1503
Leonardo Begins the Mona Lisa
In a rented studio in Florence, Leonardo da Vinci began layering translucent glazes onto a poplar panel, painting the wife of a silk merchant named Francesco…
Julius II Takes the Keys
The formidable Giuliano della Rovere, nicknamed il Papa Terribile, swept into the papal chair after a lightning conclave.
Spanish Rout the French at Garigliano
Gonzalo de Cordoba, the Great Captain, ambushed a French army along the frozen Garigliano River and drove them into the water.
Casa de Contratacion Founded
Queen Isabella founded the Casa de Contratacion in Seville to regulate Spanish trade with the Americas.
Leonardo Dissects a Hundred-Year-Old Man
In a Florence hospital, Leonardo da Vinci performed an autopsy on an old man who had died peacefully and discovered that his arteries were thickened and narrow.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1503?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1503. The most significant is Leonardo Begins the Mona Lisa.
What era was 1503 part of?
1503 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1503?
The events from 1503 span Europe.