1407 CE
After several invitations by the Emperor Cheng Zu of China, the lama Deshin Shekpa, the fifth Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, finally visits the Emperor at Nanjing, the Ming dynasty. In his 22-day visit, the Karmapa thrills the Ming court with alleged miracles that are recorded in a gigantic scroll, translated into five different languages. In a show of mystical prowess, Deshin Shekpa adds legitimacy to a questionable succession to the throne by Cheng Zu, who had killed his nephew the Jianwen Emperor in the culmination of a civil war. For his services to the Ming court, including his handling of the ceremonial rites of Cheng Zu's deceased parents, Deshin Shekpa is awarded the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma (大寶法王). The Banco di San Giorgio is founded by the government of the Republic of Genoa in Italy. Ming–Việt War: A Vietnamese force of 70,000 troops attempts to stop the advance of the Chinese at the Hong River at the Ham Tu pass in what is now Vietnam's Hưng Yên province. With superior firepower, the Chinese kill over 10,000 Viet troops and capture hundreds of warships.
In the 1400s, the 15th century.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- May 8 – The Earl of Somerset resigns as Admiral of the North and West of the English Navy. The office will remain vacant until assumed by Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter on September 21, 1408.*source
- October 20 – The English Parliament is opened at Gloucester after being summoned on August 26 by King Henry IV, and is marked by arguments between the House of Lords and the House of Commons over primacy and initiation of money bills.source
- November 20 – A solemn truce is agreed upon between John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and Louis I, Duke of Orléans under the auspices of John, Duke of Berry.source
- December 2 – The English Parliament closes after having met for six weeks.source
Conflict & Security
- February 21 – Ming–Việt War: Hồ Nguyên Trừng, commander of the Vietnamese armada of 500 ships, launches a counterattack on invading Chinese ships on the Thai Binh River, but the Chinese forces use cannons to destroy the Viet fleet, killing as many as 10,000 of the defending forces.source
- March 18 – Ming–Việt War: In Vietnam's Phung Hoa prefecture, the invading Chinese troops use a larger weapon, the da jiangjun chong cannon, to destroy more of the Viet ships.source
- May 4 – Ming–Việt War: A Vietnamese force of 70,000 troops attempts to stop the advance of the Chinese at the Hong River at the Ham Tu pass in what is now Vietnam's Hưng Yên province. With superior firepower, the Chinese kill over 10,000 Viet troops and capture hundreds of warships.source
- May 30 – Ming–Việt War: In a last ditch effort to stop the Chinese invasion, the Vietnamese forces fight a final battle at Thanh Hóa, where the Emperor Hon Han Thuong had moved his capital. The Viet force loses 10,000 additional soldiers and the Vietnamese royal family flees during the retreat.source
- June 16 – Ming–Hồ War: Ho Han Thuong, Emperor of Vietnam (Dai Ngu) is captured by the Imperial Chinese Army along with his father, the former Emperor Hồ Quý Ly, completing the conquest of Vietnam by the Chinese Empire.source
- 20 November - A truce is agreed between the warring nobles John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and Louis I, Duke of OrléansFrancesource
- December 2 – China's Emperor Cheng Zu sends an order to Marquis Zhang Fu, who had recently conquered Vietnam and executed many of its officials, to avoid harming any innocent Vietnamese civilians.source
Religion & Belief
- March 7 – At 12 years old, Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga becomes the new Marquis of Mantua, and area encompassing much of the Lombardy region of Italy, upon the death of his father, Francesco I Gonzaga.source
- Rudolfo Belenzani leads a revolt against Bishop Georg von Liechtenstein in Trento, Bishopric of Trent.source
Economy & Finance
Technology & Infrastructure
Crime & Justice
Culture & Society
- March 1 – Persian astronomer and mathematician Jamshid al-Kashi completes his treatise Sullam al-sama ("The Ladder of the Sky")source
- April 10 – After several invitations by the Emperor Cheng Zu of China, the lama Deshin Shekpa, the fifth Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, finally visits the Emperor at Nanjing, the Ming dynasty. In his 22-day visit, the Karmapa thrills the Ming court with alleged miracles that are recorded in a gigantic scroll, translated into five different languages. In a show of mystical prowess, Deshin Shekpa adds legitimacy to a questionable succession to the throne by Cheng Zu, who had killed his nephew the Jianwen Emperor in the culmination of a civil war. For his services to the Ming court, including his handling of the ceremonial rites of Cheng Zu's deceased parents, Deshin Shekpa is awarded the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma (大寶法王).source
- December – The Yongle Encyclopedia, until the 21st century the largest encyclopedia of history, is completed in China after four years of work by 2,169 scholars at the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial University.source
- David Holbache founds Oswestry School, in the Welsh Marches.source
Births
- March 15 – Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden (1431-1453) (died 1453)source
- August 27 – Ashikaga Yoshikazu, Japanese shōgun (died 1425)source
- September 21 – Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara, Italian noble (died 1450)source
- November 8 – Alain de Coëtivy, Catholic cardinal (died 1474)source
- Demetrios Palaiologos, Byzantine prince (died 1470)source
- Lorenzo Valla, Italian humanist, philosopher, literary critic (died 1457)source
- Marguerite, bâtarde de France, French noble, illegitimate daughter of the King of France (died 1458)source
- Thomas de Littleton, English judge (died 1481)source
- Unknown - Marguerite, bâtarde de France, noblewoman (died 1458)Francesource
Deaths
- February 9 – William I, Margrave of Meissen (born 1343)source
- February 16 – Abdallah Fakhr al-Din, religious leadersource
- February 22 – Pir Muhammad Mirza, co-ruler of the Timurid Empire (Transoxiana) that encompasses what is now Iran and most of the Near East of Asia, is murdered by his vizier, Pir Ali Taz. He is succeeded by his cousin, Khalil Sultan, who becomes the sole ruler of Transoxiana until being overthrown in 1409.source
- March 7 – Francesco I Gonzaga, ruler of Mantuasource
- April 23 – Olivier V de Clisson, French soldier (born 1336)source
- July – Empress Xu (Ming dynasty), Chinese Empress (born 1362)source
- November 23 – Louis I, Duke of Orléans, brother of Charles VI of France (murdered) (born 1372)source
- November 23 – The Duke of Orleans is assassinated, and war breaks out again between the Burgundians and the Duke's followers.source
- 23 November - The Duke of Orleans is assassinated by adherents of the Duke of Burgundy leading to continued conflict between the factionsFrancesource
- 23 November - Louis I, Duke of Orléans, brother of Charles VI (born 1372)Francesource
- Pero López de Ayala, Spanish soldier (born 1332)source
- Kolgrim, Norse Greenlander and alleged sorcerersource