1661
Mazarin Dies, Louis XIV Takes Power
Cardinal Mazarin, the last of the great minister-cardinals, died at Vincennes.
Kangxi Emperor Ascends
The seven-year-old Xuanye succeeded his father Shunzhi and ruled at first through four regents.
Boyle Publishes The Sceptical Chymist
The Anglo-Irish natural philosopher Robert Boyle published a dialogue attacking the ancient doctrines of four elements and three principles and arguing…
Koxinga Expels the Dutch from Taiwan
The Ming loyalist warlord Zheng Chenggong, known to Europeans as Koxinga, besieged the Dutch fortress of Zeelandia on the west coast of Taiwan for nine months…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1661?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1661. The most significant is Mazarin Dies, Louis XIV Takes Power: Cardinal Mazarin, the last of the great minister-cardinals, died at Vincennes.
What era was 1661 part of?
1661 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1661?
The events from 1661 span Europe and East Asia.