EVENTS
1377: Papacy is returned to Rome
Due to general turbulence among the population of Rome and a
strong French influence in the college of cardinals, the papacy had
resided in Avignon
for more than seventy years. Pope
Gregory XI, encouraged by
Saint Catherine of Siena, returned the seat of papal power to the
ancient city over the protest of French cardinals.
WHO WAS BORN
1342: Philip II, Duke of Burgundy
Philip, also known as Philip
the Bold (Philippe le Hardi), was the youngest son of King
John II (the Good) of France and one of the most powerful men of his
time. As regent for his nephew King Charles
VI, who went insane, Philip wielded considerable power and
became, in effect, the virtual king of France.
1463: Frederick III
After Martin
Luther was excommunicated and placed under the imperial ban
in 1521, Frederick "the
Wise" protected him and offered him sanctuary as the Reformation
in Germany began. As an Elector of Saxony, he also worked for
constitutional reform of the Holy Roman Empire.
1484: Georg Spalatin
A prolific writer and humanist, whose diplomatic finesse helped
the Protestant Reformation,
Spalatin was also
a friend of Martin Luther.
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