Fourteen-year-old Giovanni Boccaccio, whose father holds important…
1327 CE
Fourteen-year-old Giovanni Boccaccio, whose father holds important positions in the Bardi bank, is apprenticed in 1327 to the banking trade in Naples.
Young Boccaccio, however, prefers the aristocratic and intellectual circles of the Neapolitan court of King Robert of Anjou, where men of learning and taste gather, and begins composing his first literary works.
The earliest of these is the pastoral allegory “La caccia di Diana” (Diana's Hunt,” and “Filostrato,” a heroic version of the Troilus and Cressida myth.
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The Polish-Lithianian armies turn against the Teutonic Order in 1527, while in the south King John the Blind marches against Kraków.
Though he is urged by King Charles I of Hungary to retreat, he vassalizes many of the Duchies of Silesia.
The Teutonic knights, taking advantage of the weakness of Poland due to the internal fragmentation, pillage and conquer the Polish Kuyavian region and …
…the Dobrzyń Land.
King Władysław receives help from Lithuanian and Hungarians and in turn pillages the Kulmerland of Teutonic Prussia up to the Osa River near Grudziądz.
The first silver Ottoman coins are minted in 1327 in Orhan's name, while the Anatolian conquests are consolidated and the army is reorganized on a more permanent basis.
The pope, in 1327, condemns five propositions taken from “Defensor” and excommunicates Marsilius, revealed as the anonymous author of the tract.
Sardinia, until now under Pisan control, falls to the Spanish kingdom of Aragon in 1327.
James II of Aragon, called James the Just, dies at sixty-three on November 2, 1327.
Meister Eckhart: Dominican Theologian, Philosopher, and Mystic
Eckhart von Hochheim (c. 1260–1328), better known as Meister Eckhart, was a German theologian, philosopher, and mystic who played a major role in the development of medieval Christian mysticism. Born near Erfurt in Thuringia, he rose to prominence as a Dominican scholar and administrator, balancing his intellectual pursuits with ecclesiastical leadership.
Early Career and Teaching in Paris (1302–1303)
- Eckhart remained prior of the Dominican house in Erfurt until 1302, when he was invited to teach theology at the University of Paris.
- He spent a year in Paris, engaging with Scholastic philosophy and theological debates, before being appointed Dominican Provincial for Saxony, a vast province stretching from the Netherlands to Livonia.
Administrative Roles and Reforms (1303–1311)
- As Provincial for Saxony, Eckhart oversaw Dominican communities across northern and eastern Europe.
- At the general chapter in Paris (1306), complaints were made against him and the provincial of Teutoniaregarding irregularities among the Tertiaries (lay Dominican affiliates).
- These accusations appear to have been minor, as the following year (1307), he was appointed vicar-general for Bohemia by the Dominican Master General Aymeric of Piacenza, with full authority to reform demoralized monasteries in the region.
- His mission to restore discipline in Bohemian Dominican houses further cemented his reputation as a capable administrator and reformer.
Return to Teaching in Paris (1311)
- In 1311, after completing his work in Bohemia, Eckhart was appointed to return to Paris to teach theology, a highly prestigious position.
- His appointment was made by the general chapter of the Dominican Order in Naples, demonstrating the esteem in which he was held within the order.
- It was during this time that he became known as Meister Eckhart, a title derived from the Magister in Theologia (Master of Theology) degree he had earned in Paris.
Legacy
- Meister Eckhart’s mystical theology and philosophical writings would later profoundly influence Christian thought, particularly the Rhineland mystics, as well as later figures such as John Tauler and Heinrich Suso.
- Despite his high academic standing and ecclesiastical roles, his radical theological ideas—particularly his teachings on divine union and detachment (Gelassenheit)—would eventually draw scrutiny from Church authorities, leading to investigations by the papacy later in his life.
- His blend of Neoplatonic philosophy, Aristotelian logic, and Christian mysticism helped shape Western mystical traditions, making him a key figure in medieval spirituality and theology.
Meister Eckhart’s career as a scholar, administrator, and mystic was marked by intellectual achievement, reform efforts, and growing theological influence, positioning him as one of the most significant thinkers of the late medieval period.
Charles IV of France: Ineffective Intervention in Flanders and the English War (1324–1327)
During his reign (1322–1328), King Charles IV of France made several unsuccessful political and military maneuvers, including an inept intervention in Flanders, an unsuccessful bid for the Holy Roman Empire, and a short war with England over Aquitaine.
Failed Intervention in Flanders and Imperial Ambitions
- Charles IV attempted to intervene in Flemish affairs, supporting rebels against their counts, but his efforts were poorly executed and largely ineffective.
- At the same time, he sought to secure the nomination as Holy Roman Emperor, but his intrigues failed to gain support, leaving the imperial title beyond his reach.
The War of Saint-Sardos (1324): The Invasion of Aquitaine
- In 1324, Charles IV launched an invasion of English-held Aquitaine, part of the long-standing territorial dispute between France and England.
- This campaign, known as the War of Saint-Sardos, was triggered by French efforts to expand control in the region, which England resisted.
- The French quickly occupied several areas of Aquitaine, further straining Anglo-French relations.
The Deposition of Edward II and the Treaty of 1327
- Charles IV aided his sister, Isabella of France, in her effort to depose her husband, Edward II of England.
- Isabella and her lover, Roger Mortimer, invaded England in 1326, leading to Edward II’s forced abdication in early 1327.
- Shortly afterward, Charles IV concluded a peace treaty with England (1327), securing:
- Territorial gains in Aquitaine.
- A large monetary settlement, compensating for his war expenses.
Legacy and Consequences
- Charles IV’s policies were largely ineffective, and his attempts at expansion in Flanders and Germany failed.
- His military success against England was only temporary, as the Anglo-French conflict over Aquitaine remained unresolved, setting the stage for future wars.
- His death in 1328, without a male heir, led to the end of the direct Capetian line and the rise of the House of Valois, ultimately contributing to the tensions that would erupt into the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453).
Charles IV’s reign was marked by ambitious but largely unsuccessful political maneuvers, securing short-term gains in Aquitaine but failing in his larger European ambitions.