Directory

1404 CE

A year defined by the death of Philip the Bold altering Burgundian politics, Owen Glendower's establishment of a Welsh parliament, and Timur's preparations for a massive invasion of Ming China that would be cut short by his death.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Owen Glendower held a Welsh parliament at Machynlleth, assembling representatives from across Wales and asserting his claim as Prince of Wales.
  • The Yongle Emperor of Ming China strengthened diplomatic ties with kingdoms in Southeast Asia, receiving tribute missions from Siam, Malacca, and Java.
  • John the Fearless succeeded his father Philip the Bold as Duke of Burgundy, inheriting vast territories in France and the Low Countries.
  • The Ottoman Interregnum continued as Süleyman Çelebi controlled European territories while Mehmed Çelebi consolidated power in Anatolia.
  • Timur began assembling an enormous army for a planned invasion of Ming China, gathering forces from across his vast empire.

Conflict & Security

  • Owen Glendower's forces captured Harlech and Aberystwyth castles, two of the strongest English fortifications in Wales.
  • The Ottoman civil war continued with battles between the sons of Bayezid I for control of the remnants of the empire.
  • Mehmed Çelebi defeated his brother Isa in Anatolia, strengthening his position as the dominant claimant in the eastern Ottoman lands.
  • English forces under Prince Henry launched campaigns against Welsh rebel strongholds but were unable to suppress the revolt decisively.
  • Timur's armies conducted preparatory campaigns along the eastern frontiers of his empire as he planned the invasion of China.

Economy & Finance

  • The Yongle Emperor ordered the compilation of the Yongle Dadian, a vast encyclopedia requiring thousands of scholars and enormous financial resources.
  • The English Parliament granted Henry IV additional taxes to fund the war in Wales, though revenue collection proved difficult in rebel-held areas.
  • Agricultural productivity in northern France was affected by political instability and the requisitioning of supplies by competing noble factions.

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Construction advanced on the great mosque of Bibi-Khanym in Samarkand, one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world, commissioned by Timur.
  • The Yongle Emperor accelerated preparations for the construction of the new imperial capital at Beijing, with work beginning on foundational infrastructure.
  • Shipbuilding in the Ming Empire advanced with the construction of treasure ships designed for long-distance maritime expeditions.

Science & Discovery

  • Ruy González de Clavijo returned from his embassy to Samarkand and began compiling his account of the journey, documenting Central Asian lands for European readers.
  • The compilation of the Yongle Dadian in China represented one of the most ambitious encyclopedic projects in human history, gathering knowledge from thousands of texts.

Climate & Environment

  • Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 272 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
  • Flooding along the Arno River in Tuscany caused damage to agricultural lands and settlements in the river valley near Florence.

Culture & Society

  • Owen Glendower's parliament at Machynlleth represented a high point of Welsh political aspirations, with plans for an independent Welsh church and universities.
  • The death of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, in April shifted the balance of power in France, with his son John the Fearless inheriting a vast territorial domain and intensifying the rivalry with the Duke of Orléans.
  • Leon Battista Alberti was born in Genoa, a figure who would later become one of the leading architects and theorists of the Italian Renaissance.
  • The estimated world population was approximately 354 million.