1502 - Political Events

Political Events

A Spanish fleet seizes Taranto in March as Ferdinand II of Aragon supports the claims of Louis XII to Naples.

Florence elects former ambassador to France Piero di Tommaso Soderini, 50, to a lifetime position as gonfalonier in an effort to stablize its republican government. A onetime prior who won the support of the late Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici, Soderini will rule with moderation and wisdom until 1512, but hardly with brilliance.

Cesare Borgia, 26, attacks Urbino in north central Italy while the duchy's artillery is away helping Cesare's father, Pope Alexander VI. Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino, now 30, and his wife, Elizabetta, flee, and Cesare adds Urbino to the pope's possessions. Pope Alexander offers Elizabetta an annulment of her marriage to the ailing duke and a potent French husband to replace him, and Cesare Borgia promises her a pension. Although she is living on Venetian charity in exile with her husband, she refuses the offer. Cesare receives French aid in putting down a revolt of his captains at Sinigaglia in December (see 1503).

The Crimean khan destroys the last of the Golden Horde whose Mongol and Turkic warriors terrorized so much of the world in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Safavid dynasty that will rule Persia until 1736 is founded by the rebel leader Ismail, who has himself proclaimed shah (see 1501). He will reign until 1524 (see 1508).

Montezuma II ascends the throne of the Aztec Empire at Tenochtitlan at age 22 (see 1325; Juan de Grijalva, 1518).