Middle Ages
Federal Charter of 1291: The Founding of the Swiss Confederacy
A defensive alliance of three Alpine valley communities, later celebrated as the founding document of the Swiss Confederation.
Era · c. 500 – 1500
Middle Ages
Kingdoms, crusades and plagues: the medieval world from the end of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople.
Middle Ages
Majapahit Empire Founded (1293): Raden Wijaya and Java
Raden Wijaya defeated Jayakatwang with Yuan help, then drove out the Yuan army and was crowned first king of Majapahit.
Middle Ages
Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297): William Wallace's Victory
Decisive Scottish victory; the English army was routed and Edward I's hold on Scotland temporarily collapsed.
Middle Ages
Osman I and the Founding of the Ottoman State (c. 1299)
Osman founded a frontier principality that his successors expanded into the Ottoman Empire, which lasted until 1922.
Middle Ages
Battle of Kili (1299): Alauddin Khalji Holds Off the Mongols
The Mongols withdrew from Delhi after a costly battle in which the Delhi general Zafar Khan was killed.
Middle Ages
Hereford Mappa Mundi: The Medieval World on One Map
The largest surviving medieval map of the world, still kept at Hereford Cathedral.
Middle Ages
Moa Extinction: How New Zealand's Giant Birds Disappeared
All nine moa species and their predator, Haast's eagle, became extinct, one of the fastest human-caused megafauna extinctions known.
Middle Ages
Battle of the Golden Spurs (1302): Flemish Militia Beat France
Decisive Flemish victory; the French army was routed and Robert of Artois and hundreds of knights were killed.
Middle Ages
Outrage of Anagni (1303): Philip IV Confronts Pope Boniface
Boniface VIII was held captive for about three days and died a month later; papal power over kings was badly weakened.
Middle Ages
Siege of Chittorgarh (1303): Alauddin Khalji and Mewar
The Delhi Sultanate captured Chittor after a siege of about eight months; the fort was renamed Khizrabad and placed under Alauddin's son Khizr Khan.
Middle Ages
Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel: Frescoes That Changed Painting
A complete fresco cycle that became a landmark in the move towards naturalistic Renaissance painting.
Middle Ages
Arrest of the Knights Templar (1307): Fall of a Military Order
The Order of the Temple was suppressed by Clement V in 1312 and its last grand master was burned in Paris in 1314.