On This Day
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Order of the Dragon is first created by Emperor Sigismund, then King of Hungary, and his wife, Queen Barbara of Celje, f

Order of the Dragon is first created by Emperor Sigismund, then King of Hungary, and his wife, Queen Barbara of Celje, following the battle for possession of Bosnia

The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order only for selected higher aristocracy and monarchs, founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary and Croatia (r. 1387–1437) and later also Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1433–1437). It was fashioned after the military orders of the Crusades, requiring its initiates to defend the cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, particularly the Ottoman Empire.

The Order flourished during the first half of the 15th century, primarily in Germany and Italy. After Sigismund's death in 1437, its importance declined in Western Europe.

Historical Significance

The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order only for selected higher aristocracy and monarchs, founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary and Croatia (r.

Events Before

  1. Angelo Corraro is elected Pope Gregory XII following the death of Pope Innocent VII

    Pope Gregory XII (Latin: Gregorius XII; Italian: Gregorio XII; c. 1327 – 18 October 1417), born Angelo Corraro, Corario, or Correr, was head of the Catholic Church from 30 November 1406 to 4 July...

  2. Anton of Burgundy becomes Duke of Brabant

    Anton of Burgundy becomes Duke of Brabant

  3. Lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing and receives the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma

    Lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing and receives the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma

  4. Bloody battles between Hoeken and Kabeljauwen in Dordrecht

    Bloody battles between Hoeken and Kabeljauwen in Dordrecht

  5. Mobs attack Jewish community of Kraków

    Mobs attack Jewish community of Kraków

Events After

  1. Austrian civil war ends

    Austrian civil war ends

  2. Council of Pisa opens - elects Antipope Alexander V

    The Council of Pisa (Latin: Concilium Pisarum; Italian: Concilio di Pisa, also nicknamed the conciliabolo, "secret meeting", by those who considered it illegitimate) was a controversial council held...

  3. Council of Pisa selects Petros Philargi as 3rd Pope: Alexander V

    Council of Pisa selects Petros Philargi as 3rd Pope: Alexander V

  4. Council of Pisa, an attempt to end the Western Schism in the Catholic Church with two opposing popes, closes after elect

    Council of Pisa, an attempt to end the Western Schism in the Catholic Church with two opposing popes, closes after electing a third, Alexander V

  5. The University of Leipzig opens

    Leipzig University (German: Universität Leipzig), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in...

More from the 1400s

English King Henry IV marries his second wife Joan of Navarre

Joan of Navarre, also known as Joanna (1368 – 10 June 1437) was Duchess of Brittany by marriage to Duke John IV and later Queen of England as the wife of King Henry IV.

Lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing and receives the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma

Lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing and receives the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma

Turko-Mongol ruler Tamerlane (Timur) destroys Baghdad, killing 20,000 people

Timur (1320s – 17/18 February 1405), also known as Tamerlane, was a Turco-Mongol conqueror, first ruler of the Timurid dynasty, and the founder of the Timurid Empire, which ruled over modern-day...

Chinese fleet commander Zheng He sets sail to the Spice Islands on his first major expedition, leading 208 vessels, incl

Chinese fleet commander Zheng He sets sail to the Spice Islands on his first major expedition, leading 208 vessels, including 62 treasure ships with 27,800 sailors

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 12, 1408?
The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order only for selected higher aristocracy and monarchs, founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary and Croatia (r. 1387–1437) and later also Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1433–1437).
Why is Order of the Dragon is first created by Emperor Sigismund, then King of Hunga... significant?
The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order only for selected higher aristocracy and monarchs, founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary and Croatia (r.

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December 12 in HistoryYear 1408