1440 (MCDXL) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar, the 1440th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 440th year of the 2nd millennium, the 40th year of the 15th century, and the 1st year of the 1440s decade. As of the start of 1440, the Gregorian calendar was 9 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which was the dominant calendar of the time.

|Frederick V]], divide the territory into two separate principalities. Frederick VI (who is also Elector of Brandenburg) becomes the ruler of the Principality of Ansbach, while John III becomes the ruler of the Principality of Bayreuth