1402

1402 was a year of substantial upheaval across several regions, marked by decisive military and political shifts. The central event in the Islamic world was the Battle of Ankara on 28 July, where Timur (Tamerlane) defeated Bayezid I of the Ottoman Empire. Bayezid was captured, and the Ottoman state entered a period of civil war among Bayezid’s sons that lasted until 1413. The battle delayed Ottoman expansion into Anatolia and reshaped regional power dynamics.

In Ming China, the Jingnan Campaign concluded in 1402 with Zhu Di, a prince of the Ming dynasty, overthrowing the Jianwen Emperor and establishing the Yongle era. This dynastic transition consolidated central authority and set the stage for later endeavors, including ambitious state projects and maritime expeditions begun under his successors.

In Wales, the ongoing rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr featured significant confrontations, including the Battle of Bryn Glas in 1402. Glyndŵr's forces defeated an English contingent and captured Edmund Mortimer, a marcher lord, dealing a blow to English control in the borderlands.

These developments illustrate a year in which major powers in Europe and Asia experienced rapid and transformative shifts in leadership and territory. The consequences of 1402 would influence the balance of power in the region for years to come.