1709 | Political Events
Political Events
The Battle of Poltava June 28 avenges the Russian defeat at Narva in 1700 and makes Russia the dominant power in northern Europe as Peter the Great breaks the power of Sweden, forcing Karl (Charles) XII to take refuge in Anatolia. Short of ammunition and supplies, Karl launches a night attack on the encampment of a Russian army that has been sent to relieve the siege of Poltava. His 17,000-man force includes 18 infantry battalions, 12 cavalry squadrons, and a few guns, but a recent wound has left the king incapacitated. The czar sends a 10,000-man force, and with their numbers swelled to 80,000 (30 infantry battalions, 30 cavalry squadrons, and 40 guns), the Russians easily surround and overwhelm the Swedes, killing 7,000 and taking 2,600 prisoner while sustaining 1,300 casualties, killed and wounded. Karl XII flees for his life along with the Cossack hetman Ivan Mazepa, who dies at Bendery, Moldavia, September 8 at age 65 (approximate); the king reaches Constantinople, gains protection from the Ottoman sultan, but has to yield his conquests (but see 1711). Denmark's Frederik IV seizes the opportunity to reenter the war against Sweden (see 1700; 1720).
The elector of Saxony Augustus the Strong renews his claims to the Polish crown following the defeat of Sweden's Karl (Charles) XII at Poltava. He declares the 1706 Treaty of Altranstadt void, renews his alliance with Russia and Denmark, deposes Stanislaw Lesczynski, and resumes the Polish throne that he will try without success to make hereditary but will hold himself until 1733.
The Battle of Malplaquet 10 miles southwest of Mons September 11 is the War of the Spanish Succession's bloodiest encounter. An 80,000-man French army (96 infantry battalions, 180 cavalry squadrons, 60 guns) under the command of Marshal Chlaude de Villars and Marshal Louis de Boufflers is no match for the allied army of 110,000 men (128 infantry battalions, 253 cavalry squadrons, and 100 guns) commanded by the duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy. The duc de Villars is severely wounded, but the French retire in good order after losing 4,500 killed and 8,000 wounded; allied losses are much larger (6,500 killed, 14,000 wounded, including Prince Eugene, although Leopold I, prince of Anhalt-Dessau, gives a good account of himself in the fighting). Marlborough's Tory opponents call him a butcher and use his excesses to attack the power of Britain's Whigs (see 1710). The allies capture Mons October 26 but give up the idea of advancing on Paris and go into winter quarters.
Anglican preacher Henry Sacheverell, 35, delivers a sermon before the lord mayor and aldermen of London attacking the Whig lord high treasurer Sidney Godolphin, 65, and condemning the principles of the Glorious Revolution 21 years ago. A fellow of Oxford's Magdalen College, Sacheverell angers the powerful Godolphin, who orders him tried for sedition by the House of Lords, but Londoners are tired of the war and riot in a show of sympathy for Sacheverell (see 1710).
Kandahar rebels against her Persian overlords as Shah Hussein lets himself be persuaded by the mullahs to impose Shiite fundamentalism on all the Sunnis in his realm. The Ghilzai chief Mir Vais leads the Afghan revolt (see 1711).
Japan's shōgun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa dies at Edo February 19 at age 62 after nearly 29 years in power. He is succeeded by a 47-year-old cousin who will rule until 1712 as Ienobu.
Portugal creates the Brazilian captaincies of São Paulo and Minas Gerais as Portuguese colonists settle in the interior of Brazil.
New York's former provincial governor Lord Cornbury inherits enough money to pay off most of his debts following the death of his father, the earl of Clarendon (see 1708). Inheriting also the title earl of Clarendon, Cornbury returns to England, leaving the New York and New Jersey Province to be governed briefly by the assembly, headed by Council President Richard Ingoldesby, until Lord Lovelace is strong enough to assume office, but the new governor general dies May 7, and news of his death reaches London August 17. Sidney, first earl of Godolphin, recommends to the duke of Marlborough that Queen Anne appoint Scottish soldier Robert Hunter, 42, as Lovelace's replacement (see 1710).