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Period: 1307 to 1377
Avignon Papacy
(Church Affairs)
A 70 year period in which the Pope resided in Avignon in Southern France instead of Rome, the traditional seat. This was largely due to failed attempts by the papacy to establish supremacy over the French king in the early fourteenth century. During the time in Avignon, the church began to be seen as puppets of the French king, with many losing trust in the papacy. -
Period: 1337 to Jul 17, 1453
Hundred Years War
(Politics & War)
The hundred years war was a conflict between England and France that was primarily fought over the issue of whether the English King had to pay homage to France for his possessions in France. The English claimed the French throne, but this was not the goal. The French were ultimately victorious, expelling the English from all of France save the Pale of Calais. The power of both monarchies was reinforced, and a sense of national unity emerged in both England and France. -
Period: 1347 to 1351
Black Death
(Social Conditions)
The Black Death was a global pandemic that struck Europe in between 1347 and 1351 and killed somewhere between 75 and 200 million Europeans. It was spread by fleas on rats, and symptoms included buboes on the lymph nodes. It led to greater social mobility for the peasant classes as there were now fewer laborers and surpluses in land and grain, ultimately leading to the decline of the feudalism and helping start the Renaissance. -
1351
Statute of Labourers
(Social Conditions)
A labour law passed by the English Parliament under the reign of Edward III seeking to limit the increased social mobility in the aftermath of the black death by fixing prices and wages at pre-plague levels. This was a very unpopular move and was one of the driving grievances behind the Peasant Revolt of 1381. Similar laws in France led to the Jacquerie. -
1353
Decameron
(Art, Literature, and Renaissance)
A series of tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio within the frame story of a group of young nobles riding out the black death. It is considered a masterpiece of Italian Literature and a transitional piece between medieval and renaissance writing. -
Sep 19, 1356
Battle of Poitiers
(Politics & War) A major battle between the English and the French in the Hundred years war. The English, led by Edward the Black Prince, managed to defeat the French led by King Jean II himself and capture him. The main causes for the English victory were the longbow and the use of strong terrain, like the other famous English victories at Crécy in 1346 and Agincourt in 1415. The capture of the French King allowed the English to negotiate the treaty of Brétigny in 1360 -
1358
Jacquerie
(Social Conditions)
A bloody French peasant revolt that occurred because of a combination of grain shortages, high taxes, low opinion of the nobility, and the devastation of the war with the English. It was brutally put down by Royal forces, with many peasants being killed. -
Period: Sep 20, 1378 to 1417
Papal Schism
(Church Affairs)
After Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome in 1377, he died the next year, meaning that a papal election was to be held. The Romans rioted for a Roman pope, Urban VI was elected. However, he quickly proved to be unstable, leading to most of the Cardinals fleeing and electing another pope in Avignon. Europe divided with different realms taking different sides in the schism, largely based on politics. A third pope was elected in 1409, and the matter was only resolved in 1417. -
Period: 1389 to 1461
Cosimo de Medici
(Art, Literature, and Renaissance)
Cosimo de Medici was a wealthy banker from a banking family that owned the largest bank in Europe at the time. In the early fifteenth century, Cosimo consolidated his family's power and assumed ever greater control over Florentine affairs, effectively becoming ruler of the city. Under his leadership, the Medici family helped create a culture where humanism could flourish. They were the greatest patrons of art in the city during this period. -
1400
Canturbury Tales
(Art, Literature, and Renaissance)
A series of tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer in between 1387 and Chaucer's death in 1400. The tales are told in Middle English and from a variety of different perspectives, providing a very insightful view into life during the late middle ages. The format is similar to that of the Decameron. -
1409
Council of Pisa
(Church Affairs)
A church council that was meant to end the Papal Schism. The council elected Alexander V, but the other two popes refused to step down, meaning there was now 3 popes.The matter would not be resolved until the Council of Constance -
Period: 1412 to 1431
Joan of Arc
(Politics & War)
Joan of Arc as a French peasant girl who believed that the saints had told her to lead France to victory in the Hundred Years War. The Dauphin allowed her to command, and after a victory at Orleans, she led the French to several other victories, culminating in Charles VII being crowned king in Rheims. She was ultimately captured and handed over to the English, who had her burned at the stake as a heretic. -
Period: 1414 to 1418
Council of Constance
(Church Affairs)
A church council called to resolve various issues within the Catholic Church. Among these issues was the Western Schism, which was finally resolved when the council elected Pope Martin V in 1417. It also declared Lollards and Hussites as heretics and burned Jan Hus at the stake -
Jul 6, 1415
Death of Jan Hus
(Church Affairs)
Jan Hus was a would be Bohemian reformer of the Catholic Church who believed in vernacular preaching and scripture, questioned papal doctrines such as transubstantiation, and believed in a personal relationship with god. He was granted safe conduct to a church council to defend himself, but he was burned at the stake. This led to a series of revolts that eventually led to a moderately independent Bohemian church that existed until the outbreak of the Thirty Year's War. -
1420
Treaty of Troyes
(Politics & War)
A treaty signed between Henry V of England and Charles VI of France, naming Henry as heir to the French throne. This followed a string of English victories such as those at Agincourt (1415) and Rouen (1419). Henry V died before Charles Vi, meaning that Henry's young son inherited the French throne, although the English never controlled the entire country and were ultimately forced out. -
1429
Siege of Orleans
A failed English attempt to capture the town of Orleans. After a long siege, a French relief force arrived under the command of Joan of Arc and routed the English. This is considered a turning point in the war as it was the first major English defeat in years and led to the recovery of most of France -
May 29, 1453
Fall of Constantinople
(Politics & War)
In 1453 the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II besieged the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. This was essentially the Empire's last piece of territory. It fell on May 29, 1453, and the last emperor was killed. This date is sometimes used to mark the end of the middle ages.
