1468 - Political Events

Political Events

Jasper Tudor, earl of Pembroke, lands in North Wales in an effort to relieve Harlech Castle, whose defenders have held out for the Lancastrian king Henry VI (see 1461). Pembroke captures Denbigh Castle but is then defeated in battle and forfeits his earldom (see 1470). England's Edward IV brings a bill of attainder against the Irish baron Thomas, earl of Desmond, and has him executed for treason (see 1464). The earl's two young sons are put to death with great cruelty (see 1471).

Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, effects an alliance against France's Louis XI by marrying Margaret, sister of England's Yorkist king Edward IV.

Jean d'Orléans, comte de Dunois, dies at L'Hay-les-Roses November 24 at age 65. His marriage to Marie d'Harcourt has produced heirs from whom the dukes de Longueville will be descended.

Florence acquires Sarzana and Sarzanello from Venice, whose condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni has been defeated at Imola by an allied Florentine and Milanese army.

Albania's prince Skanderbeg (George Castriota) dies at age 62 after a 24-year reign. His death opens the way for reoccupation of Albania by the Ottoman Turks.

The Songhai king Sonni Ali who came to power in 1460 takes Timbuktu from the Tuaregs (see 1433; 1492).

Ethiopia's Solomonic emperor Zara Yaqub dies after a 34-year reign in which he has defeated Muslim armies to protect the freedom of his country's Coptic Christians. Yaqub has brought all of the Ethiopian highlands under his rule.