1399

1399 was a year in the late 14th century marked by dynastic change in England and significant military activity in the Indian subcontinent. In Europe, the political landscape of the English kingdom shifted decisively, while in northern India the Delhi Sultanate faced a major external invasion that weakened its authority.

In England, Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, returned from exile and contested the reign of King Richard II. Richard II abdicated on 30 September 1399, and Henry Bolingbroke ascended the throne as Henry IV, with his coronation taking place on 13 October 1399. The deposition of Richard II ended the immediate Plantagenet line’s direct male ruler and inaugurated the Lancastrian branch, initiating a period of political realignment within the kingdom. The events of 1399 contributed to ongoing tensions between the crown and nobility and helped set the stage for later conflicts such as the Wars of the Roses.

In the Delhi region, Timur (Tamerlane) conducted a campaign in northern India during 1398–1399, and his forces captured and caused extensive damage in Delhi. The sack of the city weakened the Delhi Sultanate and disrupted its central authority, contributing to a period of fragmentation and upheaval in the northern Indian polity.

Overall, 1399 is remembered for its dramatic shift in English royal succession and for the substantial impact of Timur’s Indian campaign, reflecting a year of notable transitional events across different regions.