Year

1660

4 sourced events from this year.

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1660

Politics 17th Century Europe

Charles II Lands in England Ending Commonwealth

Following the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I in 1649, Oliver Cromwell established the Commonwealth of England as a republic. After Cromwell's death in 1658, his son Richard proved unable to maintain power, leading to political instability and the recall of the Long Parliament. On May 25, 1660, Charles II, the exiled son of the executed king, landed at Dover following an invitation from the Convention Parliament. His arrival marked the Restoration of the monarchy and the end of eleven years of republican rule. Charles was crowned the following year, restoring the Stuart dynasty amid widespread public celebration.

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1660

Politics 17th Century Europe

Treaty of Copenhagen Concludes Second Northern War

In the mid-17th century, the Second Northern War pitted Sweden against Denmark-Norway and allies amid shifting Baltic power dynamics. Swedish King Charles X Gustav had earlier forced harsh terms via the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, seizing Danish territories. After Charles X's death in early 1660, Danish King Frederick III sought revisions with support from the Dutch Republic and others. Mediators from France, England, and the Netherlands facilitated talks near Copenhagen. On May 27, 1660, the treaty was signed in tents between the city and the Swedish camp, restoring Trøndelag and Bornholm to Denmark-Norway while confirming Swedish control over Scania and other eastern Sound provinces. The agreement largely fixed modern borders between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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1660

Politics 17th Century Europe

Charles II Restored as King of England

Following the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I in 1649, England had been governed as a republic under Oliver Cromwell and later his son Richard, periods marked by political instability and military rule. With Richard Cromwell's resignation in 1659, the Convention Parliament convened and invited the exiled Charles II to return under the Declaration of Breda, which promised amnesty and religious toleration. On May 29, 1660, Charles II entered London in a grand procession amid widespread celebrations, marking the formal restoration of the monarchy. The event ended the Interregnum and reestablished the Stuart dynasty on the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Charles's return led to the disbanding of the New Model Army and the beginning of...

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1660

Science 17th Century Europe

Royal Society of London Founded

Following the restoration of the English monarchy after the Civil Wars, a group of natural philosophers sought a new forum for empirical inquiry free from political or religious interference. On November 28, 1660, after an astronomy lecture by Christopher Wren at Gresham College in London, twelve men including Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, and Robert Moray resolved to create a “Colledge for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematicall Experimentall Learning.” They began regular meetings to perform experiments, share observations, and publish findings. King Charles II granted the group its first royal charter in 1662, formalizing the institution that became the Royal Society.

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