1531 - Political Events

Political Events

The Schmalkaldic League organized February 6 allies the majority of Europe's Protestant princes and imperial cities against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V who has had his brother Ferdinand, now 27, elected king of the Romans (meaning German king) at Cologne in January. The elector of Saxony leads the opposition to Ferdinand, who is financed in large part by loans from Anton Fugger.

Genoa reinstates its dogeship under constitutional reforms instituted by Andrea Doria and elects Battista Spinola doge (see 1339). He will serve until 1533.

The Battle of Obertyn in August gives Jan Tarnowski's Polish forces a victory over Moldavia.

The Catholic cantons attack Zürich and defeat the Protestants October 11 in the Battle of Kappel. Huldreich Zwingli is killed in the fighting.

Burma's first Toungoo king Minkyinyo dies after a 45-year reign and is succeeded by his son, who will reign until 1550 as Tabinshwehti (see 1535).

The Songhai emperor Askia Musa in West Africa is assassinated by one of his brothers after a 3-year reign. The former king Mohammed I Askia, now about 88, is banished to an island infested with mosquitoes and toads as his children engage in murderous wrangles over the territories that he conquered before he was deposed (see 1537).

The former captain general Pedro Arias Dávila dies at León, New Spain (later Nicaragua) March 6 at age 90 (approximate), having remained in office until 5 years ago despite criticisms that he lacked the youth, intellectual ability, and moral capacity to govern effectively.