1653 - Political Events

Political Events

French government forces take military engineer Sébastien le Prestre de Vauban prisoner and induce him to give up his allegiance to Louis II de Bourbon, prince de Condé. Barely 20 years old, Vauban has distinguished himself in the Great Condé's siege and capture of Sainte-Menehould, which he helped the royalists to recapture. Royalist forces capture the insurgent stronghold of Bordeaux with help from a fleet under the command of César, duc de Vendôme, who has agreed to the marriage of his son Louis, duc de Mercoeur, to Cardinal Mazarin's niece Laure Mancini. César, duc de Vendôme has been appointed governor of Burgundy. Cardinal Mazarin returns to Paris unopposed February 3, government forces drive Armand I de Bourbon, prince de Conti, out of Bordeaux in July (he will marry Cardinal Mazarin's niece Anne-Marie Martinozzi next year), the Fronde is ended, some of the nobility go into exile, and the suppression of the rebellion begins a golden age and a 136-year period of absolutism, with Parlement forbidden to interfere in the running of the government.

Dutch admiral Maarten Tromp engages a superior English fleet in March between Portland and Calais, but the English Admiralty issues "Fighting Instructions," creating the Royal Navy's line-ahead formation of ships, and the English prevail in the 3-day encounter. They triumph again in June at the Battle of Gabbard, and Admiral Tromp is killed August 9 at age 55 off Terheijde, near Scheveningen.

Dutch lawyer-businessman-mathematician Johan de Witt, 28, is appointed councillor pensionary (roadpensionaris) July 23 and will serve as head of state until 1672, using his eloquence and sagacity to extricate his country from its ruinous war with England (see 1654), restoring the nation's finances, and extending Dutch commercial dominance of the East Indies.

Former Leveller leader John Lilburne is tried a second time on charges of high treason (see 1649). Now 39, he is acquitted once again, a great popular demonstration in his support alarms Oliver Cromwell, and Cromwell returns Lilburne to prison, where he will remain until 1655 and be converted to the Quaker religion.

The earl of Glencairn gains support from John Murray, 22, 2nd earl of Atholl, and leads a Scottish uprising in behalf of the Stuart pretender Charles II. Parliamentary troops suppress the revolt, but the giant Highland chieftain Ewen Cameron (of Lothiel), 24, continues to harass the English general George Monck, now 44, who will force Atholl to surrender next year.

John Lambert persuades Oliver Cromwell to dissolve the Rump Parliament that was convened last year. Cromwell disappoints him by drawing up a plan for a nominated Parliament that meets from July to December but is ridiculed as the "Barebones Parliament" because it is made up of strict "godly" Puritans led by leather merchant-turned-clergyman Praise-God Barebone (or Barbon), 57. Lambert has a new Instrument of Government drawn up—a written constitution that calls for a standing army of 30,000, a cooperative council of 21 to help the Lord Protector administer the Commonwealth, and a triennial Parliament of 460 members with sole power to levy taxes and grant funds and a guarantee against dissolution for 5 months once it has been summoned. Cromwell is proclaimed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland under the new constitution December 15, with Lambert as his right-hand man. Sir Arthur Hesilrige opposes the new republican government but will serve in several Parliaments under the Protectorate.

Prince Rupert arrives at the French court-in-exile of England's Charles II with just one ship and a few prizes that he has taken on the high seas. Rupert quarrels with the king and goes into retirement in Germany.

Massachusetts Bay colony Puritan leader Thomas Dudley dies at Roxbury July 31 at age 77.

Nieuw Amsterdam colonists build a log wall across Manhattan from the North River to the East River for protection against English (and Indian) attacks. Wall Street will get its name from a wagon road running beside the defensive wall that will stand until nearly the end of the century.

Amoy falls to the 30-year-old Japanese-born Chinese pirate-patriot Zheng Chenggong (Ch'eng Chen kong; the Portuguese call him Koxinga), who has ravaged China's coast with a fleet of 3,000 junks in a continuing fight against the Manchus, who have come to power with the end of the Ming dynasty (see 1644; 1659).