1340 CE

Edmond Albanach de Burgh is granted a royal pardon for the murder of his cousin in 1338 and returns from exile in the western isles of Connacht. Hundred Years' War: Battle of Sluys – The English fleet, under the command of Edward III of England, battles the French fleet, under that of Admiral Hugues Quiéret and treasurer Nicolas Béhuchet, assisted by Genoese mercenary galleys under Egidio Bocanegra, on the Low Countries coast. The French fleet is virtually destroyed, and both of its commanders are killed. Battle of Río Salado in Spain: The kings of Castile and Portugal defeat the Nasrid ruler of Granada and his Moroccan allies.

In the 1340s, the 14th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • January 26 – King Edward III of England declares himself King of France at Ghent, Flanders.source
  • June 7 – Rotterdam is officially declared a city.source
  • Robert de Askeby appointed Lord Chancellor of IrelandIrelandsource

Conflict & Security

  • April–July – Trapezuntine Civil War: An abortive uprising occurs against Irene Palaiologina of Trebizond, the first of a number of coups, revolts, and succession disputes.source
  • June 24 – Hundred Years' War: Battle of Sluys – The English fleet, under the command of Edward III of England, battles the French fleet, under that of Admiral Hugues Quiéret and treasurer Nicolas Béhuchet, assisted by Genoese mercenary galleys under Egidio Bocanegra, on the Low Countries coast. The French fleet is virtually destroyed, and both of its commanders are killed.source
  • July 26 – Hundred Years' War – Battle of Saint-Omer: The French defeat the English.source
  • September 25 – Hundred Years' War: The temporary Truce of Espléchin is signed between England and France.source
  • October 30 – Battle of Río Salado in Spain: The kings of Castile and Portugal defeat the Nasrid ruler of Granada and his Moroccan allies.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • March 6 – Bohemian Crusade: The Church authorizes a military expedition against heretics.source
  • April 8 – Marinid galleys, under the command of Muhammad ibn Ali al-Azafi, rout the Castellan fleet, off the coast of Algeciras.source

Health & Medicine

  • Europe has about 74 million inhabitants.source
  • An epidemic in northern Italy is recorded by Augustine of Trent, in his Epistola astrologica.source

Crime & Justice

  • March – Edmond Albanach de Burgh is granted a royal pardon for the murder of his cousin in 1338 and returns from exile in the western isles of Connacht.Irelandsource

Culture & Society

  • June 24 – Valdemar IV of Denmark, son of deceased King Christopher II, is elected to the throne, following 8 years of interregnum.source
  • The Monarchy of Japan reaches its 2,000 year anniversary (according to traditional starting dates).source

Births

  • March 5 – Cansignorio della Scala, Lord of Verona (died 1375)source
  • March 6 – John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (died 1399)source
  • August – Haakon VI, king of Norway 1355–1380 and of Sweden 1362–1364 (died 1380)source
  • October – Geert Groote, Dutch founder of the Brethren of the Common Life (died 1384)source
  • November 30 – John, Duke of Berry, son of John II of France (died 1416)source
  • John of Nepomuk, saint of Bohemia (died 1393)source
  • Narayana Pandit, Indian mathematician (died 1400)source
  • Margaret Drummond, queen consort of Scotland (died 1375)source
  • Philip van Artevelde, Flemish patriot (died 1382)source
  • Enguerrand VII, Lord of Coucy (died 1397)source

Deaths

  • March 31 – Ivan I of Moscow (born 1288)source
  • April 5 – William Melton, English archbishopsource
  • April 6 – Emperor Basil Megas Komnenos of Trebizondsource
  • April 7 – Bolesław Jerzy II of Mazovia (born 1308)source
  • December 2 – Geoffrey le Scrope, Chief Justice of King Edward III of Englandsource
  • December 4 – Henry Burghersh, English bishop and chancellor (born 1292)source
  • December 20 – John I, Duke of Bavaria (born 1329)source
  • date unknown – Simonida, queen consort of Serbia (born 1294)source
  • date unknown – Friedrich von Pernstein, Archbishop of Rigasource