Year 1491 (MCDXCVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events of 1491 February 20—The "Comet of 1491" comes away from earth, the closest ever recorded. May 3—Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries, adopting the baptismal name of João I. November 16—An auto de fé, held in Brasero de la Dehesa outside of Ávila, concludes the case of the Holy Child of La Guardia with the ex… (More on 1491)