1493
Papal Bull Inter Caetera
Pope Alexander VI drew an imaginary line one hundred leagues west of the Azores and granted Spain everything beyond it, Portugal everything east.
Askia Muhammad Usurps Songhai Throne
Muhammad Ture, a devout Muslim general, overthrew Sunni Ali's son and took the throne as Askia Muhammad.
Columbus Returns to Spain
The Nina limped into Palos after a winter Atlantic crossing that nearly killed the crew.
Maximilian I Becomes Holy Roman Emperor
On his father Frederick III's death, Maximilian inherited the imperial title.
Sunni Ali Drowns in the Niger
The Songhai warrior-king drowned while crossing a river on return from a campaign, possibly ambushed, possibly from a horse's misstep.
Nuremberg Chronicle Published
Hartmann Schedel's illustrated world history was printed in Nuremberg with hundreds of woodcut views of cities, most fanciful, some accurate.
Want 1493 in context? Print the whole 15th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1493?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1493. The most significant is Papal Bull Inter Caetera: Pope Alexander VI drew an imaginary line one hundred leagues west of the Azores and granted Spain everything beyond it, Portugal everything east.
What era was 1493 part of?
1493 falls within the Late Middle Ages (1301-1500). Plague, papal schism, and the seeds of nation-states.
Which regions saw notable events in 1493?
The events from 1493 span Europe and Africa.