Directory

1439 CE

A year defined by the Council of Florence's decree of union between the Eastern and Western Churches, the death of Albert II of Habsburg, and continued French reconquest in the Hundred Years' War.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Council of Florence, relocated from Ferrara, issued the decree Laetentur Caeli on July 6, proclaiming the reunion of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.
  • Albert II of Habsburg, King of the Romans, Hungary, and Bohemia, died on October 27 while on campaign against the Ottomans, leaving his wife pregnant with a posthumous heir.
  • The death of Albert II created succession crises in Hungary, Bohemia, and the Holy Roman Empire, with competing claimants emerging for each throne.
  • The rump Council of Basel declared Pope Eugene IV deposed and elected antipope Felix V, deepening the schism within the Western Church.
  • The Inca Empire under Pachacuti continued its expansion in the Andes, incorporating new territories through conquest and diplomacy.

Conflict & Security

  • Albert II of Habsburg died during a military campaign against the Ottoman Turks, highlighting the persistent Ottoman threat to Central Europe.
  • The schism between Pope Eugene IV and the rump Council of Basel, which elected antipope Felix V, divided loyalties across Christendom.

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Johannes Gutenberg continued his experiments with printing technology in Strasbourg, working toward the practical application of movable metal type.

Science & Discovery

  • The Council of Florence facilitated exchange between Greek and Latin scholarly traditions, exposing Western thinkers to Byzantine learning.
  • Greek scholars attending the Council of Florence brought manuscripts and knowledge that would enrich Western European intellectual life.

Health & Medicine

  • A severe plague epidemic struck parts of Europe in 1439, causing significant mortality in affected regions including England and the Low Countries.

Climate & Environment

  • Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 272 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.

Culture & Society

  • The Council of Florence brought together Eastern and Western Christian intellectuals, facilitating a significant cultural exchange that enriched Renaissance thought.
  • Italian humanists gained access to Greek manuscripts and scholars through the Council of Florence, advancing the study of Plato and other classical authors.
  • The estimated global population stood at approximately 399 million, with the largest concentrations in China, the Indian subcontinent, and Europe.