xxii Chronology 1709 Battle of Poltava The Russians, under Peter the Great, are victorious at the Battle of Poltava in the Ukraine The Russians victory is so decisive that it makes Russia the dominant power in northern Europe 1712 Treaty of Aargau The Protestant victory over Catholic forces in the Battle of Villmergen leads to the peace Treaty of Aargau This treaty establishes Protestant dominance in Switzerland while protecting the rights of the Catholics 1713 Peace of Utrecht The War of the Spanish Succession comes to an end with the Peace of Utrecht Under its terms Philip V from the Bourbon House of France is officially recognized as the king of Spain 1716 Battle of Peterwardein The Austrians declare war on the Ottoman Empire on April 13 On August 5, they defeat the Ottomans at the Battle of Peterwardein 1718 Treaty of Passarowitz The Austrians and the Ottomans sign the Treaty of Passarowitz The treaty establishes the Danube River as the border between the Islamic Ottoman Empire and Western Christian states 1730 End of Safavid Dynasty The Safavid dynasty, which ruled Persia since 1502, comes to an end when Abbas III, the four-year-old shah, dies 1733 War of Polish Succession Begins With the death of Poland’s King Augustus II a war breaks out to determine who will succeed him 1737 Treaty of Kaikhta This treaty between China and Russia defines the far eastern boundary between them 1739 War of Jenkins’ Ear The War of Jenkins’ Ear begins between England and Spain, when the Glasgow brig Rebecca is boarded by a Spanish man-of-war 1740 The First Silesian War The First Silesian War occurrs when Frederick II, the son of Frederick William, comes to power in Prussia on the death of his father and seizes Silesia from the Austrians 1740 The War of the Austrian Succession Begins The death of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI on October 20 begins a contest of succession 1741 Handel Composes The Messiah George Frideric Handel composes the oratiorio Messiah in London, England 1720 Chinese Assault Tibet The Chinese Emperor Kangxi attacks Tibet and drives off the final Mongol influence on China A pro-Chinese Dalai Lama is installed to rule Tibet 1742 Chinese Rites The papacy rules against Chinese rites that had been advocated by Jesuit missionaries 1720 Treaty of the Hague The Treaty of Hague is signed between Spain and the Quadruple Alliance made up of Britain, France, Holland, and Austria 1743 King George’s War Hostilities between Britain and Spain become absorbed into King George’s War, the American phase of the War of the Austrian Succession 1721 Treaty of Nystad Under the Treaty of Nystad, Russia receives Estonia, Livonia, and parts of the Baltic Islands This brings the Great Northern War to an end 1743 Treaty of Åbo The Treaty of Åbo is signed between Russia and Sweden Under its terms, Sweden maintains part of Finland, but accedes to having Russia’s candidate become the king of Sweden 1724 Treaty of Constantinople The Ottomans and the Russians sign the Treaty of Constantinople on June 23 The treaty partitions Persia between the Ottoman Empire and Russia 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle The War of the Austrian Succession comes to an end with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle