1344
Earthquake and tsunami devastate Alexandria
A violent earthquake shook the eastern Mediterranean, toppling the remains of the Pharos lighthouse - one of the Seven Wonders - into Alexandria's harbor.
Chinese gunpowder weapons evolve: fire-lances proliferate
Yuan and rebel armies alike deployed bamboo and metal fire-lances that spat shrapnel and flame at close range.
Reconquista captures Algeciras
Alfonso XI of Castile besieged and took the Moroccan-held port at the mouth of the Strait after twenty months.
Sukhothai kingdom begins its decline in Siam
The Thai kingdom that had invented the Siamese script and defined Theravada Buddhist kingship lost territory steadily to its southern neighbor Ayutthaya.
Charles IV of Bohemia founds the archbishopric of Prague
Eager to free his Bohemian kingdom from German ecclesiastical oversight, Charles persuaded Clement VI to elevate Prague to an archdiocese independent…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1344?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1344. The most significant is Earthquake and tsunami devastate Alexandria: A violent earthquake shook the eastern Mediterranean, toppling the remains of the Pharos lighthouse - one of the Seven Wonders - into Alexandria's harbor.
What era was 1344 part of?
1344 falls within the Late Middle Ages (1301-1500). Plague, papal schism, and the seeds of nation-states.
Which regions saw notable events in 1344?
The events from 1344 span Middle East, East Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia.