Explore 62 historical events from 1490–1499.
Eskender was Emperor of Ethiopia and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His throne name was Constantine II. The son of Emperor Baeda Maryam I by his wife Queen Romna, his early yea…
Eskender, Emperor of Ethiopia (born 1471)
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish-based voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic M…
Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices
Johann or Johannes Agricola was a German Protestant Reformer during the Protestant Reformation. He was a follower and friend of Martin Luther, who became his antagonist in the matt…
Johannes Agricola, German theologian and reformer (died 1566)
On 31 March 1492, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, issued the Alhambra Decree, ordering all unconverted Jews to leave t…
The Crown's decision to expel the Jews is announced in Zaragoza, Aragon, to the kingdom's procurators
The Alhambra Decree was an edict issued on 31 March 1492 by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, ordering the expulsion of unconv…
The Edict of Expulsion is officially proclaimed in Castile, requiring all Jewish residents to leave within three months
Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia or Valdiva was a Spanish conquistador and the first Governor of Colonial Chile. After having served with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders, he was …
Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish conquistador, conquered northern Chile (died 1553)
Sabina of Bavaria-Munich was Duchess consort of Württemberg by marriage to Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg.
Sabina of Bavaria, Bavarian duchess and noblewoman (died 1564)
Petrus Apianus, also known as Peter Apian, Peter Bennewitz, and Peter Bienewitz, was a German humanist, known for his works in mathematics, astronomy and cartography. His work on "…
Petrus Apianus, German mathematician and astronomer (died 1557)
Muhammad Abu 'Abd Allah ibn Muhammad at-Tarabulsi al-Hattab al-Ru'yani, more commonly referred to in Islamic scholarship as al-Hattab or Imam al-Hattab, was a 16th-century CE Musli…
Al-Hattab, Muslim jurist (died 1547)
Girolamo Seripando was an Augustinian friar, Italian theologian and cardinal.
Girolamo Seripando, Italian theologian and cardinal (died 1563)
Alonso de Ojeda was a Spanish explorer, governor and conquistador. He is famous for having named Venezuela, which he explored during his first two expeditions, for having been the …
Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela
Catherine of Aragon was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until its annulment on 23 May 1533. She had previously been Princess of…
Catherine of Aragon is married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italo-Spaniard explorer and navigator from the Republic of Florence after whom America is named.
Amerigo Vespucci sights what is now Amapá State in Brazil
Nicolau Coelho was an expert Portuguese navigator and explorer during the Age of Discovery. He participated in the discovery of the route to India by Vasco da Gama, where he comman…
The Portuguese explorer Nicolau Coelho returns to Lisbon after discovering the sea route to India as a companion of…
The Battle of Dornach was fought on 22 July 1499 between the troops of Emperor Maximilian I and the Old Swiss Confederacy, close to the Swiss village of Dornach. The battle ended i…
Battle of Dornach: The Swiss decisively defeat the army of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.
Johann (Johannes) Brenz was a German Lutheran theologian and the Protestant Reformer of the Duchy of Württemberg.
Johannes Brenz, German theologian and the Protestant Reformer (died 1570)
Maria Salviati was a Florentine noblewoman, the daughter of Lucrezia di Lorenzo de' Medici and Jacopo Salviati. She married Giovanni delle Bande Nere and was the mother of Cosimo I…
Maria Salviati, Italian noblewoman (died 1543)
Girolamo Savonarola, OP, also referred to as Jerome Savonarola, was an Italian ascetic Dominican friar from Ferrara and a preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He became known f…
Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy
Maarten van Heemskerck, also known as Marten Jacobsz Heemskerk van Veen, was a Dutch portrait and religious painter, who spent most of his career in Haarlem. He was a pupil of Jan …
Maarten van Heemskerck, Dutch painter (died 1574)
Hernando de Aragón y de Gurrea, OCist, Archbishop of Zaragoza and Lieutenant General of Aragon, was an Aragonese humanist and historian.
Hernando de Aragón, Archbishop of Zaragoza (died 1575)
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese mariner, explorer and nobleman. His discovery of the first direct maritime route between Europe and India via the Cape of Good Hope and across the In…
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovers the sea route to India when he arrives at Kozhikode (previously known as Cal
Girolamo Savonarola, OP, also referred to as Jerome Savonarola, was an Italian ascetic Dominican friar from Ferrara and a preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He became known f…
Girolamo Savonarola, Italian friar and preacher (born 1452)
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Florence after whom America is named.
Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World
Pope Alexander VI was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 11 August 1492 until his death in 1503.
Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola
The Cornish rebellion of 1497, also known as the First Cornish rebellion, was a popular uprising in the Kingdom of England, which began in Cornwall and culminated with the Battle o…
Battle of Deptford Bridge: Forces under King Henry VII defeat troops led by Michael An Gof
Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia or Valdiva was a Spanish conquistador and the first Governor of Colonial Chile. After having served with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders, he was …
Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish conquistador, conquered northern Chile (died 1553)
Muhammad Abu 'Abd Allah ibn Muhammad at-Tarabulsi al-Hattab al-Ru'yani, more commonly referred to in Islamic scholarship as al-Hattab or Imam al-Hattab, was a 16th-century CE Musli…
Al-Hattab, Muslim jurist (died 1547)
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer. His 1497 voyage to the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII, King of England is the earliest known European ex…
John Cabot sets sail from Bristol, England, on his ship Matthew looking for a route to the west (other documents give a
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer. His 1497 voyage to the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII, King of England is the earliest known European ex…
John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland leading the first European exploration of the region since the Vikings
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese mariner, explorer and nobleman. His discovery of the first direct maritime route between Europe and India via the Cape of Good Hope and across the In…
Vasco da Gama sets sail on the first direct European voyage to India.
Ernest of Brunswick-Lüneburg, also frequently called Ernest the Confessor, was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and a champion of the Protestant cause during the early years of the Prote…
Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (died 1546)
Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía was the second child of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei and a member of the House of Borgia. He was the brother of Cesare, Gioffre, …
Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía, Italian son of Pope Alexander VI (born 1474)
Michael Joseph, better known as Michael An Gof, was one of the leaders of the Cornish rebellion of 1497, along with Thomas Flamank.
Michael An Gof, rebel leader
Thomas Flamank was a lawyer and former MP from Cornwall, who together with Michael An Gof led the Cornish rebellion of 1497, a protest against taxes imposed by Henry VII of England…
Thomas Flamank, rebel leader