1700 - Political Events

Political Events

Moscow and Constantinople sign a truce June 23, ending 5 years of war. The Russians retain Azov but give up their Black Sea fleet.

The Great Northern War begins in Europe as Russia, Poland, and Denmark join forces to oppose Swedish supremacy in the Baltic (see 1699). Saxony's elector August attacks Swedish Livonia in February, and Denmark's Frederik IV sends troops into Schleswig in March, continuing his late father's efforts to sever connections between the House of Gottorp and Sweden. But Sweden's Karl (Charles) XII, now 18, marches a hastily assembled army to his ports, says nothing about their destination until the men are aboard ship, and then surprises the Danes by landing troops on the Danish island of Själland. Threatening Copenhagen, he forces Denmark to sign the Treaty of Travendal August 18 and remove herself from the alliance against Sweden (but see 1709). Karl lands 8,000 to 10,000 Swedish troops at Narva in Ingermanland November 20 to relieve a Russian siege of the fortified city and, although heavily outnumbered, wins a decisive victory over his Russian adversary Prince Dolgorouky after Peter I gives final orders and leaves for Moscow. Fought in a blizzard, the 3-hour Battle of Narva in northeastern Estonia ends with about 10,000 of the 40,000-man Russian army dead, wounded, or captured (Swedish losses total 600 dead and wounded). Peter recognizes the need for a modern army in place of the peasants who panicked at Narva; he orders recruitment and training of 70,000 new hussars, doubles taxes on religious groups, and has church bells melted down for cannon that will replace the artillery lost at Narva (see Poltava, 1709).

Spain's Carlos II dies at Madrid November 1 at age 39 after a 35-year reign. Known as Carlos el Hechizado (Charles the Mad), Spain's last Hapsburg king has named as his heir Philippe, duc d'Anjou, 17, a grandson of France's Louis XIV; the first Bourbon king of Spain ascends the throne and will reign until 1746 as Felipe (Philip) V (but see War of the Spanish Succession, 1701).