The Late Middle Ages (1300-1499)

 

 

 

 

  • c.1300-c.1400 The Black Death. 1/3 of the population from India to Iceland is wiped out, including about 1/2 of Britain

 

  • 1302 Unam Sanctam  proclaims papal supremacy

 

  • 1309 The beginning of the "Babylonian Captivity of the Church." For 70 years the papacy was in Avignon and under the thumb of the King of France. The papacy was pro-France, and Britain was at war with France

 

 
  • 1330 b. John Wycliffe, the most important theologian in Oxford, the most important university in Europe. He taught that we must rely altogether on the sufferings of Christ. "Beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness"

 
  • 1337 Beginning of the Hundred Years' War

 
  • 1349 d. Thomas Bradwardine, who influenced Wycliffe to adopt Augustine's doctrine of grace and to reject the Semi-Pelagianism of the Roman Catholic church

 
  • 1371 b. John Huss, Bohemian pre-reformer. He was greatly influenced by Wycliffe. He rejected indulgences and said Christ is the head of the Church, not the pope

 
  • 1370 Catherine of Siena begins her Letters

 
  • 1373 Julian of Norwich receives her revelations

 
  • 1377 The end of the "Babylonian Captivity"

 
  • 1378 The Great Schism. Pope Gregory XI moves the papacy back to Rome. France declares Clement VII pope in Avignon. There are two competing popes for close to 40 years

 

 
  • 1381 The Peasant's Revolt. 30,000 angry peasants descend on London

 
  • 1381 Because of his sympathy for the peasants, Wycliffe is suspected of involvement with the revolt. He is banished from Oxford. During this period, he and his followers translate the Bible from the Vulgate into English

 
  • 1384 d. Wycliffe, of natural causes

 
  • 1414 Council of Constance begins

 
  • 1415 Council of Constance condemns Wycliffe

 
  • July 6, 1415 Council of Constance burns John Huss, in violation of the Emperor's promise of safe conduct. The Emperor is told "It is not necessary to keep one's word to a heretic."

 
  • 1417 The Council of Constance deposes both popes and elects a new one. This ends the Great Schism. It is a high point for Conciliarism, the idea that the councils are superior to the papacy

 
  • 1418 Thomas a Kempis writes The Imitation of Christ

 
  • 1428 The Catholic Church burned the bones of Wycliffe and threw them in the Swift river

 
  • 1431 Joan of Arc burned at stake

 
  • 1452 b. Savonarola, the great preacher. He taught the authority of scripture and understood the shortcomings of the Church

 
  • 1453 End of the Hundred Years' War

 
  • 1453 Constantinople falls; end of Eastern Roman Empire

 
  • 1456 Gutenberg produces first printed Bible

 
  • 1492 Erasmus ordained. Erasmus's Humanist movement was beginning to stir some members of the church to moral reform

 
  • 1498 d. Savonarola