1624 - Political Events

Political Events

France's Louis XIII makes Cardinal Richelieu his chief minister April 29. Known as "the red eminence," Richelieu begins a domination of the government that will continue until his death in 1642.

France and England sign a treaty providing for the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Louis XIII's sister Henrietta Maria.

Polish forces under the command of Stanislaw Koniecpolski defeat a Tatar army at Martynów. Now 33, Koniecpolski was appointed field commander 5 years ago. The Ottoman Turks took him prisoner at the Battle of Tutora (Cecora) the following year. He has been released from confinement at Constantinople, and his victory over the Turks' vassals win him not only the thanks of Poland's Sejm (Diet) but also royal appointment as palatine of Sandomierz (see 1627).

Lord High Admiral Charles Howard, baron Howard of Effingham and earl of Nottingham, dies at Croyden, Surrey, December 14 at age 88. He is celebrated as the victor over the Spanish Armada in 1588.

China's 15th Ming dynasty emperor Tianji (T'ien-chi) gives his 56-year-old eunuch butler Wei Zhongxian (Wei Chung-hsien) what amounts to power of attorney. Having gained influence by ingratiating himself with the young emperor's onetime nurse, Wei hires a division of eunuch troops to control the palace in Beijing's (Peking's) Forbidden City while he fills government positions with corrupt opportunists, levying extortionate taxes on the people, and when idealistic Confucian officials try to stop him he will launch attacks on their reporters, driving hundreds of loyal officials out of office and having some put to death while erecting temples in his honor under an oppressive rule that will continue until Tianji's death in 1627.

Ndongo's Nzinga creates the new kingdom of Matamba after being driven out of Ndongo by the Portuguese (see 1623). She begins to train an elite army that she will lead against the Portuguese, first in alliance with the Jaga people, later in alliance with the Dutch (see 1641).

Dutch naval forces seize Brazil's capital Bahia May 10.

Virginia becomes a royal colony May 24 as the Virginia Company's charter is revoked after 17 profitless years (see House of Burgesses, 1619). Robert Rich, 37, 2nd earl of Warwick, has had a falling out with other members of the company, partly because of his Puritan sympathies, and this has had much to do with the company's suppression.