1326 CE
A year defined by the Ottoman capture of the Byzantine city of Bursa, establishing a permanent Ottoman capital in Anatolia, and the invasion of England by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer that toppled King Edward II.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- Orhan, son of Osman I, captured the Byzantine city of Bursa after a prolonged siege, making it the first major urban center and capital of the expanding Ottoman state.
- The fall of Bursa marked a decisive step in the Ottoman transformation from a frontier principality into a significant Anatolian power with control over important trade routes.
- Queen Isabella of England and her ally Roger Mortimer landed in England in September with a small force from the Low Countries, rallying opposition to King Edward II and his favorite Hugh Despenser.
Conflict & Security
- Edward II of England fled westward as support for his regime collapsed, and was captured in Wales in November, effectively ending his reign.
- Hugh Despenser the Younger, Edward II's powerful favorite, was captured, tried, and executed in November, accused of tyranny and misgovernment.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 272 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Culture & Society
- The estimated world population was approximately 385 million.