Events in History in 1503

  • Jan 20 Casa de Contratación (House of Trade) established by the Crown of Castile in the port of Seville to deal with American affairs
  • Feb 13 Disfida di Barletta - Famous challenge between 13 Italian and 13 French knights near Barletta, Southern Italy

Appointment of Interest

Feb 18 Henry Tudor (later Henry VIII) appointed Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the English throne

Florence Cathedral

Apr 24 Michelangelo undertakes to carve 12 Apostles for the Cathedral of Florence, each four and a quarter braccia high (248.2cm), at the rate of at least one completed statue per year. He produced only one, of St. Matthew, and that remained unfinished.

  • Apr 28 Battle at Cerignalo: Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba defeats a French force led by Louis d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours

Historic Discovery

May 10 Christopher Columbus discovers the Cayman Islands

Event of Interest

Sep 11 Michelangelo begins sculpting the 12 Apostles for the Cathedral of Florence, over-life-sized marble statues of which only 1 was partly finished, that of St. Matthew

  • Oct 30 Queen Isabella of Spain bans violence against Indians in the Americas

Papal Inauguration

Nov 11 Pope Julius II elected

  • Dec 29 Battle of Garigliano: Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba defeats French forces in Italy, giving Spain control of the Kingdom of Naples