revolts against Austria and England invades Scotland.

Portugal establishes trading posts and even a fort in Africa. The oldest European building south of the Sahara, the fort is a tourist attraction today. Portugal also sails up the Congo River.

Russia makes it official: they declare themselves independent of the Mongolian Empire.

 

[Vince53]

1483 just sailed up the river.

Southern Spain expels all Jews.

For the next twenty years, the planet Pluto will be closer to the Sun than the planet Neptune. Modern telescopes have shown us that the planet "Pluto" is actually a system with a dwarf planet orbited by a moon, along with three tiny moons that orbit both of them.

After murdering two rival Princes, Richard III becomes King of England. Contrary to what Shakespeare wrote, Richard was not born with a full set of teeth. A legend of wickedness (thanks to Shakespeare), he will reign two years as the last York King before being killed in the last major battle of the War of the Roses. His death has come to symbolize the end of the Middle Ages in England.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1484.

Innocent VIII begins his eight year reign as Pope. Quickly failing in an attempt to organize a Crusade, Innocent is confronted with a strong belief from educated scholars, that witches and magicians were causing bad weather in Europe. Contrary to later criticisms against him, the Pope ordered an investigation, but he never stated that the accusations were true.

Always short of money, he plunged Italy into eight years of war by inviting France to invade Naples for not paying a debt the King owed him. The high point of his reign occurred in January 1492, when the last Moslem Kingdom in Spain surrendered to the Catholics. He supported the Black slave trade, hoping to convert the slaves to Catholicism, and was presented with 100 slaves by King Ferdinand.


In the Canary Islands, Spain builds the world's first sugar mill.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1485, and...

Despite being parts of the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary and Austria are at war. This year, Hungary captures Vienna and makes it their new capital.

Ever heard of the Kingdom of Tver? Located in eastern Europe, it formed alliances with both European and Asian allies against Russia. But this year, Russia conquers and annexes it, and it remains part of Russia today.

Talk about controversial. Peter Arbues was the Catholic priest in charge of the Inquisition in Aragon, Spain. He persecuted Jews relentlessly, especially those who had been forced to convert to Catholicism and then secretly remained Jews. The Catholic Church claims that he never killed anyone, while the Jewish Encyclopedia claims that he did. Striking back, the Jews assassinate him. Against widespread protests, the Catholic Church later proclaims him a martyr and a saint. Wikipedia deleted their article on him.

After winning "The Mad War" against rebellious nobles, France annexes Brittany on its northwestern coast. Brittany remains part of France today.

The Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci invents the helicopter...on paper. He figures it correctly, but he can't build an engine powerful enough to get it to fly.

 

[Vince53]

1486

Ahiutzotl becomes King of the Aztecs of Mexico. The greatest known pre-Columbus American military leader, he quickly squashes a rebellion and rapidly doubles the size of the Aztec Empire. By the time he dies in 1502, the Aztecs rule all of central and southern Mexico, as well as part of Central America.

What? You've never heard of the guldengroschen? The world's first large silver coin, it was tied to the gold standard, establishing a "permanent" connection between the prices of the two metals. Refined to a silver purity unused for centuries, it set a standard of excellence for coinage that is still in effect.

 

[Vince53]

Let's look at 1487.

The House of Lancaster wins the last battle of the War of the Roses.

Austria declares war on Venice and quickly seizes Venetian silver mines in northern Italy.

With thousands of human sacrifices, the Aztecs dedicate their great temple pyramid.

 

[Vince53]

1488 is really great!

Portuguese sailors sail down the entire west coast of Africa, round its southern tip, and enter the Indian Ocean on the east side of Africa.

In the largest single battle of The Mad War, France defeats a coalition of rebels.

Rathbone Candles is founded in Dublin, Ireland. Mostly manufacturing church candles today, it is still a successful business.

The Dutch Navy is formed. During the seventeenth century, it will be the most powerful navy in the world.

 

[Vince53]

1489 is a bad year for romance.

Hoping to avoid future wars, many nations would intermarry their royal families. Sometimes, this even united two kingdoms when their descendent would be rightful heir of both kingdoms. So, Arthur, the Prince of Wales and Heir to the Throne of England, is betrothed to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. This unhappy future marriage will alter the course of history.

And England coins the first pound. It is a gold coin, equal in value to one pound of silver.

And for the first time, typhus appears in Spain. Similar to typhoid fever, typhus is spread by lice, and produces back pain and delirium. Before the invention of vaccines, it was fatal about 1/3 of the time.

The Queen of Cyprus sells her kingdom to Venice. It's not a bad idea. Venice has a powerful military, and Cyprus was threatened by the expanding Ottoman Empire. Possessing this large island helped keep the Moslems from controlling the eastern Mediterranean.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1490

An earthquake strikes Ireland's western coast.

Catholic missionaries arrive in the Kingdom of Kongo. Evintually conquered by Portugal, Kongo covered territory that is now part of five different countries. In 1914, Kongo successfully rebelled against Portugal, and what was left of it was anexed by Angola.

After rejecting proposals to outfit an expedition for Christopher Columbus, Portugal sends an ambassador to Ethiopia. Well-received by the Emperor, the ambassador is granted lands and is forbidden to leave. He spends over forty years as a prisoner of state, living in comfort, but still able to correspond with the King of Portugal.

 

[Vince53]

1491

In an "Act of Faith," Spain executes several Jewish converts who had returned to Judaism. Having done this, Spain now begins an aggressive war against Granada, the last Moslem kingdom in Spain. Grenada had already lost much of its territory, and now the Spanish used heavy artilery and even primitive firearms in its final siege. Grenada appealed for help from other Moslem nations, but they were too busy fighting each other to help.

Russia discovers copper and silver areas and begins developing a major mining center.

In Holland, angry peasants and fishermen stage "The Bread and Cheese Revolt," seizing buildings and killing tax collectors. But their revolt is quickly defeated.

France officially annexes Brittany, a peninsula on France's northwestern coast.

 

[Vince53]

in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

We'll be here for a few days.

Grenada, the last Moslem kingdom in Spain, surrenders to the Catholics. The "Reconquest" is now complete. 780 years ago, Moslems had captured most of southern and central Spain, and now the Catholics have it all back.


Spain actually has three birthdays. When Ferdinand and Isabella married, the two of them ruled all of Catholic Spain. When Grenada surrendered, the royal couple ruled all of modern Spain. Later, their son, who inherited all these kingdoms, united them into one kingdom.


In a decision that has become a legend of disgrace, Spain expels all Jews under penalty of death. Having flourished under Moslem protection, many Jews had emigrated to Spain. Estimates vary widely; from 20,000 to 800,000 Jews were expelled. Many stayed secretly, often pretending to convert to Catholicism. So many went to Portugal that they comprised 10% of the population. The Ottoman navy picked up as many as they could, settling them in Greece and Turkey, where the Moslem Turks protected them and they flourished.

 

[Vince53]

We're still in 1492!

Alexander VI begins his 11 year reign as Pope. A brilliant political leader, he is so badly maligned that his family name "Borgia" has become a synonym for evil. He had so many illegitimate children that he is literally an ancestor of nearly every royal family in Europe.


His election involved heavy bribery and heavier accusations of bribery, but once he became Pope, Alexander ran a well-controlled, efficient government. He administered justice, but quickly appointed family members to high positions, some of which belonged to neighboring kingdoms. He organized a league that drove French invaders out of Italy; divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal (thus preventing a war that would have interfered with colonization); and executed Savonarola, the legendary Catholic preacher, for his eloquent denunciations of Papal corruption.


His daughter Lucretia Borgia is a legend of wickedness. Assigned to several different husbands by her father and brother, she bore at least seven children, some of whom became members of European royal families. It is a fact that she sat in for her father at one important meeting, but historians question the amount of power that she supposedly had.


Alexander was definitely evil, but his political successes led to charges against him that no historian accepts today. It is not true that he approved the slave trade in American Indians. Supposedly dying after accidentally drinking poisoned wine prepared by his son for a rival cardinal, he probably died of malaria. His confessor claimed that on his deathbed, Alexander repented of all his wrongs.

 

[Vince53]

For the third time, we're in 1492.

England and France sign another peace treaty. France stops supporting English rebels, and England hands over all their possessions in France except for Calais, a major seaport on France's northern coast.

So bright that is it observed over 100 miles away, a meteor lands in France. On display in a museum, it weighs over 57 pounds. It actually weighed more, but some pieces were chopped off for souvenirs. Along with 87% of all meteorites, it is mostly iron.

Sicily expels about 100,000 Jews.