1737 - Political Events

Political Events

Vienna declares war on Constantinople in January, coming to the aid of its Russian ally to prevent Ottoman aid to France in the renewed War of the Polish Succession. Eugene of Savoy dies at Vienna April 24 at age 72, leaving a personal estate of some 25 million guilders.

Russian statesman Dmitri M. Golitsyn dies at St. Petersburg April 25 at age 71, having tried without success to turn the nation's autocracy into a constitutional monarchy.

Tuscans drive out the last of the Medici family following the death of Gian Gastone (de' Medici) July 9 at age 66, leaving the throne of the grand duchy vacant (see 1736). Austria takes over and will give the throne next year to Franz Stefan, duc de Lorraine, who was married last year to Maria Theresa, heir apparent to the imperial throne (see 1740).