1440

Events 
 February 21 – The Prussian Confederation is formed.
 September – Gilles de Rais, an early known serial killer, is arrested and taking into custody on orders from the Bishop of Nantes.

 Births 
 January 22 – Ivan III of Russia (d. 1505)
 February 10 – Henry of York, elder brother of Edward IV of England and Richard III of England (died 1441)
 February 22 – King Ladislaus Posthumus of Bohemia and Hungary (died 1457)
 Pedrarias Dávila, Spanish colonial administrator (died 1531)
 Kabir, Indian mystic (died 1518)
 Jorge Manrique, Spanish poet (died 1479)

 Deaths 
 September 30 – Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn (born c.1362)
 October 26 – Gilles de Rais, Marshal of France (born 1405)