1741 in History

1st to use the phrase "Balance of Power" to express the British foreign policy

France prepares to invade Austria in support of Charles Albert of Bavaria. France makes n alliance with Prussia within 5 weeks of Prussia's victory at Mollwitz

Prussia is allowed to capture Neisse. Neipperg is allowed to counterattack the French & Bavarian invaders along the Danube. Frederick II the Great agrees a secret armistice with Neipperg

Anna Leopoldovna was arrested with her family after Elizabeth seized power.

Wentworth’s troops failed in a costly assault against Fort San Lazaro outside Cartagena.

Neipperg’s cavalry initially broke the Prussian right wing but could not overcome the disciplined Prussian infantry.

1st to use the phrase "Balance of Power" to express the British foreign policy

Knowles participated in naval operations and bombardments against Cartagena’s defensive works.

Wrangel was wounded and captured after the Swedish defeat at Villmanstrand.

Travancore captured Dutch soldiers, weapons, and officers following the victory at Colachel.

De Lannoy became a prisoner of Travancore and later entered Marthanda Varma’s military service.

Charles Albert captures Passau & joins up with the French army

The French & Bavarians consolidate control of western & central Bohemia

Charles Albert & the French capture Prague

Belle-Isle directed French operations supporting the Bavarian capture of Prague.

Charles Albert & the French capture Prague

Frederick II the Great captures Silesia from Maria Theresa

Frederick II the Great captures Silesia from Maria Theresa

Lawrence Washington served with colonial troops in Vernon’s expedition against Cartagena.

Schwerin retained control of the Prussian infantry and completed the victory after Frederick left the battlefield.

Handel began composing Messiah in London and completed the score within approximately twenty-four days.

Elizabeth inherited the continuing war with Sweden after taking the Russian throne.

Frederick II concluded a secret convention with Austria allowing Prussia to retain its Silesian gains temporarily.

Neipperg agreed to withdraw after a staged surrender of Neisse under the secret convention.

Sweden declared war on Russia in an attempt to recover territories lost after the Great Northern War.

Eslava coordinated the colonial government, army, militia, and fortifications during the British siege.

Blas de Lezo organized the naval and fortress defence against Vernon’s much larger expedition.

Ramayyan Dalawa helped organize Travancore’s resistance during the campaign against the Dutch.

Bering sailed from Kamchatka aboard the St Peter to search for the North American coast.

Chirikov commanded the St Paul as the second ship of the expedition toward North America.

Frederick left Mollwitz when defeat seemed likely, before Schwerin’s infantry secured a Prussian victory.

The infant Ivan VI was deposed during Elizabeth’s coup and removed from the throne.

Vitus Bering, a Danish mariner working for Russia, lands on the Alaskan coast

Steller recorded fires, tools, food remains, and other evidence of Indigenous habitation on Kayak Island.

Hughson was executed after being convicted during the conspiracy panic and mass prosecutions.

De Lezo reinforced the Spanish defence that defeated the British assault on Fort San Lazaro.

Franklin began publishing The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle for the British plantations in America.

Lawrence Washington served during the disease-ridden British occupation of Guantanamo Bay.

Maria Theresa appealed to the Hungarian Diet for military and financial support against her enemies.

The Hungarian estates pledged troops and support to defend Maria Theresa’s hereditary territories.

Ivan VI and his family were placed under confinement after his deposition.

Anna Leopoldovna remained imprisoned with her husband and children after Elizabeth’s accession.

Invades Bohemia in order to gain the Imperial Crown. France sends an army into south Germany under de Broglie to support the Bavarians

The French & Bavarians invade Bohemia hoping to be joined by the Prussians in Prague

Vernon redirected his expedition toward Cuba and established a base at Guantanamo Bay.

Refuses to negotiate with Frederick II while he has troops in Silesia

Marshal Neipperg crosses into Lower Silesia & threatens Frederick IIs in Breslau

Wentworth landed British and colonial troops intending to advance against Santiago de Cuba.

Steller went ashore on Kayak Island to collect specimens and investigate the surrounding environment.

Maria Theresa’s administration lost Linz when Bavarian and French forces occupied Upper Austria.

Maria Theresa lost Prague to a combined Bavarian, French, and Saxon army.

Chirikov lost two landing parties sent ashore and departed when neither boat returned.

Charles Albert entered Linz with Bavarian and allied French forces during the invasion of Upper Austria.

Prussian forces occupied Neisse after the fortress completed its staged resistance under the secret convention.

Elizabeth secured the support of Guards regiments and overthrew the regency of Anna Leopoldovna.

Elizabeth was proclaimed Empress of Russia following the successful palace coup.

Maria Theresa rejected Prussian demands to cede Silesia while Frederick’s army occupied much of the province.

Chirikov returned to Kamchatka with a depleted crew after exploring the Alaskan coast.

Knowles supported naval operations during the stalled British campaign against Santiago de Cuba.

Fog and storms separated Bering’s St Peter from Chirikov’s St Paul during the eastward voyage.

The damaged St Peter grounded on an island where the expedition remained through the winter.

Marshal Neipperg crosses into Lower Silesia & threatens Frederick IIs in Breslau

Vernon’s large expedition began operations against the fortified Spanish port of Cartagena de Indias.

Wentworth commanded the British land forces during the unsuccessful campaign against Cartagena.

Relieves Neisse & cuts off Frederick IIs supply route to Prussia

Lookouts aboard Bering’s St Peter sighted snow-covered mountains on the North American coast.

Chirikov sighted the North American coast before sending boats to investigate the shoreline.

Edwards delivered his influential Great Awakening sermon at Enfield, Connecticut.

Charles Albert’s Bavarian, French, and Saxon allies stormed Prague and occupied the Bohemian capital.

Broglie commanded French troops during the successful allied assault on Prague.

Maurice de Saxe helped lead the surprise assault that captured Prague for the Bavarian claimant.

Fleury’s government committed French support to Charles Albert’s challenge against Maria Theresa.

Lestocq assisted Elizabeth’s conspiracy and encouraged her alliance with the Guards.

Vorontsov supported Elizabeth during the coup that ended Anna Leopoldovna’s regency.

Steller studied local wildlife and helped the stranded survivors obtain food and shelter.

Vernon withdrew after disease, casualties, and failed assaults made the capture of Cartagena impossible.

Vernon abandoned the Cuban expedition after disease and logistical problems prevented an attack on Santiago.

Neipperg withdrew his army toward Moravia after the Klein Schnellendorf agreement released it for operations elsewhere.

De Lezo suffered further wounds during the defence and died later in the year after the British withdrawal.

Joseph, the future Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, was born in Vienna to Maria Theresa and Francis Stephen.

Birth of Joseph Priestley, later associated with Birmingham’s Lunar Society.

Antonio Vivaldi died in Vienna after a career as a violinist, teacher, and influential composer.

Bering died on the island later named after him while the expedition struggled with disease and exposure.

De Lannoy commanded Dutch forces at Colachel and was captured after their defeat.

Marthanda Varma’s Travancore army defeated Dutch East India Company forces at Colachel.

Fights at the Battle of Dettingen

Marshal Neipperg is defeated by Marshal Schwerin after Frederick fled the field

The Austrians are defeated in their attempt to recapture Silesia

The Battle of Mollwitz turns the Silesian campaign ino the War of Austrian Succession. Marshal Neipperg is defeated by the Prussian Generals

Neippergs Austrian army is defeated by the Prussians under Frederick the Great

Marshal Neipperg is defeated by Marshal Schwerin after Frederick fled the field

Lacy defeated the Swedish army at Villmanstrand and captured the fortified town.

Wrangel commanded the Swedish defenders at Villmanstrand against Peter Lacy’s larger Russian force.

Charles Albert was crowned rival King of Bohemia after his forces occupied Prague.

Maria Theresa was crowned ruler of Hungary in Pressburg using the full royal coronation ceremony.