1350 (MCCCL) was a common year starting on Friday in the Julian calendar.^[1] This year is most notably remembered for occurring during the devastating peak and waning stages of the Black Death pandemic in Europe, a bubonic plague outbreak that had arrived in 1348 and by 1350 had killed approximately one-quarter to one-half of the continent's population, profoundly disrupting societies, economies, and daily life.^[2] The plague's impact was indiscriminate, affecting all social classes and leading to widespread mortality, mass burials, and social upheaval across regions from Italy to Normandy.^[2][3] In addition to the pandemic, 1350 saw significant military and political developments. On August 29, the Battle of Winchelsea (also known as Les Espagnols sur Mer) took place in the English Channel, where an English fleet commanded by King Edward III decisively defeated a larger Castilian fleet allied with France, securing English naval dominance during a period of truce in the Hundred Years' War and protecting maritime trade routes.^[4] Notable deaths included Alfonso XI of Castile and León on March 26, who succumbed to the bubonic plague at age 38, and Philip VI of France on August 22, marking the end of his reign as the first Valois king.^[5] The year also featured scattered but significant occurrences elsewhere, including the deaths of other figures such as Eudes IV, Duke of Burgundy, and births of future leaders like Vincent Ferrer (January 23), Manuel II Palaeologus (June 27), and Dmitry Donskoy (October 12).^[5] The Black Death's lingering effects and these political-military events underscored 1350 as a pivotal moment in the mid-14th century, amid ongoing crises in Europe.^[3][2]

Calendar

Julian calendar

The year 1350 (MCCCL in Roman numerals) was a common year starting on Friday in the Julian calendar, with January 1 falling on a Friday.^[6] The Julian calendar consists of 365 days in common years and 366 days in leap years, with the extra day added as February 29 every four years without exception to approximate the solar year.^[7] 1350 was not a leap year because it is not divisible by 4.^[6] As a result, the year had 365 days divided among 12 months following the standard Roman structure: January (31 days), February (28 days), March (31), April (30), May (31), June (30), July (31), August (31), September (30), October (31), November (30), and December (31).^[7]

Other calendar equivalents

The calendar year 1350 in the Julian calendar corresponds to different years in various calendar systems used globally during that era. These equivalents are calculated based on each calendar's historical epoch and rules—solar calendars use fixed offsets from their starting points, while lunisolar and lunar calendars often result in a single Julian year overlapping two years due to differing month lengths and intercalation.

• Armenian calendar: 799 (calculated from the Armenian era beginning in 552 AD).
• Bengali calendar: 756–757, with the Bengali New Year around mid-April placing most of 1350 in 757, though January to mid-April fell in 756.^[8]
• Chinese calendar: spanned the year of the Earth Ox (Ji Chou) to the year of the Metal Tiger (Geng Yin) in the sexagenary cycle, due to the timing of the Chinese New Year.
• Islamic (Hijri) calendar: 750–751 AH, with the transition to 751 AH occurring around March 18, 1350 (1 Muharram 751), as late 750 AH included events like Hajj in February and 751 AH covered the rest of the year.^[9]

Events

January–March

In January 1350, the Black Death, which had been devastating Europe since 1347, claimed the life of Giovanni I di Murta, the second lifetime Doge of the Republic of Genoa, on January 6.^[10] He died of the plague in Genoa after serving since December 1345, during which he sought to stabilize the city's politics and maintain its overseas possessions amid factional tensions.^[10] Three days later, on January 9, Giovanni II Valente was elected as his successor to the dogeship, marking a transition amid ongoing commercial rivalries and the broader impact of the pandemic on Genoese society.^[10][11] In March, Alfonso XI of Castile died on the night of March 25–26 (some sources cite March 26 or 27) while besieging Gibraltar, succumbing to the Black Death that struck his camp.^[12] His death abruptly ended the siege and led to the immediate accession of his son Peter I (later known as Peter the Cruel) as king of Castile and León, shifting the kingdom's leadership during a period of ongoing Reconquista efforts and internal challenges.^[12] The plague's continued spread in early 1350 also affected regions further north, as Scottish forces planning an invasion of plague-weakened England became infected in March, leading to heavy losses and retreat.^[13]

April–June

On 13 April, Margaret III, Countess of Flanders, was born at the Castle of Male in West Flanders, as the only surviving child of Louis II, Count of Flanders, and Margaret of Brabant. Her birth positioned her as the heiress to the counties of Flanders, Artois, Rethel, and other territories in the Low Countries, which later played a significant role in Burgundian expansion through her marriages.^[14] In the County of Holland, on 23 May (possible date), supporters of William V formed the Cod League by signing a pact at Gijsbrecht's Nijenrode Castle, amid escalating tensions in the Hook and Cod wars with his mother Margaret I, Countess of Holland. This alliance of nobles and cities backing William formalized opposition to Margaret's authority and set the stage for civil conflict in the region.^[15][16] The Black Death continued to ravage Europe during these months, contributing to widespread mortality and social disruption.^[13]

July–September

The period from July to September 1350 saw several key political and military developments in Europe amid the continuing devastation of the Black Death pandemic. On August 22, Philip VI of France died near Paris, ending his reign as the first king of the Valois dynasty. He was succeeded immediately by his son, who ascended as John II of France.^[17] One week later, on August 29, the Battle of Winchelsea (also known as Les Espagnols sur Mer) took place in the English Channel off the Sussex coast. An English fleet of approximately 50 ships, personally commanded by King Edward III and including notable figures such as the Black Prince and the Earl of Lancaster, engaged and decisively defeated a Castilian fleet of about 30 larger carracks led by Charles de la Cerda, Constable of France. The English forces prevailed through archery, boarding tactics, and direct ship-to-ship combat, capturing or destroying many Castilian vessels and throwing their crews overboard. The victory safeguarded English merchant shipping from Castilian raids and earned Edward III the epithets "Avenger of the Merchants" and "King of the Sea."^[4] In the County of Holland, on September 5, the Hook Alliance Treaty (Hoekse verbondsakte) was signed, formalizing an alliance among Hook faction nobles—including figures such as John of Polanen and Dirk van Brederode—to support Margaret II, Countess of Hainaut, against her son William of Bavaria amid escalating factional tensions that marked the onset of the Hook and Cod wars.

October–December

October On 12 October, Dmitri Ivanovich, later known as Dmitri Donskoi, Grand Prince of Moscow and Vladimir, was born in Moscow. (See Births)^[5] November On 25 November, the Republic of Genoa imposed a forced loan of 300,000 liras to fund its ongoing war against Venice during the War of the Straits. On 19 November, Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu, was executed shortly after returning to France from captivity. (See Deaths) On 25 November, Katherine Swynford, later Duchess of Lancaster, was born c. 1350. (See Births) December On 27 December, John I of Aragon, future king known as the Hunter, was born in Perpignan. (See Births) The Black Death continued to impact parts of Europe during this period, though its most intense waves had begun to subside in many areas by late 1350.^[18]

Undated

In 1350, the Black Death, the catastrophic bubonic plague pandemic that had already devastated much of Europe, first reached Scotland and Sweden amid its ongoing spread. In Scotland, the plague began ravaging the population after spreading northward from England, contributing to significant mortality in the region. Sweden similarly experienced the plague's arrival, with accounts indicating its encroachment from neighboring areas despite awareness of the impending threat.^[19][20] In Europe, political conflicts led to the destruction of Rapperswil Castle and the town walls of Rapperswil by Rudolf Brun, mayor of Zürich, in reprisal for aristocratic opposition and an attempted coup against Zürich's leadership. The castle was later rebuilt by Albrecht II, Duke of Austria.^[21] In Southeast Asia, Hayam Wuruk ascended the throne of the Majapahit Empire at age 16, succeeding his mother Tribhuwana Tunggadewi, marking the beginning of the empire's golden age under his rule and the guidance of prime minister Gajah Mada.^[22] In South America, the Chimú Empire conducted the Punta Lobos massacre in Peru, involving the systematic killing of approximately 200 individuals, primarily fishermen, in what is believed to have been a ritual sacrifice.^[23] The first permanent settlement of New Zealand by the Māori people occurred in the late 13th century (approximately 1250–1300), as part of broader Polynesian migrations to the islands.^[24][25]

Births

January–June

The first half of 1350 was marked by the ongoing devastation of the Black Death, which claimed the lives of prominent leaders in Europe. On 6 January, Giovanni I di Murta, the second Doge of the Republic of Genoa (elected in December 1345), died of the plague amid an outbreak in the city. He was buried in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and his successor, Giovanni Valente, was elected three days later on 9 January.^[10] On 26 March, Alfonso XI, king of Castile and León, died of the plague while leading the Castilian army during the siege of Gibraltar against the Emirate of Granada.^[26][27] His death prompted the Castilian forces to abandon the siege and withdraw, interrupting the ongoing Reconquista efforts in the region, and his legitimate son Peter I succeeded him on the throne.^[28][27]

July–December

On 22 August, Philip VI of France died at Coulombes Abbey in Nogent-le-Roi. He had reigned as the first king of the Valois dynasty since 1328 and was succeeded by his son John II.^[29][30] On 19 November, Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Constable of France, was seized upon his return from English captivity and summarily executed by decapitation in Paris on the orders of John II of France.^[31] On 26 December, Jean de Marigny, French bishop and younger brother of Enguerrand de Marigny, died.

Date unknown

The following individuals are known or believed to have died in 1350, although the precise dates are unknown:

• Olaf of Roskilde, the last Danish Bishop of Reval, who served until the transfer of Estonia from Danish to Teutonic control.^[32][33]
• Gayatri Rajapatni, queen consort of Majapahit, who had retired to live as a Buddhist nun in a monastery.
• Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita (probable), the Castilian poet and cleric best known for authoring the Libro de buen amor.^[34]
• Namdev, Marathi saint and poet, a key figure in the bhakti movement and Varkari tradition in India.^[35]
• Till Eulenspiegel, German prankster (supposed), the legendary trickster figure whose tales are set in the first half of the 14th century and conclude with his death from plague.^[36]

Deaths

January–June

The first half of 1350 was marked by the ongoing devastation of the Black Death, which claimed the lives of prominent leaders in Europe. On 6 January, Giovanni I di Murta, the second Doge of the Republic of Genoa (elected in December 1345), died of the plague amid an outbreak in the city. He was buried in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and his successor, Giovanni Valente, was elected three days later on 9 January.^[10] On 26 March, Alfonso XI, king of Castile and León, died of the plague while leading the Castilian army during the siege of Gibraltar against the Marinid sultanate.^[26][27] His death prompted the Castilian forces to abandon the siege and withdraw, interrupting the ongoing Reconquista efforts in the region, and his legitimate son Peter I succeeded him on the throne.^[28][27]

July–December

On 22 August, Philip VI of France died at Coulombes Abbey in Nogent-le-Roi. He had reigned as the first king of the Valois dynasty since 1328 and was succeeded by his son John II.^[29][30] On 19 November, Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Constable of France, was seized upon his return from English captivity and summarily executed by decapitation in Paris on the orders of John II of France.^[31] On 26 December, Jean de Marigny, French bishop and younger brother of Enguerrand de Marigny, died.

Date unknown

The following individuals are known or believed to have died in 1350, although the precise dates are unknown:

• Olaf of Roskilde, the last Danish Bishop of Reval, who served until the transfer of Estonia from Danish to Teutonic control.^[32][33]
• Gayatri Rajapatni, queen consort of Majapahit, who had retired to live as a Buddhist nun in a monastery.
• Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita (probable), the Castilian poet and cleric best known for authoring the Libro de buen amor.^[34]
• Namdev, Marathi saint and poet, a key figure in the bhakti movement and Varkari tradition in India.^[35]