1641 CE

Representatives of France and Portugal sign a treaty of alliance in Paris. Bavarian and Spanish troops capture the town of Bad Kreuznach during the Thirty Years' War, 17 months after it had been taken in a French and Saxon attack. The town of Christianssand is formally founded by King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway.

In the 1640s, the 17th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

15 February – the Long Parliament passes the Triennial Act 1640 (16 Cha. 1. c. 1).England source
February 16 – King Charles I of England gives his assent to the Triennial Act 1640, reluctantly committing himself to parliamentary sessions of at least fifty days, every three years.source
18 March – The first diplomatic relations between Denmark-Norway and Portugal are established when Portuguese diplomats Francisco de Sousa Coutinho and António Moniz de Carvalho are sent to Copenhagen. Christian IV chose not to offer the diplomats a formal audience as he did not wish to compromise the neutrality of Denmark-Norway in the Spain as part of the Restoration War.Denmark source
April 21 – England's House of Commons votes 204 to 59 in favor of the conviction for treason and the execution of the Earl of Strafford, and the House of Lords acquiesces. King Charles refuses to give the necessary royal assent.source
May 3 – The Protestation of 1641 is passed by England's Parliament, requiring all officeholders to swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles I and to the Church of England.source
3 May – the Protestation of 1641 is passed by Parliament, requiring all officeholders to swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch and to the Church of England.England source
May 7 – England's House of Lords votes, 51 to 9, in favor of the execution of the Earl of Strafford for treason. In fear for his own safety, King Charles I signs Strafford's death warrant on May 10.source
May 11 – The Long Parliament in England passes the "Act against Dissolving Parliament without its own Consent".source
June 1 – In Paris, representatives of Portugal and France sign a treaty of alliance.source
1 June – Representatives of France and Portugal sign a treaty of alliance in Paris.France source
June 12 – The Treaty of The Hague is signed between representatives of the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of Portugal as a 10-year truce and alliance.source
June 12 – Treaty of The Hague (1641) is signed in The Hague representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands and by the ambassador of the Kingdom of PortugalPortugal source
July 5 – In England, the Long Parliament abolishes the Court of Star Chamber.source
July 12 – Portugal and the Dutch Republic sign a Treaty of Offensive and Defensive Alliance at The Hague. The treaty is not respected by both parties, and as a consequence has no effect in the Portuguese colonies (Brazil and Angola) that are under Dutch rule.source
August 10 – Charles I of England signs the Treaty of London ending the Bishops' Wars between England and Scotland.source
10 August – King Charles signs the Treaty of London ending the Bishops' Wars between England and Scotland.England source
September 14 – The Treaty of Péronne is signed between Honoré II, Prince of Monaco and France's King Louis XIII, guaranteeing the Grimaldi family the right to rule Monaco in return for the principality becoming a French protectorate.source
14 September – The Treaty of Péronne is signed between Honoré II, Prince of Monaco and King Louis XIII of France, guaranteeing the Grimaldi family the right to rule Monaco in return for the principality becoming a French protectorate.France source
October 2 – Scottish politician John Campbell takes office as Lord Chancellor of Scotland and is given the title of the Earl of Loudoun by Charles I in his capacity as King of Scotland.source
October 24 – The Irish rebel Sir Felim O'Neill of Kinard issues the Proclamation of Dungannon.source
November 18 – John IV ratifies the treaty of The HaguePortugal source
December 1 – The English Parliament presents the Grand Remonstrance to King Charles, who makes no response to it until Parliament has the document published and released to the general public.source
December 7 – The bill for the Militia Ordinance is introduced by Arthur Haselrig, an anti-monarchist member of the House of Commons, proposing for the first time to allow Parliament to appoint its own military commanders without royal approval. King Charles, concerned that the legislation would allow parliament to create its own army, orders Haselrig arrested for treason. Parliament passes the Militia Ordinance on March 15.source
The Massachusetts Bay Colony adopts a law making witchcraft a capital crime.source
The town of Falun, Sweden is given city rights by Queen Kristina.source

Conflict & Security

January 14 – The Battle of Malacca concludes with the Dutch East India Company ending Portuguese control of Malacca.source
March 27 – The Battle of Pressnitz begins between the Holy Roman Empire and Sweden.source
March 27 – The Siege of São Filipe begins in the Azores as the Portuguese Navy fights to drive the Spanish out. After almost 11 months, the Portuguese prevail on March 4, 1642.source
March 27 – beginning of the 11 month Siege of São Filipe near Angra do Heroismo in the AzoresPortugal source
April 25 – The Battle of Songjin begins in the modern-day North Korean city of Kimch'aek, at the time part of the Chinese Empire controlled by the Ming dynasty. The Ming, led by General Wu Sangui, defeat the Qing rebels.source
May - Lennart Torstensson is appointed field marshal and becomes the leader of the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War in Germany. The Peace of Westphalia, which effectively ended the Thirty Years' War, was signed in 1648.Sweden source
June 2 – Bavarian and Spanish troops capture the town of Bad Kreuznach during the Thirty Years' War, 17 months after it had been taken in a French and Saxon attack.source
June 29 – The Battle of Wolfenbüttel takes place between a combined Swedish and French force against the Holy Roman Empire, with the Swedish-French Army driving back an Imperial assault.source
29 June – The Battle of Wolfenbüttel takes place between a combined Swedish and French force against the Holy Roman Empire, with the Swedish-French army driving back an Imperial assault.France source
21 August – the Scottish Covenanter army leaves Newcastle upon Tyne.England source
September 18 – In France, the siege of Bapaume ends with the surrender of the fortress by its Spanish occupiers.source
September 18 – In Germany, the Siege of Dorsten by the Holy Roman Empire ends after nine weeks with the surrender of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel after the Hessians suffer 1,350 casualties.source
18 September – The siege of Bapaume ends with the surrender of the fortress by its Spanish occupiers.France source
October 23 – Irish Rebellion of 1641 breaks out: Irish Catholic gentry, chiefly in Ulster, revolt against the English administration and Scottish settlers in Ireland.source
23 October – Irish Rebellion of 1641 breaks out: Irish Catholic gentry, chiefly in Ulster, revolt against the English administration and Scottish settlers in Ireland.England source
October 23 – the Irish Rebellion of 1641 enjoys rapid success in Ulster, with Felim O'Neill of Kinard taking several forts, claiming to be acting in the King's name, but Hugh Og MacMahon and Connor Maguire, who were to seize Dublin Castle, are arrested due to an informer.Ireland source
November 4 – Battle of Cape St Vincent: A Dutch fleet, with Michiel de Ruyter as third in command, beats back a Spanish-Dunkirker fleet off the coast of Portugal.source
Jacob Madsen becomes mayor of Copenhagen.Denmark source

Exploration & Expansion

May 24 – Providence Island in the Caribbean, settled by English Puritans and a haven for English pirates off the coast of modern-day Colombia, is captured in a joint operation of the Spanish Navy in an attack led by Don Francisco Díaz Pimienta, and the Portuguese Navy led by the Count of Castel-Melhor Sousa. The expedition takes 770 prisoners, 380 slaves and a fortune in plundered gold and silver.source
The Dutch found a trading colony on Dejima, near Nagasaki, Japan.source
The Norwegian city of Kristiansand is founded by King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway.source

Religion & Belief

January 18 – The Junta de Braços (council of Estates) of the Principality of Catalonia, led by Pau Claris, accepts the proposal to establish the Catalan Republic under French protection.source
18 January – The Junta de Braços (council of Estates) of the Principality of Catalonia, led by Pau Claris, accepts the proposal to establish the Catalan Republic under French protection.France source
March 7 – King Charles I of England decrees that all Roman Catholic priests must leave England by April 7 or face being arrested and treated as traitors.source
March 22 – The trial for high treason begins for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, director of England's Council of the North.source
22 March – the trial for high treason begins for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, President of the Council of the North.England source
April 7 – The deadline for Catholic priests to leave England expires. Among those who refuse to leave, Ambrose Barlow and William Ward become martyrs. Barlow surrenders on Easter Sunday, April 25, and is hanged on September 10; he will be canonized as a saint in 1970. Ward is caught on July 15 and executed on July 26.source
April 15 – Aegidius Ursinus de Vivere is appointed by Pope Urban VIII to be the Roman Catholic Church's Patriarch of Jerusalem.source
May 12 – Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, former director of England's Council of the North, is publicly beheaded in London in front of a crowd of thousands of people.source
12 May – Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, former President of the Council of the North, is publicly beheaded in London in front of a crowd of thousands.England source
5 July - The town of Christianssand is formally founded by King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway.Norway source
November 22 – By a vote of 159 to 148, the Long Parliament of England passes the Grand Remonstrance, with 204 specific objections to King Charles I's absolutist tendencies, and calling for the King to expel all Anglican bishops from the House of Lords.source
December 16 – Pope Urban VIII announces the creation of 12 new cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.source
December 23 – King Charles replies to the Grand Remonstrance and refuses the demand for the removal of bishops from the House of Lords. Rioting breaks out in Westminster after the King's refusal is announced, and the 12 Anglican bishops stop attending meetings of the Lords.source
December 27 – According to a journalist who witnesses the events, John Rushworth, the term "roundhead" is first used to describe supporters of the English Parliament who have challenged the authority of the monarchy. Rushworth writes later that during a riot on the 27th, one of the rioters, David Hide, draws his sword and, describing the short haircuts of the anti-monarchists, says that he would "cut the throat of those round-headed dogs that bawled against bishops."source
December 30 – At the request of King Charles, John Williams, the Anglican Archbishop of York joins with 11 other bishops in disputing the legality of any legislation passed by the House of Lords during the time that the bishops were excluded. The House of Commons passes a resolution to have the 12 bishops arrested. King Charles, in turn, issues an order on January 3 to have five members of the House of Commons arrested for treason.source
Christian IV's Chapel at Roskilde Cathedral is completed by Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger (finishing the work started by his brother Lorenz van Steenwinckel).Denmark source
Altarpiece of Maribo Cathedral.Denmark source
William Bedell, Church of Ireland Bishop of Kilmore, with other refugees is imprisoned and tortured by rebels at Cloughoughter Castle.Ireland source
Elias Fiigenschoug's portrait of Erik Iversen Nordal, is painted. (It is located in Leikanger Church, where Nordal served as priest from 1618 to 1658).Norway source

Economy & Finance

7 August – ship money declared illegal by Parliament.England source

Technology & Infrastructure

Christian IV starts the construction of Roskilde Kongevej (completed in 1642).Denmark source
The construction of a new Town Hall of Christiania was finished (the building is now called the "Old Town Hall") .Norway source

Science & Discovery

René Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy is originally published.source

Health & Medicine

5 August – London theatres closed because of bubonic plague.England source
A massive epidemic breaks out in northern and central China, just three years before the fall of the Ming dynasty. It races south down along the Grand Canal of China and the densely populated settlements there, from the northern terminus at Beijing, to the fertile Jiangnan region. In some local areas and towns it wipes out 90% of the local populace.source

Crime & Justice

March–May – First Army Plot, an attempt to use the army to support the king against parliament. Playwright William Davenant is convicted of high treason for his part in it and flees to France.England source
Cootehall comes into the possession of the Englishman, Chidley Coote, nephew of the first Earl of Mountrath.Ireland source

Disasters & Accidents

September 23 – The English ship Merchant Royal sinks off Cornwall along with its cargo of 100,000 lb of gold and 18 of its 58 crew. More than 380 years later, treasure seekers will still not have located the wreckage.source
23 September – English ship Merchant Royal sinks off Land's End, Cornwall, along with its cargo of 100,000 lb of gold, much silver and coin and 18 of its 58 crew. The treasure will still be sought for in the 2020s.England source
9 November – Maren Spliid, probably the best known alleged victim of the persecution of witches in Denmark, is burned.Denmark source

Climate & Environment

January 4 – The stratovolcano Mount Parker in the Philippines has a major eruption.source

Culture & Society

2 May – Mary, Princess Royal, 9 year-old eldest daughter of the King, marries 14-year old William II of Orange in the Chapel Royal of Whitehall Palace in London.England source
Moses Amyraut's De l'elevation de la foy et de l'abaissement de la raison en la creance des mysteres de la religion is published.source
Corfitz Ulfeldt is appointed as Steward of the Realm.Denmark source
A chalice created by Klaus Christensen (Odense) is presented to Viby Church by Knud Ulfeld til Urup (1600-46) in commemoration of his wife Anne Lykke of Hverringe (1595-1641).Denmark source
A new set of statues for the University of Copenhagen are issued.Denmark source
Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve is appointed as lensmand [bailiff] of the three castles, the Kronborg, Frederiksborg and Abrahamstrup (now the Jægerspris Castle).Denmark source

Births

20 January - Anders Torstenson, member of the Privy Council, Governor-General of Estonia (died 1686)Sweden source
March 14 – Hyeonjong of Joseon, 18th monarch of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (died 1674)source
March 19 – Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Muslim scholar (died 1731)source
April 8 – (bapt.) – William Wycherley, English playwright (died 1716)source
April 8 – Henry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney, English politician and army officer (died 1704)source
May 8 – Nicolaes Witsen, Mayor of Amsterdam, Netherlands (died 1717)source
May 28 – Johann Weikhard von Valvasor, Slovenian polymath (died 1693)source
June 15 – Bernard de la Monnoye, French lawyer (died 1728)source
June 28 – Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien, French-born Polish consort to King John III Sobieski (died 1716)source
June 30 – Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg, English general (died 1719)source
July 30 – Regnier de Graaf, Dutch physician and anatomist (died 1673)source
1 September – Jean Barbier d'Aucour, lawyer and satirist (died 1694)France source
September 5 – Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland, English diplomat (died 1702)source
5 September – Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland, diplomat (died 1702)England source
September 7 – Tokugawa Ietsuna, Japanese Tokugawa shōgun (died 1680)source
October 5 – Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, mistress of Louis XIV (died 1707)source
November 23 – Anthonie Heinsius, Dutch statesman (died 1720)source
Frederik Giedde, admiral (died 1717)Denmark source

Deaths

January 3 – Jeremiah Horrocks, English astronomer (born c. 1618)source
February 15 – Sara Copia Sullam, Italian poet and writer (born 1592)source
February 27 – Pau Claris i Casademunt, Catalan ecclesiastic (born 1586)source
April 6 – Domenico Zampieri (Domenichino), Italian painter (born 1581)source
April 30 – In Morocco, rebel leader and secessionist Sidi al-Ayachi is assassinated.source
May 12 – Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, English statesman (born 1593)source
June 12 – In India, in the modern-day Rajasthan state, the Mughal Grand Vizier Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan is killed in a battle in Bundi against the armies of Nurpur, commanded by the Raja Jagat Singh. The elaborate Tomb of Asif Khan is constructed at Lahore (modern Pakistan) on orders of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.source
June 17 – Emirgûneoğlu Yusuf Paşa, Ottoman grand vizier (born 1605)source
6 July – Louis, Count of Soissons (born 1604)France source
August 16 – Thomas Heywood, English playwright (born c. 1573)source
September 10 – Ambrose Barlow, English Catholic martyr (born 1585) (executed)source
October 3 – Étienne Martellange, French architect (born 1569)source
November 9 – Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, Governor of the Netherlands and Bishop of Toledo (born c. 1609)source
26 November – Hedwig of Denmark, princess (born 1581)Denmark source
December 9 – Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish painter (born 1599)source
9 December – Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish-born court painter (born 1599)England source
December 22 – Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, 2nd Prime Minister of France (born 1560)source
Johan Banér, Field Marshal in the Thirty Years' War (born 1596)Sweden source