Explore 105 historical events from 1490–1499.
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)
Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Guelders.
Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duchess of Guelders (1518–1538) (died 1572)
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once removed and f…
Francis I of France (died 1547)
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)
Giovanni Santi was an Italian painter and poet, father of Raphael Sanzio. He was born in 1435 at Colbordolo in the Duchy of Urbino. He studied under Piero della Francesca and was i…
Giovanni Santi, artist and father of Raphael (born c. 1435)
Hans Memling was a German-Flemish painter who worked in the tradition of Early Netherlandish painting. Born in the Middle Rhine region, he probably spent his childhood in Mainz. Du…
Hans Memling, German-Belgian painter (born 1430)
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.
The Battle of Krbava Field was fought between the Ottoman Empire of Bayezid II and an army of the Kingdom of Croatia, at the time in personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary, on …
Battle of Krbava Field, a decisive defeat of Croats in Croatian struggle against the invasion by the Ottoman Empire.
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…
Christopher Columbus, with 17 ships and 1,200 men, sails on second voyage from Cadiz.
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)
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor was Holy Roman emperor from 1452 until his death in 1493. He was the penultimate emperor to be crowned by the pope, and the last to be crowned in …
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor (born 1415)
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
A series of military conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and various European states took place from the Late Middle Ages up through the early 20th century. The earliest conflicts…
Ottoman wars in Europe: A large Croatian army intercepted Ottoman forces returning to the Sanjak of Bosnia, but was…
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…
Christopher Columbus sets sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain.