1736 - Political Events

Political Events

The 18-year-old Austrian princess Maria Theresa is married at Vienna February 12 to the 27-year-old duc de Lorraine Francis Stephen (Franz Stefan), who will become grand duke of Tuscany in 1740. It was she and not her parents who chose her husband. The Holy Roman Emperor Karl VI has consented to the match only on condition that Francis cede Lorraine to Stanislaw Leszczynki, for whom the French have been unable to obtain Poland, and thereby end the War of the Polish Succession. Francis agrees on the promise that he will be allowed in compensation to succeed the childless grand duke of Tuscany Gian Gastone de' Medici (the arrangement will be confirmed 2 years hence in the Treaty of Vienna; see 1737); the bride receives the Florentine Diamond (see 1477), and it will become part of the Austrian crown jewels (see 1740).

The Safavid dynasty that began its rule of Persia in 1502 ends with the death at age 6 of Shah Abbas III. The Afshar chief Nadir Kuli is proclaimed shah, having ruled effectively since 1731, and will reign as Nadir Shah until his assassination in 1747, ruining the nation's economy by levying heavy taxes to support his endless military campaigns. A Sunni, Nadir accepts the title on condition that Persians renounce their Shiite faith, but he will have little success in converting them (see 1738).

Moscow declares war on Constantinople, sends troops into Ottoman lands north of the Black Sea, but the Russians retreat to the Ukraine after sustaining heavy losses.

Qianlong (Chienlung) ascends the Chinese imperial throne at age 25 to begin a reign that will continue until 1796 (see 1735). He will extend Qing control throughout central Asia.