1654 Facts for Kids

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	16th century – 17th century – 18th century
Decades:	1620s 1630s 1640s – 1650s – 1660s 1670s 1680s
Years:	1651 1652 1653 – 1654 – 1655 1656 1657

The year 1654 was a time of important changes and events across Europe and beyond. Treaties were signed, new leaders took power, and big discoveries were made. This year saw the end of a major war, a queen giving up her throne, and the start of a new community in America.

Major Events of 1654
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Major Events of 1654

Peace and New Leaders

April 5 – The Treaty of Westminster was signed. This agreement officially ended the First Anglo-Dutch War. This war was fought between England and the Dutch Republic.
June 3 – Louis XIV of France was crowned king in Rheims. He would become one of France's most famous rulers.
June 6 – Charles X became the new king of Sweden. He took over after his cousin, Queen Christina, decided to give up her throne on June 5. Queen Christina, who had been a Protestant ruler, later secretly became a Catholic.

Political Changes and Challenges

September 3 – In the English Rump Parliament, some members started to question the power of Oliver Cromwell. He was a very powerful leader in England at the time.
September 12 – Oliver Cromwell ordered that members of Parliament who did not agree with him should be removed. This showed his strong control over the government.

Science and Discovery

November 23 – Blaise Pascal, a brilliant French mathematician and scientist, had a very strong spiritual experience. This event deeply affected his life and work.
Otto von Guericke performed a famous experiment. He used two large metal hemispheres to show that atmospheric pressure exists. This proved that air has weight and can create a vacuum.

Tragic Events and New Beginnings

October 12 – Carel Fabritius, a very talented painter and student of Rembrandt, died at age 32. He was killed in a huge explosion at an arsenal in Delft. This event, known as the Delft Explosion, caused a lot of damage in the Dutch city and killed over 100 people.
Twenty-three Jewish refugees arrived in New Amsterdam (which is now New York City). They had come from Brazil. This group helped start what would become a very large Jewish community in New York City.

Conflicts and Alliances

The Ukrainian leader Bogdan Chmielnicki decided to give up Ukraine's independence. He swore loyalty to Tsar Alexis of Russia.
The Russian Army took control of Smolensk. This led to a war starting between Russia and Poland over the region of Ukraine.