1480
Great Stand on the Ugra River
Ivan III's Russian army faced Khan Akhmat's Golden Horde forces across the frozen Ugra in a week-long standoff of cavalry maneuvers.
Siege of Rhodes
Mehmed II's forces besieged the Hospitaller fortress of Rhodes for three months but failed to take it.
Ottoman Raid on Otranto
Gedik Ahmed Pasha landed eighteen thousand Ottoman troops on the heel of Italy and stormed Otranto in a single day.
Leonardo Offers Sforza His Services
Leonardo wrote a famous letter to Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan, listing his skills: designer of bridges, siege engines, armored wagons, mortars, catapults.
Want 1480 in context? Print the whole 15th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1480?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1480. The most significant is Great Stand on the Ugra River: Ivan III's Russian army faced Khan Akhmat's Golden Horde forces across the frozen Ugra in a week-long standoff of cavalry maneuvers. Neither side fought.
What era was 1480 part of?
1480 falls within the Late Middle Ages (1301-1500). Plague, papal schism, and the seeds of nation-states.
Which regions saw notable events in 1480?
The events from 1480 span Europe and Middle East.