1344 CE

Reconquista: The Siege of Algeciras (1342–44), one of the first European military engagements where gunpowder is used, ends with the Muslim city of Algeciras surrendering and being incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile. The St. George's Night Uprising: The Livonian Order hangs Vesse, the rebel Estonian Elder of Saaremaa Island. Pope Clement VI issues dispensation for marriage between Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Kildare, and Joan, daughter of the Earl of Desmond.

In the 1340s, the 14th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • 20 April – custody of the lands of the late Earl of Ormond is granted to the Earl of Desmond.Irelandsource
  • 24 April – the 'Bonnaght', a treaty between Richard, Duke of York, Earl of Ulster and Henry, Son of Eoghan O'Neill, is sanctioned in Ulster.Irelandsource
  • 3 June – Justiciar is ordered to resume and regrant all abandoned and waste lands.Irelandsource
  • Newaya Krestos succeeds his father Amda Seyon I as Emperor of Ethiopiasource
  • John Morice appointed Lord Chancellor of IrelandIrelandsource

Conflict & Security

  • March 26 – Reconquista: The Siege of Algeciras (1342–44), one of the first European military engagements where gunpowder is used, ends with the Muslim city of Algeciras surrendering and being incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile.source
  • April 23 – The St. George's Night Uprising: The Livonian Order hangs Vesse, the rebel Estonian Elder of Saaremaa Island.source
  • May 13 – Battle of Pallene: A Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet at Pallene, Chalcidice.source
  • King Peter IV of Aragon defeats and deposes his cousin, James III of Majorca, thereby absorbing the Balearic Kingdom of Majorca into the Crown of Aragon.source

Religion & Belief

  • 10 February – Ralph d'Ufford is appointed Justiciar.Irelandsource
  • October 21 – Pope Clement VI issues dispensation for marriage between Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Kildare, and Joan, daughter of the Earl of Desmond.Irelandsource
  • October 24 – Smyrniote Crusade: A Christian fleet succeeds in taking the port city of Smyrna from the Aydinid Turks.source
  • James Bermingham became Bishop of KillalaIrelandsource

Economy & Finance

  • The Compagnia dei Bardi in Florence goes bankrupt, along with the Peruzzi Bank and the Acciaiuoli Bank.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • A large public dial clock is installed in the tower of the Palazzo Capitaniato, Padua, commissioned by Prince Ubertino I da Carrara and supervised by Jacopo Dondi dell'Orologio.source

Crime & Justice

  • 21 July – Justiciar campaigns in south Leinster and Munster.Irelandsource
  • King Edward III of England introduces three new gold coins, the florin, leopard, and helm. Unfortunately, the amount of gold in the coins does not match their value of 6 shillings, 3 shillings, and 1 shilling and sixpence, so they have to be withdrawn and mostly melted down, by August of this year.source

Culture & Society

  • December 6 – Five-year-old Erik Magnusson, the eldest son of King Magnus IV of Sweden, is appointed heir to the Swedish throne, even though Sweden is an elective monarchy at this time.source
  • Bablake School is founded in Coventry, England by the dowager Queen Isabella.source

Births

  • February 9 – Meinhard III, Count of Tyrol (died 1363)source
  • September 18 – Marie Valois, French princess, daughter of King John II of France (died 1404)source
  • October 10 – Mary Plantagenet, duchess consort of Brittany, daughter of King Edward III of England (died 1362)source
  • Beatrix of Bavaria, queen consort of Sweden (died 1359)source
  • John I, Count of La Marche (died 1393)source
  • Parameswara, Malay Srivijayan prince (died 1424)source
  • Azzo X d'Este, Italian condottiero (died 1415)source

Deaths

  • January 4 – Robert de Lisle, 1st Baron Lisle, English peer (born 1288)source
  • January 11 – Thomas Charlton, Bishop of Hereford, Lord High Treasurer of England, Lord Privy Seal, and Lord Chancellor of Irelandsource
  • January 30 – William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury (born 1301)source
  • April 17 – Constantine II, King of Armenia, is killed in an uprising and succeeded by a distant cousin, Constantine III.source
  • April 17 – Constantine II, King of Armenia (Gosdantin, Կոստանդին Բ)source
  • June 29 – Joan of Savoy, duchess consort of Brittany, throne claimant of Savoy (born 1310)source
  • July 11 – Ulrich III, Count of Württemberg (born c. 1286)source
  • July 16 – An-Nasir Ahmad, deposed Bahri Mamluk sultan of Egypt (born 1316)source
  • Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud, leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewarsource
  • probable – Simone Martini, Sienese painter (born 1284)source
  • Prince Narinaga, Japanese Shōgun (born 1326, d. either 1337 or 1344, the sources are contradictory).source
  • Gersonides, French rabbi and mathematician (born 1288)source