1491
Henry VIII Born at Greenwich
Henry VII's second son was born in a riverside palace.
Nzinga Nkuwu of Kongo Baptized
The king of Kongo and several nobles were baptized by Portuguese missionaries, taking Christian names.
Ignatius of Loyola Born
The Basque gentleman whose leg would be shattered by a French cannonball at Pamplona and whose spiritual crisis would produce the Society of Jesus was born…
Leonardo Begins Sforza Horse
Leonardo modeled a clay horse twenty-four feet tall for an equestrian monument to Francesco Sforza, intended to be cast in seventy tons of bronze.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1491?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1491. The most significant is Henry VIII Born at Greenwich: Henry VII's second son was born in a riverside palace. Being the spare, not the heir, he was educated in theology and languages to become perhaps an archbishop.
What era was 1491 part of?
1491 falls within the Late Middle Ages (1301-1500). Plague, papal schism, and the seeds of nation-states.
Which regions saw notable events in 1491?
The events from 1491 span Europe and Africa.