1681
Pennsylvania Charter Granted
Charles II granted William Penn, a wealthy Quaker and the son of an admiral, a vast tract of land north of Maryland as payment for a debt owed the Penn family.
Moulay Ismail Consolidates Morocco
Sultan Moulay Ismail, ruling from his new capital at Meknes, deployed his fearsome Black Guard - an army of enslaved soldiers numbering over fifty thousand…
Canal du Midi Opens
After fifteen years of labor, Pierre-Paul Riquet's canal connecting the Atlantic and Mediterranean via Toulouse and the Garonne was opened.
Comet Kirch
A German astronomer named Gottfried Kirch, observing from Coburg, became the first person to discover a comet with a telescope.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1681?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1681. The most significant is Pennsylvania Charter Granted: Charles II granted William Penn, a wealthy Quaker and the son of an admiral, a vast tract of land north of Maryland as payment for a debt owed the Penn family.
What era was 1681 part of?
1681 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1681?
The events from 1681 span North America, Africa and Europe.