page_title: 15th century
section_title: Significant people
hierarchical_section_title: 15th century / Significant people
context_page_description: The 15th century was the century which spans the Julian years 1401 to 1500.
  In Europe, the 15th century is seen as the bridge between the Late Middle Ages, the Early Renaissance, and the early modern period.
  Many technological, social and cultural developments of the 15th century can in retrospect be seen as heralding the "European miracle" of the following centuries. The architectural perspective and the field which is known today as accounting were founded in Italy.
  Constantinople, known as the Capital of the World and the Capital of the Byzantine Empire, falls to the emerging Muslim Ottoman Turks, marking the end of the tremendously influential Byzantine Empire and, for some historians, the end of the Middle Ages. This led to the migration of Greek scholars and texts to Italy, while Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the mechanical movable type began the printing press. These two events played key roles in the development of the Renaissance. The Roman Papacy was split in two parts in Europe for decades, until the Council of Constance.
context_section_description: Abu Sa'id al-Afif, Samaritan physician.
  Pachacuti (c. 1418–1471/72) was the ninth Sapa Inca, likely builder of Machu Picchu and founder of the Inca Empire.
  Afonso de Albuquerque (1453–1515), was a Portuguese nobleman, naval general officer whose military and administrative activities conquered and established  the Portuguese colonial empire in the Indian Ocean. Generally considered as a world conquest military genius by means of his successful strategy.
  Ah Xiu Xupan, last ruler of the Mayan city–state of Uxmal.
  Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, Renaissance ruler (1443–1490).
  George Kastrioti, Skanderbeg – Albanian Prince who resisted the Ottomans for almost 30 years (1405–1468).
  Ferdinand II of Aragon, co-ruler of Spain with Isabella I of Castile and responsible with her for the unification of Spain (1452–1516).
  Johannes Gutenberg, European inventor of printing with movable type (c. 1398–1468)
  Constantine XI, the last Byzantine Emperor and Roman Emperor. (1405–1453)
  Henry the Navigator Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu (1394–1460); infante (prince) of the Portuguese House of Aviz and an important figure in the early days of the Portuguese Empire, being responsible for the beginning of the European worldwide explorations.
  Henry V of England, the English King who won the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415 (1387–1422).
  Henry VI of England, English King (1421–1471)
  Henry VII of England, English King and founder of the Tudor dynasty (1457–1509).
  The Princes in the Tower, Edward V of England (1470–1483?) and his brother, Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York (1473–1483?), two sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville.
  John Hunyadi, Regent of Kingdom of Hungary, won the Siege of Belgrade in 1456 (c. 1406–1456)
  Jan Hus, Bohemian religious thinker and reformer (c. 1372–1415).
  Isabella I of Castile, co-ruler of Spain with Ferdinand II of Aragon and responsible for the unification of Spain and the discovery of the New World (1451–1504).
  Ivan III of Russia, Grand Duke of Moscow who ended the dominance of the Golden Horde over the Rus (1440–1505)
  Joan of Arc, military commander and national heroine of France (1412–1431).
  Kazimierz IV Jagiellon King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1427–1492).
  Louis XI, King of France (1423–1483).
  Mehmed II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Conqueror of Constantinople (1432–1481).
  Babur, the founder of the Mughal empire (1483–1530).
  Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vaishnav saint and important social reformer (1486–1534).
  Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh Religion (1469–1539).
  Srimanta Sankardeva, founder of Ekasarana Religion preacher of Vaishnavism, creator of Sattriya Dance, Ankiya Nat, Satras etc.
  Sejong the Great of Joseon, a Korean monarch who developed hangul, the native Korean alphabet (1397–1450).
  Stephen III of Moldavia, also known as Stephen the Great, ruler of Moldavia, national hero of Romanians for long resistance to the Ottomans (1437–1504)
  Richard III of England, last English King of the House of York, last of the House of Plantagenet (1452–1485).
  Mir Chakar Khan Rind (1468–1565), a  Baloch chieftain.
  Vlad III Dracula, Prince of Wallachia who led the defense of his territory against the expanding Ottoman Empire (1431–1476).
  Oba Ewuare, transformed the city state of Benin into the Benin Empire.
caption: Lorenzo de' Medici
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