1308
Duns Scotus dies in Cologne
The Subtle Doctor, a Franciscan Scot whose Latin prose tangled readers for centuries, died suddenly at forty-two. He had argued for the univocity of being and defended the Immaculate Conception when most theologians demurred. His emphasis on the primacy of individual will over intellect anticipated modern voluntarism. William of Ockham would be his greatest pupil and sharpest critic.
Malik Kafur's southern conquests begin
Alauddin Khalji dispatched his favorite slave-general on a plundering expedition into the Hindu south. Over four years Kafur would reach Madurai and return with elephants, pearls, and a quantity of gold that staggered Delhi's treasury. The campaign pillaged temples whose wealth had accumulated over centuries. No northern ruler had ever projected military force so far south.
Sultanate of Kilwa mints its first copper coins
On the coral island off the Swahili coast, Sultan al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman issued copper falus for local trade while gold flowed north to Arabia. Kilwa's stone mosques and palace at Husuni Kubwa rivaled anything in the Indian Ocean world, its merchants dealing in ivory, gold dust, and enslaved people. The coinage marked the sultanate's commercial confidence at its zenith.
Albert I of Germany murdered by his nephew
Riding to reclaim inherited lands, the Habsburg king was ambushed by John the Parricide near the Reuss river and cut down in full view of his retinue. The assassin fled to Italy and vanished into obscurity. Albert's death emptied the imperial throne and opened the Holy Roman Empire to an Italian adventure by Henry of Luxembourg.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1308?
Saeculum lists 4 curated events from 1308. The most significant is Duns Scotus dies in Cologne: The Subtle Doctor, a Franciscan Scot whose Latin prose tangled readers for centuries, died suddenly at forty-two.
What era was 1308 part of?
1308 falls within the Late Middle Ages (1301-1500). Plague, papal schism, and the seeds of nation-states.
Which regions saw notable events in 1308?
The curated events from 1308 span Europe, South Asia and Africa.