1495: Italian Wars, Portuguese succession, and Renaissance cultural developments

1495: the Battle of Fornovo in the Italian Wars, John II’s death and Manuel I’s accession in Portugal, and pivotal Renaissance milestones like Leonardo’s Last Supper shaping late 15th-century Europe.

The year 1495 (Roman numerals: MCDXCV) comprised 365 days under the Julian calendar. It began on a Thursday, classifying it as a common year starting on Thursday.

Overview

1495 falls within the closing years of the 15th century, a period marked by ongoing dynastic struggles in Europe, the early stages of the Italian Wars, and flourishing artistic activity in the Italian states. Political changes and military campaigns of this year influenced diplomatic alignments that shaped the next decades.

Major events

Italian Wars – Battle of Fornovo (6 July): Forces linked to the League of Venice confronted the retreating army of Charles VIII of France after his Italian campaign. The encounter near Fornovo did not decisively end French ambitions in Italy but forced a tactical withdrawal.
Portugal: King John II of Portugal died in 1495 and was succeeded by his cousin Manuel, who became Manuel I. This succession had important consequences for Portuguese exploration and colonial policy in the years that followed.
Regional politics: Various Italian city-states and European powers continued to form and dissolve alliances, responding to the military and diplomatic pressures generated by foreign interventions on the peninsula.

Culture and science

In Milan, the artist Leonardo da Vinci is commonly dated to have begun work on The Last Supper around 1495, a commission associated with the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The painting's composition and experimental technique were influential for later Renaissance art.
Printing and the spread of books continued to expand across Europe, facilitating wider circulation of knowledge, although the book trade remained centered in a few urban hubs.

Notable deaths

John II of Portugal (died 1495) — his death brought Manuel I to the Portuguese throne, setting the stage for an era of intensified maritime exploration and overseas expansion.

Calendar note

As a year in the Julian system, 1495 precedes the Gregorian calendar reform of 1582; dating of events in different sources may sometimes follow slightly different conventions, so modern historians often specify which calendar is intended when giving exact dates from this period.