The Battle of Worringen: Duke John I of Brabant defeats Duke Henry VI of Limburg, leading to the collapse of the Duchy of Limburg.
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What Happened in February?
Emperor ascensions, legendary battles, and assassinations. Discover what happened this month in history. Explore pivotal events from February that helped shape the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Scots, under John Comyn and Simon Fraser defeat an English reconnaissance party under Lord John Segrave, on February 24, 1303, during the First War of Scottish Independence.
Robert the Bruce stabbed and killed his chief rival, John "the Red" Comyn, on February 10, 1306, before the high altar of the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, leading to Bruce's coronation weeks later. The murder also resulted in Bruce’s excommunication by the Pope and turned the Scottish Wars of Independence into a civil war.
Construction begins on the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in France.
Strasbourg Massacre: Jews in Strasbourg, accused of causing the Black Death, are burned at the stake.
The St. Scholastica Day riot takes place in Oxford, England on February 10, 1355 resulting in significant violence between town and university students.
It escalated from a dispute over poor-quality wine at the Swindlestock Tavern into a three-day battle between townspeople and university students., resulting in significant casualties, with estimates of 63 scholars and 30 townsfolk killed.
The town won the conflict but faced severe penalties from the University, including an annual fine paid by the mayor. The animosity between the town and gown lasted for centuries, but in 1955, the two sides reconciled. More
The Teutonic Knights, led by Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode, defeat the Lithuanians forces, led by Algirdas and Kęstutis, on February 17, 1370, near Königsberg at the battle of Rudau. The victory stopped their advance into Prussia but it came at a heavy loss for the Knights and only brought short term results.
German mercenaries under the command of Enguerrand VII of Coucy a prominent French noble and military leader, defeat Hainaut forces c. Feb 23, 1370 during regional power struggles in the Low Countries related to the Brabant Revolution.
King Richard II of England, who had been deposed, dies under mysterious circumstances, leading to the ascension of Henry IV to the English throne.
The Peace of Thorn treaty was signed on February 1, 1411, ending the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War of 1409–1411. The treaty followed the decisive Teutonic defeat at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. The treaty compelled the Teutonic Knights to pay heavy financial reparations and return land to Lithuania, severely damaging their reputation.
James I of Scotland is assassinated in Perth, Scotland on February 21, 1437, by a group of assassins led by Sir Robert Graham. His death was the result of a conspiracy, and the assassins were later captured and executed.
The Prussian Confederation is established on February 21, 1440, in Kwidzyn (Marienwerder) by 53 nobles/clergy and 19 cities to oppose the high taxes and authoritarian rule of the Teutonic Knights and seek autonomy within the Kingdom of Poland.
The Prussian Confederation requested incorporation into the Kingdom of Poland in 1454, triggering the Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466). The 1466 treaty resulted in the division of Prussia, creating "Royal Prussia" (under Polish sovereignty) and leaving the remaining Teutonic Order land as a Polish fief.
Alfonso V of Aragon takes control of the Kingdom of Naples after his victory over René of Anjou; culminating in his triumphal entry into the city on February 26, 1443. This victory reunited the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily under his rule, and he then styled himself "King of the Two Sicilies".
Mehmed II ascends the throne as the 7th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, on February 3, 1451, after the death of his father, Murad II. He went on to centralize power and, most notably to capture Constantinople, which he did on May 29, 1453. He was known as The Conqueror.
c. 1455 CE, February 23
The printing of the Gutenberg Bible, one of the earliest major books printed using movable type, is believed to have been completed in Mainz, Germany on February 23, 1455.
The Gutenberg Bible is named after its creator, Johannes Gutenberg who also invented the wooden printing press, metal types, and oil-based inks used in the new printing process. Historians estimate that Gutenberg printed about 150-180 Bibles in 1455. Only 20 complete copies survive intact and many others exist only as single volumes or fragments.
Edward, Earl of March, defeats Henry VI during the Wars of the Roses at the battle of Towton on February 28, 1461. His victory on top of his previous victory at the battle of Mortimer's Cross strengthen Edward's position to claim the throne.
He went on to become King of England as Edward the IV, after the death of his father on March 4, 1461. He was formally crowned on June 28, 1461, at Westminster Abbey.
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, is executed for treason against his brother, King Edward IV of England on February 18, 1478, at the Tower of London.
George Plantagenet, the 1st Duke of Clarence and brother to King Edward IV, is executed for high treason on February 18, 1478, at the Tower of London during the War of the Roses. The execution was the culmination of years of political rivalry, shifting alliances, and acts of disloyalty by the Duke against his brother, the King.
His execution took place following his conviction by Parliament, he was killed privately, with popular legend, immortalized by Shakespeare, claiming he was drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.
Pope Sixtus IV, authorizes on February 11, 1482, the appointment of Tomás de Torquemada as one of seven chief inquisitors in Spain. He became the Grand Inquisitor c. August 15, 1483 for Castile and Aragon.
On October 17, 1483, Torquemada's authority was extended to include Aragon, Catalonia, Majorca and Valencia effectively making him the Inquisitor General for all of Spain. Torquemada served as the Grand Inquisitor until his death on September 16, 1498. It is believed that the Spanish Inquisition was responsible for over 30,000 executions. The institution was finally shut down on July 15, 1834, during a period of liberal reform in Spain. The last person executed by the Inquisition was Cayetano Ripoll, a schoolmaster hanged in 1826.
Pope Innocent VIII issues the papal bull "Summis desiderantes affectibus," authorizing the Inquisition to prosecute witchcraft.