King Edward III of England established the Order of the Garter, England's highest chivalric order on April 23, 1348, intended to foster camaraderie among top knights and secure their loyalty for his military campaigns. It is the most senior British order of chivalry, outranked only by the Victoria Cross and George Cross.
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What Happened in April?
Sieges, raids, and monumental deaths. Discover key historical events from April that influenced the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Battle of Saintes takes place on April 1, 1351 during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. French forces were besieging the town of Saint-Jean-d'Angély when an English relief force arrived. resulting in an English victory bur they were unable to resupply the besieged town.
The Battle of Nájera, (Battle of Navarrete), was fought on April 3, 1367 in the province of La Rioja, Castile, during the first Castilian Civil War with King Peter of Castile confronted his half-brother Count Henry of Trastámara who aspired to the throne. The battle ended with a resounding defeat for Count Henry and his forces.
The war involved Castile in the Hundred Years' War as King Peter of Castile was supported by England, Aquitaine, Majorca, Navarre and European mercenaries hired by the Black Prince. Count Henry, was supported by most of the nobility and the Christian military organizations in Castile as well as the unofficial support of France.
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Building of the Bastille fortress in Paris begins on April 22, 1370, under the reign of King Charles V of France, to help protect the eastern edge of Paris during the Hundred Years' War against the English. It was finished c. 1383.
The Peasants' Revolt in England, a major uprising against high taxes and social injustice, ( also called, Wat Tyler's Insurrection or the Great Uprising), broke out in Essex, on May 30, 1381, following the arrival of John Bampton, a Parliament Member and Justice of the Peace, to investigate non-payment of the poll tax. Violence broke out and several people were killed. Bampton escaped and retreated to London.
A contingent of Kentish rebels advanced on London and entered it on June 13 where they were joined by many locals. The rebels attacked the prisons, destroyed the Savoy Palace, set firese, and killed people associated with the royal government. The following day, Richard met the rebels and agreed to most of their demands, including the abolition of serfdom. Meanwhile, rebels entered the Tower of London, killing Simon Sudbury, Lord Chancellor, and Robert Hales, Lord High Treasurer, who were inside. On 15 several nobles who were there. Richard went on to meet Tyler and the rebels at Smithfield. where violence broke out, and Richard's party killed Tyler. and eventually dispersed the rebel forces. Richard rescinded his previous grants to the rebels and began to re-establish order in London. Unrest continued until Henry Despenser, forces defeated a rebel army at the Battle of North Walsham on June 26 and Richard mobilized 4,000 soldiers to restore order. Most of the rebel leaders were tracked down and executed and at least 1,500 rebels were killed.
The Battle of the Vikhra River takes place on April 29, 1386 where the Grand Duchy of Lithuania achieves a decisive victory over the Principality of Smolensk, paving the way for Lithuanian expansion as it shifted the balance of power in the region, weakening the traditional Ruthenian allies of the Golden Horde.
Geoffrey Chaucer first read from The Canterbury Tales at the court of King Richard II on April 17, 1397. This event was a major turning point for English literature, as it was one of the first times a major work of this stature was presented in English, the common vernacular, rather than the traditional Norman French or Latin used at court.
Preparations for Henry V's invasion of France begin in England on April 19, 1415 after Parliament authorized a "double subsidy" (double tax) for the campaign In December 1414
Joan of Arc, then 17, arrives in the city of Orléans on April 29, 1429, during the Hundred Years' War, entering unopposed through the eastern gate while a French sortie distracted the English forces. Her presence boosted French morale and ultimately contributed to lifting the siege.
Christopher of Bavaria is appointed King of Denmark on April 9. 1440, following the deposition of his uncle, Eric of Pomerania. He later, unified the Kalmar Union by being elected King of Sweden (1441) and Norway (1442).
C. 1450 April
Fra Mauro, Venetian cartographer and Monk, completes his world map around April 1450. His map was the most detailed and accurate representation of the world that had been produced up until that time. As such, the Fra Mauro map is considered one of the most important works in the history of cartography. It is usually on display in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice in Italy.
Leonardo da Vinci, Italian polymath and painter was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy. He is well know by the Mona Lisa, and the Last Supper as well as his notebooks detailing flying machines and human anatomy. More
The siege of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire led by 21-year-old Sultan Mehmed II begins on April 6, 1453. After a nearly two-month siege, the Ottomans captured the city on May 29, 1453, bringing about the end of the Byzantine Empire which had endured for over 1,000 years and the beginning of the Ottoman Empire's rule over the city, which was renamed Istanbul.
The Treaty of Lodi is signed, on April 9, 1454, in Lodi, Lombardy, effectively ending the Wars in Lombardy, leading to a 40-year period of relative peace to the Italian Peninsula between the Italian city-states of Milan, Florence, and Naples.
C.1456, April
John Argyropoulos, a Byzantine Greek philosopher and scholar, becomes the first to introduce a renewed, more accurate understanding of Aristotelian philosophy to Italy around April 1456, bringing direct, firsthand knowledge of the original Greek texts; teaching them in Florence and Rome instead of relying on inaccurate translations.
The University of Basel is founded in Switzerland on April 4, 1460. It is the oldest university in Switzerland and a prestigious public research institution, authorized by a papal bull from Pope Pius II. Renowned for its history and academic excellence. It is now a highly research-oriented, internationally accessible institution that emphasizes life sciences and medicine.
English King Henry VI was deposed for the second time on April 11, 1471 by Edward IV. Henry was imprisoned in the Tower of London and died on May 21, 1471. Edward IV died on April 9, 1483.
King Edward IV of England, (House of York), decisively defeats the Lancastrian forces, led by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick on April 14, 1471, at the Battle of Barnet during the Wars of the Roses. The victory and the death of Warwick, effectively restored Edward to the throne after his short exile.
The Pazzi conspiracy, a failed attempt by the Pazzi family to overthrow the Medici family on April, 26, 1478 (Easter Sunday) in Florence by assassinating Lorenzo de Medici and his brother Giulianoto. Lorenzo survived the plot but Giulianoto de' Medici was killed. More
The Treaty of Olomouc is signed,on April 2, 1479, bringing an end to the 10-year War between Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Vladislaus II of Bohemia. The Treaty was formally ratified in July 21 of the same year.