1428 - Political Events

Political Events

The Treaty of Delft July 23 ends hostilities between England and Flanders: Pope Martin V has declared Jacoba of Bavaria's 1422 marriage to Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, illegal January 9. Now nearly 27, she bows to pressure and cedes sovereignties of Holland, Zeeland, and Hainaut to Philippe le Bon, duc de Burgundy, who consolidates Burgundian domination of the Low Countries (Jacoba has been titular countess of all three counties). The treaty permits her to retain her title but stipulates that she is not to remarry without Philippe's consent (see 1430). William de la Pole, 32, earl of Suffolk, is made commander in chief of English forces and lays siege to Orléans in central France beginning in October with the reluctant consent of John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford (see 1427); Jean d'Orléans defends the city (see Joan of Arc, 1429).

Denmark's Erik VII defeats the Hanseatic fleets in his war against the counts of Holstein over control of Schleswig, but although he imposes the first tolls on ships plying the strait between Denmark and Sweden (the tolls will remain until 1857), and although hostilities will continue until 1436, the issue will have been decided against the Danes by 1435 (see 1434).

Venetian forces under the condottiere Carmagnola conquer Brescia and Bergamo as war with Milan resumes.

Vietnam regains her independence from China's Ming Empire after a 10-year struggle and forces the Chinese to leave (see 1426). Gen. Le Loi becomes emperor under the name Le Thai To, founding a dynasty that will rule until the end of the 16th century and reign nominally until 1788 (see 1460).

The Portuguese prince Pedro returns home after a 3-year journey through England, Flanders, the German states, Hungary, Moldavia, Walachia, the Italian states, Aragon, and Castile, bringing with him a copy of Marco Polo's 13th century Book of Various Experiences, which he has had translated for his younger brother Henrique (Henry the Navigator).