Thursday, October 31, 2013

A Sampling of Events for October in the Middle Ages

What follows is a totally arbitrary sampling of various events that occurred in the month of October throughout the Middle Ages:

October 1

In 1189 Gerard de Ridefort, Grandmaster of the Knights Templar, is killed during the siege at Acre.

October 2

In 1492, King Henry VII of England invades France
In 1535, Jacques Cartier discovers Montreal, Canada
In 1552, Kazan is conquered by Ivan the Terrible

October 3

In 1283, the first known execution by hanging, drawing, and quartering is performed.  The unfortunate individual was Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Prince of Gwynedd, Wales.

October 4

In 1537, the first complete, English-language Bible is printed

October 5

In 1450, King Ludwig IV orders the expulsion of Jews from lower Bavaria
in 1550, the city of Concepcion is founded in Chile
In 1582, the Gregorian calendar is introduced in many Catholic countries

October 8

In 1480, a standoff between the Mongol Akhmat Khan and Grand Duke Ivan III of Russia leads to the later retreat of the Mongol Horde

In 1604, "Kepler's Nova" is first sighted

October 9

In 1000, Leif Erikson discovers "Vinland," believed by many to be modern New England
In 1192, Richard the Lionheart leaves Jerusalem in disguise

October 11

In 1138, a massive earthquake strikes Aleppo, Syria

October 12

In 1216, King John of England loses the Crown Jewels in The Wash, possibly near Sutton Bridge in Fosdyke

In 1609, the children's rhyme The Three Blind Mice is published in England

October 13

In 1307, King Philip IV of France convicts the Templars of heresy

October 14

In 1066, William the Conqueror wins the Battle of Hastings and takes control of England
In 1322, Robert the Bruce defeats King Edward II of England at Byland, and obtains the recognition of Scottish independence
In 1586, Mary Queen of Scots goes on trial for conspiracy

October 15

In 1520, King Henry VIII orders bowling lanes built at Whitehall
In 1581, the first ballet is staged in Paris, commissioned by Catherine de Medici
In 1582, many Catholic countries switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar

October 16

In 1384, Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, even though she is a woman

October 17

In 1415, Jewish autonomy in Palestine ends
In 1483, Tomas de Torquemada is appointed Inquisitor-General of Spain

October 18

In 1009, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is hacked down to bedrock by the Fatimid caliph
In 1356, Basel, Switzerland is destroyed by an earthquake
In 1386, the University of Heidelberg is opened

October 19

In 1512, Martin Luther becomes a doctor of theology

October 20

In 1097, the first Crusaders arrive in Antioch
In 1603, a Chinese uprising in the Philippines fails after 23,000 people are killed

October 21

In 1096, Sultan Arslan defeats the first Crusaders in Nicea

October 23

In 1091, the London Bridge is destroyed by a tornado

October 24

In 1260, the Cathedral of Chartres is dedicated

October 25

In 1415, the French heavy knights are defeated by English army's Welsh archers at the Battle of Agincourt
In 1492, Christopher Columbus' ship the Santa Maria lands at the Dominican Republic

October 26

In 1492, the first known use of lead pencils
In 1524, Spanish troops give Milan to France

October 27

In 1275, the city of Amsterdam was founded (traditional)

October 28

In 1492, Columbus discovers Cuba and claims it for Spain
In 1538, the Universidad Santo Tomas Aquino, the first in the New World, is established

October 29

In 1268, the last of the Hohenstaufen dynasty of Kings of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire was executed by Charles I of Sicily
In 1390, the first trial for witchcraft was held in Paris

October 30

In 1270, the Eighth Crusade and Siege of Tunis ends
In 1503, Queen Isabella bans violence against the Indians
In 1534, the English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, ousting the Pope as head of the English Church and instating King Henry VIII

October 31

In 1541, Michelangelo finishes painting "The Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel











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