1439 - Political Events

Political Events

A nephew of the Scandinavian king Erik VII assumes the thrones vacated by Erik (see 1438); Christopher of Bavaria, now 21, will reign over Denmark, Norway, and Sweden until 1448 as Kristofer III, and although Erik will make efforts from his island refuge of Gotland to regain at least one of the thrones, he will abandon hope in 1449 and return to his native Pomerania.

France's Charles VII negotiates with the English at Gravelines, helped by the diplomatic skills of Jean d'Orléans, who receives the countship of Dunois from his half brother Charles, duc d'Orléans. Richard Beauchamp, 5th earl of Warwick, dies at Rouen April 30 at age 57.

The Hapsburg German king Albrecht II dies at Langendorf October 27 at age 42 after a reign of less than 2 years, spent mainly in defending Hungary against the Ottoman Turks (he has also been king of Bohemia and Hungary and the uncrowned Holy Roman Emperor). Albrecht has led an army to the gates of Baghdad but has lost much of his force to dysentery, which hastens his own end. The death of Friedrich of Tyrol, Hapsburg cousin of Albrecht II, leaves Friedrich's 24-year-old ward and nephew the senior member of the Hapsburg family (see 1440).

The Ottoman sultan Murad II annexes Serbia and forces that country's despot George Brankovich, now 72, to take refuge in Hungary (see 1395; 1439).

Venetian naval and military hero Pietro Loredan is murdered, possibly with the connivance of the doge Francesco Foscari, his political enemy.