Explore 62 historical events from 1490–1499.
James Tuchet, 7th Baron Audley was a British nobleman and the only lord to fully join the Cornish rebellion of 1497 opposing the rule of Henry VII of England. He was a leader in th…
James Tuchet, 7th Baron Audley, English rebel leader (born c
Gustav Eriksson Vasa, also known as Gustav I, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560. He was previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm (Riksföreståndare) from…
Gustav I of Sweden (died 1560)
Charles II or Charles John Amadeus, was the Duke of Savoy from 1490 to 1496 but his mother Blanche of Montferrat (1472–1519) was the actual ruler as a regent. In 1485 his father Ch…
Charles II, Duke of Savoy (born 1489)
A monk is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in …
A monk, John Cor, records the first known batch of Scotch whisky
The Battle of Seminara, part of the First Italian War, was fought in Calabria on 28 June 1495 between a French garrison in recently conquered Southern Italy and the allied forces o…
A French force heavily defeats a much larger Neapolitan and Spanish army at the battle of Seminara, leading to the creat
The First Italian War, or Charles VIII's Italian War, was the opening phase of the Italian Wars. The war pitted Charles VIII of France, who had initial Milanese aid, against the Ho…
First Italian War: Battle of Fornovo: Charles VIII defeats the Holy League.
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)
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish transatlantic voyages in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, opening…
On his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus sights Jamaica, landing at Discovery Bay and declares Jamaic
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the southernmost point of continental Europe, it is …
Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas which divides the New World between the two countries
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration, was part of the early modern period and overlapped with the Age of Sail. It was a period from approximately the 15th to …
Age of Discovery: The Treaty of Tordesillas is ratified by Spain.
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)
Jacopo Carucci or Carrucci, usually known as Jacopo (da) Pontormo or simply Pontormo, was an Italian Mannerist painter and portraitist from the Florentine School. His work represen…
Pontormo, Italian painter (died 1557)
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)
A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden seal (bulla) traditionally appended to a…
In the papal bull Inter caetera, Pope Alexander VI divides the New World between Spain and Portugal along the Line of De
Hartmann Schedel was a German historian, physician, humanist, and one of the first cartographers to use the printing press. He was born and died in Nuremberg. Matheolus Perusinus s…
Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, one of the best-documented early printed books, is published.
Girolamo Seripando was an Augustinian friar, Italian theologian and cardinal.
Girolamo Seripando, Italian theologian and cardinal (died 1563)
Justus Jonas, the Elder, or simply Justus Jonas, was a German Lutheran theologian and reformer. He was a Jurist, Professor and Hymn writer. He is best known for his translations of…
Justus Jonas, German priest and academic (died 1555)
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll was a medieval Scottish nobleman, peer, and politician. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, Master of Campbell and Elizabeth Somerville, daught…
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, Scottish politician, Lord Chancellor of Scotland (born 1433)
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 (pictured) issued the papal bull Inter caetera, establishing a line of demarcation dividing the New Wo
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)
Andrea Alciato, commonly known as Alciati, was an Italian jurist and writer. He is regarded as the founder of the French school of legal humanists.
Andrea Alciato, Italian jurist and writer (died 1550)
Elizabeth Tudor was the second daughter and fourth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York.
Elizabeth Tudor, English daughter of Henry VII of England (died 1495)
Casimir IV Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440 and King of Poland from 1447 until his death in 1492. He was one of the most active Polish-Lithuanian rulers; under him, …
Casimir IV Jagiellon, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440 and King of Poland from 1447 (born 1427)
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