1711 - Political Events

Political Events

Russia's Peter I divorces his imbecilic wife, Eudoxia (or Eudokia) Loupokhina, and is married March 6 to his Latvian mistress Marta, 27, who will be known as the Empress Catherine (Marta Ekaterina). She has lived with the czar for the past 7 years and borne five children by him, including his surviving daughters Anna and Elizabeth, who are now legitimized. Now 38, Peter advances with Moldavian and Wallachian allies on the Pruth River but is surrounded there by superior Ottoman forces. Sweden's Karl (Charles) XII has persuaded the sultan to give him command of an army, and he avenges his defeat at Poltava 2 years ago. Forced to sign the Treaty of Pruth July 21, Peter returns Azov to the Turks. His German-born secretary Andrei Ivanovich Osterman, 25, has negotiated the peace settlement and will play a major role in Russian foreign affairs for the next 30 years. Karl XII is permitted safe return to Stockholm (but see 1713).

The Holy Roman Emperor Josef I dies of smallpox at Vienna April 17 at age 32 and is succeeded by his 26-year-old brother, who will reign until 1740 as Karl (Charles) VI. Heir to all the empire's Austrian territories, he fights to restore the empire of his Hapsburg ancestor Charles V in the continuing War of the Spanish Succession.

Hungarian followers of the patriot Ferenc (Francis) II Rákóczi, 35, accept the peace of Szamatar May 1. The new emperor agrees to redress Hungarian grievances and to respect the Hungarian constitution. Rákóczi takes refuge in Turkey after an 8-year revolt in which his forces have threatened Vienna.

Afghanistan gains independence after Persia's Shah Hussein sends a 25,000-man army to put down the Afghan uprising at Kandahar (see 1709). The Afghan chief Mir Vais prepares his Sunni garrison to fight to the death and beats off Persian assaults on Kandahar. The Persians' Georgian general Khusru Khan is killed, and fewer than 1,000 Persians escape.

Britain undertakes an attack on French Canada with seven of the duke of Marlborough's best regiments, augmented at Boston by 1,500 colonials (see Acadia, 1710), but the expedition commanded by Sir Hovenden Walker suffers serious losses along the St. Lawrence River. French forces abort the invasion of Quebec by sea in August. The French sink 10 ships of the fleet as it enters the river. Sir Hovenden returns home, and news of the naval disaster persuades Sir Francis Nicholson to give up a projected campaign against Montreal.

Rio de Janeiro is sacked by French forces under René Duguay-Trouin, 38, as Louis XIV fights the Portuguese allies of Britain in the War of the Spanish Succession.

Queen Anne dismisses the duke of Marlborough at year's end as his enemies increase their influence on the queen (see 1710). They have accused the duke of speculation, and the queen makes James Butler, 46, duke of Ormonde, commander in chief of British forces.