1720 - Political Events

Political Events

Spain's Felipe V joins the Quadruple Alliance of Britain, France, Holland, and Austria in January. He signs the Treaty of The Hague February 17 giving up his Italian claims in return for an Austrian promise that his son Carlos will succeed to Parma, Piacenza, and Tuscany (see Treaty of London, 1718). The Holy Roman Emperor Karl VI gives up his claims to Spain, and Savoy receives Sardinia from Austria in return for Sicily (see 1713), but Austria's Hapsburg family will rule Sicily only until 1734.

The Peace of Frederiksborg gives Denmark's Frederik IV assurance of British and French support for his country's sole possession of the duchy of Schleswig, whose administration is to remain separate.

Sweden's Ulrika Eleanora abdicates in favor of her husband, Friedrich of Hesse, 44, who will reign until 1751 as Frederik I, but a new constitution strips the new king of much of his power. Sweden's House of Nobles will largely control affairs of state through the new reign.

Assassins kill Husein Ali Sayyid, and his brother Abdullah is defeated at the Battle of Hasanpur southwest of Delhi, liberating the Mughal emperor Mohammad Shah from Sayyid control (see 1719). Abdullah is succeeded as vizier in January by Muhammad Amin Khan, who dies later in the month; Nizam-ul-Mulk will serve as vizier until Amin Khan's son Qamar-ud-Din comes of age in July 1724. The emperor Muhammad Shah will marry the daughter of the late emperor Farrukh-Siyar next year, but his laxity will allow the empire to become prey to Afghan Rohilla tribesmen and to the Maratha and Persians (see 1739).

A Chinese imperial army invades Tibet and Bhutan, establishing Chinese sovereignty over both (see 1772).