Explore 56 historical events from 1640–1649.
The Chongzhen Emperor, temple name Ming Sizong, personal name Zhu Youjian, courtesy name Deyue, was the 17th and last emperor of the Ming dynasty. He reigned from 1627 to 1644. "Ch…
Chongzhen Emperor of China (born 1611)
The transition from Ming to Qing, also known as the Manchu conquest of China or Ming-Qing transition, was a decades-long period of conflict between the Qing dynasty, established by…
Transition from Ming to Qing: The Chongzhen Emperor, the last Emperor of Ming China, commits suicide during a peasant re
The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the …
Ming general Wu Sangui forms an alliance with the invading Manchus and opens the gates of the Great Wall of China at Sha
The Restoration War between Portugal and Spain began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, bringing a formal end to the Iberian Union.…
Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claim victory in the Battle of Montijo
The Manchus are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchu…
Manchu regent Dorgon defeats rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allowing the Man
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Royalists and Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. P…
English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
The transition from Ming to Qing, also known as the Manchu conquest of China or Ming-Qing transition, was a decades-long period of conflict between the Qing dynasty, established by…
Ming–Qing transition: The Ming dynasty of China fell when the Chongzhen Emperor committed suicide during a peasant rebel
The transition from Ming to Qing, also known as the Manchu conquest of China or Ming-Qing transition, was a decades-long period of conflict between the Qing dynasty, established by…
Ming–Qing transition: Ming general Wu Sangui allowed the invading Manchu to cross the Great Wall of China (pictured), en
The Manchus are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchu…
Manchu regent Dorgon (depicted) defeated rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allo
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Royalists and Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. P…
English Civil War: Royalist troops stormed and captured the Parliamentarian stronghold of Bolton, leading to a massacre
The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldie…
Thirty Years' War: French forces under the duc d'Enghien decisively defeat Spanish forces at the Battle of Rocroi, marki
Stephanus van Cortlandt was the first native-born mayor of New York City, a position which he held from 1677 to 1678 and from 1686 to 1688. He was the patroon of van Cortlandt Mano…
Stephanus Van Cortlandt, American politician, 10th Mayor of New York City (died 1700)
Johann Christoph Demantius was a German composer, music theorist, writer and poet. He was an exact contemporary of Monteverdi, and represented a transitional phase in German Luther…
Christoph Demantius, German composer and poet (born 1567)
Francisco de Lucena was a Portuguese nobleman and King John IV's first Secretary of State, and the first after the Restoration War and end of the Iberian Union. He made many enemie…
Francisco de Lucena, Portuguese politician (born 1578)
Louis XIII was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown.
Louis XIII of France (born 1601)
Giovanni Picchi was an Italian composer, organist, lutenist, and harpsichordist of the early Baroque era. He was a late follower of the Venetian School, and was influential in the …
Giovanni Picchi, Italian organist and composer (born 1571)
The First English Civil War took place in England and Wales from 1642 to 1646, and forms part of the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. An estimated 15% to 20% of adult males…
First English Civil War: Despite being vastly outnumbered, a Parliamentarian force under James Chudleigh defeated a Roya
The First English Civil War took place in England and Wales from 1642 to 1646, and forms part of the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. An estimated 15% to 20% of adult males…
First English Civil War: The first siege of Wardour Castle ended after six days with the surrender of the Royalist garri
Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve was a French military officer and the founder of Ville-Marie, now the city of Montreal.
Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve founds the Ville Marie de Montréal
Charles I was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649.
From this date all honors granted by Charles I of England are retroactively annulled by Parliament
Simon de la Loubère was a French diplomat to Siam (Thailand), writer, mathematician and poet. He is credited with bringing back a document which introduced Europe to Indian astrono…
Simon de la Loubère, French mathematician, poet, and diplomat (died 1729)
Nicolaes Witsen was a Dutch statesman who was mayor of Amsterdam thirteen times, between 1682 and 1706. In 1693, he became administrator of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). In 1…
Nicolaes Witsen, Mayor of Amsterdam, Netherlands (died 1717)
Sir Dudley North was an English merchant, politician, economist and writer on free trade. He was also a member of the North family.
Dudley North, English economist and politician (died 1691)
Dositheus II Notaras of Jerusalem was the Patriarch of Jerusalem between 1669 and 1707 and a theologian of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was known for standing against influences…
Patriarch Dositheos II of Jerusalem (died 1707)