1444 facts for kids

The year 1444 was a leap year, which means it had an extra day (February 29th). It started on a Wednesday.

Big Events of 1444

• March 2 – The Albanian League was formed in Lezha. This group united Albanian leaders to fight against the Ottoman Empire. Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg became their main leader.
• April 16 – The Truce of Tours began. This was a temporary peace agreement between England and France during the Hundred Years' War.
• June 15 – Cosimo de' Medici, a powerful Italian banker, started building the Laurentian Library. This library would become famous for its many old books and manuscripts.
• August 26 – The Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs happened during the Old Zürich War. This was a fight between Swiss soldiers and French mercenaries.
• August – Murad II, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, gave up his throne. He did this after his army lost the Battle of Jalowaz.
• November 10 – The Battle of Varna took place. In this major battle, King Ladislas of Poland and Hungary was killed fighting the Ottoman forces.
• The Sultan of Egypt tried to capture the island of Rhodes but failed. The island was defended by the Knights of Rhodes, a military and religious order.
• The Iguvine Tables were found in Gubbio, Italy. These are ancient bronze tablets with important writings from the Umbrian people.
• Portuguese explorers sailed along the coast of Africa. They reached the mouths of the Senegal river and the Gambia river.
• The Mercado de Escravos opened in Lagos, Portugal. This was the first European market specifically for selling enslaved people from Africa.
• A fire broke out at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Famous People Born in 1444

• January 24 – Galeazzo Maria Sforza was born. He later became a powerful duke in Italy. (died 1476)
• March 1 – Sandro Botticelli, a very famous Italian artist, was born. He painted many well-known artworks. (died 1510)
• March 11 – Donato Bramante, an important Italian architect, was born. He designed many famous buildings. (died 1514)
• John de Mowbray, an English duke, was born. (died 1476)
• Nilakantha Somayaji, an Indian mathematician and astronomer, was born. (died 1544)

Famous People Who Died in 1444

• February 14 – Henriette of Mömpelgard, a countess, passed away. (born 1387)
• March 9 – Leonardo Bruni, an Italian humanist and historian, died. (born 1374)
• April 26 – Robert Campin, a Flemish artist, passed away. (born 1378)
• May 20 – Bernardino of Siena, an Italian saint and missionary, died. (born 1380)
• May 27 – John Beaufort, an English duke and military leader, passed away. (born 1404)
• October 15 – Niccolò Piccinino, an Italian mercenary leader, died. (born 1386)
• November 10 – King Wladislaus III, the king of Poland and Hungary, was killed in battle. (born 1424)
• November 25 – Martin Gouge, a French chancellor, passed away.